USA > New Hampshire > Rockingham County > Portsmouth > Early Portsmouth history > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18
That same initiative which brought glory to Ports- mouth and New Hampshire against Louisburg, ap- peared in the town in 1646, but in a way that brought internal friction. In 1745 John Tufton Mason secured in the courts the right to sell his interest in New Hampshire.6,7 He offered it to the New Hampshire Assembly.6 There was much discussion and delay on the part of this body.4 In the interval twelve men of Portsmouth bought, July 30, 1746,4 a large portion of Mason's interest in New Hampshire for £1,500.6 These men were Theo. Atkinson, Mark Hunking Went- worth, Richard Wibird, John Wentworth, Jr., George Jaffrey, Jr., Samuel Moore, Nathaniel Meserve, Thomas Packer, Thomas Walingford, Jothan Odione, Jun., Joshua Peirce, John Moffat.4 They were known as "The Masonians." 7
There was great uproar when this sale became
223
A COLONIAL CAPITAL
known.4,7 The Masonians were accused of depriving the province of what it should have been allowed to acquire; and though Benning Wentworth was not directly one of the purchasing group, his family was intimately represented, much to the anger of many.4 The Masonians began to grant townships, which caused further disturbance.4 Allen's heirs menaced them with threats of the law,7 and the dispute was not settled until it sank practically out of sight in the Revolution.
There was much complaint against Governor Ben- ning Wentworth. It was said that he attempted to pack the Assembly with members representing im- properly organized townships.4 Later the attack focused on the claim that he gave too vague grants, charged exorbitant fees for the passing of patents of land 7 and made use of unbusinesslike methods. The fact remains that he died a rich man. He lived well. The story of his marriage to Martha Hilton, renowned in Longfellow's poem, gives a well-known picture of him and of his social and physical environment.
Portsmouth in 1750 was a civic and a social center of importance and interest. "The first book of the Records and Proceedings of the Library Society in Portsmouth in the Province of New Hampshire begun and formed the ninth day of August 1750 by a pre- vious joint subscription and a public general meeting of the subscribers," reads as follows: "Proposals for beginning a social library in Portsmouth." "As the advancement of learning and the increase of all useful knowledge is of great importance both to the civil and religious welfare of a people, and as all gentlemen who have any taste for polite literature or desire to have any acquaintance with the various affairs of man-
224
EARLY PORTSMOUTH HISTORY
kind . . . cannot but look upon it to be a great privi- lege to have always a good collection of books at hand . .. ; it is therefore propos'd to the gentlemen of this town, and a number of persons whose names are subscribed have agreed to join in purchasing a set of books to the value of about £12 for each man con- cerned, as the beginning of a library for their common use, as a society." The names subscribed to this preamble are Elias Huske, John Moffatt, Henry Sher- burne, Jun., Daniel Warner, Theodore Atkinson, Mark Hunking Wentworth, Jotham Odione, Joshua Peirce, Richard Wibird, Thomas Wibird, George Jaffrey, Daniel Rogers, Thomas Westbrook Waldron, Samuel Hale, Benjamin Dearborn, Robert Traill, Paul March, Sam'l Penhallow, Samuel Langdon, Job Strong, Samuel Sherburne, John Penhallow, John Sherburne, Andrew Clarkson, Matthew Livermore, Nathaniel Meserve, Sen., Daniel Peirce, William Parker, Thomas Durant, John Hart, Nath'l Peirce, Seth King and Edmund Quincy, Jun. Among the first books installed were Bingham's "Antiquities," ten volumes; Dr. Samuel Clarke's "Sermons and Paraphraise;" Rapin's "His- tory of England;" Burnet's "History of our Own Times;" Boyles' "Experimental Philosophy," three volumes; "Heroditus;" "Thucidides; " Chapman's "Tracts;" "Gulliver's Travels;" and Gregory's "Ele- ments of Astronomy." There was £396 subscribed with which to purchase books. Arthur Browne gave a book valued at £15, 16s. The document from which the quotations immediately preceding are taken is in the valuable library in the delightful third floor old library room of the Portsmouth Athenæum.
On November 6, 1745, Mr. Samuel Langdon was invited to assist Mr. Fitch as minister in Portsmouth,
The Rundlet-May Garden and House
Published through the courtesy of The Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities
225
A COLONIAL CAPITAL
Mr. Fitch being feeble.3 Mr. Langdon had just returned from the Louisburg expedition, where he had served as a regimental chaplain. It was arranged that he should continue a grammar school which he had been conducting. Samuel Langdon was of the Harvard class of 1740.3 He was finally ordained pastor in Portsmouth February 4, 1747, over a church consisting at that time of one hundred and sixty-four members, forty-eight of them males, one hundred and sixteen females.3 "The ordination dinner cost the parish £48 11s, 6d."3 Mr. Langdon continued his ministry at Portsmouth for twenty-eight years, leav- ing his pastorate to become president of Harvard College.3 Church going in Mr. Langdon's day was still a part of a citizen's routine, and was still some- thing of a hardship physically. Foot stoves were used in church.3 In 1762 the wardens of the North Church voted that whoever left a foot stove in church should pay a fine of 20 shillings.3 The back seat in the church at the mill dam was reserved "for young people about fourteen years of age, unmarried," 3 the boys under that age to sit in the men's aisle of the church, the girls on the women's side.3
At the South Parish Church, of which Mr. Emer- son had assumed the pastorate in 1715, there were seven hundred and sixty-two baptisms between 1715 and 1732. Mr. Emerson received one hundred and twenty-four into the church during this time. The Rev. William Shurtleff succeeded Mr. Emerson. During his ministry at Portsmouth he baptized more than seven hundred. After Mr. Shurtleff died several candidates were considered, the parish finally settling on the Rev. Job Strong, who was ordained in 1749. He was of the class of 1747 at Yale. The Rev. Job
226
EARLY PORTSMOUTH HISTORY
Strong died in 1751, aged about twenty-seven. In 1752 the Rev. Samuel Haven, D.D., was ordained pastor of the South Parish, the parish then consisting of two hundred families. Dr. Samuel Haven served many years, baptizing about two thousand during his pastorate. The Rev. Timothy Alden, Jun., was or- dained collegiate pastor in 1799.14
In 1749, as has been stated, the "America" was built at Portsmouth for the royal navy, giving evidence of designers' and carpenters' skill that was already evident in the architecture of the town. From many angles, Portsmouth at this period showed good taste, initiative and ability in organization.
On October 7, 1756, Daniel Fowle published at Portsmouth the first newspaper in New Hampshire. This was named "The New Hampshire Gazette," and was a weekly. The first issue reads: "Upon the encouragement given by a number of subscribers agreeable to printed proposals, I now publish the first weekly gazette for the Province of New Hamp- shire, depending upon the favor of all gentlemen who are friends to Learning, Religion and Liberty, to countenance my undertaking, as this is the beginning of printing in this province, so that I may go on cheerfully, and continue this paper in a useful and entertaining manner." 5 The subscription price was one dollar a year, or "the equivalent in bills of credit," "computing a Dollar this year at Four Pounds old tenor." 5 The weekly contained news from Antigua, Halifax, Philadelphia, New York and Boston. The first issue told of the coming to Portsmouth of an express with advice of the advance by the French against "our camp at Lake George." This same issue reported entries in "at the Port of Piscataway"
227
A COLONIAL CAPITAL
(notice the spelling) of one schooner, the "Rye," one sloop, one ship, two brigs; and entries out and clear- ance of four schooners, two ships, one snow, two sloops and two brigs.5 The third issue spelt the name of the port as "Piscataqua," this under date of October 21, 1756.5 A map dated 1791, accompanying Volume I of "The History of New Hampshire," by Jeremy Belknap, 1813 edition, spells Piscataqua, "Pascataqua."
In 1755 "a haymarket, with convenient scales for weighing, was erected at the lower end of Islington Road, and near middle road." 6 In 1716 Portsmouth erected an almshouse,1 another being built in 1755.1 In 1759 a jail was built.1 An earlier one had been built in 1699.1 Before that the fort at Newcastle had been used as a jail. On April 20, 1761, Mr. John Stavers, who kept a public house, commenced running a stage from his inn, the "Earl of Halifax," at Ports- mouth, to Boston. It was scheduled to leave early Monday mornings, proceeding as far as Ipswich the same day, where the night was spent, reaching Charles- town Ferry the next day.5 The trip back commenced Thursday mornings.5 The stage was sufficiently wide to carry three passengers.5 The rate was 13s. 6d. sterling, for each person, Portsmouth to Boston.5 In 1763 the house of John Wendell was burnt.6 In 1764 there was a whipping post in Market Square. Mr. Brewster says this post was the town pump. 10 In 1764 Peter Levius was granted the right to dam Islington Creek and to build one or two gristmills on the watercourse.6 He at once built the dam and the gristmills on it.6 This dam led to Christian Shore, so called, Brewster says in "Rambles about Ports- mouth," Second Series, because about 1760, "when
228
EARLY PORTSMOUTH HISTORY
there were but few families beyond where the North mill bridge is now, there were several who were strict adherents to Puritan principles, while others were more loose in their habits, and might be found some- times late at night at Foss's Tavern, enjoying their flip and cracking their jokes. When the time for part- ing arrived, 'Well, we must leave for Christian Shore', was frequently the jocose remark; and from it that part of Portsmouth soon took its name." In the town books that part of the town was earlier designated as "the land on the other side of Strawberry Bank Creek." 9 In 1767 there were "one hundred and twenty-four male and sixty-three female slaves" in Portsmouth. 3, 10 Most of these were emancipated during the Revolution.3 The year 1767 saw Ports- mouth the most populous town in the Province of New Hampshire. 4
Beautiful houses with beautiful interiors were going up in Portsmouth at this period. Dr. Samuel Langdon built about this time the house which is at present the Unitarian parsonage. It is said that this house was built in 1749. Benning Wentworth for a time lived in the Warner house, but in 1750 built his interesting house at Little Harbor.1 Captain Purcell built what later was the Lord house, probably between 1750 and 1760. This is now the home of the Portsmouth Historical Society. It was here that John Paul Jones boarded.1 The Moffat-Ladd house was built about 1760, this being one of the most pleasing of all Ports- mouth houses, and a delightful example, as expressed in architecture, of the taste, desire and imagination of the period. The Governor John Wentworth house, on Pleasant Street, was built about 1769.1 Other old houses of this era are the Cutter house, built by
229
A COLONIAL CAPITAL
Charles Treadwell about 1750,1 the Spence house, the Whipple house on State Street, the Jacob Wendell house, the Aldrich house. An assembly house for the town, no longer standing, was built in 1750.1
In 1764 Samuel Cutts advertised imports by vessel, in " The New Hampshire Gazette," as follows: broad- cloths, sewing silk, mohair hats, Irish linens, mitts, hose, damasks, tea "kittles," anchors, ink pots, razors, knives and forks, glue, duck shot, frying pans, marline, bellows, hair lines, bed ticks, etc.5 William and Joseph Whipple advertised imported goods that year; so, also, did Benjn. Goldthwaite.5
The life of the town appears set forth on the sheets of "The New Hampshire Gazette," the four-page weekly. "London news," some months old, was regularly published. In 1764 one week's record shows eight ships coming into the port of Portsmouth, three outward bound. On September 7, 1764, an advertisement appeared offering twenty dollars' re- ward for the return of a runaway negro man named Scipio to his master.5 In 1767 William Fernald adver- tised in the "Gazette" that "The Piscataqua Packet," a "neat" schooner of forty tons, would take passengers and freight to Boston during the summer months, once a fortnight, wind and weather permitting.5
·The civic life of Portsmouth obviously rolled on with vigor during the administration of Governor Benning Wentworth. Politically, after the reduction of Louisburg, the next important development was the conference of all the colonies north of the Potomac at Albany, in 1754.4,7 This was to bring about a mutual protective association of the colonies against the French and Indians to the west and north of the northern colonies. 4,7 War in America against the
230
EARLY PORTSMOUTH HISTORY
French seemed very imminent. New Hampshire sent delegates to this Albany conference.4,7 George Washington had been sent by the Governor of Virginia to interview the French commander in the Ohio Valley, and later to complete an English fort at the forks of the Ohio River. Attacked by the French, in 1754, Washington, with difficulty, extricated him- self and his force from the Ohio Valley, leaving it in the hands of the French.11 This was the commence- ment of the French and Indian War which spread to Europe, which lasted seven years there, and paved the way in America for the independence of the United States.
In 1755 came Braddock's defeat7 and an English campaign on the shores of Lake George.4,7 In 1759 Crown Point was reduced after a previous attack. 4 In 1759 Quebec was taken.4,7 That same year New Hampshire raised one thousand men for service. 4 During the war the province furnished five thousand. 4
The war brought financial stress to New Hampshire. By lax business methods, Governor Benning Went- worth made the difficulties of New Hampshire still greater. Much paper money was issued, 1754-1756,4 and the province became poor,7 due to the long- drawn-out war, closed at last, in 1763, by the Peace of Paris. 4
Benning Wentworth's popularity, so evident on his arrival, was rapidly waning. He had, like other royal administrative officers in New Hampshire, a difficult rôle to play; but even with due allowances, his record does not appear happy.
Wentworth soon had to meet a still harder political situation for a royal Governor to handle. After the Peace of Paris the government of George III in Eng-
231
A COLONIAL CAPITAL
land devised the scheme of taxing the American colo- nies for their share in the expense of the public debt which had been doubled by the French and Indian War. This in itself was not unfair, but that this taxa- tion should be levied on the colonies without a word of consent or of friendly criticism from them was abhor- rent to the men who had fought their way, and whose fathers had fought their way, against the rigors of a new continent. These same Americans were now united by war. They had tried their strength in battle against the French alongside of the English, and they were aware of their comparative merit. It was also believed that the British ministry was attempting to exploit the American colonies.7
In 1765 England passed the Stamp Act.4 November 1, 1765, was the date appointed for it to go into effect.4 On October 31, 1765, in Portsmouth, "The New Hampshire Gazette" appeared with a mourning border, proposing to go out of business because of the Stamp Act.6,7 On November 1 the day was ushered in by the tolling of bells; the vessels in the harbor had their colors half-mast high. About three o'clock a funeral procession was formed to bury the Goddess of Liberty. "As it passed the parade minute guns were fired." 6 At the last moment "some signs of life appearing, Liberty was not deposited in the grave but carried off in triumph." 6 "The bells began to ring, the drums that had been muffled, beat a lively air, and instead of the Goddess of Liberty, was buried the Stamp Act." 4, 6, 10 "The person appointed distributor of stamps in New Hampshire was George Messerve" of Portsmouth. 4,7 The state of public opinion was forcibly brought to his attention before he arrived at Portsmouth, and he resigned at once before he got to Portsmouth.4 This,
232
EARLY PORTSMOUTH HISTORY
however, was not enough for the citizens of Portsmouth. Effigies of Messerve, Lord Bute and the devil were burned in Portsmouth, and when he arrived at Ports- mouth the Sons of Liberty, a local patriotic organiza- tion similar to others in other northern colonial towns, forced Messerve publicly to deliver up his commission and instructions.10 "An oath was administered to him [early in 1766]7 by Justice Claget, that he would neither directly or indirectly attempt to execute his office." Prior to this, on November 5, Guy Fawkes Day, which "had always been observed as a day of hilarity in remembrance of the powder plot," especial care was taken to preserve order.7 This day was still observed in Portsmouth, to within a few years.
"To provide for the worst," Belknap says, "an asso- ciation was formed by the 'Sons of Liberty' in all the northern colonies to stand by each other and unite their whole force." 7 These organizations were loyal to the King, but they were determined not to be op- pressed.7 It is to be distinctly noted that Portsmouth, like other colonial political centers, wished to be loyal. There was no real desire to be disloyal, and there was a most strong desire to be in happy union with the mother country. At the same time, and paramount to this thought, there was the desire for the liberty of inde- pendent expression and action. Until the Revolution was well under way these two states of mind in Ports- mouth, as elsewhere, were in strong conflict in most individuals, and while the war was first going on the political history of the town was affected by this con- flict of thought, not only between parties of individuals, but in the minds of individuals themselves.
The loyalty of Portsmouth to England was shown in 1766, when the Stamp Act was repealed. When the
233
A COLONIAL CAPITAL
news of the repeal reached Portsmouth on May 22, "at early dawn the bells began to ring. A discharge of cannon hailed the rising sun." 6 A battery of twenty- one guns was erected near Liberty Bridge, formerly Swing Bridge, where in January, 1766, a Liberty stand- ard had been flown, inscribed "Liberty, Property and No Stamp." 6 This battery was dedicated to His
Majesty.6 "Another battery of thirteen guns was erected on Church Hill in honor of Mr. Pitt, and a third of five guns on the town wharf." 6 "Ships in the harbor were decorated with their colors. Drums and military music contributed to the hilarity of the day. At twelve o'clock a royal salute was fired at Castle William and Mary [at Newcastle at the entrance of the harbor] which was answered by batteries in the town. A large number of gentlemen assembled at the Colonial Chamber and drank several patriotic toasts.6 In the afternoon a grand procession was made through the principal streets and a salute was fired at each of the batteries as they passed. In the evening a bonfire was lighted on Wind Mill hill" (Mason's hill). 3,6 At the bonfire "a mast had been raised, the foot of which was set several feet in the ground. The fire ascended majestically to the top of the mast where it communicated with a bomb deposited there, which made a fine explosion." 6
When the Stamp Act went into effect with its re- sultant commotions in Portsmouth, "Governor Went- worth was silent." 7 He passed through these political disturbances as well probably as any royal Governor could, in so far as English politics were concerned. There were other factors in his political situation at Portsmouth, the combination of all factors in the end forcing him from office. "A spirit of speculation in
234
EARLY PORTSMOUTH HISTORY
new lands" 6 was now setting in. This "prevailed among all ranks in society." 6 "Applications were continually made to the governor for grants, and he rapidly complied with the requests." 6 As stated, there was complaint against Benning Wentworth as to vagueness of his grants and his unbusinesslike procedure. Especial reference was made to his "too vague reservation of pine trees." 4 Wentworth had appointed three relatives to lucrative positions,4 and he was accused of reserving five hundred acres for himself in each township he granted.4 Altogether the people of New Hampshire wanted to be rid of him, and they said so, as they seem always to have said what was in their minds when they felt strongly. Complaint of Benning Wentworth was made in Eng- land, and it was decided by the government there to appoint a successor to him.7
John Wentworth, son of Mark Hunking Wentworth and a nephew of Governor Benning Wentworth, was in England at this time.7 He knew particularly well the Marquis of Rockingham, who was at the head of the ministry.6 John Wentworth said what he could in behalf of his uncle,4 with the result that it was finally arranged that Benning Wentworth should be deprived of his office without undue emphasis, and that he should resign 6 his office of Governor in favor of his nephew, John Wentworth, whom Rockingham appointed, in 1766, Governor of New Hampshire and Surveyor of the King's Woods.7 John Wentworth sailed for Charleston, South Carolina, arriving there in March, 1767,6 and traveling from there by land to Portsmouth,6 where he was received on his arrival "with every mark of respect and affection." 7
235
A COLONIAL CAPITAL
Benning Wentworth withdrew, as it had been ar- ranged he should withdraw. Belknap says that Ben- ning Wentworth was neither brilliant nor con- temptible.7 He had the gout. 4,7 Benning Wentworth ended his days at his estate at Little Harbor, and died there a wealthy man, at the age of seventy-five, on October 14, 1770.4
CHAPTER XII
THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
W HEN Governor John Wentworth arrived in Portsmouth on June 13, 1767,8 with the great cavalcade which accompanied him, the guns at the fort and in the town thundered a salute, and the General Court voted him a salary of seven hundred pounds and his house rent.3 "Two troops of horse escorted him, and a regiment of militia was drawn up on the Parade." 8 He was given a reception and ban- quet that cost £175.8 The issue of "The New Hamp- shire Gazette" of June 19, 1767, described the celebra- tion in detail. 2
Like the other high administrative officers of New Hampshire, Governor John Wentworth took office under seemingly auspicious circumstances,9 and, like the others, his popularity waned almost from the moment of his inauguration. Of all the royal Gover- nors and Lieutenant Governors, Governor John Went- worth had the most difficult task, that of maintaining his royal allegiance and his local popularity as the Revolution drew near. At first all went fairly well. Like his predecessor, John Wentworth lived in Ports- mouth and made Portsmouth the capital of the province. He had initiative, but it was sometimes selfishly directed. "It may be noticed," Mr. Stackpole says, "that Governor John Wentworth was as careful to name his relations and friends in grants of land as his predecessor had been;" 8 but in Portsmouth this brought no complaint, for grants by Governor John
237
THE REVOLUTIONARY PERIOD
Wentworth were more favorable to Portsmouth people than to the inhabitants of any other town. The new Governor desired a baronial estate, and soon after his. inauguration he bought land in Wolfeboro for a coun- try seat, adding 2,770 acres to this in 1770.8 Governor John Wentworth had graduated from Harvard in 1755.3,8 When, in 1769, George III granted Dart- mouth College its charter, Governor John Wentworth signed the document as witness of the will of the King. John Wentworth sponsored Dartmouth 8,9 and was the first-named trustee in the charter of the college. The many friends of the institution rivaled each other to secure its settlement as each wished. Governor Went- worth offered the college a township if it should be located in his domain. There was a momentary early suggestion, with which John Wentworth did not. agree, that the college be called "Wentworth." The salary of the President of Dartmouth College in 1785 was $66623, with an additional amount added in the last half of the year as extra compensation. 14, 15 Dart- mouth College was named for "William, Earl of Dartmouth, one of its principal benefactors in Eng- land." 3 Governor Wentworth planned roads from Wolfeboro to Dartmouth College, and also to Mon- treal and Quebec.8 Governor Wentworth also planned to connect Lake Winnipesaukee and the Piscataqua River by a canal.8 In 1771 the Province of New Hampshire was divided, under Governor John Went- worth, into five counties,8,9 Rockingham County being so named at that time for Charles Watson Wentworth, Marquis of Rockingham.8. That same year, 1771, paper currency was abolished.9 The year 1771 also saw the first lighthouse established at Fort Point, this through the urging of Governor John Wentworth,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.