Lemuel Haynes
Born in West Hartford, Connecticut July 18, 1753. Lemuel Haynes was the son of a black man and a Scotch servant girl, Alice Fitch, who was employed by John Haynes of West Hartford. In Lieu of an orphanage, he was bound out when 5 weeks of age to a Deacon Rose of Granville, MA. Enlisted as a Minute Man in the Colonial Army, 1775; Volunteer in expedition to Ticonderoga, 1776. Supplied, Congregational church, Granville, NY 1780. Ordained, 1785. Pastor, Torrington, Connecticut 1785-1787; Rutland, Vt. 1787-1818. Removed to Manchester, VT, 1818. Pastor, Granville, NY 1822-1833. Author: "Divine Decrees, an Encouragement to the Use of Means" and "Universal Salvation," his response to Hosea Ballou a popular preacher of the day. Lemuel Haynes was married to Elizabeth Babbit on 22 September 1783 at Hartland, Connecticut by Rev. Samuel Woodbridge. She was born 29 February 1763 at Dighton, Massachusetts and died 8 February 1836. Lemuel Haynes died in Granville, NY September 18, 1833.
  • It is said that all his children were born in Vermont:
  • 1. Elizabeth Haynes born 1785, married Benjamin Capron, Jr. 24 Feb 1809 , died 6 Sept 1866.
  • 2. Louis Haynes born 1790 died 12 Jan 1828 "in the 39th yearof her age."
  • 3. Eunice Haynes born 3 Mar 1789 died 1831 at Granville, NY, unmarried.
  • 4. Electa Haynes born 26 July 1791.
  • 5. Lemuel Haynes, Jr. born 11 July 1794.
  • 6. Sally Haynes born 6 May 1796.
  • 7. Olive Haynes born 9 August 1798 died 19 Sept 1823.
  • 8. Pamela Haynes born 14 October 1800.
  • 9. Samuel Woodbridge Haynes born 11 Jan 1803, a physician in NY
  • 10. William Babbitt Haynes (twin) born 11 Jan 1803, a lawyer in Boston.

The National Park Service has provided a very succinct biographical sketch of Lemuel Haynes as a part of the application to nominate his home in South Granville, New York to be on the National Register of Historic Places. Click here to see this and close ups of Lemuel and Elizabeth's graves

Lee-Oatman Cemetary
At his grave a plain marble monument is erected, with a brief inscription. It was not known to his friends at the time of its erection, that, although he had left but few records of his life, yet he had left, in his own handwriting, the following inscription for his tombstone, prepared probably when he was in the meridian of his days: ( "The Life and Character of the Reverend Lemuel Haynes" 1837, p. 312)
Here lies the dust of a poor hell-deserving sinner, who ventured into eternity trusting wholly on the merits of Christ for salvation. In the full belief of the great doctrines he preached while on earth, he invites his children, and all who read this, to trust their eternal interest on the same foundation.

There are many books and articles that take on one part or another of Lemuel Hayne's life and character.  Here are links to a few that I've found useful.

Note from Aunt Bertha

Personal Note:

I've found these texts in my attempt to try to learn about the life of a relative who was unkown to me. I discovered Lemuel Haynes when I chanced on the note pictured on the left. My mother, Eloise Hamil had written to her aunt Bertha Foster in the early 1960's asking if any of our family had been in the Revolutionary War. This is Bertha's response. The only other family oriented mention of Lemuel Haynes that I've found, since, was from David Barth an ardent geniologist and distant relative. While he had not been able to find a record of Lemuel's son, William Haynes' wedding to Mary Case or the births of their children, Sam, Mary Elizabeth and William Jay, he did note that there are other Whipple family anecdotes regarding the connection.