The Hempsted Houses

05/25/2026

Only two more Sundays until Juneteenth church service! We can't wait to see you all there. Be sure to share this post so your friends and family know to join us, Sunday June 14th from 11:30am-1pm!

Right on The Hempsted Houses lawn!

05/18/2026

We enjoyed amazing weather on opening day! The best part of course was all of you!

Our groups were engaged and asked great questions about both the Hempstead's and Jacksons. We hope to meet many more of you over this 2026 season!

05/15/2026

05/12/2026

Tammy Denease, Artistic Executive Director of The Hidden Women Stage Company discusses the work that continues to dispell the myths of Northern slavery.

Tammy has been insturmental in bringing Joan Jackson's, Adam Jackson's mother to light. Detailing in each performance, the will of Joan Jackson as she continued to try to keep her family safe. Joan and Adam's father, John Jackson existed through the lens of Northern slavery, that is, until Denease hits the stage.

Join Tammy and Joe, Wednesday, June 10th at 10am for the virtual presentation..

05/11/2026

Slave Dwelling Project Founder, Joseph McGill gives an overview and insight into slave dwellings that still exist, Northern slavery, Adam Jackson and the Jackson family legacy in New London, CT.

Join Joe and Tammy for the virtual Program: June 10th at 10am

Join us for Juneteenth 2026! June 12-14th 2026

05/10/2026

From our hearts to yours, we wish all of you a very Happy Mother's Day.

05/09/2026

Join us at Ft. Trumbull from 10am-2pm! The event has been moved inside and is a rain or shine event!!

We are joined by so many of our wonderful partner sites! There's Hempsted coloring pages, caricature artist, face painting and more! Bring the kids!

05/07/2026

We had a great time visiting with our new friends from the Prospect Senior Center!

What a nice afternoon to learn all about Joshua Hempstead and the generations before and after him. His wonderful writings help us detail what life was like back then.

To Adam Jackson and his family, parents John and Joan as well as many siblings. The Jacksons faced a decades long court battle, one that never gained enough freedom to reunite as a family. We discuss all of that and more on our tours.

We hope that you will also join us to hear all about these families and more!

05/06/2026

In May of 1752, Joshua details a pretty busy week in New London, from working alongside Samuel Lattimer, laying out property lines, to working beside Adam Jackson at his grandsons farm.

There was certainly never a dull moment in the Hempsted's lives. Read on to hear more about this week in 1752:

Tuesd 5 fair. I went with Samll Lattimer to Run a line between the half wav plain Land & Colin Browns & wee began att a Rock Stones on it on the E Side Nihantick Brook & Run W 4° S 856 Rod yn S 4° W 2 Rod to a white oak & Stones on ye E Side a Ledge of Rocks, then S 5° East 23 Rod to a Round Rock on a Ledge & St on it. I Lodged att night att Jont Lattimers &c.

Wednsd 6 fair. I Run a Line W 6° S & Ran 456 Rod over to D. Gilberts fence yn N 6° E 7 R & 4 L. to a heap.

Thursd 7. I was att Nehemiah Daniels Laying out 3 Shares on the after Divisions for him S W. of his house, wee also Laid out for Thos & Jonat Truman their fathers out Side Comons & ye after Division of ye Sd Right & also ye after Division of William Pendall & Joseph Truman, ye Last Lyes on ye west Side 84 Rod Long & 6 Rod wide & came home before night,

fryd 8. fair. I was with Mr Richards Laying out Comons for Ephm Chapman.

Saturd 9 fair. In the foren & att Noon I was out to Joshuas field to Set adm a plowing, aftern mending fence att Jno Plumb Lot & att Grossman Lot.

Sund 10 fair, a Sacramt Day. Mr adams pr. al day. James Comstock a Child Baptized James.

04/01/2026

This evening, we give honor to Joan Jackson. An woman of African descent who fearlessly fought for a raised her children along with her husband John Jackson.

While no image exists of Joan, we can see her in our minds eye as someone who continued to persevere throughout the many trails her family would face.

On the last day of Women's History Month, we honor you Joan.

02/16/2026

What important Black history comes from your hometown?

New London has so many local heroes, from John Jackson, father to our Adam Jackson to New London's own Jean Jordan, educator and NAACP president.

New London has celebrated so much Black history in America's almost 250 years. Each and every truth worthy of proper retelling.

What is a story you share often? We would love to hear it!