It’s interesting, but not unusual, to find a cluster of families that are related living in the same geographic area for several generations. One of those instances for my family is the area of New London, Connecticut. And another bonus for me is the rich historical documentation that is also available for early New London.
One of my New London family lines is the Hempstead family. Joshua Hempstead (1678-1758), my 7th great grandfather, kept a diary for almost half a century. And as you might expect, the diary is rich in information about his family even though the entries are typically quite brief. The Joshua Hempstead Diary 1711-1758, first published in 1901 by the New London Historical Society, is a treasure trove of tidbits of everyday life in colonial Connecticut.
Joshua Hempstead had a wide variety of
occupations and interests during his life.
He was primarily a farmer, however he was often involved in other
activities that contributed to the family income including surveyor, carpenter,
attorney, stone-cutter, sailor and trader.
Joshua also served the community as a justice of the peace, judge of
probate, executor of various wills, overseer to widows, guardian of orphans, and
a consultant and advisor to many. As a 3rd
generation Hempstead in New London, he was related to most everyone in the area
and his Diary includes entries that mention many family and friends throughout
the New London community. Joshua’s 47
years of almost daily entries filled over 700 pages with facts, remarks and
commentary.
I read through The Joshua Hempstead Diary noting entries or
comments about my own ancestors. Of
course, many comments were included that mentioned Joshua’s immediate family:
28 Apr 1715, the Sorrowful News of ye Death of father
Bayley [father-in-law]
30 Jul 1716, my wife delivered a Daughter about Sunset
in good [health].
4 Aug 1716, my wife very ill.
5 Aug 1716, my Dear Wife Died about half an hour before
Sunrise. I was at home al day except in
the Evening I went to ye burying place.
6 Aug 1716, the body of my dear wife was buried about 2
Clock in ye aftern. ... I Carryed my babe to Mary Trumans at night to Nurse.
7 Aug 1716, I was down to Capt Rogers's to get a Nurse
for my Infant.
10 Aug 1716, my Dutyfull Son Joshua Died about Noon
like a Lamb being 17 years & 20 days old a patren of patience.
11 Aug 1716, I was home al day Except going to ye
funerall of my dear Child who was Interred by his Mother about 2 or 3 of ye
Clock afternoon.
12 Aug 1716, my daughter Mary babtized.
28 Aug 1716, I was home al day physicking abigal.
29 Aug 1716, I was
about home mending fence & looking after Abigal who Remained very ill.
5 Dec 1727, we buried
mother att Sunset. [Joshua’s mother,
Elizabeth Larrabee Hempstead]
And, several entries referenced Joshua’s son, John Hempstead and his wife Hannah Salmon Hempstead, my 6th great grandparents:
13 Nov 1731, ... about to go to So hold [Southold, NY] with John in
order to Marry.
16 Nov 1731, I went with Mr Woolsey to Brother Salmons
and then toward night with Brother to get Mr Lamb to Marry John.
17 Nov 1731, John & Hannah Salmon were married
toward night a housefull of People & Stayed to play till midnight
18 Nov 1731, I was at Brother Salmons al day.
7 Dec 1731, yesterday adam Carted Abigails household
Stuff & put it on bord Tit Hurlbut bound to Stonington.
5 Nov 1738, Babtized,
a Child of Jno Hempsteads Abigail.
I was pleasantly surprised when I found quite a few comments about another of my family lines, that of James Smith (1704-1758) “the Barber”, my 6th great grandfather:
25 Sep 1729, I
was at Smiths the Barbers...
21 Nov 1754, ...
after nine I maried Anthony Fraisyer & Eliza Bayley ye Daughter of Ja. Smith Barber at the house of Ichabod
Powers.
12 Nov 1756, I
went over to Jno Hempsteds & had Leave to marry their Daughter Abigail (She
being pregnant) to James Smith Son of James Smith the Barber. I married them att John Griffings in the
night after 9 oe Clock &c.
3 Aug 1758, James Smith the Barber buryed Died
yesterday. he was a Decriped man. he had the numpalsie I Supose 20 year ago
& Never had the use of his limbs Since.
a poor man in the care of the Town Eptr B.
Non-Hempstead ancestors were also mentioned such as John Rogers (1675-1739) & Deborah Dayton (abt 1680 - ?), my 6th great grandparents:
7 Aug 1716, I was down to Capt Rogers's to get a Nurse
for my Infant.
11 Jan 1719, Jno
Rogers & Deb Daton published.
14 Jul 1739, John Rogers the Son of Joseph Rogers was buried Died this morning having had the measels the fevar & flux afterwards aged 60 odd.
And John Rogers (1716-1779) & Martha Colver (1717-1760) / my 5th great grandparents:
23
Apr 1738, Jno Rogers and Martha Colver
Published.
Joshua Hempstead, the diarist, was the
grandson of Robert Hempstead who was believed to be one of 36 grantees of
original house lots in the settlement of New London in the mid-1600's. Joshua was one of 9 children, his father’s
only son, and he inherited his father’s homestead. He married as a young man and had 9 children
of his own before his wife passed away a few days after the birth of his last
child. Joshua never remarried. He worked hard to support and raise his family
with the help of relatives and hired help.
Joshua’s diary entries ended only 6 weeks before he died at 80 years of
age.
* * * * *
My early Hempstead line:
1) Robert Hempstead (1613-1655)
2) Joshua Hempstead (1649-1688) m. Elizabeth Larrabee (1652-1727)
3) Joshua Hempstead [Joshua’s Diary] (1678-1758) m. Abigail Bailey (1677-1716)
4) John Hempstead (1709-1779) m. Hannah Salmon (1710-1765)
5) Abigail Hempstead (1738-1814) m. James Smith (1732-1798)
Notes:
There are plenty of Hempstead family members and events mentioned in the 47 year span of Joshua’s Diary. Several other of my family lines also mentioned in various diary entries include the surnames of Larrabee, Rogers, Colver, Dayton, Bailey, Salmon, Smith, Bill and Chapman – families living in New London in the 1700’s.
All of these surnames and family branches connect in later generations to my Dickinson and Hale lines on the Scribner side of my family.
– Jane Scribner McCrary
