Jared Jernegan was born in Edgartown on August 13, 1825, to Nathan and Prudence Jernegan. Up until age 13, he worked on his father's farm but soon after joined a ship's crew and remained on ocean voyages through out his life. In 1868 the Jernegans went aboard the "Roman", bound for the South Pacific. After the "Roman" was crushed by ice, Captain Jernegan returned home. He later went on seven more whaling voyages.