USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > Wolfeborough > History of Wolfeborough (New Hampshire) > Part 5
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To Mr. Ammi Ruhamah Cutter, in Portsmouth, per Post, 3s.
Cambridge February 28th 1754.
Dear Sir
I with pleasure received your kind favour by Mr. Warner, who ar- rived here last Wenesday night. I do assure you Sir it is with the sin- cerest pleasure that I see a Prospect of renewing my literary correspon- dence with my agreeable friend Doctor Cutter, Qui semper mihi claris- simus fuit & semper erit. The observation you make of the great Va- riety of pleasing scenes we pass thro' is unjust, as it is now entirely chang'd from what it was then when your presence bless'd us, and if we had as pleasant living as ever yet without you it wou'd be imperfect to me. The College now is filled up (allmost) of Boys from 11 to 14 Years old and them seem to be quite void of the Spirit & life which is a general concomitant of Youth, so you may Judge what kind of life I now live, who was won't to live in the gayest and most Jovial manner, when I was at first admitted one of this Society which I then thought was a Com- pound of Mirth and Gaiety as it is now of Gravity. Should you go into a Company of Schollars now, you'd hear disputes of Original Sin, ac- tual Transgression & such like instead of the sprightly turns of Wit & Gay repartees which the former Companys used to have, which makes me cry out (& with reason) with a certain Author Oh Alma mater, how hast thou degenerated from thy Pristine Glory! So that you might have
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spar'd the Compliments of my Good nature as I cannot please myself more than in writing you. Pray don't let that Opinion of my likeing Brevity prevail as I assure you the other is my Choice as you may see by the length of this Epistle which I hope You'll excuse as it is a pleas- ure to Sir Your assur'd Friend
J. Wentworth.
To Dr. Cutter.
To Dr. Ammi R. Cutter In Portsmouth.
per favour of Mr. Treadwell.
Cambridge April 23rd 1754.
Dear Sir .- I some time since had a pleasing hope that our Correspon- dence was to be again renewed, which hope does now but faintly glim- mer, tho' I do not yet despair, & hope you'll hinder me from Despairing by letting me hear from you when at leisure which 'do now assure you wou'd be a great and sincere pleasure to me. I hear that we are like to have Treadwell as schoolmaster at Portsmouth which I shou'd be very glad of as he is a young Gentleman that I have a great regard for & believe it will be for his advantage; Treadwell tells me there is as great Scarcity of Pedagogues with you about Portsmouth which 'hope will be supplied by some of your & my Cantabridgian acquaintance; both for your sake & mine as we shall then have a set of Companions that we can make merry with. Cambridge is barren of news at Present, so I hasten to subscribe myself your sincere friend & hble servant
To Dr. A. R. Cutter.
J. Wentworth.
To Doctor Ammi Ruhamah Cutter In Portsmouth
Per Post 3s.
Dr. Cutter Sir: I with great pleasure received your favour, which you intended by the young Colonel, who is arriv'd here safe; I am great- ly oblig'd to you for the Compliments you have so liberally bestowed upon me, and wou'd now in my Turn return them, but it is impossible to make any Upon Doctor Cutter, as let one say what they please they can't say more than the Truth of you, so hope all things consider'd you'll excuse the deficiency of this letter in Compliment. As to Cambridge it is as barren of news as Portsmouth for there is none stirring here ex- cept that Commencement is to be new stile this year, at which time shall be glad to see you here to Celebrate my entrance upon the last year of my Pilgrimage among the Heathen. Shall be very glad to hear from
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you by ev'ry Opp'ty when you are at leisure your Compliance of which & Acceptance of this will Greatly oblige your friend & most obedient h'ble servant.
J. Wentworth.
Cambridge Sunday noon, May 27th 1754.
On leaving college young Wentworth entered the counting- room of his father, and was engaged in mercantile business for a few years. In October, 1759, he became one of the proprietors of the township of Wolfeborough, and in April, 1762, was appointed one of the first committee on settling the town, his associates being Paul March and A. R. Cutter. He took a lively interest in the matter of settlement until the autumn of 1763, when he sailed for England, where he remained four years.
Theodore Atkinson, secretary of the province of New Hamp- shire, thus writes to Thomlinson, one of the most active friends of New Hampshire :-
"Now, Dear Sir, Let me beg the favour of your wonted free and candid advice to the bearer, Mr. John Wentworth, my brother Mark's eldest son. (Atkinson married Wentworth's sister.) He will want nothing more than your common civility, and I'm sure y'll have pleasure in every favour of that kind you bestow upon him, as you will, I am persuaded, find him a worthy agreeable fellow."
In another letter he says: "Mr. Wentworth is taking a trip to England by whom you will receive this. I know I need not recommend him to your house. You'll find him deserving every favour granted."
At this period there was an animated and bitter controversy in the British government in relation to the American provinces. Wentworth, though young, was very active in promoting the interests of his native land. It is said that his influence in securing the repeal of the Stamp Act was not inconsiderable. So greatly did his conduct commend itself to the New Hampshire people, that a resolution was passed by the legislature, July 12, 1766, ap-
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pointing him and Barlow Trecothick "joynt and separate agents for this Province at the Court of Great Britain." Secretary Atkin- son adds, "Accept our grateful thanks for your spirited and kind assistance in the affair of the repeal till you have it in a more general address which was designed you."
August 11, 1766, Mr. Wentworth was appointed by his Majesty, George III., governor of New Hampshire, and also "surveyor of the King's woods in North America." Sailing from England, he arrived in Charleston, South Carolina, in March, 1767. Thence he traveled through the provinces, registering his commission of surveyor in each of them, and arrived at Portsmouth, June 13. The young governor was received by the citizens of his native town with marked demonstrations of respect and joy. A deputation met him without the limits of the town, and escorted him to the more compact part, where the military was paraded to receive him.
Cannon at Fort William and Mary and extemporized batteries boomed; church bells rang, and there was a banquet of the officials and principal citizens: Portsmouth had such a gala- day as it had never before witnessed.
July 2 the governor met the council and assembly in session, and in his inaugural remarked: "I embrace the earliest oppor- tunity of meeting the Assembly, being desirous to afford my con- currence to those Measures that may be necessary for the public service, which will ever meet my dilligent attention." At the close of his speech he adds: "It remains for me to observe that unanimity, Wisdom and application in all your proceedings will be the best means to compass the great End of your Consulta- tions, therein preserving the Honor of the Crown, and advancing the unlimited Prosperity of the Province, which are at present the only objects of my Wishes."
July 4 the assembly replied to the governor's inaugural as fol- lows :-
"May it please your Excellency-
The House of Representatives have considered your Excel-
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lency's Speech at the opening of this Session and returned you our sincere thanks for your care of the Publick service discovered by such an early meeting of the Assembly, after such a long, tedious and fatiguing journey and voyage as you have had to your Government, and giving us an opportunity to attend to the Business immediately necessary to be transacted. Your expres- sions and assurance of a Ready concurrence in that regard with those measures we shall pursue to the end, Deserve our thankful notice & acknowledgement.
We acknowledge the Propriety & Reasonableness of our early and speedy attention to making an adequate & honorable sup- port for his Majesty's government in money of a fixed value, and the Lawfull money of this Province by a Law of the Province is now well ascertained and fixed. There is likewise the strongest icason from every just principle of Government for establishing the fees of all the officers of the government, which has been several times under the consideration of this and former As- semblys, but the former fluctuating state of the currency made the business difficult. Silver and gold currency have been estab- lished, we have made some progress in preparing a suitable table of fees, but have not yet been able to accomplish it.
As the present season of the year with the peculiar Difficulties attending at this time render our attendance to these important affairs impracticable so far as to effect the same, we are neces- sarily obliged to pray your Excellency to suspend the business for such a short time as the state of our Husbandry requires."
The members of the assembly, as intimated in the foregoing reply, desired to harvest the hay crop before spending more time in legislating; so after a session of three days the governor adjourned the house to August 18. Before separating, however, a committee consisting of the whole house visited the governor in the council-chamber, and presented him with a formal address prepared by a committee appointed for that purpose. Here fol- lows a copy of it :-
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" May it Please Your Excellency-
The Representatives of his Majesty's Loyal and Dutifull sub- jects of the Province of New Hampshire concur in the General joy diffused thro' the same on the happy event of your safe arrival among them. Penetrated with the most lively sense of His Majesty's Paternal Regard to them in the appointment of Your Excellency to the chief seat of Government here, they make their very gratefull and humble Acknowledgments.
Your well known Benevolent Disposition, and other amiable qualities exhibited in private life, your abilities and inclination to Discharge the Special Duties of your exalted Station, with the connection usually arising from birth, education and fortune in the same place, gives the most sanguine Hopes that the Province will always have a strong interest in your esteem and affection. Your knowledge of the British Constitution and form of Govern- ment, and the high esteem you have always had for it, the remark- able opportunity you have had of hearing every Branch and part of it pass the most critical Examen that any age has ever seen, as it furnished a more intimate acquaintance with the extent and limits of every part, has we doubt not enhanced your esteem of this Constitution.
We would also remember the eminent service you rendered this Province as an Agent at that critical conjuncture of affairs when it was threatened and in danger of irreparable Burthens ; and in the Name and behalf of our Constituents return our sin- cere and hearty thanks.
The Result is-The most pleasing hopes that the civil and Religious liberties of the People under your Government will always find Protection and safety thro' your whole administration ; and more especially as they have hitherto preserved the character of quiet, loyal and dutyfull subjects, firmly attached to his Maj- esty's person and government, and we flatter ourselves they will never forfeit that character ; that they will always be disposed to
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demonstrate the truth of their profession by paying that Honor and Duty to his Representative here which his character and station demand, and especially to your Excellency whose advance- ment is follow'd with the highest satisfaction and acquiescence ; We therefore congratulate you, Sir, upon the Honor and trust his Majesty has conferr'd on you and on the other propitious at- tending circumstances.
We add our earnest Desires that the General Complacency appearing on this occasion may continue during the whole time of your Administration, and that be long prosperous and happy to yourself and all under your care and charge."
The governor replied to the address briefly and appropriately. Thus felicitously did John Wentworth, at the age of thirty years, enter upon his duties as chief magistrate of the province of New Hampshire,-a young man beloved by his youthful associates, respected by the maturer citizens of his native town, connected with its most influential and wealthy families, and developed by unusual facilities for acquiring theoretical and practical know- ledge. What seer had vision keen enough to predict that in less than ten years he would be an exile from the home he so loved and appreciated, and that through no fault of his or of those by whose direct agency it was brought about?
November II, 1769, Governor Wentworth was married to Mrs. Frances Deering Atkinson, the widow of his and her cousin, Theodore Atkinson, Jr. When quite young John Wentworth and his cousin, Frances Deering Wentworth, became mutually attached; but while he was absent in England, Mr. Atkinson, whose mother was a sister of Mark Hunking Wentworth, wooed and won her. After the governor's return to New Hampshire, the families, who lived neighbors, kept up their friendly relations. Mr. Atkinson died on the twenty-eighth day of October, 1769. By order of the governor minute-guns were fired at the fort and on board the ship-of-war, Beaver, then in the harbor. Thirteen days afterward the governor and Mrs. Atkinson were united in
LADY FRANCES WENTWORTH
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marriage. This may seem a strange proceeding, but the union may have been in accordance with the expressed wish of the deceased husband. In an account of the wedding in the "Boston News Letter" of November 17, the correspondent says of Mrs. Wentworth, "She is a lady adorned with every accomplishment requisite to make the marriage state agreeable." She subse- quently accompanied her husband to England, where she was distinguished for her beauty and conspicuous at court, being maid of honor to the queen. She died at Berks, England, in 1813. Governor Wentworth had one son, Charles Mary, born in Ports- mouth in 1774. He acquired much wealth, was never married, and died at Kingsand, England, in 1844. Two New Hampshire towns were named in honor of the governor's wife, Deering and Francestown.
Governor Wentworth was indefatigable in his efforts to de- velop the resources and promote the interests of the province. Education, agriculture, and internal commerce, to be facilitated by opening roads from the remote parts of New Hampshire to its only seaport, were matters that received his absorbing atten- tion. He evinced his interest in education by chartering Dart- mouth College in the wilderness for the double purpose of en- couraging settlements in the region and affording an opportunity for the untutored natives and a rural population to acquire knowl- edge. His great outlay on his extensive agricultural enterprise commenced in Wolfeborough is proof of his personal interest in the cultivation of the soil. He was especially earnest in urging the inhabitants of the province to construct roads to facilitate travel and the transportation of the products of their farms to market. Two of these, which would have incidentally promoted Wolfeborough interests, will now be noticed.
The Pequaket or Conway Road commenced at Brookfield line, and passed through Cotton Valley to Frost's Corner, and over Hardy's Hill and the east side of Trask's Mountain to Ossipee. It was "spotted" by David Copp. In 1769 three miles
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HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
of it were "cut" by Jacob Sceggel, Aaron Frost, and Grafton Nutter, and cleared by John Plummer, Esq. The remainder of it was "cut" by George Woodhouse, in 1771, bridged by Aaron Frost in 1772, and subsequently completed under the direction of Henry Rust. It was constructed at the expense of the town proprietors of Wolfeborough. From Wolfeborough the Pequaket Road was continued through Ossipee, Effingham, Eaton, and Conway to the Saco valley. It crossed the outlet of Lake Ossipee, where are still seen the foundations of a bridge.
June 5, 1772, an act was passed by the provincial government, authorizing the "clearing and making passable a road from Con- way to Connecticut River on the east side of the White Hills." Had this been constructed, as was then intended, it would have opened a thoroughfare from the Coos region through Wolfe- borough to Portsmouth.
April 12, 1771, an act was passed, authorizing the construction of what was known as the College Road. Here is a copy of a portion of the act :-
"Whereas the opening and making of roads through the various parts of the province is of great publick utility; and the making of a road to Dartmouth college will greatly promote the design of that valu- able institution :
Be it therefore Enacted by the Governor, Council and Assembly, that there shall be a road laid out three rods wide, and made passable, from the Governor's house in Wolfeborough, through part of Wolfeborough, Tuftonborough, Moultonborough, New Holderness, Plimouth, and from thence on the straightest and best course to Dartmouth college, in Han- over. And that Joseph Senter, Samuel Shepard, and David Copp, be and hereby are appointed a committee to lay out and mark said road, and make a plan thereof, from the Governor's house aforesaid, to Pemigewas- set river, near the mouth of Baker's river, at the charge of the province, not exceeding twenty-five dollars And that John House,-Freeman, and David Hobbart, be and hereby are appointed a committee to lay out and mark said road, and make a plan thereof, from Pemigewassett river aforesaid to the college, at the expense of the province, not exceeding twenty-five dollars. And that the proprietors and owners of the land within the towns respectively, through which the said road shall be laid out, shall forthwith cause the same to be made passable, to the accept-
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ance of the respective committees laying out the same, at the charge of such respective town, by an equal rate on all the land therein, except land reserved or laid out for publick uses."
Here is the report of the committee for surveying the first portion of the College Road :-
"In Pursuance of our Appointment By Act of the Generall Assembly, We have Survayed Marked & Measured a Road, From the Governor's House in Wolfeborough To Plymouth, Which Road is Marked for Three Rods Wide, Begining at the Governor's House in Wolfeborough Afore- said.
Running from Thence North 27 Degrees East 1 Mile And 1/4 to Mr. Rindges-
From Thence W-45-N: 3/4 of a Mile on Wolfeborough Road
From Thence W-41 N-7 Miles to Miles Road So Called
From Thence W-45 N-1/4 of a Mile To Squire Livius
From Thence No. 40 W. 5 Miles on Miles Road To Melvins River
From Thence N-32 W-3 Miles & 1% on Said rode to Colonell Moul- tons
From Thence N-34 W-1 Mile to Ebenezer Blakes
From Thence W-20 S-6 Miles & 1/4 To Senters
From Thence W-40 N-8 Miles & 1/2 To Shepards
From Thence N-20 W-1 Mile & 1/2 to Squire Livermores
From Thence N-25 W-2 Miles & 1/4 Pemagawasset River at the En- trance of the Mill Brook So Called The Whole of Which Being Computed To Be 36 Miles & 34ths All Which we Have Carefully Survayed Plainly Marked And Do Report Capable of Being Made a Good Road Of Which Survay We Have Herby Mad a True Return All Which is To Your Ex- cellency & Honours Most Humbly Submitted-
Dated Sept 20th 1771-
Joseph Senter David Copp . Com.
Samuel Sheperd,
Remarks explanatory of the survey-The first course-from the governor's house to Mr. Rindge's, one and one-fourth miles- was quite direct, passing over a portion of the meadow, where were formerly the remains of a corduroy road, and east of John A. Chamberlain's buildings, to those now occupied by Harry Smith, where stood the house of Isaac Rindge. The second course- three-fourths of a mile on Wolfeborough Road-was a small
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portion of the road leading from the southeastern to the north- eastern part of Wolfeborough. The third course, almost directly west-seven miles to the Miles Road-crossed the farm now owned by James Stevenson, whose grandfather, Thomas Steven- son, used to point out the remains of a bridge over which the College Road passed. Thence it probably went north of Center Square to the outlet of Lily Pond, and from that point to the site of the Hersey cemetery. Continuing in the same westerly course, it passed east of Mirror Lake, and came to the Miles Road near the "Narrows." There, turning to the north, one- fourth of a mile might have reached land claimed by Peter Livius. His farm buildings, however, were situated a mile farther on, near the artificial outlet of Mirror Lake, then Livius' Pond. There it undoubtedly became the Pond Road, until it reached the "Upper Bay" in Tuftonborough. From there it continued towards Melvin River, passing over Bean's Hill, and subsequently becoming the County Road. Leaving Melvin, it continued in the same direction three and one-half miles to Moultonborough Lower Corner, the home of Colonel Jonothan Moulton. One mile beyond it reached Ebenezer Blake's. There its course was changed to a little south of west, and it continued six and one-fourth miles to the southern part of Moultonborough, where was situated the home of Joseph Senter, from whom Center Harbor perhaps took its name. If so, it should have been called Senter Harbor.
The College Road was completed as a horseway to Hanover, and used as such. Moses Neal, for many years Recorder of Deeds for Strafford County, said that when a student at Dart- mouth College, he, in company with several other persons, rode over it. The following item from the "New Hampshire Gazette" of August 23, 1771, is conclusive evidence that it was used for travel: "His Excellency Governor Wentworth with a number of gentlemen set out from here (Portsmouth) for Dartmouth Col- lege by way of Wolfeborough. They went to be present at the commencement exercises."
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In 1772, when the province of New Hampshire was divided into counties, Peter Livius, one of Governor Wentworth's council, desired to be appointed Justice of the Common Pleas, but failed to secure the office. Thereupon he went to England, and presented to the Lords of Trade charges of malfeasance in office against the governor. The principal complaints were that a large number of his family connections were members of the council, and that he had improperly disposed of lands previously granted. These charges were rigidly investigated, but were finally dis- missed.
The proceedings were as follows: The investigations and find- ings of the Lords of Trade went before the Privy Council of the king, which reported :-
"Upon the whole, therefore, the Lords of the Committee sub- mit to your Majesty, That there is no foundation for any censure upon the said John Wentworth, Esq., your Majesty's Governor of New Hampshire, for any of the charges contained in Mr. Livius's complaint against him, whose general conduct, in the administration of affairs within your Majesty's government of New Hampshire, is represented to have tended greatly to the peace and prosperity of the said Province."
The declaration of the king in relation to the matter was : "His Majesty, taking the said report into consideration, is pleased with the advice of his Privy Council, to approve thereof, and to order, as is hereby ordered, That the said complaint of the said Peter Livius be dismissed this board.
Signed, G. Chatwood."
This transaction took place at the Court of St. James, the eighth day of October, 1773. The affair was the occasion of the following address to the governor :-
"To His Excellency John Wentworth Esqr. Capt. General and Govern- or in Chief in and over the Province of New Hampshire .-
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The inhabitants of the town of Londonderry beg leave to approach your excellency, and express their sentiments of gratitude and affection to your excellency's person and administration .- We esteem it a pe- culiar mark of the favor of his gracious Majesty that he has appointed to the supreme command here a gentleman whose birth and education have been in the province over which he presides. From the circum- stances and your excellency's known character, we early conceived the most sanguine hopes from your administration. Nor have we been dis- appointed. The unabated attention you have given to the interests of the province has not only been felt by the people of your charge, but has been observed (we had almost said envied) by our neighbors who are without the limits of your jurisdiction .- The cultivation of land within the government, and the extension of settlements even to regions that were scarce known when your excellency came to the chair, must be at- tributed in a great measure to your care and the benignity of your gov- ernment, But it has not been in this view alone that you have been the patron of this people. To extend settlements or to cultivate lands while the people that settle & cultivate are without the means of knowledge, might be rather injurious than beneficial. But these have not escaped your excellency's attention. The institution of a college in the wilder- ness, and the liberal encouragement it has received from your hand is abundant evidence of this attention.
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