Richard Hale, Jr.

Ancestor #: A206326 Service: CONNECTICUT Rank(s): PRIVATE

Richard Hale was married to Mary "Polly" Wright on March 16, 1786. They had three children, Mary, Laura and Polly. Richard served during the Revolutionary War as a Private in the Company of Col. Obediah Johnston's Regiment, in Providence Rhode Island, under Capt. Benjamin Clark. He enlisted Jan 8, 1788, and is a Patriot in DAR records. Records have him dying on St Eustatius Island in the Carribean Island chain; cause of death was consumption. He was brought home and interred here. His brother John was an executor of his will. He gave everything to wife Mary Polly Wright and his only surviving daughter Laura.

Nearly half of all American Revolutionary military supplies were obtained through St. Eustatius. Nearly all American communications to Europe first passed through the island. The trade between St. Eustatius and the United States was the main reason for the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War of 1780-1784.[14] For example, the British Admiral George Brydges Rodney, having occupied the island for Great Britain in 1781, urged the commander of the landing troops, Major-General Sir John Vaughan, to seize "Mr. Smith at the house of Jones - they (the Jews of St. Eustatius, Caribbean Antilles)[15] cannot be too soon taken care of - they are notorious in the cause of America and France." The war was disastrous for the Dutch economy.

from: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=11464520