Note on Capt. Hempstead’s first name. AOWV records his first name as Dennison. Other sources, including Colby, Decker, and, importantly his gravestone, record his name with a single “N”. The author will use his name as it appears on his gravestone.
Denison was born on October 3, 1817 in New London. He was the son of Capt. Henry Hempstead and Nancy (Barber) Hempstead. Their gravestones in Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London (sec. 2) record their dates: Henry: 4/26/1788 – 2/8/1883 and Nancy: 8/17/1790 – 1/13/1873. Henry’s Find A Grave site shows that Henry and Nancy had ten children, at least four of whom became New London whaling masters: Denison, John (AM2558), Elias (AM2555),and Benjamin (AM2556). Denison’s obituary (see below) adds his brothers Henry and George as whaling captains, but neither is shown in AOWV).
New London Vital Records show that Denison married Frances (known as Fanny) Chapell, about whom little is known, on July 18,1844. No record was found of any children from that marriage. In September 1854 Fanny filed for divorce from Denison, alleging that “[he] has gone to parts unknown to petitioner” (New London Daily Star (8/15/1854, p. 2)). No record could be found of a final divorce decree. Fanny sailed with Denison on the 1857-1861 voyage of New England (see below). Fanny and Denison must have reconciled enough for her to be willing embark on a multi-year whaling voyage with Denison 13 years after filing for divorce from him.
The New London census for 1870 records Denison living with his parents, his occupation shown as “mariner”. A voter registration list for San Francisco for 1872-3 records Denison (spelled Dennison), born in Connecticut, occupation “mariner”, as a registered voter with a local residence at Vallejo St. Wharf in that city. City directories for New London show him living in New London at numerous other times.
Denison died on January 4, 1895 in New London. At New London’s Cedar Grove Cemetery, close by gravestones of several members of the Hempstead family, including his parents, is the gravestone of “Capt. Denison Hempstead” showing the above dates of birth and death. His will, probated in the New London Probate District, left his property to nieces and nephews and younger generations with no mention of direct descendants, perhaps confirming that he had no children.
Obituaries in the New London Day (1/10/1895, p. 8) and the New Bedford Standard Times (1/7/1895, p. 8) add more information about him. The former recites his brothers as whaling captains and adds Henry and George to that list. He spent two periods of time in California, dates shown in some cases inconsistent with dates of his voyages. While there he was master of a packet ship operating between Honolulu and San Francisco. San Francisco papers ran regular ads for these trips on board ONWARD with Denison master (example, the Bulletin 1/19/1865). During a later period in California, he was engaged in the guano business off the coast of Patagonia. After returning to New London (“more than 20 years ago”) he was in the grocery business.
Denison was master for two voyages on two ships with New London as home port:
BENGAL (AS0968): (ship, 304 tons, length 100 ft., built in Salem MA in 1816, rebuilt in 1856 and renamed NORTH WEST). BENGAL sailed on June 2, 1847 for the Indian Ocean, returned on March 16, 1850. Dennis Wood Abstract 2-067. Thomas Fitch II was the master. AV01734.
NEW ENGLAND (AS0488): (ship, 375 tons, length 111 ft., built in Medford MA in 1824, scuttled in Charleston Harbor SC as part of Stone Fleet #2 in 1862). NEW ENGLAND sailed on September 9, 1857 for the N. Pacific, returned on November 4, 1861. Wood Abstract #3-567. Lawrence & Co. was the agent. AV10422.
Denison also served as master of JIREH PERRY (AS0337, home port New Bedford) for its 1864-1868 voyage. Earlier in his career he was the master of the schooner ALBERT R. HARRIS engaged in codfishing (not shown in Decker, Colby or AOWV). The New London Daily Morning Star (5/17/1850, p. 2) reports that Denison sailed as master of the pilot boat A B HARRIS for California on May 16 with a crew of seven.
Denison served as member of the crew for four whaling voyages: CHELSEA (AS1097) for its 1838-1839 voyage, ARMATA (AS0912) for its 1840-1842 voyage, SUPERIOR (AS2448) for its 1842-1844 voyage, returning June 21, 1844) and LOUVRE (AS1810) for its 1844-1847 voyage, departing on August 1, 1844.
Denison was issued Seaman’s Protection Certificate #179 on June 21, 1838 in New London.
Sources used: see sidebar and sources cited in text. Also, see Joan Druett, She Was a Sister Sailor, p. 415.
George Shaw
American Institute for Maritime Studies
Mystic Seaport Museum
February 2026