Daniel Henchman

Daniel Henchman (January 21, 1689 – February 25, 1761) was a renowned American publisher and bookseller in 18th-century colonial Boston. Aside from his mainstay of publishing, printing, and bookselling, he was involved in a variety of mercantile pursuits. He was also very involved in Boston's civic matters and gave generously to the poor fund through his church. He was also an officer in the Boston militia regiment. Primarily through Henchman's efforts, the first paper mill to appear in New England was built in Massachusetts. Some historians consider Henchman to be the most prominent publisher and bookseller in pre-Revolutionary New England. Early life and family Daniel Henchman was born in Boston on January 21, 1689. He was the son of Hezekiah and Abigail Henchman, and grandson of Captain Daniel Henchman (1623–1685), who emigrated to New England from London, and who was a captain in the New England Confederation who served with distinction in King Philip's War. Henchman had a daughter, Lydia, who married Thomas Hancock, who left his estate to his nephew, John Hancock, the renowned patriot. As a young man, Thomas worked as a clerk in Henchman's bookstore. Civic life Henchman lived on Queen Street in what was the Brattle Street Society's parsonage, which was later willed to that society by his daughter, Mrs. Hancock. He was very involved in Boston's civic and other affairs. He was a clerk of the market in 1716 selling produce, seafood and wine, and spirits. He was an incorporator of Boston's Fire Society in 1717 and a member of a militia company in Boston in 1722, 1726, and 1727. In 1735 he returned to militia duty and ultimately advanced to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He functioned in Boston's Overseers of the Poor from 1735 to 1756. Henchman was appointed a justice of the peace on January 26, 1738-9, and was again appointed on September 14, 1756. He was also a Deacon of the Old South Church for a number of years.