Stephen Hempstead

  General Notes:

Stephen Hempstead and Nathan Hale were friends in 1776. Hale was hung as a spy by the British at 21 years of age.

Stephen Hempstead called THE PATRIOT was also born in the Hempstead House and Stephen served in Batles of Cambridge, Bunker Hill and Roxbury; marched to New York in a company commanded by Nathan Hale; was a close friend of Nathan Hale and went with him into the British Lines. Stephen Hempstead was probably the last friendly person Hale ever saw. Stephen was with Washington on his retreat from Long Island and served at Fort Trumball, New London, Sept. 6, 1781, where he was wounded.

Nathan Hale was hanged in New York by the British for being a spy on Sept. 22, 1776. Under Gen. George Washington's direct orders, Hale had disguised himself as a Dutch schoolmaster and made his way into New York, only to be captured by the British. His last words before dying have become immortal. They were: "I only regret I have but one life to lose for my country."

Stephen married Mary Lewis Hempstead on 4 Sep 1777 at her father's house at the Harbor.