Lt Nathaniel Gray

  Noted events in his life were:

• Gravestone: From Find a Grave, 1777, Ridgefield, Fairfield, Connecticut. Lieut Nathaniel "Nathan" Gray

Birth: Jul. 20, 1741
Redding
Fairfield County
Connecticut, USA

Death: Apr. 27, 1777
Ridgefield
Fairfield County
Connecticut, USA

Lt. Nathan Gray was son of John Gray (s.o. Jacob Gray Jr. and Hannah Seeley) and Hannah Scribner (d.o. Thomas Scribner and Mary Abbott) of Redding, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.

Nathaniel (called "Nathan" by everyone) married Hannah Boughton (dau. of Eleazor Boughton and Elizabeth Seymore) on November 15, 1764 in Canaan, Litchfield Co., Connecticut.

Nathan was a patriot soldier of the Revolutionary War under the combined command of Generals' David Wooster and Benedict Arnold.

Nathan was one of the eight Patriots killed in battle on April 27, 1777 at the "Battle of Ridgefield" while holding off a much larger contingent (outnumbered 3:1) of British troops which were led by British General Tryon.

There is a common burial ground in Ridgefield where soldiers from both sides of the battle were buried including the body of Lt. Nathan Gray with a single marker to signify the burial site. The marker where the bodies are buried in a mass grave states:

"In Defense of American Independence
At the Battle of Ridgefield
April 27, 1777
Died
Eight Patriots

Who were laid in this ground
Companioned by
Sixteen British Soldiers
Living, their enemies, Dying their guests,
In honor of service and sacrifice
This Memorial is Placed
For the Strengthening of Hearts"

Unfortunately, there are no individual grave markers for each patriot.

General Wooster was badly wounded in the battle and taken to Danbury where he would die from his wounds. Gen. Wooster was the highest ranking officer to die in the War of the Revolution. Gen. Benedict Arnold was also injured when his horse was shot out from under him during this battle and left him trapped while under heavy fire, but he continued to fight. Arnold was cited for bravery and was rewarded by being promoted to Major General. Of course, two years later he would become the country's most famous traitor. Prior to his betraying the Patriots and switching sides, he had the most remarkable record of success of any other General in the war, but he had become bitter over matters that led to his fall.

General Wooster was not buried in this anonymous mass grave, but was interred in the Danbury Cemetery with a massive monument.

Family links:
Spouse:
Hannah Boughton Gray (1739 - ____)

Children:
Hannah Gray Eells (1774 - 1818)

Burial:
Battle of Ridgefield Burial Ground
Ridgefield
Fairfield County
Connecticut, USA
Created by: Ric Chrysler
Record added: Nov 09, 2014
Find A Grave Memorial# 138509755

Nathaniel married Hannah Boughton, daughter of Eleazor Boughton and Elizabeth Seymore, on 15 Nov 1764 in Canaan, Litchfield, Connecticut. (Hannah Boughton was born on 2 Oct 1739 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticuit.)