USA > New Hampshire > Carroll County > Wolfeborough > History of Wolfeborough (New Hampshire) > Part 7
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 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
When the township of Wolfeborough was divided into pro- prietary lots, its northeast portion consisted of two parallel tiers of five lots each, numbering from one to ten, the tiers adjoining Lake Wentworth bearing the smaller numbers. Several of the town proprietors, as already mentioned, because of neglect to pay their taxes and non-compliance with the terms of settling their lots, forfeited portions of their lands to the proprietry. These were sold at auction. Lots one, two, three, and four came into the possession of Governor Wentworth either by purchase or an agreement to settle them. The tract embraced by these four lots lay between Lake Wentworth and the Cotton Valley road, and had an average width of a little less than five hundred rods. In length it extended from Middleton to the Triggs farm, eight hun- dred and sixty rods. Its area was two thousand three hundred and fifty acres. Within its limits is the site of the governor's buildings, Mount Delight, Martin's Hill, and the "Meadows."
At the drawing of the lots the one numbered seven, the second in the more easterly tier and abutting on lot two, fell to Went- worth as a town proprietor. It extended to Wolfeborough Ad- dition, was two hundred and fourteen rods wide, and contained six hundred and forty-two acres. Lot eighteen, six hundred acres, was drawn by John Rindge. It extended on the Lake Wentworth shore from lot four to Moose Point. Its northern boundary was for a short distance on the line of the road leading from Center Wolfeborough to Wolfeborough Falls, then on that
82
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
of a portion of the range-way from Center Square to Lake Win- nipesaukee. On the west it abutted on the Torrey lot. Within its limits are situated the farms now owned by John F. Chamber- lin, Frank B. Kenney, Henry J. Coleman, George Tyler, and a portion of the land where stood the Hersey woods. This lot also became a part of the Wentworth Farm. The amount of land in lots seven and eighteen added to that contained in the four lots just referred to equals three thousand five hundred and ninety- two acres, the amount of land in one body possessed by Governor Wentworth in the town of Wolfeborough. It is said that he had fifteen hundred acres adjoining this in the second division of Middleton (now Brookfield) and New Durham, and the statement is probably correct, as the following extract from the doings of the New Hampshire committee of safety would indicate :-
"State of New Hampshire-In Committee of Safety.
Sept. 8, 1780. To Capt. Gilman, Trustee of the state of the late Governor Wentworth's estate:
Provided any person in behalf of the heirs of Joseph Simms, late of Portsmouth, deceased, should bid off any lands belonging to said estate in Middleton in the County of Strafford at vendue, you are desired to take security, and not demand the money."
This would indicate that the governor had a claim on such lands. If so, he possessed in one compact body upwards of five thousand acres of land.
Governor Wentworth commenced operations on his farm in 1768. In a letter written by him April 25, 1768, to Colonel Thomas M. Waldron of Dover, N. H., he states that it was not alone his desire to form an English country-seat here that caused him to obtain and develop the land of which he was then in posses- sion, but that his chief object was to rapidly develop the resources of the province, and that he looked for others to follow his ex- ample in this field. In the same letter he writes : "Mr. Benjamin Hart, overseer of my designations in the wilderness, and Mr.
83
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Webb, who is to reside there as farmer, are now there on their first expedition to clear a few acres and build a humble habita- tion for me."
In 1768, 1769, and 1770 a large force of laborers was employed, a great extent of forest cleared, fields sown, orchards planted, a large garden laid out, and the mansion erected, though not fin- ished. The site of the house was a small plain about one hun- dred rods east of Lake Wentworth.
The house was one hundred feet long and forty feet wide, as shown by the cellar over which it stood, and fronted both east and west. It was two-storied with a gambrel roof, the upper story be- ing eighteen and the lower twelve feet high. Its windows, glazed with small panes of glass, were six feet wide. A hall twelve feet wide extended across it, entered at each end by massive doors, the keys of which weighed one and one-half pounds each. Mrs. Ray- nard, the last occupant of the house before it was burned, sent one of them to the governor, then an octogenarian, who was deeply moved upon its receipt. The principal room in the upper story was the "East India chamber," the walls of which were covered with finely painted paper, representing life scenes in the East. Here was a white marble fireplace; on each side were niches in which to place statues. On the same floor were the "green room" and the "blue room," thus named from the color of their finish- ings. Here also was the "king and queen's chamber," which had a fireplace of gray marble and niches where stood the statues of the king and queen of England. In the lower story were the store-room, kitchen, dining-room, drawing-room, and library. In the last named room was a black marble fireplace with a tile hearth. At the southerly end of the house was a one-storied building called a porch, which was probably used for various domestic purposes. At a little distance was a dairy with a well and fireplace.
The principal barn was one hundred feet long. It is still in existence, one-half of it standing on the farm of Hon. Thomas L.
84
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Whitton and the other half on that of his son, Charles A. Whitton. Other barns, stables, and out-buildings were erected.
A large extent of land was cleared, the most of it in the ordinary way-by felling, piling, and burning the trees. Where a smooth surface was required for pleasure-grounds, gardens, orchards, etc., however, a more expensive and expeditious method was adopted, the roots of the tree being removed with the bodies. Some of the grounds were enclosed by carefully constructed stone walls that remain standing at the present time. A mall was built, ex- tending from the shore of the lake to the mansion and ground beyond, a portion of which is still in a state of good preservation. This was bordered with elms, some of which still guard the un- frequented way. A park was also constructed, and stocked with deer and moose. It was fenced in the following manner : a ditch twelve feet wide was dug, and an embankment formed on the outer side from the earth thrown out; on this were piled large trees with the branches interwoven. Near the park was the house of Robert Calder, the Scotch gardner, the hearth-stone of which is still to be seen.
The northerly end of the house, nearly one-half of it, was never completed. It was, no doubt, intended by the governor for court- rooms, He had been largely instrumental in dividing New Hamp- shire into counties, of which Strafford was one. The subsequent action of the provincial legislature indicates his purpose in relation to the location of the courts. June 13, 1772, the council voted "that all the courts for the county of Strafford be held for the term of seven years at Dover, and afterwards one-half of them at Wolfeborough." The assembly concurred with the action of the council with this proviso, "that after seven years held at Dover, one-half of the courts be held at some other place as the Governor and Assembly shall then direct and order." Wolfe- borough, at the time of this legislation, was in an inchoate state, and in no condition to entertain the courts; nor was the neighbor- ing population sufficiently large to require them. In seven years
BLUE ROOM
EAST INDIA ROOM
UNFINISHED
PLAN OF GOVERNOR'S HOUSE
HALL
HALL
GREEN ROOM
QUEEN'S ROOM
A
LIBRARY
PARLOR
NEVER FINISHED
HALL
n
C
HALL
KITCHENY
SITTING ROOM
DINING ROOM
B
85
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
the governor expected it to be a thickly inhabited town, sur- rounded by a somewhat populous district.
While endeavoring to promote the interests of the whole province, the governor was especially desirous to secure for Wolfeborough all possible advantages. This is seen in his efforts for the construction of the Pequaket, College, and Connecticut River Roads, all of which were designed to reach Wolfeborough. In the matter of the Strafford County courts is seen the same purpose to favor this locality. Had England and the American provinces remained united, and Governor Wentworth continued to be the chief magistrate of New Hampshire, it is probable that at the beginning of the nineteenth century Wolfeborough would have been, next to Portsmouth, the most important town in the province. Of course, the improved modes of travel and trans- portation since introduced would eventually have changed the current of business, and the same causes which enabled Boston to absorb a large amount of the trade of Portsmouth, Newburyport, and Salem would have rendered it as today the emporium of New England, and, as a consequence, changed the condition of many New Hampshire towns, perhaps of Wolfeborough.
Without doubt Governor Wentworth, as did others, expected that at no distant period Lake Winnipesaukee and Piscataqua River would be connected by a canal commencing at Wolfe- borough, and that water-ways and roads would be extended to the Canadian regions. As early as 1768 he advocated such meas- ures, and gave assurance that he would endeavor to secure the co- operation of the members of the provincial legislature and other inhabitants.
In the establishment of the provincial governments, each province conducted its own internal affairs quite independently of its neighbors. There was little concerted action, except in the war with the aborigines, until the revolt against British tyranny. Consequently, New Hampshire was the exclusive domain of Gov- ernor Wentworth when he became its chief magistrate.
86
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Almost the only pursuit of the earliest settlers of this province was the catching and curing of fish. The manufacture of lumber soon followed, however, as the shores of the Piscataqua and its tributaries abounded with oak and pine timber, and numerous cascades furnished ample water-power. These commodities, fish and lumber, were taken to the West Indies, and exchanged for rum and molasses. The latter was brought to Portsmouth and distilled, and the product of the distillation shipped to the neigh- boring seaports and sold. The traffic was very lucrative, and the town merchants became wealthy. The result was that farming was neglected, and provisions and other necessities of life were imported. These were oftentimes scarce and sold at exorbitant prices.
It was the purpose of Governor Wentworth to equalize the in- dustries of the province, and advance to its proper position the most neglected, yet most important one, agriculture. This seems to have been his prime object in commencing his enterprise in Wolfeborough, as intimated in his letter to Mr. Waldron, already quoted. Firmly believing that farming would prove a remunera- tive business, he engaged in it not only for the purpose of stimu- lating others to follow him, but also with an expectation that its pursuit would accrue to his own personal benefit. No doubt his anticipations would have been realized, had he been permitted to continue the business without interruption, since agriculture was the principal pursuit of the people of New Hampshire during the following half-century. His zeal for the general welfare of the province led Rev. Dr. Dwight, president of Yale College, to thus write of him: "Governor John Wentworth was the greatest bene- factor of his province. He was a man of sound understanding, refined tastes, enlarged views, and a dignified spirit. His manners were elegant and his disposition enterprising. Agriculture here owed more to him than any other man. He originated building new roads, and improved old ones. He was very popular, had an unimpeachable character, and retired with a high reputation."
87
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
It was not, however, the sole object of Governor Wentworth in engaging in the Wolfeborough enterprise to prepare a farm for strictly agricultural purposes. His visit to England had increased a previously possessed desire to have a large landed estate like the baronies of the British Isles. Securing the lands in Wolfe- borough and vicinity afforded him an opportunity to gratify his tastes in this particular. The locality was a desirable one for his purpose. The plain, which lay adjacent to the lake-shore, spread- ing out in different directions, was a fitting place for his residential mansion. There was ample room for wide fields and extensive gardens and orchards. the broad incline to the southeast, sym- metrical to its very brow, being well adapted to successful hus- bandry or beautiful horticulture. The near-by plateau, Martin's Hill, illumined by the rays of the morning and evening sun, sur- rounded by the dark shades of the wooded valleys below, pre- sented a pleasing picture. Mount Delight, overlooking the little bay at its foot and the broader blue of Lake Wentworth, added its charm to the scene, while the more distant hills and far-away mountains, whose cloud-capped tops hover the shores and island bedecked waters of Winnipesaukee, furnished views of unsur- passed loveliness.
The lumber for constructing the buildings of the farm was probably manufactured on the premises, as there is evidence still existing that a saw-mill once stood on the Rye Field Brook. If not thus obtained, it must have been brought from the Cutter & Sewall mill, a distance of about five miles. It is said that the bricks of which the great chimneys were built were made at the foot of Smith's River falls of clay brought from Clay Point in Alton. They were then taken to Mast Landing, which is on a level with Lake Wentworth, and conveyed in a two-masted boat, called the Rockingham, to the place of destination. As the old inhabitants of Wolfeborough estimated it, they cost a fabulous sum, and no doubt they were quite expensive. It was not known
88
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
then that there were several deposits of this earth within the limits of the town.
The fine material for finishing the house and the furnishings were taken from Portsmouth to Wolfeborough by the only feasible route then existing between the two places, which was by gondolas or other river-craft to Dover, and from thence by teams to Merry Meeting Bay, a road from Rochester to that place hav- ing been opened by soldiers, who were acting as scouts to pro- tect the frontier settlements from the incursions of the Indians. Here the freight was taken by the governor's sloop to Wolfe- borough, where it was portaged above Smith's River Falls, and conveyed by water to the Wentworth Farm.
There was another route from Portsmouth to the Wentworth House for travel only. It was the one usually, perhaps always, taken. It was as follows, the distance and stopping-places being given: from Portsmouth to Newington Ferry (Knight's), six miles ; Dover (Hanson's), six; Rochester (Stephan Went- worth's), ten ; Rochester (Roger's, now Hayes'), four; Middle- ton (Drew's, now Prescott's), ten; Middleton (Guppy's, since Buzzell's), one; Wentworth House, twelve. On the border of Middleton, near Wolfeborough line, dwelt Nicholas Austin. His home was afterwards known as the Hodge place. Here was the end of the road, until the Pequaket was opened. From Ports- mouth to Plummer's Ridge, then within the limits of Rochester, now a part of Milton, the governor's family rode in carriages, the remaining distance to the farm on horseback. Esquire Plummer usually accompanied the party on the latter part of the journey.
In 1770 the governor's house, though not finished, was taken possession of by him and his family, as shown by the following extract from the "New Hampshire Gazette": "Last Tuesday, His Excellency, our Governor, set out for his country seat on Win- nipiseogee pond, and we hear his lady sets out next week for the same place to reside during the summer season."
During this and the four succeeding years it is probable that
89
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
Governor Wentworth and his family spent a large portion of the warm seasons on the Wolfeborough plantation, engaged in clear- ing and improving the land, erecting and finishing buildings, en- tertaining friends, and securing for himself those enjoyments that a busy rural life would bring to a person of his tastes.
The opportunities for recreation at the governor's establish- ment for denizens of the town were many. The stately moose and wary deer roamed in the surrounding forests, while an abundance of smaller game was found in its covers near the out- skirts of the cultivated fields. Lake Wentworth teemed with pickerel and other food fish, as did the hillside streams with the speckled trout. These were sources of wholesome and palatable food for the larder.
Jotham Rindge, the governor's factotum, let loose English pheasants in the woods, but they disappeared. He also put cusk, a salt water fish, into Lake Wentworth, but they evidently passed down Smith's River to the larger body of water, Lake Winni- pesaukee, where they have become habitats, and have stocked neighboring lakes and ponds with their kind. Within this decade they have also been caught in goodly numbers from Lake Went- worth ; these are probably the progeny of such as have been re- cently placed in that water.
There were several favorite resorts about the farm for out-of- door dinners and teas. One was an island-rock in the southern part of Lake Wentworth, still called "Tea Rock," or "Governor's Rock." It was about forty feet long and twenty feet broad. Turtle Island, near the north shore of the lake, was also a feasting- place. This island was connected with the mainland by a narrow causeway. A large pine tree on Mount Delight was also a chosen spot for afternoon entertainments.
The Wentworth Farm was essentially a watering-place, prob- ably the first in New Hampshire, perhaps the first in the country. It differed from those of the present time in this respect-it was not established for pecuniary profit, the entertainment of guests
90
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
being entirely gratuitous. These consisted of the higher class of Portsmouth citizens and the especial friends of the governor. Among the latter was his college chum, Dr. A. R. Cutter, who usually accompanied him on his visits to the farm in the double capacity of companion and physician.
The effect on the visitors to the farm was similiar to that which ordinarily takes place when residents of densely populated com- munities visit sparsely settled regions, and exchange the impure atmosphere of crowds for the invigorating oxygen of the forests and fields, and the dull hues of shaded walls for the bright foliage of the dells and the green of meadows-the muscles became more elastic and the spirits more buoyant, the staid conventionalisms of the town gave way to the unrestrained gaieties of the country. There have been numerous legendary tales concerning occur- rences at the farm, some of them being quite humorous, but as they are not fully authenticated, they may as well remain unre- corded, or, be preserved only in the memory.
There is, however, one event which took place at the Went- worth House that should be noticed. It is the marriage of Lemuel Clifford, a farm-hand, and Betsy Fullerton, daughter of widow Mary Fullerton, a household domestic. The governor, at- tired in scarlet, tied the nuptial knot, while her ladyship, dressed in blue, honored the occasion with her presence. The feast, which was provided at the expense of the governor, was sumptuous, and the company, which consisted of town guests, neighbors, and do- mestics, remained at the banquet until the wee hours of the next morning.
This affair caused the grateful husband to become devotedly attached to the governor and his interests. Not long afterward, however, he unconsciously did him a wrong. The newly married couple had made for themselves a home where the late Nathan Shackley's residence now stands. One day, in the absence of the husband, a deer came near the house, and was shot by the wife. On examination, a marked strap was found about the neck of the
91
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
animal, indicating that it had escaped from the park. Betsy, fear- ing her husband's displeasure, secreted the strap, and Lem. in- nocently feasted on the governor's venison.
The governor's servants are said to have been much attached to him and careful of his interests. On one occasion he desired to send a live moose, recently captured, to the King of England as a present. It was fastened with a rope to a tree to render it more secure. In its struggles to escape, its neck was broken. A Scotchman named McDonald reported the affair to the gov- ernor, expressing regrets that his own neck had not been broken instead of that of the moose.
In the governor's family were two adult negro slaves. They remained on the farm after his departure. The husband was sub- sequently killed by a rolling log, and the mind of the widowed Hagar becoming disordered, she took her son Remus, and wan- dered to New Durham, where she found a home in a kind family named Willey. There are persons now living who can remen ber seeing the aged negro, Remus Willey.
The following letter, written by Lady Wentworth, is a graphic picture of life at the farm :--
Wentworth House, October 4th, 1770.
My Dear Mrs. Langdon :
I hope there requires no profusion of words to convince my dear Friend how very happy her obliging letter made me, as surely she must be sensible of the kindest feelings of my heart towards her, and, believe me, my dear Mrs. Langdon, I was extremely uneasy till I heard you got safe to Portsmouth. Mrs. Long told me you had met with some incon- venience at the Ferry, which really alarmed me exceedingly for you. However, I was soon quieted by receiving a line from you with mention of your health. The time you kindly spent with me in this solitary wil- derness has riveted a lasting impression of pleasure upon my mind; nor do I forget our tedious walks which the charms of the meadows scarcely made up for. I have taken but one since, and then lost both my shoes and came home barefoot.
Mrs. Livius arrived here on Monday afternoon, and appeared nearly as tired as you was, but would not own it.
She staid here three nights for fair weather, and at last went over the
92
HISTORY OF WOLFEBOROUGH.
pond in a high gust of wind, which made a great sea and white caps as large as the Canoe.
I was much afraid for her, but she got over quite safe. She told me you was unwell when she left town, and I am anxious to hear you are re- covered again. I wish you had tarried at Wolfeborough till you had established your health. Indeed, you ought to be mighty attentive to keep your mind easy and calm, or you will be often subject to indispo- sitions that will become mighty troublesome to you. I was pleased at all the intelligence you gave me; for although I live in the woods, I am fond of knowing what passes in the world. Nor have my ideas sunk in rural tranquility half enough to prefer a grove to a Ball-room. I wish you were here to take a game of Billiards with me, as I am all alone. The Governor is so busy in directions to his workmen that I am most turned hermit.
The great dancing room is nearly completed, with the Drawing Room, and begins to make a very pretty appearance. I hope you will be here next summer with all my heart, and then our house will be more in order than it was when you last favored me with a visit, and less noise. For in fact my head is most turned with a variety of noises that is every- where about me, and I am hardly fit to bear it, as I have been in poor health ever since you left me, and am hardly able to live. However, I hope to be stout now the winter comes on, as the summer never agrees with my constitution, which looks strong, but is quite slender. When Mrs. Loring left me, I gave her in charge your side saddle, which she promised to send home to you. I hope it was not forgot. If it was, it must have been left at Staver's tavern, and you can send for it, if you have not received it before this time.
The cruel came safe, and I will trouble you for the worsted you men- tioned, as it will do just as well as English; and, if you please, one skein more of cruel, as we were much in want of it.
I have done very little work since you went away; not because I was indolently disposed, but because you did so much in helping me that I have nothing to do. So now I read or play as I have a mind to do. I get but very little of my Governor's company. He loves to be going about, and sometimes (except at meals) I don't see him an hour in a day. The season of the year advances so rapidly now that we begin to think of Winter Quarters, and I believe we shall soon get to town. I guess we shall set off about the time we proposed. You may easily think I dread the journey, as the roads are so bad, and I as great a coward as ever existed. I tell the Governor that he is unlucky in a wife having so timid a disposition, and he so resolute. For you know he would at- tempt, and effect if possible, to ride over the tops of the trees on Moose Mountain, while poor I even tremble at passing through a road cut at the foot of it.
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.