The Achievement
In 1768, the citizens of Newmarket, New Hampshire, elected Wentworth Cheswell as one of their town selectmen. It was a local office in a small New England town, the kind of civic duty that rarely makes history books. But Cheswell's election was different: he is the earliest known Black person to win a public election in what would become the United States. He won this distinction eight years before the Declaration of Independence was written.
Cheswell would go on to serve his community in elected and appointed positions for nearly five decades. He was a selectman, assessor, moderator, auditor, and justice of the peace. He served as town constable. He built a private library. He fought in the American Revolution. In a nation that would spend centuries debating whether Black people deserved citizenship at all, Cheswell was governing before the nation existed.
Family Roots in Colonial New Hampshire
Wentworth Cheswell was born on April 11, 1746, in Newmarket, New Hampshire. His family had been in the area for generations. His grandfather, Richard Cheswell, was a Black man who had come to the region in the early 1700s. Richard built a successful farm and gained enough standing in the community to own property and participate in civic life, which was unusual for a Black man in colonial New England.
Wentworth's father, Hopestill Cheswell, inherited the family property and continued the tradition of community involvement. The family was of mixed racial heritage: Richard Cheswell was Black, and subsequent generations married into white families. By Wentworth's generation, the Cheswells were a well-established, propertied family in Newmarket, respected for their work ethic and civic contributions.
This mixed-race heritage is important context. Some historians have debated whether Cheswell should be classified as "Black" given his multi-racial ancestry. The consensus among scholars is that his documented African-American heritage, traced through his grandfather, makes him the first known person of African descent to hold elected office in what became the United States. The debate itself reflects how racial categories in colonial New England were less rigidly defined than in the Southern colonies, where the "one-drop rule" would later become law.
Education and Early Career
Cheswell received a formal education, likely at one of the local schools and possibly through tutoring arrangements common among New England's propertied families. He was well-read and literate at a time when many white colonists could barely sign their names. He studied history and accumulated what was reportedly one of the largest private libraries in the region.
His first known elected position came in 1768, when the Newmarket town meeting chose him as a selectman. Town selectmen in colonial New Hampshire were responsible for managing local affairs, including roads, poor relief, tax collection, and maintaining public order. It was a hands-on position that required the trust of one's neighbors.
Over the following decades, Cheswell served in nearly every civic role Newmarket had to offer. Town records show him serving as assessor (responsible for property valuations and tax assessments), auditor (reviewing town finances), moderator (presiding over town meetings), and eventually justice of the peace, a quasi-judicial role that gave him authority to settle disputes and perform legal functions.
The American Revolution
When tensions between the American colonies and Britain erupted into open conflict, Cheswell sided firmly with the patriot cause. His most famous contribution came in December 1774, when he rode through the countryside to warn residents of approaching British forces. This midnight ride, similar in purpose to the more famous ride by Paul Revere the following year, helped alert local militia to prepare for a possible confrontation.
Cheswell also served as a soldier. He enlisted in Colonel John Langdon's company and participated in the campaign at Saratoga in 1777, one of the turning points of the Revolutionary War. His military service further cemented his standing in the community and his commitment to the ideals of the new republic.
A Life of Public Service
What makes Cheswell's story so notable is not any single dramatic moment but the sheer duration and breadth of his service. He was not elected once as a curiosity or an exception. He was returned to office year after year, decade after decade, in a community that clearly valued his judgment and dedication.
Town records show that Cheswell took on responsibilities that went beyond his official positions. He maintained an interest in local history and reportedly kept detailed records and artifacts related to Newmarket's past. He was described by contemporaries as a man of integrity, intelligence, and quiet authority.
Cheswell married Mary Davis, and together they had several children. The family remained prominent in Newmarket for generations. His descendants continued to live in the area, and the Cheswell name appears in local records well into the 19th century.
Why Cheswell's Story Matters
Cheswell's life complicates the simple narrative that Black Americans were entirely excluded from political life before the Civil War. While millions of Black people were enslaved, and free Black people in most of the country faced severe legal restrictions, Cheswell's experience in New Hampshire shows that exceptions existed, particularly in parts of New England where racial lines were less rigid.
This does not diminish the enormity of slavery or the systemic racism that defined most of American history. Rather, Cheswell's story adds depth. It shows that even in the 18th century, there were communities where a Black man could earn the trust and respect of his neighbors through talent and service. It also shows how easily those stories can be lost when history is written by those who assume Black Americans played no role in early governance.
Today, Cheswell is honored in Newmarket. A historical marker stands near his family's homestead. Local schools teach his story. But his name remains far less known than it deserves, especially compared to the men who followed him into elected office a century or more later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the first Black elected official in America?
Wentworth Cheswell is recognized as the first known Black elected official in the United States. He was elected as a selectman in Newmarket, New Hampshire, in 1768, eight years before the Declaration of Independence.
Was Wentworth Cheswell a patriot in the American Revolution?
Yes. Cheswell served in the American Revolution, most notably riding to warn residents of an approaching British invasion in 1774, similar to Paul Revere's famous ride. He also served as a soldier in campaigns in New York.
Was Wentworth Cheswell considered Black in his time?
Cheswell was of mixed-race heritage, with a Black grandfather (Richard Cheswell) and white ancestry as well. Historians categorize him as the first Black elected official based on his documented African ancestry. Whether his contemporaries identified him primarily by race is debated, as racial categories in colonial New Hampshire were less rigid than in the Southern colonies.