Colonel Enoch Hale (1733–1813) was born in

Rowley Rowley may refer to: Places Canada * Rowley, Alberta, a hamlet * Rowley Island, Nunavut United Kingdom * Rowley, County Durham, a hamlet - see Rowley railway station (England) * Rowley, East Riding of Yorkshire, England, a village and civil par ...

Province of Massachusetts Bay The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a colony in New England which became one of the thirteen original states of the United States. It was chartered on October 7, 1691, by William III and Mary II, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of Eng ...

, on November 28, 1733. He and his brother

Nathan Nathan or Natan may refer to: People and biblical figures *Nathan (given name), including a list of people and characters with this name * Nathan (surname) *Nathan (prophet), a person in the Hebrew Bible *Nathan (son of David), a biblical figu ...

(who was not the like-named

Nathan Hale Nathan Hale (June 6, 1755 – September 22, 1776) was an American Patriot (American Revolution), Patriot, soldier and spy for the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He volunteered for an Military intelligence, intelligence ...

, famous spy of the

American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...

) lived as children in

Hampstead Hampstead () is an area in London, England, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, located mainly in the London Borough of Camden, with a small part in the London Borough of Barnet. It borders Highgate and Golders Green to the north, Belsiz ...

Province of New Hampshire The Province of New Hampshire was an English colony and later a British province in New England. It corresponds to the territory between the Merrimack and Piscataqua rivers on the eastern coast of North America. It was named after the Englis ...

, before moving to Rindge as young men and rising to prominence in the area.

Biography

Enoch Hale was a man of large possessions and very prominent in civil and military affairs, particularly during his residence in Rindge, Jaffrey and Walpole, NH. He became an extensive landowner shortly after settling in Rindge, and dealt largely in lands. He was the first justice of the peace of Rindge in 1768. Was Selectman of Rindge 1772, 73, 74,75 and 83 and was present and officiated at such town meetings in 1784; was a member of the New Hampshire Assembly in 1776 and 1778 representing Rindge, Jaffrey and Peterboro Slip (now Sharon); was delegate to the Provincial Congress at Exeter in 1775; high sheriff of Cheshire, 1778 to 1783; a member of the State Council, 1780 to 1783; senator from Cheshire County, 1784. In 1776 he was appointed colonel of a "geographical regiment" of the New Hampshire militia, and held that position during the war, having charge of all the raising, mustering and paying of troops within his district. In 1778 he raised a regiment to reinforce General Sullivan, then operating in Rhode Island in conjunction with the French Fleet, and marched in command of it to Rhode Island. The records of the New Hampshire Committee of Safety abound in references to him.(7th vol. Trans. N.H. Hist. Soc.) Before this he had served in the old French war, and was under Col. Monroe at Fort Wm. Henry at the massacre in 1758. Was a private in Captain Bayley's company, Col. Meserve's regiment, in the expedition to Crown Point March to November, 1757, and again in Capt. Hasen's company, Col. Hart's regiment, April to October, 1758. He was an original member of the Congregational Church in Rindge at its organization in 1765, served frequently on ecclesiastical committees, and was active in the settlement of Rev. Dr. Seth Payson as pastor in 1781. In 1785, after his removal to Walpole, he built, under an act of the Legislature of New Hampshire authorizing it, the first bridge across the Connecticut River at Bellows Falls, which remained the only bridge across the river until 1796. The Vilas Bridge is now in this location. After his removal to

Grafton, Vermont Grafton is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 645 at the 2020 census. History In the early 19th century, sheep raising became popular and multiple woolen mills sprang up along the branches of the Saxtons Rive ...

, he represented that town in the Legislature of Vermont for two years when about 75 years of age. Wherever he lived, his vigorous intellect and energy of character impressed themselves on all about him and made him always a leader.

Sheriff of Cheshire County

" While Sheriff of Cheshire county in 1781 the controversy between the State of New Hampshire and the towns the known as the "New Hampshire grants" now Vermont, was at its height, the new State also claimed jurisdiction of several towns east of Connecticut River and within the county of Cheshire. In performance of his duty as sheriff, Col. Hale undertook to release certain prisoners held in jail in Charlestown, under the so-called Vermont authorities, for alleged resistance to the Vermont officials, but was himself arrested, refusing to give bail or in any way recognize the authority of Vermont officials, was committed to his own jail at Charlestown, under the charge of Dr. William Page of Charlestown, who claimed to act as sheriff of the county of Washington, Vt. Dr. Page was grandfather of Gov. John B. Page of Rutland and Dr. George Page of Crown Point. Troops were ordered out on both sides and the condition of affairs looked serious. Dr. Page was in turn arrested at Exeter by order of the New Hampshire Legislature, and confined in jail there. Hale was released on 30 Dec., 1781, and Page on 10 Jan., 1782, and the whole matter was finally settled in 1782 on the basis proposed by the Federal Congress, The Vermont Legislature withdrawing all claim of jurisdiction of the towns east of the Connecticut river."

Battles

During the

French and Indian War The French and Indian War, 1754 to 1763, was a colonial conflict in North America between Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and Kingdom of France, France, along with their respective Native Americans in the United States, Native American ...

Enoch Hale served in the

New Hampshire Provincial Regiment The New Hampshire Provincial Regiment was a provincial military regiment made up of men from the New Hampshire Militia during the French and Indian War for service with the British Army in North America. It was first formed in 1754 with the sta ...

in 1755 and 1757-1758. Enoch Hale was the 1st

magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judi ...

in the town of Rindge. During the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which Am ...

Colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

Enoch Hale led the 15th New Hampshire Militia Regiment at the

Battle of Bennington The Battle of Bennington was a battle of the American Revolutionary War, part of the Saratoga campaign, that took place on August 16, 1777, on the John Green farm in Walloomsac, New York, about from its namesake, Bennington, Vermont. An American ...

and

Battle of Rhode Island The Battle of Rhode Island (also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill) took place on August 29, 1778. Continental Army and Militia forces under the command of Major General John Sullivan had been besieging the British forces in Newport, Rhode Is ...

in 1778.

Genealogy

Enoch Hale was not the son of Moses Hale (Thomas3, Thomas2, Thomas1) is said to be born in Rowley 28 Nov. 1733. Enoch was one of 7 children; Nathan who died young, Moses, Elizabeth, Eunice, Lucy and another Nathan. According to Descendants of Thomas Hale P. 94 indicates Moses family. Moses father was Justice Thomas Hale of Newbury, grandson of Thomas Hale,

Watton-at-Stone Watton-at-Stone is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, England, and is midway between the towns of Stevenage and Hertford in the valley of the River Beane. History Etymology The name Watton first appeared in writing in an 11th-cent ...

Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is a ceremonial county in the East of England and one of the home counties. It borders Bedfordshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Essex to the east, Greater London to the ...

, England who arrived in 1637 and was founder of Newbury, Ma. Colonel Enoch Hale died April 9, 1813, in

Sources

* *
State Builders: An Illustrated Historical and Biographical Record of the State of New Hampshire. State Builders Publishing Manchester, NH 1903

References