The Earle family : Ralph Earle and his descendants

Gen.] GENEALOGY. 57
Their children were :
325-1. George Earle, b. Nov. 17, 1757 5 drowned in
to swim across the St. Lawrence river.
attempting
326-2.
327-3.
32S-4.
329-5.
Frederick Earle, b. Oct. 11, 1759; m. Elizabeth Young.
Artemas Earle, b. June 23, 1762 ; m. Sally Tarbell.
Mary Earle, b. March 8, 1764; m. Elijah Parker.
Lydia Earle, b. Sept. 3, 1767; m. 1st, Nathan Gile ; 2d,
Martin Stevens ; 3d, Samuel Wiswell.
330-6. Xenophon Earle, b. June 10, 1770; m. Sally Gilkey.
331-7. Walter Earle, b. March 18, 1773
332-8. Catherine Earle, b. April 30, 1775
; m. Hannah Allen.
; d. Aug. 31, 1777.
333-9. Alvan Earle, b. Aug. 20, 1778; m. Fanny Shaw.
[172-6]. Thomas 5 Earle (Robert^ Ralphs William, 2
Ralfl/1 1
), son of Robert and Mary (Newhall) Earle, b.
Aug. 27, 1737, in Leicester, Mass. ; m. Jan. 22, 1761,
Hannah (b. 1740; d. Aug. 22, 1799), dau. of Nathaniel
and Hannah (Southgate) Wait, of Leicester ; and d.
March 21, 1819.
The following is extracted from "Washburn's History of Leicester :"
"Mr. Earle resided in Cherry Valley, Leicester, in the house
where Mr. Heman Burr now lives. [The house was burned in
1873]. He planted the fine rows of sycamores that stood [some of
the trees are still standing] before it, on the day of the battle of
Lexington. He was distinguished for his mechanical skill and
ingenuity. He manufactured a gun of exquisite workmanship for
Col. William Henshaw, in 1773 ; and when Col. Henshaw marched
to Cambridge, in 1775? he took it into the service. Here it fell
under the observation of Gen. Washington, who admired it so much
that he ordered one of the same pattern. Mr. Earle having completed
it, loaded and primed it, and placed it under water, all but the
muzzle, during a night ; and, taking it out in the morning, discharged
it as if it had just been loaded. He carried it to New York,
where the army then lay, and delivered it personally to Gen. Washington,
having travelled the distance on foot, and carried it upon his
shoulder. It received great commendation for its perfection of
workmanship."
The gun was marked with the maker's name, " Thomas Earl"
Upon reading this, Gen. Washington said, "Mr. Earle, your name
is not correctly spelled ; E-a-r-1 is a title of nobility ; you should add
an e to it."