MASSACHUSETTS GAZETTE
October 2, 1766
- A son of Captain Clark was killed by a Sperm Whale near George's Banks a few days since. The Whale struck the boat at the bows with his head, with great force, throwing the young man who stood there ready with his lance, into the mouth of the Whale, which turned and made off with him. He was heard to scream by his father, who commanded the boat, as the fishes jaws closed about him.
Nathan apparently died in a sea fight off the coast of France, while aboard the ship Mars, which fight is referred to on his father's moss-flecked tombstone in this fashion: "Momenta Mori. Here lieth the remains of Mr. Elnathan Haskell. He died the 16th April 1783 in the 58th year of his age... Lieutenant Nathan Haskell son of Mr. E. Haskell fell in an engagement in Latitude 47 & 18 N. on the coast of France ye 9th Sept. 1780 in the 20th year of his age."
There does not seem to be any official record of such an engagement but documents exist showing that he enlisted as a marine and later was made a lieutenant on the Ship Mars, which sailed with secret instructions to some port in France, probably Nantes, as it is near the latitude position given on the headstone. Haskell and other officers, according to the records, petitioned on July 6th, 1780 for a re-rating of prize shares.
Reference
Chronicles of the Haskell Family
Ira J. Haskell
Ellis Printing Company, Lynn, Massachusetts, 1943
Pages 151, 152
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The Rochester, Massachusetts Vital Records reads:
"Lt. Nathan Haskell: killed off coast of France in U.S. Navy in Rev. War."