Kent Lakes, NY – New York State Senator Pete Harckham joined residents, members of the Stockbridge – Munsee Band of Mohican Indians and other elected officials at a dedication ceremony for a new statue of Daniel Nimham, the last Sachem, or chief, of the Wappinger Native American tribe and a Revolutionary War patriot.

The special ceremony took place on Saturday, Sept. 12 on “Kent Community Day” outside of Kent Town Hall, where the 4-foot-tall statue and its base are situated.

“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.”

Kent Supervisor Jaime McGlasson said, “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. 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 in or around 1726, Daniel 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 and Indian War, Nimham argued unsuccessfully for a return of the land to Wappingers in court; he subsequently then joined the Continental Army as a captain in the American war for independence. Nimham died during the Battle of Kingsbridge in The Bronx on August 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 Foundation, 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 bronze 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 that Sen. Harckham secured for the Town of Kent.

Kent Historical Society President Tom Breslin said, “The Town of Kent’s Daniel Nimham statue has been in the making for over 25 years. Thanks to Senator Harckham, we were able to obtain funding to enable the project to go forward and reach its completion. Both the Town Kent Conservation Society and Historical Society are appreciative of this generous support. This statue will remind people of the significance of the Native Americans who lived here hundreds of years ago.”

Kent Town Historian Jackie Rohrig Strickland said, “This is a proper memorial to one of the original inhabitants of this area and a courageous fighter for freedom.”