Daniel
Daniel
Richmond, NH
The history of the town of Richmond, New Hampshire, written in 1882, offers stories related to a person of color in town named “Daniel” who lived in town sometime in the 1820s-1830s. According to the author William Bassett, “Daniel the Nig” resided with a man named Dr. John Parkhurst. Daniel was described as “easy and good natured, and readily forgiving offenses, and hence was the subject of frequent jokes that were gotten up at his expense.”
Reference to “Daniel the Nig” in Richmond, NH town history.
Anecdotal stories like those found in NH town histories of the turn of the 20th century can provide clues to identifying persons of color within the community.
In one story, a "platoon" of boys planned a trick on Daniel, making him fall in Bark mill pond. Another story recounts a time when Daniel had stolen something from the Doctor. After attempting to run away, he was “brought back” to apologize. Bassett writes that Daniel professed that he "knew it was a shame, but the devil got into him before he knew it, and the devil ought to bear the blame."
Primary source materials have not been recovered, to date, to verify the presence of Daniel in the town of Richmond or his status within as a free Black or enslaved person. A background check on Dr. Parkhurst provides some additional details that may be helpful. Dr. Parkhurst came to town in 1811 to serve as the town doctor and remained in Richmond until his death in 1840. When he first moved to town in the early 1810s, Parkhurst lived in the home of Peregrine Wheeler before moving into his own house.
Peregrine Wheeler is associated with two other families of color in Richmond over the years. In the 1810s, Reuben (Kendall) Jittem lived in the Wheeler home until his death in 1820. Reuben’s son Charles Jittem also lived in the Wheeler home during the 1820s.
SOURCE MATERIALS
Bassett, William, "History of the town of Richmond, Cheshire County, New Hampshire : from its first settlement, to 1882." (1884). p.620-621
U.S. Federal Census, 1830, 1840- Ancestry.com