Gregory Wale

An agreeable companion, a faithful friend, an hospitable neighbour, and in all parts of life a useful member of society.

This obelisk was erected by his surviving friend James Church Esq as a public testimony of his regard to the memory of so worthy a gentleman.

Gregory Wale and James Church used to meet regularly at this place, and they agreed that when one of them died, the survivor should put up a monument to his friend's memory on the very spot where they so often met.

She married Allen Hurrell (senior, died 1740[4]) at Little Shelford on 12 January 1719 and their daughter Margaret Hurrell (junior) married John (Littel) Bridge (died 1776, buried at Harston) an "eminent counsellor at law" at Lackford near Risby, Bury St Edmunds in 1752[5] John Littel Bridge's brother Thomas was also in business in Riga, associated with Thomas Wale.

All of the above were notable landowners in Harston[6] John Littel Bridge was the son of Robert Bridge of Shudy Camps and Sarah (or Susanna) daughter of Thomas (or John) Littel of Halstead Co, Essex[7] Gregory Wale married his second wife Elizabeth Hitch and they had a son called Hitch Wale (born 1711).

This book (page 63) gives an interesting anecdote concerning the birth of his son Thomas Wale: "7ber 15th 1701 - Wagered with Von Poodall a bottle of wine yt [that] my next child will be a boy".

"Harston - History and Local Records of a Cambridgeshire Village" compiled by Helen C. Greene 1937 "In Memory of the Sounds of Shelford Parva in Cambridge" by Fanny Lucretia Wale.