Henchman, Daniel, 1689-1761

Daniel Henchman (1689-1761), the Boston, Mass. bookseller, was the son of Hezekiah ( -1694) and Abigail Henchman ( - ). Hezekiah was a son of Capt. Daniel Henchman ( -1685), a school teacher, fighter in King Philip's War, and one of the founders of Worcester, Mass.

Daniel Henchman may have served an apprenticeship with a Boston bookseller, and by July, 1712, when the earliest ledger in this collection begins, he was in business for himself as a merchant. His business was extemely varied: in addition to selling and publishing books, he was a bookbinder and a stationer. He also sold other goods ranging from cloth to knives, buckles, combs, and spectacles. Some of this merchandise he imported. He often received payment in food or other goods.

Throughout his career, a principal part of Henchman's business was bookselling. He frequently acted as a publisher, arranging for the printing of specific works, often in partnership with one or more other booksellers. Nearly 400 works printed in Boston between 1712 and 1761 indicate on their title pages that they were "printed for" or "sold by" Henchman.

Henchman and several partners were responsible for establishing the first paper mill in New England. This mill, located on the Neponset River in what is now Milton, Mass., was chartered by the Massachusetts legislature in 1728, and was producing paper by 1731. Henchman had an interest in this mill until 1748.

In addition to being a successful businessman, Henchman was an active citizen of Boston. He joined the Artillery Company in 1712, rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the militia, was an overseer of the poor, a justice of the peace, an inspector of schools, and for more than 40 years a deacon in the Old South Church. In 1713 Henchman married Elizabeth Gerrish (1693-1767), and their daughter Lydia ( - ) married Thomas Hancock (1703-1764) who had been apprenticed to Henchman.