Daniel Nimham Statue Dedicated in Kent
Members of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians were joined by community members at a dedication ceremony for a new 4-foot-tall bronzes statue of Daniel Nimham – the last Sachem, or chief, of the Wappinger Native American tribe and a Revolutionary War patriot – on Sept. 12 outside Kent Town Hall.
“The Town of Kent takes a big step forward as it honors Daniel Nimham, whose extraordinary courage, determination, and strength during the Revolutionary War continues to inspire us,” said Kent Supervisor Jaime McGlasson. “With this statue, we recognize the spirit and dignity of all Native Americans, knowing that their perseverance in the face of injustice is a crucial part of our history.”
Born around 1726, Nimham grew up among the Wappinger people – a subgroup of the Algonquins – in the Hudson Valley. He learned English early on from settlers in the region. After being pushed off his ancestral land by the British after the French & Indian War, Nimham argued unsuccessfully for a return of the land to Wappingers in court. He subsequently joined the Continental Army as a captain in the American war for independence.
Nimham died during the Battle of Kingsbridge in the Bronx on Aug. 31, 1778.
Interest in installing a statue honoring Nimham in Kent goes back over 20 years, and the resulting project is the culmination of a multi-year community effort involving the Kent Conservation Commission, Kent Historical Society, Arts on the Lake, and Kent Public Library.
Renowned sculptor Michal Keropian, a Kent resident, was asked to design and create a statue that would be historically and culturally appropriate, and he completed two – the first for the Town of Fishkill, which was dedicated in 2022, and a second for Kent. The statue’s base was constructed by Kent Highway Superintendent Richard Othmer and his crew, and will include a time capsule to be opened in 2076, during the nation’s tricentennial.
The total cost of the project was $75,000, with $50,000 provided by a state-funded CREST grant secured with the help of State Sen. Pete Harckahm.
“This is an important reminder of the Native Americans who once lived here in this region, the influence they have had on our shared history, and the incredible heroism of Daniel Nimham on behalf of American Independence,” said Harckham. “I commend Supervisor McGlasson, Kent Town Historian Jackie Rohrig Strickland, and Historical Society President Tom Breslin on their tireless efforts to see that this impressive work of art serves as an instructive lesson to future generations of residents and visitors here.”
Breslin thanked Harckham, and all the stakeholders, for advocating for this project. “This statue will remind people of the significance of the Native Americans who lived here hundreds of years ago,” he said.
“This is a proper memorial to one of the original inhabitants of this area and a courageous fighter for freedom,” added Strickland.
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