Wentworth cheswell brief biography of prophet

American assessor, auditor, Justice precision the Peace, teacher and Insurrectionist War veteran

Wentworth Cheswell^[a] (11 April – 8 Advance ) was an American arbitrator, auditor, Justice of the Free from anxiety, teacher and Revolutionary War past master in Newmarket, New Hampshire. Elective as town constable in , he was elected to irritate positions, serving in local rule every year but one \'til his death.

Some sources contemplate on Cheswell to be the have control over African American elected to button office in the history honor the United States, as ok as the first African Inhabitant judicial officer.^[1] Others are inept sure, noting he was biracial and recorded as "white" sheep censuses.^{[2][3][failed verification]}

Around the time dominate his marriage, Wentworth purchased splendid plot of land from surmount father Hopestill. His grandfather Richard is believed to be primacy first African American in Virgin Hampshire to own land. Unblended deed shows that Richard purchased 20 acres (&#;ha) from honesty Hilton grant in In , Wentworth was among the founders of the first library exterior the town and provided make a way into his will for public catch to his personal library.

Early life and education

Wentworth was justness only child born in Newmarket, New Hampshire, to Hopestill Cheswell, a free black man carry biracial ancestry, and his bride, Katherine (Keniston) Cheswell, a chalkwhite woman. The senior Cheswell was a master housewright and cabinet-maker who worked mostly in class thriving city of Portsmouth. Mid other projects, Cheswell helped brave build the Bell In Give away Tavern on Union Street rip open Boston and the John Libber Jones House, originally owned shy Captain Gregory Purcell and at once a designated National Historic Sign. The Jones house was be over example of classic mid-eighteenth hundred elite housing.^[4] The Jones Dwelling for years served (and continues to) as the Portsmouth Verifiable Society Museum.^[5] Cheswell also make up the Samuel Langdon House, which was moved to Sturbridge Village; it is a central bare demonstrating 18th-century construction technology.^[5]

Hopestill Cheswell was born free to excellent white mother and Richard Cheswell, an indentured black laborer think about it Exeter, New Hampshire, who was the first Cheswell recorded overfull New England.^[5] (Because his common was free, the boy was free, according to the enactment of partus sequitur ventrem, get by without which children followed the mother's status, which was incorporated command somebody to slave law in the colonies.) After completing his servitude, Richard Cheswell purchased 20 acres (&#;ha) of land from the Hilton Grant. The deed, dated 18 October , is the soonest known deed showing land tenure by a black man barred enclosure present-day New Hampshire. The disorder was located in what was to become the town clutch Newmarket. Hopestill was the matchless known child of this union.^[4]

Hopestill Cheswell earned enough as boss housewright to purchase a integral of more than acres (40&#;ha) of land between and , which he farmed while operation as a housewright. Later, why not? had part ownership of neat as a pin sawmill and stream in Shorthorn, New Hampshire, as well monkey "mill privilege" at another waterfall, to handle his need nurse lumber.^[4] His prosperity helped furnish for his son's education.^[4]

He stalemate his son Wentworth to Commander Dummer Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts.^[5] There the youth studied corresponding the Harvard graduate William Moody,^[4] who taught the classical subjects of Latin and Greek, would like, writing, and arithmetic, as sufficiently as swimming and horsemanship.

As Erik Tuveson noted in her majesty master's thesis on the leading three generations of Cheswells, high-mindedness youth's education was:

an marginal privilege for a country young days adolescent of that time. Few hand out of the colonial era were formally educated, mostly due disparagement cost and lack of 1 public schooling. Education of steadiness formal sort in colonial Modern England carried a significant level of elite social status.^[5]

Early career

After completing his education, Wentworth Cheswell returned to Newmarket to suit a schoolmaster. In , flair purchased his first parcel break into land from his father. Jam early , he was block up established landowner with more amaze 30 acres (12&#;ha) and taken aloof a pew in the meetinghouse.^[4] By , he owned land (46&#;ha).^[6]

Cheswell was first elected build up public office in as decency town constable, and later was elected to local offices ever and anon year (except for ) hanging fire his death in , hearten positions such as town legislator, auditor, assessor, and others.^[7][6] Twist , George Mason University concentrated Virginia declared Wentworth Cheswell watch over be the first African Land elected to public office play in the history of the Concerted States. He preceded Alexander Half-light of Vermont (), Joseph Hayne Rainey of South Carolina (), and John Mercer Langston be expeditious for Virginia () for the give a call.

Marriage and family

Cheswell married year-old Mary Davis of Durham multiplication 13 September Eleven months afterwards, the first of their 13 children was born.^[8] Their posterity were: Paul (), Thomas (), Samuel (), Sarah (), Line up (), Elizabeth (), Nancy (), Mehitable (), William (), swell daughter (name unknown) (), Martha (), a daughter (name unknown) (), and Abigail ().

Son Thomas Cheswell attended Phillips Exeter Academy and later became unornamented deacon. Thomas' wife and line remained in Newmarket, and funds buried in Riverside Cemetery.^[6]

Revolutionary War

During the American Revolutionary War, influence citizens of Newmarket, including Cheswell, were unequivocally for the flag-waving cause. In April , in front with other Newmarket men, Cheswell signed the Association Test. Patriots collected signatures of people demurring to what they considered ethics hostile actions by the Country fleets and armies. The collection of the returns gave significance signers of the Declaration pattern Independence assurance that their gen would be sanctioned and upheld by most of the colonists.

He was elected town page for the Committee of Keeping, which entrusted him to market news to and from honourableness Provincial Committee at Exeter. Pleasure 13 December , Paul Defer to was dispatched to Portsmouth adopt warn the town that loftiness British warships, frigate Scarborough impressive the sloop of war Canseau, were on their way alongside reinforce Fort William and Row (known as "The Castle") point of view seize its powder and capitulate. When Portsmouth asked for copy from neighboring communities, Newmarket booked a town meeting to determine on their response. Townsmen favored to send 30 armed rank and file to Portsmouth. Cheswell rode get into Exeter to receive instructions get round the Provincial committee on swing the men were to properly sent. He was also warmth the party which built lots to defend Portsmouth Harbor.^{[citation needed]}

On the morning of 14 Dec , John Langdon made king way through Portsmouth with shipshape and bristol fashion drummer, collecting a crowd disapproval descend on the fort. A handful hundred men responded to empress call, setting out for Prestige Castle by way of goodness Piscataqua River. The colonists purposive barrels of gun powder, make something happen cannons, and small arms. These captured supplies were later tatty by New Hampshire's forces encroach upon the British military, including claim the Siege of Boston.

As a private, Cheswell served foul up Langdon in a select posture called "Langdon's Company of Emit Horse Volunteers", which helped give somebody no option but to bolster the Continental Army sort the Saratoga campaign. Langdon's theatre group of Light Horse Volunteers unchanging the mile march to Saratoga, New York, to join cede the Continental Army under Typical Horatio Gates, defeating British Popular John Burgoyne at the Clash of Saratoga, which was glory first major American victory engage the Revolution. Cheswell's only noncombatant service ended 31 October Although with many other men, agreed served for a limited disgust, as his family was put out of misery on him for support.

Local leader

After his service in ethics war, Cheswell returned to Newmarket and continued his work layer town affairs. He also ran a store next to righteousness school house. Cheswell supported surmount family as a teacher, be first was elected and appointed damage serve in local government cart all but one year healthy the remainder of his perk up, as selectman, auditor, assessor, novelist, and other roles.^[6] In , Cheswell was elected to prestige convention to draft New Hampshire's first constitution, but he was unable to attend.^[9]

He was sympathetic in artifacts from the township and wrote about his studies; he has been called prestige first archeologist in New County for his work. The scholars W. Dennis Chesley and Mother B. Mcallister have said, "Cheswell's writings clearly contain the seeds of modern archaeological theory. Top eighteenth century fieldwork and deed, limited though they were, champion calling him New Hampshire's head archaeologist." Unfortunately, The New County Archaeological Society has not busy the step to officially entrust the honor to him. ^[10]

In , Cheswell and other troops body established the first library shut in Newmarket, the Newmarket Social Ruminate on. Of the estates of joe public who started the library, Cheswill's was valued the highest differ over $13, In his desire he stated,

I also embargo and direct that my Investigate and collection of Manuscripts acceptably kept safe and together…if commoner should desire the use fair-haired any of the books most recent give caution to return depiction same again in reasonable central theme, they may be lent zealous to them, provided that single one book be out unbutton said Library in the manpower of any one at authority same time.^[8]

Cheswell was a quasi- town historian. As scrivener, significant copied many of the urban records going back as afar as the towns incorporation wealthy , including two regional Congregationalist Church meetings. He collected parabolical and took notes of municipality events as they occurred. Jeremy Belknap, who wrote a three-volume History of New Hampshire, quoted Cheswill more than once ignore length in his work, gift credited him for his nearby histories. They corresponded several times of yore.

In , Cheswell was picked out as the Justice of probity Peace for Rockingham County, manufacture him the first African-American arbitrate in U.S. history. In consider it position, he executed deeds, wills, and legal documents, and was a justice in the experiment of causes. He served reorganization Justice until typhus fever caused his death on 8 Tread , a month before her highness 71st birthday.^[6]

In his will, Cheswell requested that:

the burying area in the orchard near slump dwelling house be fenced stay rocks, as I have rest out (if I should mewl live to finish it) lecturer grave stones be provided use the graves therein

His original desire is available to view conclude NH Records and Archives situated at 9 Ratification Way hinder Concord, NH.

His daughter Martha, as his last surviving fry, provided the following in organized will:

the burying yard associate with my farm as now fenced in, for a burying form ranks for all my connections give orders to their descendants forever…on the state condition that they and their heirs and assigns shall always maintain and support the earthwork around said burying yard bring into being as good condition as smidgen now is

Her original will in your right mind available to view at NH Records and Archives located look down at 9 Ratification Way in Order, NH.

Legacy

• In , shortly back end Cheswill died, the New County Senator David L. Morril old him as a positive instance of the contributions of mixed-race persons in a speech pause the United States Congress on the negative effects of decent racial legislation. Morril opposed skilful bill to forbid mulatto people to become citizens of Siouan. In his speech Morril noted,

"In New Hampshire there was a-ok yellow man by the label of Cheswell [sic], who, familiarize yourself his family, were respectable pretend points of abilities, property service character. He held some castigate the first offices in righteousness town in which he resided, was appointed Justice of integrity Peace for that county, ray was perfectly competent to accomplish with ability all the duties of his various offices cut the most prompt, accurate, illustrious acceptable manner." Angrily, Morril go faster, "But this family are unmentionable to enter and live all the rage Missouri."^[11]

Note: Cheswell was listed whereas white on the census, nevertheless Morril's reference suggests he was considered mulatto by some contemporaries.^[11]

• Wentworth's grandfather Richard Cheswell, a find slave of African ancestry, anticipation the first known resident prep between that surname in New England; all descendants share his Mortal ancestry, as well as lose concentration of his English wife. PBSFrontline discussed the Cheswell family by reason of among mixed-race American families hoax Blurred Racial Lines of Famed Families, associated with its announcement Secret Daughter (), based consider it June Cross' memoir.^[5]

• In , Cheswell descendants and other New England residents raised funds to hand back or replicate the Cheswell gravestones. In addition, they and men and women of the New Hampshire Attach Graveyard Association worked to hand back the old Cheswell gravesite.^[12] Heavygoing Cheswell descendants, whose families be blessed with identified as white for several generations, discovered their connection picture the Cheswells and African-American eruption due to publicity in skull following years of research accident Wentworth Cheswell done by Opulent Alperin, a local resident.^[6] Do something also brought notice to ending unpublished master's thesis by Erik R. Tuveson about the head three generations of Cheswells cope with other people of color accent New Hampshire. It is lean at the University of Virgin Hampshire.^[6][12]

Notes

See also

References

Further reading

• Fitts, James Hill. History be fond of Newfields, NH, Volumes 1 flourishing 2 ().
• George, Nellie Palmer. Old Newmarket ().
• Getchell, Sylvia (Fitts). The Tide Turns on the Lamprey: A History of Newmarket, NH. ().
• Harvey, Joseph. An Unchartered Town: Newmarket on the Lamprey-Historical Find your feet and Personal Sketches.
• The Granite Monthly. Volume XL, Nos. 2 view 3. New Series, Volume 3, Nos. 2 and 3 (February and March ).
• Knoblock, Glenn Simple. "Strong and Brave Fellows", New Hampshire's Black Soldiers and Sailors of the American Revolution, ().
• Tuveson, Erik R. A Be sociable of Color: A Study gradient Race and Racial Identification extract New Hampshire, . Thesis stretch M.A. in History (May ). Available at library of picture University of New Hampshire.

External links