Joshua Hempstead was Grandson of Robert and Joane Hempstead, who were among the founders of New London. He was one of nine children, the only son of Joshua and Elizabeth Larrabee Hempstead (his sister Elizabeth, 1672-1733, who married John Plumbe, is my 7th Great Grandmother).
Very little is known about Joshua Hempstead's early life. He was apprenticed to Thomas Mitchell, a shipwright, learning skills which he practiced for the rest of his life. Several sources indicate he was involved in the coastal shipping trade, and was at least purported to have marketed rum and other products at Long Island and other locations.
Joshua married Abigail Bailey of Long Island about 1697, and before her death 5 Aug 1716, Joshua and Abigail had nine children, 6 sons and 3 daughters: Joshua, Nathanael (Mary Hallam), Robert (Mary Youngs), Stephen (Sarah Holt), Thomas, John (Hannah Salmon), Abigail (Clement Minor), Elizabeth (Daniel Starr), and Mary (Thomas Pierrepont). After the death of his son Nathanael in 1729, Joshua Hempstead raised the two sons of Nathanael and Mary Hallam Hempstead: Joshua (b. 1724) and Nathanael (b. 1727).
While buried originally in the Ancient Burial Place (see photo), the graves of Joshua and Abigail Bailey Hempstead and many of their descendants were moved to Cedar Grove Cemetery in the 19th Century.
"Biographical comments" about Joshua Hempstead would never do him justice. Allow me to use instead this quote from Frances Manwaring Caulkins in her HISTORY OF NEW LONDON:
"...Joshua Hempstead, 2d--took an active part in the affairs of the town for a period of fifty years, reckoning from 1708. The 'Hempstead Diary,'...was a private journal kept by him, from the year 1711 to his death in 1758...
It's author was a remarkable man--one that might serve to represent, or at least illustrate, the age, country and society in which he lived. The diversity of his occupations marks a custom of the day: he was at once farmer, surveyor, house and ship carpenter, attorney, stone cutter, sailor and trader.
He generally held three or four town offices; was justice of the peace, judge of probate, executor of various wills, overseer to widows, guardian to orphans, member of all committees, every body's helper and adviser, and cousin to half of the community. Of the Winthrop family he was a friend and confidential agent, managing their business concerns whenever the head of the family was absent.
The original homestead of Robert Hempstead remains in the possession of one branch of his descendants. The house now standing on the spot, is undoubtedly the most ancient building in New London... The age of the Hempstead house is determined by the Hempstead diary. The writer occupied the dwelling, and writing in 1743, says it had been built sixty-five years." (end quote)
(The above quotations are taken from HISTORY OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, From the First Survey of the Coast in 1612 to 1860, A Heritage Classic by Frances Manwaring Caulkins, pp 273-274. Published by H. D. Utley, 1895; a facsimile reprint Published 2000, by Heritage Books, Inc.)
Joshua's obituary appeared in the New London Summary 29 Dec 1758: "New London, Dec. 29 [1758]. Last Friday morning died here, in the 81st year of his age, Joshua Hempstead, Esq; one of his Majesty's justices in Commission for this county; a useful friend, a promoter of peace, and a valuable member of society. In all the publick offices he sustained, his conduct was unexceptionable [i.e., flawless]; he acted with uniform integrity, and preserved an unblemished character. His funeral was attended on Sabbath evening."
On a personal note, a word about THE DIARY. 766 pages in the 1999 edition (counting introduction and index, which all bear study); to undertake a reading seems a daunting task. Yet after 3 of those readings, I have been the beneficiary of a treasure.
New knowledge of my family, direct and indirect, have enriched my personal genealogy. Even more gratifying, however, is the sense, as I traveled through his daily life experiences over 47 years, of personal acquaintance with my 7th Grand-Uncle, Joshua Hempstead, Esquire.
It took a year's research and the assistance of at least two kind volunteers to find the Diarist's grave. My past concerns for the condition of his grave seem unfounded.
Very little is known about Joshua Hempstead's early life. He was apprenticed to Thomas Mitchell, a shipwright, learning skills which he practiced for the rest of his life. Several sources indicate he was involved in the coastal shipping trade, and was at least purported to have marketed rum and other products at Long Island and other locations.
Joshua married Abigail Bailey of Long Island about 1697, and before her death 5 Aug 1716, Joshua and Abigail had nine children, 6 sons and 3 daughters: Joshua, Nathanael (Mary Hallam), Robert (Mary Youngs), Stephen (Sarah Holt), Thomas, John (Hannah Salmon), Abigail (Clement Minor), Elizabeth (Daniel Starr), and Mary (Thomas Pierrepont). After the death of his son Nathanael in 1729, Joshua Hempstead raised the two sons of Nathanael and Mary Hallam Hempstead: Joshua (b. 1724) and Nathanael (b. 1727).
While buried originally in the Ancient Burial Place (see photo), the graves of Joshua and Abigail Bailey Hempstead and many of their descendants were moved to Cedar Grove Cemetery in the 19th Century.
"Biographical comments" about Joshua Hempstead would never do him justice. Allow me to use instead this quote from Frances Manwaring Caulkins in her HISTORY OF NEW LONDON:
"...Joshua Hempstead, 2d--took an active part in the affairs of the town for a period of fifty years, reckoning from 1708. The 'Hempstead Diary,'...was a private journal kept by him, from the year 1711 to his death in 1758...
It's author was a remarkable man--one that might serve to represent, or at least illustrate, the age, country and society in which he lived. The diversity of his occupations marks a custom of the day: he was at once farmer, surveyor, house and ship carpenter, attorney, stone cutter, sailor and trader.
He generally held three or four town offices; was justice of the peace, judge of probate, executor of various wills, overseer to widows, guardian to orphans, member of all committees, every body's helper and adviser, and cousin to half of the community. Of the Winthrop family he was a friend and confidential agent, managing their business concerns whenever the head of the family was absent.
The original homestead of Robert Hempstead remains in the possession of one branch of his descendants. The house now standing on the spot, is undoubtedly the most ancient building in New London... The age of the Hempstead house is determined by the Hempstead diary. The writer occupied the dwelling, and writing in 1743, says it had been built sixty-five years." (end quote)
(The above quotations are taken from HISTORY OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, From the First Survey of the Coast in 1612 to 1860, A Heritage Classic by Frances Manwaring Caulkins, pp 273-274. Published by H. D. Utley, 1895; a facsimile reprint Published 2000, by Heritage Books, Inc.)
Joshua's obituary appeared in the New London Summary 29 Dec 1758: "New London, Dec. 29 [1758]. Last Friday morning died here, in the 81st year of his age, Joshua Hempstead, Esq; one of his Majesty's justices in Commission for this county; a useful friend, a promoter of peace, and a valuable member of society. In all the publick offices he sustained, his conduct was unexceptionable [i.e., flawless]; he acted with uniform integrity, and preserved an unblemished character. His funeral was attended on Sabbath evening."
On a personal note, a word about THE DIARY. 766 pages in the 1999 edition (counting introduction and index, which all bear study); to undertake a reading seems a daunting task. Yet after 3 of those readings, I have been the beneficiary of a treasure.
New knowledge of my family, direct and indirect, have enriched my personal genealogy. Even more gratifying, however, is the sense, as I traveled through his daily life experiences over 47 years, of personal acquaintance with my 7th Grand-Uncle, Joshua Hempstead, Esquire.
It took a year's research and the assistance of at least two kind volunteers to find the Diarist's grave. My past concerns for the condition of his grave seem unfounded.
Joshua Hempstead was Grandson of Robert and Joane Hempstead, who were among the founders of New London. He was one of nine children, the only son of Joshua and Elizabeth Larrabee Hempstead (his sister Elizabeth, 1672-1733, who married John Plumbe, is my 7th Great Grandmother).
Very little is known about Joshua Hempstead's early life. He was apprenticed to Thomas Mitchell, a shipwright, learning skills which he practiced for the rest of his life. Several sources indicate he was involved in the coastal shipping trade, and was at least purported to have marketed rum and other products at Long Island and other locations.
Joshua married Abigail Bailey of Long Island about 1697, and before her death 5 Aug 1716, Joshua and Abigail had nine children, 6 sons and 3 daughters: Joshua, Nathanael (Mary Hallam), Robert (Mary Youngs), Stephen (Sarah Holt), Thomas, John (Hannah Salmon), Abigail (Clement Minor), Elizabeth (Daniel Starr), and Mary (Thomas Pierrepont). After the death of his son Nathanael in 1729, Joshua Hempstead raised the two sons of Nathanael and Mary Hallam Hempstead: Joshua (b. 1724) and Nathanael (b. 1727).
While buried originally in the Ancient Burial Place (see photo), the graves of Joshua and Abigail Bailey Hempstead and many of their descendants were moved to Cedar Grove Cemetery in the 19th Century.
"Biographical comments" about Joshua Hempstead would never do him justice. Allow me to use instead this quote from Frances Manwaring Caulkins in her HISTORY OF NEW LONDON:
"...Joshua Hempstead, 2d--took an active part in the affairs of the town for a period of fifty years, reckoning from 1708. The 'Hempstead Diary,'...was a private journal kept by him, from the year 1711 to his death in 1758...
It's author was a remarkable man--one that might serve to represent, or at least illustrate, the age, country and society in which he lived. The diversity of his occupations marks a custom of the day: he was at once farmer, surveyor, house and ship carpenter, attorney, stone cutter, sailor and trader.
He generally held three or four town offices; was justice of the peace, judge of probate, executor of various wills, overseer to widows, guardian to orphans, member of all committees, every body's helper and adviser, and cousin to half of the community. Of the Winthrop family he was a friend and confidential agent, managing their business concerns whenever the head of the family was absent.
The original homestead of Robert Hempstead remains in the possession of one branch of his descendants. The house now standing on the spot, is undoubtedly the most ancient building in New London... The age of the Hempstead house is determined by the Hempstead diary. The writer occupied the dwelling, and writing in 1743, says it had been built sixty-five years." (end quote)
(The above quotations are taken from HISTORY OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, From the First Survey of the Coast in 1612 to 1860, A Heritage Classic by Frances Manwaring Caulkins, pp 273-274. Published by H. D. Utley, 1895; a facsimile reprint Published 2000, by Heritage Books, Inc.)
Joshua's obituary appeared in the New London Summary 29 Dec 1758: "New London, Dec. 29 [1758]. Last Friday morning died here, in the 81st year of his age, Joshua Hempstead, Esq; one of his Majesty's justices in Commission for this county; a useful friend, a promoter of peace, and a valuable member of society. In all the publick offices he sustained, his conduct was unexceptionable [i.e., flawless]; he acted with uniform integrity, and preserved an unblemished character. His funeral was attended on Sabbath evening."
On a personal note, a word about THE DIARY. 766 pages in the 1999 edition (counting introduction and index, which all bear study); to undertake a reading seems a daunting task. Yet after 3 of those readings, I have been the beneficiary of a treasure.
New knowledge of my family, direct and indirect, have enriched my personal genealogy. Even more gratifying, however, is the sense, as I traveled through his daily life experiences over 47 years, of personal acquaintance with my 7th Grand-Uncle, Joshua Hempstead, Esquire.
It took a year's research and the assistance of at least two kind volunteers to find the Diarist's grave. My past concerns for the condition of his grave seem unfounded.
Very little is known about Joshua Hempstead's early life. He was apprenticed to Thomas Mitchell, a shipwright, learning skills which he practiced for the rest of his life. Several sources indicate he was involved in the coastal shipping trade, and was at least purported to have marketed rum and other products at Long Island and other locations.
Joshua married Abigail Bailey of Long Island about 1697, and before her death 5 Aug 1716, Joshua and Abigail had nine children, 6 sons and 3 daughters: Joshua, Nathanael (Mary Hallam), Robert (Mary Youngs), Stephen (Sarah Holt), Thomas, John (Hannah Salmon), Abigail (Clement Minor), Elizabeth (Daniel Starr), and Mary (Thomas Pierrepont). After the death of his son Nathanael in 1729, Joshua Hempstead raised the two sons of Nathanael and Mary Hallam Hempstead: Joshua (b. 1724) and Nathanael (b. 1727).
While buried originally in the Ancient Burial Place (see photo), the graves of Joshua and Abigail Bailey Hempstead and many of their descendants were moved to Cedar Grove Cemetery in the 19th Century.
"Biographical comments" about Joshua Hempstead would never do him justice. Allow me to use instead this quote from Frances Manwaring Caulkins in her HISTORY OF NEW LONDON:
"...Joshua Hempstead, 2d--took an active part in the affairs of the town for a period of fifty years, reckoning from 1708. The 'Hempstead Diary,'...was a private journal kept by him, from the year 1711 to his death in 1758...
It's author was a remarkable man--one that might serve to represent, or at least illustrate, the age, country and society in which he lived. The diversity of his occupations marks a custom of the day: he was at once farmer, surveyor, house and ship carpenter, attorney, stone cutter, sailor and trader.
He generally held three or four town offices; was justice of the peace, judge of probate, executor of various wills, overseer to widows, guardian to orphans, member of all committees, every body's helper and adviser, and cousin to half of the community. Of the Winthrop family he was a friend and confidential agent, managing their business concerns whenever the head of the family was absent.
The original homestead of Robert Hempstead remains in the possession of one branch of his descendants. The house now standing on the spot, is undoubtedly the most ancient building in New London... The age of the Hempstead house is determined by the Hempstead diary. The writer occupied the dwelling, and writing in 1743, says it had been built sixty-five years." (end quote)
(The above quotations are taken from HISTORY OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT, From the First Survey of the Coast in 1612 to 1860, A Heritage Classic by Frances Manwaring Caulkins, pp 273-274. Published by H. D. Utley, 1895; a facsimile reprint Published 2000, by Heritage Books, Inc.)
Joshua's obituary appeared in the New London Summary 29 Dec 1758: "New London, Dec. 29 [1758]. Last Friday morning died here, in the 81st year of his age, Joshua Hempstead, Esq; one of his Majesty's justices in Commission for this county; a useful friend, a promoter of peace, and a valuable member of society. In all the publick offices he sustained, his conduct was unexceptionable [i.e., flawless]; he acted with uniform integrity, and preserved an unblemished character. His funeral was attended on Sabbath evening."
On a personal note, a word about THE DIARY. 766 pages in the 1999 edition (counting introduction and index, which all bear study); to undertake a reading seems a daunting task. Yet after 3 of those readings, I have been the beneficiary of a treasure.
New knowledge of my family, direct and indirect, have enriched my personal genealogy. Even more gratifying, however, is the sense, as I traveled through his daily life experiences over 47 years, of personal acquaintance with my 7th Grand-Uncle, Joshua Hempstead, Esquire.
It took a year's research and the assistance of at least two kind volunteers to find the Diarist's grave. My past concerns for the condition of his grave seem unfounded.
Gravesite Details
Laura S.'s comments: It's a table-style monument, covered with lichen to the point that no writing at all is visible.
