Jehu Hay

Jehu Hay was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. On January 22, 1748, he married Marie Reaume. In 1758, he joined the 60th American Regiment. In 1762, he served as lieutenant at Fort Detroit. In 1774, Governor Haldimand sent him to present day Illinois to report on conditions there. In 1776, he was appointed deputy Native American agent and major of the Detroit militia. In 1778, he was captured in Vincennes and taken as a prisoner of war to Virginia. In 1780, he was sent to New York. In 1781, he was exchanged. In 1782, Hay became Detroit's last lieutenant-governor. He didn't arrive in Detroit until July 12, 1784. Hay died in Detroit on August 2, 1785. He is believed to have been buried in a black walnut coffin (reserved for very important people) in the governor's gardens under present day Jefferson Avenue. Marie Reaume died in Detroit on March 23, 1795.