Genealogical and Family History
of the
STATE OF MAINE

Compiled under the editorial supervision of George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D.

LEWIS HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
New York
1909.

[Please see Index page for full citation.]

[Transcribed by Coralynn Brown]

[Many families included in these genealogical records had their beginnings in Massachusetts.]

WENTWORTH The "Biographia Britannica" says: "The name of this family was taken from the lordship of Wentworth, in the wapentake of Strafford, in the county of York, where at the time of the Conquest lived Reginald de Winterwode." Collins tells us that the word is of Saxon origin, as is agreed by all genealogists. The word Wentworth seems to be composed of the words guen or gwyn, signifying white, and worth, meaning farm, plain or court, the whole signifying the white farm or court, and taking its style from the soil, which is composed of chalk or whitish clay. The earliest portion of the Wentworth pedigree rests upon the authority of William Flower, Norroy King of Arms, one of the most careful and accurate genealogists ever connected with the College of Arms, who compiled it in the year 1855, and it has ever since remained upon the records of the college, and has been accepted, not only by that body, but by all genealogists, as authentic. (I) Reginald Wentworth, or, again in the pedigree, Rynold de Wynterwode, was living at the time of the Norman Conquest, A.D. 1066. At that time there were no actual surnames, but he was simply Reginald of Wentworth. In other words he was the possessor, in Saxon times, of the lordship of Wentworth. Nothing is known of his family except that he was succeeded by his son. (II) Henry Wentworth, sometimes written de Wyntworth or Wyntword, concerning whom nothing has been preserved but his name. He was succeeded by his son. (III) Richard Wentworth, who was succeeded by his son. (IV) Michael Wentworth, who was succeeded by his son. (V) Henry (2) Wentworth, who was succeeded by his son. (VI) Hugh Wentworth, who died in the year 1200, and was succeeded by his son. (VII) William Wentworth, who was succeeded by his son and heir. (VIII) Robert Wentworth, who married Emma, daughter of heir of William Woodhouse, of Woodhouse (a manor or lordship contiguous to Wentworth); and thus acquiring that estate that family was afterward designated as Wentworth of Wentworth-Woodhouse. He was living in the reign of Henry III and Edward I - say as late as 1275 - and was succeeded by his son and heir. (IX) William (2) Wentworth or Wentworth-Woodhouse, who married Beatrice, daughter of Gilbert Thakel, of Yorkshire, and left two sons, William and Richard. (X) William (3) Wentworth or Wentworth-Woodhouse, married 1288, Dionysia, daughter of Peter de Rotherfield, by whom he had two sons, William and John. (XI) William (4) Wentworth, or Wentworth-Woodhouse, married Isabel, daughter and co-heir of Willaim Pollington, Esq., of Pollington in Yorkshire, by whom he had two sons, William and John. (XII) John Wentworth, Esq., of North Elmsall, in Yorkshire, inherited that estate from his uncle John. He married Joan, daughter of Richard de Tyas, of Burghwallis, in Yorkshire, and was succeeded by his only son. (XIII) John (2) Wentworth, Esq., of North Elmsall, married Agnes, sister and co-heir of Sir William Dornsfield, of West Breton, in Yorkshire, and was living in 1413. He had four sons, John, Roger, Thomas and Richard. (XIV) John (3) Wentworth, Esq., of North Elmsall, son of John and Agnes Wentworth, married Joan, daugher of Richard Beaumont, Esq., and had three sons, John, Roger and William. (XV) John (4) Wentworth, Esq., of North Elmsall, married Elizabeth, daughter of William Calverley, Esq., of Calverley, county of York, and had issue, a daughter, Jane, and an only son. (XVI) Thomas Wentworth, Esq., of North Elmsall, married Jane, daughter and co-heir of Oliver Mirifield, Esq., of Howley, county of York, and had issue: John, Roger, Oliver, William, Thomas and two daughters. (XVII) Oliver Wentworth, being a younger son of his parents, had no part in the paternal estate, and took up his residence at Boxhall, in the county of Lincoln. He describes himself in his will as "gentleman." He left two sons, William and Francis. (XVIII) William (5) Wentworth finally settled at Waltham, in Lincolnshire, and died May 27, 1574. He had three sons, Thomas, Oliver and Christopher. (XIX) Christopher, third and only surviving son of William Wentworth, of Waltham, and Ellen Gilby, his first wife, were probably born about 1556. He married Aug. 19, 1583, at the church of Saint Peter in Cowts, in the city of Lincoln, Catherine, youngest daughter of William Marbury, Esq., of Girsby. Children: William, Anne, Faith, Elizabeth, Frances, Priscilla and Christopher. (XX) William (6), eldest child of Christopher and Catherine (Marbury) Wentworth, was baptized at Saint Peter's at Cowts, June 8, 1584. He married, Nov. 28, 1614, Susanna Fleming, widow of Uther Fleming, and daughter of Edward Carter, of Wells. Children: William, Edward and Christopher. (XXI) William (7), eldest child of William and Susanna (Carter) Wentworth, was baptized in the parish of Alford, near the city of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, March 15, 1616, and is believed upon the evidence of many concurrent facts to be identical with Elder William Wentworth, the first of the Wentworths of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the first indisputable evidence of whom in this country is his signature to a combination for government at Exter, New Hampshoire, July 4, 1639. Where William or when William Wentworth landed in this country is not certainly known. Burke, in his "Peerage," says that he came first to Boston, which is probable. He was from the same parish as Rev. John Wheelwright, in England, and probably came with or soon followed Mr. Wheelwright, who came to this country in 1636. The latter was pastor of the church at Mount Wollaston (now Quincy), and was banished in 1637, on account of a sermon he preached on a Fast Day in Boston, and settled with a company of followers at Piscataqua Falls, N. H., and called their town Exeter. William Wentworth was one of the company in 1639 or before. In 1642, on account of the extension of the jurisdiction of Massachusetts to include Exeter, Wheelwright and many of his colonists moved to Wells, Maine. William Wentworth was one of thsoe who went, and appears to have lived in Wells from 1642 to 1649, and there he was constable in 1648. From Wells he moved to Dover, N. H., probably in 1649, where he resided the remainder of his life. He was the grantee of land at different times between 1652 and 1659, amounting to several hundred acres. He lived upon land in Rollinsford in that part of the town known as Cocheco. It is sufficiently identified by the fact that a part is in the family name, having come down uninterruptedly from Elder William through five or six generations. His lands were not far from the mill provileges at Fresh Creek, and it is evident that he was concerned, at least at first, in the manufacutre of lumber, one of the most important interests of Dover in the early times, the lumber being extensively exported. In 1651 he was chosen one of the selectmen. The mutiliatioln of the Dover records makes it impossible to tell all the years in which he held office of any kind. The records, however, show the following: He was one of the selectmen in 1651-57-60-64-65 and 1670; moderator in 1663; lot layer in 1657-60-61, and, from records of doings, in many other years. This last was an office which required much time and care, in the period when great numbers of town grants, vague and often conflicting, were located. He was the first named of five men in 1656, chosen by the town to arbitrate between the conflicting claims of lands which had become a serious difficulty. He was one of the three persons from Cocheco to join with men in other parts of the town, in 1660, to settle dht growing ecclesiastical difficulties between the Oyster River (Durham) section and other parts, who reported an elaborate plan July 17, 1660. The office, however, by which William Wentworth was best known was that of ruling elder of the church at Dover, especially as it resulted in his officiating as preacher many years of his life, but when he was chosen to this office or when he became a member of that or any other church is unknow. He was instruemental in saving from destruction Heard's, one of the five garrisons in Cocheco, June 28, 1689. Although it was a time of peace, the unusual number of Indians gathered at Cocheco, which was a trading post, excited the suspicions of the people. It was noticed also that many strange faces were among them. The confidence of Major Walderue somewhat allayed their doubts, but many assembled in the garrisons. Elder Wentworth was in Heard's garrison about a mile from his house. In the evening of the 27th, squaws requested leave to sleep by kitchen fires, which was unusual. In the darkest hour before morning the squaws opened the doors to admit the Indians. Elder Wentworth was awakened by the barking of a dog. Suspicious, he hastened to the door, and found the Indians entering. Alone, and seventy-three years of age, he pushed them out, shut the door, and, falling on his back, held it until the inmates came to his assistance. Whilelying in this position two bullets passed through the door above his head. This was the only garrison saved. Twenty-three persons were killed and twenty-nine carried away captive. In 1680, on the provincial taxlist, Elder William stood seventh in amount among the residents of Cocheco, in point of property. Before his death he conveyed to his sons a large part of his real property. His inventory shows 97 pounds, 16s. 4d., the value of his estate at the time of his death March 15, 1697. Elder Wentworth may have married twice, and it is probable that the first marriage was as early as 1640. Elizabeth Kenny must have been his first wife. A widow Elizabeth survived him. There are no records of the births of his children. So far as ascertained and in the most probable order of birth they were: Samuel, John, Gershom, Ezekiel, Elizabeth, Paul, Sylvanus, Timothy, Sarah, Ephraim and Benjamin. (XXII) Timothy, seventh son of Elder William and Elizabeth Wentworth, was a resident of Berwick, Maine, and diedc in 1719. He married Sarah Cromwell, and had children: 1. Timothy, died 1735; married Elizabeth Hudgdon, and had a daughter Sarah who married Abraham Barnes. 2. Samuel, see forward. 3. Sarah, married (first) Benjamin Hossum; (second) John White. 4. Mary, mararied James Gerrish. 5. Another daughter. (XXIII) Samuel, second son of Timothy and Sarah (Cromwell) Wentworth, was of Berwick, Maine. He resided on the homestead of his father; was a deacon, died in 1780. He married Joanna Roberts, born 1705, died 1780, daughter of John Roberts. Children: 1. Samuel, married Lois Jones, and died 1766. 2. Mary, married Jabez Ricker and had numberous descendants. 3. Timothy, see forward. 4. Deborah, married Joseph Ricker. 5. Anna, married Tristram Heard. (XXIV) Timothy (2), second son and third child of Samuel (3) and Joanna (Roberts) Wentworth, was born in 1747, died 1842. He lived on the family homstead, and was a lieutenant in the revolutionary army. He married Amy Hodgdon. Children: 1. Samuel, see forward. 2. Thomas, of North Yarmouth, Maine, died in 1820; he had six children. 3. Timothy, of Berwick, Maine, died 1859; he had five children. Timothy and Amy (Hodgdon) Wentworth had five other children. (XXV) Samuel (2), eldest child of Timothy and Amy (Hodgdon) Wentworth, resided in South Berwick, Maine, where he died in 1849. He married Sally Yeaton. He had eleven children, among them being: 1. Thomas, married Mary J. P. Hale, sister of John P. Hale, and had children: John P. H., born 1828, who was an Indian agent on the Pacific coast, and had one son, Thomas S., b. 1858; Samuel, a lawyer, of Boston, Mass., who died in 1854; and others. 2. Bartholomew, see forward. (XXVI) Bartholomew, son of Samuel and Sally (Yeaton) Wentworth, was born April 7, 1810. He resided on the homestead in South Berwick. He married, April 1, 1838, Harriet M. Roberts, of Alfred, Maine. Children: 1. Albert F., born in South Berwick, Jan. 28, 1839; married Jan. 3, 1871, Mary E. Bradford, of Salem, N. H., born Jan. 28, 1839. They had one child, Rachel A., b. June 18, 1875. 2. Bradford Homer, see forward. 3. Harriet Emma, born Dec. 24, 1843; married (first) July 3, 1867, James Leighton, who died Dec. 16, 1869; she married (second) Dec. 16, 1870, George Stone, who lived in Lawrence, Mass. 4. Helen Augusta, born Oct. 18, 1848; married April 5, 1869, Charles G. Hodgdon, lived in East Somerville, Mass., and had children: Hattie M., b. Feb. 21, 1870; Eva A., born July 27, 1874; one who died in infancy. 5. Julietta, born May 31, 1850, married Dec. 25, 1869, Charles T. Stone; lived in Lawrence, Mass., and had chldren: Mark E., born Nov. 27, 1870; Lauriston W., born Feb. 27, 1873. 6. Daniel W., born Aug. 19, 1852; died at South Berwick April 29, 1863. 7. Laura Q., born Aug. 6, 1853. (XXVII) Bradford Homer, second son of Bartholomew and Harriet M. (Roberts) Wentworth, born in South Berwick May 9, 1841, died 1889. He was educated in the schools of his native town and at the Berwick Academy. He followed the occupation of farming, and was associated with his father in the manufacture of brick. He was actively engaged in business affairs up to within a year of his death. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party. He married Nov. 29, 1868, Hannah H. Goodwin, of the same town. Children: 1. Daniel Webster, see forward. 2. Eva Belle, born Jan. 22, 1871; married ____ Goodell. 3. Martha J., born Aug. 28, 1872; married Albert Blaisdell. 4. Nancy V., born April 14, 1874; married Edward Barber, of Cumberland Mills, Maine. 5. Bartholomew, is a varnisher in Everett, Mass.; married Mary Weston. 6. Caroline, married Eugene Tolbey, formerly of North Berwick, now of Everett, Mass., where he is also employed as a varnisher. 7. Harry, is in the employ of the Boston & Maine railroad. (XXVIII) Daniel Webster, M. D., eldest child of Bradford Homer and Hannah H. (Goodwin) Wentworth, was born in South Berwick, Maine, Jan. 3, 1870. He was a student at the Berwick Academy, Bates College and Bowdoin Medical College, from which latter institution he graduated in 1899. He was in the State Hospital in Rhode Island for one and one-half years, then came to Sanford, Maine, where he established hismelf in the practice of his chosen profession, and where he has continued to reside up to the present time (1908). He is a staunch supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and is connected with the following fraternal organizations: Friendship Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Korah Encampment; and the Sagamore Tribe of the Red Men of Sanford. He is an attendant at the Congregational church. He married Sept. 14, 1904, Florence, daughter of Uriah B. Jaggers, of Sanford, and they have one child: Paul J., born July 2, 1905.