Daniel Nimham
Encyclopedia
Daniel Nimham was the last chief or sachem of the Wappinger
and was the most prominent Native American
of his time in the Hudson Valley
. Prior to Henry Hudson
s arrival in 1609, the Wappinger
People lived on the eastern shore of the Muhheakantuck "the river that flows both ways" from the City of Manhattan, New York north to the Town of Rhinebeck, New York, east into Fairfield County
, Connecticut
. The Wappinger were allied with the Mohican
People in the north, and by the mid 18th century many had moved north to the mission at Stockbridge, Massachusetts
. Although some of the Wappinger lands were sold justly, many landgrabbers took advantage of the native people and exaggerated the amount of land agreed upon.
Daniel Nimham may have learned to speak English through the family of Catherina Brett who lived in what is now the Town of Beacon, New York
. She was friends with the Nimham's and allowed the Wappinger to stay on her land after they had been sold. Because of Nimham's multicultural skills, he went to court on numerous occasions to defend his people’s land rights.
Daniel Nimham took over as sachem of the Wappinger People around 1745.
In 1766, Nimham and three Mohican chiefs: Jacob Cheeksaunkun, John Naunauphtaunk and Solomon Uhhaunauwaunmut from the Stockbridge area and three of their wives traveled to England
to speak with King George III of Great Britain. Although he and his group were treated very well, he never had a meeting with the King directly, however he did speak with someone who was in the parliament who agreed to contact the governor in Albany, New York
. When he returned he went to court but lost the case.
His son Abraham Nimham (born in 1754) was appointed captain of the Stockbridge Militia
by General George Washington
.
Daniel and Abraham Nimham and his fellow Stockbridge Warriors fought for the American cause during the Revolution
and were some of America's first Veterans. They served with Washington at Valley Forge
and later with General Marquis de Lafayette's
troops. On August 31, 1778, the Nimhams and fifty of their fellow Wappinger were killed by Loyalist
and British Dragoons in a battle at Cortlandt Ridge in what is now Van Cortlandt Park
in the Bronx. A stone monument to the Stockbridge Warriors who sacrificed their lives for the American cause marks a trail to the battlefield.
Wappinger
The Wappinger were an American tribe native to eastern New York. The term "Wappinger" may also refer to:* Wappinger, New York, the Town of Wappinger named for the tribe...
and was the most prominent Native American
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
of his time in the Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
. Prior to Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson
Henry Hudson was an English sea explorer and navigator in the early 17th century. Hudson made two attempts on behalf of English merchants to find a prospective Northeast Passage to Cathay via a route above the Arctic Circle...
s arrival in 1609, the Wappinger
Wappinger
The Wappinger were an American tribe native to eastern New York. The term "Wappinger" may also refer to:* Wappinger, New York, the Town of Wappinger named for the tribe...
People lived on the eastern shore of the Muhheakantuck "the river that flows both ways" from the City of Manhattan, New York north to the Town of Rhinebeck, New York, east into Fairfield County
Fairfield County, Connecticut
Fairfield County is a county located in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The county population is 916,829 according to the 2010 Census. There are currently 1,465 people per square mile in the county. It is the most populous county in the State of Connecticut and contains...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. The Wappinger were allied with the Mohican
Mohican
-Native Americans:* Mahican , a Native American tribe who lived in and around the Hudson Valley* Mohegan, a functional confederation of several branches of Native Americans during the 16th century and the beginning of the 17th century...
People in the north, and by the mid 18th century many had moved north to the mission at Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge is a town in Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,947 at the 2010 census...
. Although some of the Wappinger lands were sold justly, many landgrabbers took advantage of the native people and exaggerated the amount of land agreed upon.
Daniel Nimham may have learned to speak English through the family of Catherina Brett who lived in what is now the Town of Beacon, New York
Beacon, New York
Beacon is a city located in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The 2010 census placed the city total population at 15,541. Beacon is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
. She was friends with the Nimham's and allowed the Wappinger to stay on her land after they had been sold. Because of Nimham's multicultural skills, he went to court on numerous occasions to defend his people’s land rights.
Daniel Nimham took over as sachem of the Wappinger People around 1745.
In 1766, Nimham and three Mohican chiefs: Jacob Cheeksaunkun, John Naunauphtaunk and Solomon Uhhaunauwaunmut from the Stockbridge area and three of their wives traveled to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to speak with King George III of Great Britain. Although he and his group were treated very well, he never had a meeting with the King directly, however he did speak with someone who was in the parliament who agreed to contact the governor in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. When he returned he went to court but lost the case.
His son Abraham Nimham (born in 1754) was appointed captain of the Stockbridge Militia
Stockbridge Militia
The Stockbridge Militia was a military unit from Stockbridge, Massachusetts which served in the American Revolutionary War. The militia was composed of American Indians, mostly Mahican, Wappinger, and Munsee from the Stockbridge area...
by General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
.
Daniel and Abraham Nimham and his fellow Stockbridge Warriors fought for the American cause during the Revolution
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
and were some of America's first Veterans. They served with Washington at Valley Forge
Valley Forge
Valley Forge in Pennsylvania was the site of the military camp of the American Continental Army over the winter of 1777–1778 in the American Revolutionary War.-History:...
and later with General Marquis de Lafayette's
Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette
Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette , often known as simply Lafayette, was a French aristocrat and military officer born in Chavaniac, in the province of Auvergne in south central France...
troops. On August 31, 1778, the Nimhams and fifty of their fellow Wappinger were killed by Loyalist
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
and British Dragoons in a battle at Cortlandt Ridge in what is now Van Cortlandt Park
Van Cortlandt Park
Van Cortlandt Park is a park located in the Bronx in New York City. It is the fourth largest park in New York City, behind Pelham Bay Park, Flushing Meadows Park and Staten Island Greenbelt....
in the Bronx. A stone monument to the Stockbridge Warriors who sacrificed their lives for the American cause marks a trail to the battlefield.