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Benning Wentworth (1696 - 1770)
Benning Wentworth, Royal Governor of New Hampshire from 1741
to 1767, remained
governor longer than any other colonial royal governor. He was more popular than
most colonial governors who were appointed by the King. However, toward the end of his time in office,
Wentworth’s popularity declined, in part due to scandals
and in part due to the changing economic situation in the colonies after the
Seven Years War, which eventually led to the outbreak of the American Revolution.
During his administration, two wars were fought in the colonies against the
French who controlled Canada at the time. New Hampshire men served in both wars,
and the colony spent considerable money, especially in the French and Indian War.
To raise money, Wentworth established a lottery for specific projects such as
repairing Portsmouth’s Market Square. He set a fee of two crowns (an English
monetary term) for marriage licenses and a tax on improved land. This latter
hurt farmers who had improved their land grants with houses and barns. While in
office, Wentworth
made over 200 grants of townships, including many in what is now
Vermont, but was then claimed by both New York and New Hampshire. Bennington,
Vermont,
where New Hampshire General John Stark won an important battle in the American
Revolution, was one of these grants. In spite of taxes and corruption, New
Hampshire prospered in the years under Governor Benning Wentworth.
Benning Wentworth’s father, John, was Governor of New Hampshire. When he died in 1730, there was political confusion in the colony for a decade. The confusion included a boundary dispute with Massachusetts. Finally, Benning Wentworth and his friends appealed to England, the boundary was set to the advantage of New Hampshire, and Benning was appointed Royal Governor in 1741. Although during the first years of Benning Wentworth’s governance there were arguments between the Assembly and the Governor, especially over the appropriation of money to pay for the government, and after 1744 for the defense of frontier forts, Wentworth finally dominated the Assembly. Wentworth cooperated with Massachusetts to protect the colony from serious Indian attack during both King George’s War and the French and Indian War. This won him support, and he had little opposition during the later years.
The colony of New Hampshire grew steadily under the governance of Benning Wentworth. He refused to enforce the Acts of Trade, and thus, New Hampshire’s trade expanded as merchants participated in the "triangle trade" between the colonies, Europe and Africa, and the islands in the Caribbean. Mansions, such as Wentworth’s own home, the present Wentworth-Coolidge House (which can be visited today), were built in Portsmouth and in the other towns surrounding the Great Bay. Slaves, who worked in the homes, in stores, and on ships, were owned by some of these merchants. New settlers came from England, Ireland, and Massachusetts. In 1749, 100 acres of free New Hampshire land was advertised in England for anyone who would emigrate. In creating new townships, the Governor made it possible for his friends to make money. These men, the people of power in the sea coast area who controlled the government along with Wentworth, acquired large amounts of unimproved land on which no taxes were paid. The land was worth little until developed. As townships were established and settlements built, the settlers created a value in the land as they improved it with houses, farms, sawmills, and roads. Wentworth and his friends then could sell their land holdings, profiting from the labor of the settlers whose work gave value to the land which made prices rise. In making grants of new townships, Benning Wentworth retained for himself 500 acres in each township and eventually held over 100 square miles of land. As townships grew, so did the value of Wentworth’s holdings. In each township land was also set aside for a Meeting House, a school, a minister, and for a common near the center of the town. Wentworth also made grants to veterans of the French and Indian War, which made him popular.
Benning Wentworth loosely enforced the collection of the "King’s Pines" as set under the Pine Tree Laws. Large 24-inch-and-over pines were important for the Royal Navy and by law were reserved to the King. Wentworth and many of his friends in official positions were able to make money through double dealing in enforcing these laws. This antagonized both landowners, who did not benefit from Wentworth’s special arrangements, and the King who was losing trees. It was one reason for Wentworth’s loss of support.
Benning Wentworth was the eldest son of Lt. Gov. John Wentworth and his wife, Sarah. John served as Governor of New Hampshire while it was still a province of Massachusetts. Benning was one of fourteen children. All his siblings married into important seacoast families. Through these marriages the Wentworths were related to many in Portsmouth and surrounding towns which made it easier for Benning to govern, since members of the Council and other office holders were often relatives or friends of relatives. Benning graduated from Harvard in 1715 and married Abigail Ruck in Boston in 1719. They had several children, but they all died before Benning did. The Wentworths carried on a lucrative trade with Cadiz, Spain. On one journey to England, Benning lost a fortune at sea but as Governor was able to build up his wealth. He became very wealthy by the standards of the day. Wentworth built a large mansion in Portsmouth and a summer home on Lake Wentworth away from the seacoast. After his first wife died in 1755, he married, in 1760 at age 64, his much younger housekeeper, Martha Hilton. This, plus growing annoyance with his administration, corruption, and taxes, forced his resignation in 1767. Also, Benning Wentworth was a member of the Anglican faith which antagonized many of the Congregationalists in New Hampshire. He died October 14, 1770 in Portsmouth.
WOK
Sources:
Daniell, Jere R. Colonial New Hampshire: A History. Millwood, NY: KTO Press, 1981.
Rosal, Lorenca Consuelo. God Save the People: A New Hampshire History. Orford, NH: Equity Publishing Corporation, 1988.
Shipton, Clifford, K. "Benning Wentworth." Biographical Sketches of those who Attended Harvard College Classes 1713-1721. Boston, MA.: Massachusetts Historical Society, 1942.
Taylor, William. Readings in New Hampshire and New England History. New York, NY: MSS Educational Pub. Co., 1971.