Biography

Sarah Dare Hance, born January 25, 1820 in Palmyra, Ontario Co., (now Macedon, Wayne Co.) New York to Thomas Clair and Esther Aldreich (Lapham) Hance.  She never married and died June 10, 1867 in Macedon Center, Wayne Co., NY.  Macedon Center Cemetary, Macedon Center, NY holds her remains.
	
	The following was written by her brother, Samuel Francis Hance (1825-1922)
		“Sarah Dare (Hance) was the idol of the whole family and devoted her whole life to her parents and brothers, having much influence over the lives of all of them.  She had a strong versatile mind, was highly educated, being a graduate of the Albany Female College, the leading institution of its kind in the State.  She here acquired a thorough knowledge of the French language so as to speak it fluently.  After completing her education, she taught many years, occupying prominent positions.  She was preceptress in the Palmyra Union School a number of years.  In 1855 she took a position as governess in Senator’s Seward’s family and later became an assistant in his office when he was Secretary of State in Lincoln’s cabinet, and lived a number of years in Washington.  
		After Mother’s death, she came home to assist in caring for Father, remaining there until the close of her life.
		She was said to be a Dare as she resembled so closely in her personal appearance her grandmother Dare, with the exception of being less in height.  She was a person of great refinement with a warm, cheerful, happy disposition, strong affections and deep convictions."  She was a birthright member of the Society of Friends but later in life her environments were such that she united with the Episcopal Church.  "Her great delight consisted in doing good and in making others happy.  As her noble and beautiful life was ebbing away on a bright June morning, she breathed an impressive prayer for each of her brothers and their wives, by name, and Sister’s disembodied spirit passed to the home of the pure in heart, leaving an imperishable heritage of a devoted life, full of good.  (I have ever remember the closing words of a valedictory address of Sister’s, “In the pure upper where disembodied spirits dwell and wandering perilous to rest.”)
		Her funeral was conducted by the Rev. Gallispy, Rector of Zion Episcopal Church, Palmyra, of which she was a member, and later prepared a short memorial that was published in their Church paper.”

		“Hance, Sarah D., daughter of Thomas C. Hance, a horticulturist, was born at Macedon, Jan. 25th, 1820; entered the Academy the first day of the first day of the first term; attended two years; graduated at the Albany Female College.  Preceptress  in Macedon, Palmyra and Utica schools.  Died June 10th, 1867” [History of Macedon Academy—1841-1891.  Fairport, NY:  Mail Stream Printing House.  1892, pg. 48-49.]

		“Sarah Dare was one of the teachers employed at the Palmyra Classical Union School in 1848.  Also was a teacher for the child or children of Secretary of State William Seward, while he was in Abraham Lincoln’s Cabinet.  (He spearheaded the purchase of Alaska for the United States)”  [Landmarks of Wayne County, pg. 178]