HAGAR JEFFREY
Plaque location: Black Hall
A runaway notice for Hagar Jeffrey posted by Richard Waite Jr. (1739-1810) in the Connecticut Gazette on November 16, 1808, describes her as “a mulatto woman servant,” about 34 years of age. Waite’s advertisement stated that she had “carried away with her many articles of clothing” and offered a small reward of six cents to “whoever will return said servant to me.”
No other references to Hagar Jeffrey have been found, but she was likely related to George Jeffrey (1750-1813), also described as “mulatto,” who lived on the Nehantic reserve. Hagar apparently served Waite after the death of his wife Lucy Griswold Waite (1745-1800) in 1795 on the property in Black Hall that she inherited from her father Thomas Griswold (1718-1770).
Research into the lives of those enslaved in Lyme is ongoing and sometimes uncovers new details that may not have been known when the stone was installed. The text on this page reflects the most current information.
