William Hale, Esq., Sheriff of Hertfordshire

William Hale was the son of Richard Hale of King's Walden and his first wife Mary Lambert. He married Rose Bond of Watton-at-Stone, Hertfordshire. Rose was born c. 1555, the daughter of Sir George Bond, Knight. They were the parents of nine children. He died Aug. 1634.

Sources vary on the date of his birth. Some state, with no proof, that he was born c. 1551 at Codicote, Hertfordshire, England. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 35, puts William Hale's birth closer to 1568, stating he was 66 years of age at his death in 1634. The article did not name his wife but did name nine children, with dates of birth.

William Hale was named Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 1621, during the reign of James I (not High Sheriff, that title was created much later). William was living at King's Walden while serving as Sheriff.

William was the primary heir of his father, Richard Hale, however, King's Walden was bequeathed to William's brother Richard. Eventually, the property ended up coming into William's estate.

There are some web trees stating a first wife named Martha but sources have not been found for her or for the children she bore. There are several Hale families in Hertfordshire, with similar names, so there is likely confusion among families.

Children of William Hale and wife Rose Bond:

• Richard Hale, b. 1596, Hertfordshire,England
• William Hale, b. 1597, Hexton, Hertfordshire, England
• Rowland Hale, b. Abt 1599, Hertfordshire,England
• George Hale, c. 13 Jul 1601, Hertfordshire,England
• Alicia Hale, b. 1603, Hertfordshire,England
• Winefreda Hale, b. 1604, Hertfordshire, England
• Thomas Hale, b. 1606, Hertfordshire, England
• Anne Hale, c. 25 Jun 1609, Kings Warden,Hertfordshire,England , d. 2 Sep 1651
• Dionisia Hale, c. 17 Mar 1611, Hertfordshire, England

Links to additional material:

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Sheriff_of_Hertfordshire). - explains title and lists Sheriffs.
• http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=43574&strquery=...
• http://www.hale-genealogy.com/enghales/herts.htm#rich01
• The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 35 (available as a Google e-book)