Jeffrey Hemenway

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Jeffrey Hemenway's birth was recorded in Boston, MA on July 15, 1737, and as an infant was given to Ebenezer Hemenway, Jr. of Framingham to foster. The census and other vital records list Jeffrey as "mulatto", which is an antiquated term for someone who is of mixed heritage. Likely Jeph, as he was known, was of Native American, African, and European descent.

Jeffrey's first military service was as a soldier towards the end of the French and Indian War under Captain John Nixon.  He served in the American Revolution from both Framingham and Worcester on and off between 1775 and 1781.  From Framingham, he marched on the Lexington Alarm of April 19, 1775 in Captain Simon Edgell’s Company.  Jeffrey also did service in Captains Thomas Drury’s, Micajah Gleason’s, and Ebenezer Belknap’s Companies as part of the 6th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment.  Jeffrey was present at Winter Hill, the Battle of White Plains, and the Battle of Rhode Island.  According to family records, he also participated in the Battle of Bunker Hill.  From Worcester, Jeffrey was a Six Months’ Man for all of 1780 and helped fulfill Worcester’s man quota in 1781. One of the muster rolls in 1780 describes him thus: age: 40; stature: 5 ft. 4 in.; complexion: negro; eyes: black. On account of his service Jeffrey was able to get a pension shortly before his death, and his wife Hepsibeth was able to collect a Widow’s Pension after it.

In Boston on August 27, 1760 Jeph married Susanna Wright, and they had at least two children: Thaddeus in 1761 and Susanna in 1768. They likely had other children who died young. Susanna the older and younger died in a smallpox epidemic in the early 1770s. Jeffrey and Thaddeus survived. Around 1778 Jeffrey moved to Worcester, MA and purchased a house on the western side near what is now May Street. Jeffrey filed his intentions to marry Hepsibeth Crossman Bowman on December 13, 1788. They were married by a Justice of the Peace, William Young, four years later on November 3, 1792.  Hephsibeth was Nipmuc on her mother’s side and was one of the “Praying Indians” who lived on what is now College Hill.  She was locally famous as a baker, and was especially known for her wedding cakes. Her portrait hangs in the Museum of Worcester in the presentation room upstairs.  Jeffrey and Hepsibeth had eight children between 1789 and 1804: Joseph, Lydia, Hannah, Patta (died young), Adam, Patta, Alexander, and Ebenezer. In the 1790 US Census Jeffrey was listed as the head of household with 5 (non-white) free persons living in his household.

Jeffrey died in Worcester on August 15, 1819, and was originally buried in the Mechanic Street Burial Ground. His remains, and the remains of many others were moved to Hope Cemetery in 1878 when Mechanics Street was closed. Jeffrey's current gravestone is a modern replacement; his original slate gravestone with an urn and willow design at the top broke in the early 2000s and the family requested and were granted a government replacement.