Chapter 1: Birth and Early Life of Hepzibah Stephens

Hepzibah Stephens entered the world on July 25, 1712, in the coastal settlement of Stonington, New London County, Connecticut. The crisp salt air of the Atlantic mingled with the earthy scent of freshly turned soil, a reminder of the dual lifelines—farming and maritime trade—that sustained her community. Her baptism on October 5, 1712, at the local Congregational church, marked her formal introduction into the tight-knit Puritan society that would shape her values, rhythms, and destiny.