Wentworth Cheswell facts for kids

Wentworth Cheswell (born April 11, 1746 – died March 8, 1817) was an important American figure. He was a teacher, a soldier in the American Revolutionary War, and a town official in Newmarket, New Hampshire.

In 1768, he was elected as a town constable. After that, he was elected to many different local government jobs almost every year until he died. Many people believe Cheswell was the first African American to be elected to public office in the United States. He might also be the first African American judge.

Wentworth bought land from his father around the time he got married. His grandfather, Richard Cheswell, was likely the first African American in New Hampshire to own land. Richard bought 20 acres in 1717. In 1801, Wentworth helped start the first library in Newmarket. He even planned in his will for people to use his own books.

This New Hampshire historical marker is near Cheswell's burial place in Newmarket, New Hampshire.

Wentworth Cheswell's Early Life and Schooling

Wentworth Cheswell was the only child of Hopestill Cheswell and Katherine (Keniston) Cheswell. His father, Hopestill, was a free black man with mixed heritage. His mother, Katherine, was a white woman.

Hopestill Cheswell was a skilled housewright and carpenter. He built many important buildings in Portsmouth. These included the Bell Tavern and the John Paul Jones House. The John Paul Jones House is now a famous historical landmark. Hopestill also built the Samuel Langdon House. This house was moved to Old Sturbridge Village to show how homes were built in the 1700s.

Hopestill's father, Richard Cheswell, was an indentured black worker. He was the first Cheswell recorded in New England. Richard was born free because his mother was free. This was based on a rule that children followed their mother's status. After his service ended, Richard bought 20 acres of land in 1717. This is the earliest known record of a black man owning land in New Hampshire.

Hopestill Cheswell earned a good living as a housewright. He bought over 100 acres of land between 1773 and 1749. He farmed this land and also owned part of a sawmill. His success helped him pay for his son Wentworth's education.

Wentworth went to Governor Dummer Academy in Byfield, Massachusetts. He studied with William Moody, a Harvard graduate. Wentworth learned subjects like Latin, Greek, reading, writing, and math. He also learned swimming and horsemanship. Getting this kind of education was very special for a country boy back then. Most people in the colonial era did not go to school because it was expensive.

Wentworth Cheswell's First Jobs and Public Service

After finishing school, Wentworth Cheswell returned to Newmarket. He became a schoolmaster, which means a teacher. In 1765, he bought his first piece of land from his father. By 1767, he owned over 30 acres and had a seat in the local church. By 1770, he owned 114 acres.

Cheswell was first elected to public office in 1768 as the town constable. He was then elected to local jobs every year, except for 1788, until he died in 1817. He served as a town selectman, auditor, assessor, and more.

In 2008, George Mason University officially recognized Wentworth Cheswell. They stated he was the first African American elected to public office in U.S. history. He was elected before other famous African American politicians like Alexander Twilight (1836) and Joseph Hayne Rainey (1870).

Wentworth Cheswell's Family Life

Wentworth Cheswell married Mary Davis when she was 17. They got married on September 13, 1767. About a year later, their first child was born. They had 13 children in total! Their children included Paul (born 1768), Thomas (born 1770), Samuel (born 1772), and many others.

His son, Thomas Cheswell, went to Phillips Exeter Academy. Thomas later became a deacon in the church. Thomas's wife and children stayed in Newmarket and are buried there.

Wentworth Cheswell and the Revolutionary War

During the American Revolutionary War, the people of Newmarket, including Cheswell, strongly supported the American cause. In April 1776, Cheswell and 162 other men from Newmarket signed the Association Test. This document showed that they were against the actions of the British. Signing it gave the people who wrote the Declaration of Independence confidence. They knew most colonists would support their fight for freedom.

Cheswell was chosen as the town messenger for the Committee of Safety. This meant he carried important news to and from the Provincial Committee in Exeter. On December 13, 1774, Paul Revere rode to Portsmouth. He warned the town that British warships were coming to take weapons from Fort William and Mary. When Portsmouth asked for help, Newmarket decided to send 30 armed men. Cheswell rode to Exeter to get instructions on where to send the men. He also helped build rafts to protect Portsmouth Harbor.

On December 14, 1774, John Langdon gathered a crowd in Portsmouth. They went to the fort and took 100 barrels of gunpowder, cannons, and small guns. These captured supplies were later used by New Hampshire's forces against the British.

Cheswell served as a private soldier under John Langdon. His group was called "Langdon's Company of Light Horse Volunteers." They helped the Continental Army during the Saratoga campaign. Cheswell's company marched 250 miles to Saratoga, New York. They joined General Horatio Gates and helped defeat British General John Burgoyne at the Battle of Saratoga. This was a very important American victory in the Revolution. Cheswell's military service ended on October 31, 1777. Like many others, he served for a short time because his family needed him at home.

Wentworth Cheswell: A Local Leader

After the war, Cheswell returned to Newmarket. He continued to be involved in town matters. He also ran a store next to the school. Cheswell supported his family as a teacher. He was elected or appointed to local government roles almost every year for the rest of his life. He served as a selectman, auditor, assessor, and more. In 1778, Cheswell was chosen for the group that would write New Hampshire's first constitution. However, he could not attend.

Cheswell was very interested in the history of his town. He wrote about his studies. Some people even call him the first archeologist in New Hampshire. Scholars W. Dennis Chesley and Mary B. Mcallister said that Cheswell's writings show early ideas of modern archaeology.

In 1801, Cheswell and other men started the first library in Newmarket, called the Newmarket Social Library. Cheswell's property was valued the highest among the founders. In his will, he said that his library and writings should be kept safe. He also said that if someone wanted to borrow a book, they could, as long as they promised to return it. Only one book could be borrowed at a time.

Cheswell was also a self-appointed town historian. He copied many town records from 1727. He collected stories and wrote notes about town events. Jeremy Belknap, who wrote a three-volume History of New Hampshire, often quoted Cheswell in his work. They wrote letters to each other several times.

In 1805, Cheswell was elected as the Justice of the Peace for Rockingham County. This made him the first African-American judge in U.S. history. In this job, he handled deeds, wills, and other legal papers. He also served as a judge in trials. He worked as a Justice until he died from typhus fever on March 8, 1817. He was almost 71 years old.

In his will, Cheswell asked that the burial place near his house be fenced with rocks. He also wanted gravestones for the graves there. His daughter Martha, who was his last living child, later said in her will that the burial yard should be a place for all her family and their descendants forever. She also said they must always keep the fence around it in good condition.

Wentworth Cheswell's Lasting Impact

• In 1820, shortly after Cheswell died, New Hampshire Senator David L. Morril spoke about him in the United States Congress. Morril used Cheswell as an example of the good things people of mixed race could do. He was speaking against a bill that would stop mixed-race people from becoming citizens of Missouri. Morril said that Cheswell was a "yellow man" (meaning mixed-race) who, with his family, was respected for their skills, property, and character. He held important jobs in his town and was a Justice of the Peace. Morril was angry that Cheswell's family would not be allowed to live in Missouri.
• Wentworth's grandfather, Richard Cheswell, was of African ancestry. He was the first known person with that last name in New England. All of Wentworth's descendants share his African heritage, as well as that of his English wife. The TV show Frontline talked about the Cheswell family as an example of mixed-race American families.
• In 2006, Cheswell's descendants and other people in New England raised money to fix or replace the Cheswell gravestones. They also helped clean up the old Cheswell gravesite. Some of Cheswell's descendants had identified as white for many generations. They learned about their connection to the Cheswells and their African-American heritage because of research done by Rich Alperin, a local resident. He also brought attention to a master's thesis by Erik R. Tuveson about the first three generations of Cheswells. This thesis is available at the University of New Hampshire.
• In 2007, a New Hampshire historical marker (number 209) was put up at the Cheswell gravesite in Newmarket. It tells about Wentworth's achievements.

Images for kids

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  This New Hampshire historical marker is near Cheswell's burial place in Newmarket, New Hampshire.