Connection to Nathan Hale's sister

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Our connection to the Nathan Hale Homestead

The family has long held it has a connection to Joanna Hale, who was the sister to Nathan Hale, the American patriot who was captured and hung as a spy in New York. He is often quoted as saying "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." Joanna Hale married Dr. Nathan Howard. Joanna and Nathan had only 2 sons who lived past infancy; John (born 1784) and Nathan Jr (born 1795). I'm not sure if John married or has descendants. Nathan Jr did not marry.

Our main proof of provenance is a listing of the heirlooms that were given to the Butler family by a cousin, Emily Strickland, upon her death in 1962. I was there when our grandparents asked us to choose items that had belonged to our Cousin Emily.

Obituary of (Cousin) Emily, who lived with our Grandparents before she died. See a picture of Emily with her young Butler cousins. Emily was a grand niece of our great-grandmother Sarah Strickland Savage (See tree below).

I have not found a solid connection through the Strickland line back to Joanna Hale, and it is possible that the lineage comes through a maternal line that connects to the Stricklands. Another possiblity is it came through a guardianship or inheritance. My grandmother, Eva Lutz Butler was an anthropologist, historian and genealogist, so I believe these attributions to Joanna Hale Howard to be true (whether by lineage or inheritance).

Here are some documents and photos to show what we inherited and its current ownership as of August 2026.

Inventory with descriptions showing items from Joanna Hale Howard.

Only image I could find of Sheriden chairs listed as item 2. They were sold to the Nathan Hale Homestead.

Windsor arm chair (item 3). Still in our possession. Round or oval top candle table (item 5/6). Item 5: Passed on to a niece. Item 6: Nathan's.

Sheriden upholstered couch (item 4). Sold.

Underside of Round top candle table (item 6). With Nathan.

Square top candle table (item 7). With David

Inventory with descriptions showing items from Joanna Hale Howard as well as Jeremiah Ripley and Chief Justice Jesse Root. All of these items came from Cousin Emily. See pictures below.

Lower part of High boy (item 8). with Susan.

Swell-front Bureau (item 9) and Mirror (item 12). with David.

Chippendale side chairs (item 14). Attributed to Chief Justice Jesse Root. Their location is unknown.

Overstuffed chair, 1 of 2 (item 16). Attributed to "Mr. Howard." With David.

A Strickland family tree (source files)

While not strictly proving that we are related to the Nathan Hale family, the following might help future searchers find connections to Joanna Hale Howard and our family. It also details the Butler family relationship to the Stricklands.

Thwait Strickland. born about 1618