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Alice Adams' great-granddaughters' statement, 07 February 1927

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Hastings, Mary E.; Shriver, Isabel Hastings
Title
Alice Adams' great-granddaughters' statement
Dates
07 February 1927
Quantity
5 pages
Collection Number
MG 5034
Summary
Statement by Alice Adams and correspondence to U of I President.
Repository
University of Idaho Library, Special Collections and Archives
Special Collections and Archives
University of Idaho Library
875 Perimeter Drive
MS 2350
Moscow, ID
83844-2350
Telephone: 2088850845
libspec@uidaho.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Alice Adams was born to Captain Samuel Adams and his wife in 1756. At some point, Alice's mother remarried to Deacon Hale. Deacon had three daughters and nine sons, one of which was Nathan Hale. Nathan Hale was an American solider during the American Revolutionary War. He volunteered for intelligence gather, and was a spy for the Continental Army. Nathan and Alice became very fond of one another, but Alice was convinced to marry Major Ripley. Two years into their marriage, Major Ripley died, leaving Alice a widow. Nathan and Alice rekindled their love, but it was cut short when Nathan was captured by the British on a mission in New York City. He was executed on September 22, 1776. Some time afterward, Alice remarried to William Lawrence. This was considered to be a marriage solely for financial reasons, though all in all it seemed to be a happy one.

The romance between Alice and Nathan was a story that transcended years after the American Revolution. So much so that her great-granddaughters wrote and publishd their story. Nathan Hale was dubbed an American hero, and in 1985 he was designated Connecticut's state hero.

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Content Description

This collection includes a statement of Isabel Hastings Shriver and Mary E. Hastings, great granddaughters of Alice Adams, concerning relationship between their great-grandmother and Nathan Hale, accompanied by a letter signed by Mary E. Hastings to the President of the University of Idaho.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

Author, Description or "Title" of item, date. Collection name, collection number, box, folder. University of Idaho Library Special Collections and Archives, Moscow, ID.

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Administrative Information

Location of Collection

This collection is located in the Small Manuscripts section of U of I Library Special Collection and Archives.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • American Revolution, 1775-1783
  • Correspondence
  • University of Idaho

Personal Names

  • Hale, Nathan, 1755-1776
  • Lawrence, Alicia Adams Ripley, 1756-1843
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