All brothers-in-law by marriage—the other father-in-law by marriage left 4 widows and about 30 fatherless children

Telling my 4^th Great Grandfather’s story has been a difficult chore. I knew very little of Henry Ackley aside from a few vital facts. He was born about 1780 in Middlesex County, Connecticut, married Ruth Purple in Chatham Dec. 26, 1801 and passed April 24, 1814.

When I read the following newspaper article published in May of 1814, I knew I found something unique.

Middlesex Gazette, Middletown, Connecticut, May 19, 1814

   Singular instance of Mortality in Chatham, East

     Hampton Society

DIED—At Chatham on Sunday the 8^th inst.

Mr. Nathaniel Gates, aged 50, being the 4^th head

of a family that has died within a short time past

out of three houses within the distance of about

20 rods, and all males, and near related by mar-

rage and family connections, three of whom with-

in one month, all brothers-in-law by marriage—

the other father-in-law by marriage to the three

and have left four widows and about 30 fatherless

children to mourn their loss; about 20 of them

young and unsettled in the world. A number

still remain sick in the different families with the

prevailing fever—Mr. Stephen Knowlton died

January 29^th, aged 83, left a widow and 7 or 8

children—Mr. Timothy Fielding died April 8^th,

aged 40, lived five days, left a widow and 9 chil-

dren—Mr. Henry Ackley died April 24, aged 34,

lived 7 days, left a widow and 5 small children—

Mr. Nathaniel Gates died May 8^th, aged 50, left a

widow and 8 children.

N. B. The widow of Timothy Fielding, and the widow

of Nathaniel Gates, are daughters of Mr.

Stephen Knowlton, deceased. The widow of Hen-

ry Ackley is daughter of Mrs. Knowlton.

The family connections need some explanation. I mentioned earlier Henry Ackley married Ruth Purple. Ruth’s parents were Edward Purple and Mary Hodge. Edward Purple died in 1794 and the following year Ruth’s mother married Stephen Knowlton.

Stephen Knowlton married three times. A daughter, Hannah, from his first wife married Nathaniel Gates. Sarah, who married Timothy Fielding, was Stephen Knowlton’s daughter by his second wife. Mary (Hodge) Ackley became his third wife in 1795.

Middlesex Gazette

Published Middletown, Connecticut

May 19, 1814