Neighbor News
Happy 336th Birthday, Joshua Hempsted!
Hempsted Houses Celebrate New London's Jack-of-All-Trades
The 336th birthday of New London’s original jack-of-all-trades – Joshua Hempsted, born in 1678– is this month. On Sunday, Sept. 21, visitors can celebrate by trying their hand at the skills he relished. They’ll be able to:
- Carve a gravestone with stone carver Ty Tryon and Ruth Shapleigh-Brown of the CT Gravestone Network
- Learn how to fire an 18th century musket with the Sons of the American Revolution
- Write with Trix Bodde of the Mysticalligraphers Guild
- Start a fire with flint and steel
- Pitch hay, use a yoke and buckets to tote water, and try other farm chores
- Make cider
- Test their hand carpentry skills and more.
Hempsted supported his family not only by farming, but with an amazing array of odd jobs. He also was one of city’s leading citizens, serving in several public offices – including justice of the peace. Historians know a great deal about his life and the life of his household because of a near-daily diary he kept for nearly 50 years.
In addition to experimenting with different crafts, visitors on Sept. 21 can see the house where Hempsted was born and worked, talk with craftspeople and enjoy cake and lemonade through the day. The site will be open from 1-4 p.m. Suggested donation is $5/person or $10/family. The Hempsted Houses are at 11 Hempstead St. in New London. For more information, email hempsted@ctlandmarks.org or call 860-443-7949.
