Person:Nathaniel Wales (14)

Nathaniel Wales Jr., a noted man in Windham county during the Revolutionary War, and as prominent a man as the town of Windham had during that stormy period, was born March, 1722, in Windham. He was prominent in town affairs, and was held in high esteem, retaining the trust and confidence of his townsmen to the day of his death. He was married in March, 1741, to Mary Wetmore, daughter of Izrahiah and Sarah Booth Wetmore, of Middletown, Conn. Mr. Wales lived at intervals in Middletown, Norwich and Windham until 1761, after which period he lived in Windham until the time of his death. \\par Tradition has it that when Mr. Wales was married, his wife expressed a hope that if any children were born to them, God in infinite mercy would not let them live to maturity. However, true or false the tradition, there is a headstone or monument erected in the old Windham cemetery to the nineteen children of Nathaniel Wales and his wife Mary, all of whom died in infancy. \\par The Colonial records of the State abound in references to the public career of Mr. Wales. He was appointed by the colonial assembly of Connecticut as a member of the Council of Safety, and is recorded as present at the first meeting of the council. Mr. wales attended almost every session of the Council of Safety, especially those held in Lebanon from 1775 to 1780. Many delicate and difficult missions were entrusted to him by the General Assembly and the Council of Safety. In those "days that tried men's souls,: when it seemed as if those loyal men would be obliged to abandon in despair the glorious cause of freedom and independence which they were striving so hard to attain, Mr. Wales was close to Gov. Trumbull, who bravely and cheerfully discharged the responsibilities of his high office, meeting its duties with a faithfulness and tenacity of purpose characteristic of those men who made it possible for this nation to attain its present greatness. When the clouds were the darkest, and the resources of the Colonists almost exhausted, "Brother Jonathan" leaned heavily upon this son of old Windham, and profited much by his aid and advice.

1. ↑ Windham Vital Records, in Connecticut, United States. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records
   1:34.

   WALES, Nathaniel, s. Ebenezer & Easther, b. Mar. 20, 1722