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William "Elder" Wentworth (b. Bet. March 15, 1610/11 - 1616, d. Bet. March 15, 1694/95 - 1697)

William "Elder" Wentworth was born Bet. March 15, 1610/11 - 1616 in Alford, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, and died Bet. March 15, 1694/95 - 1697 in Dover, Stratford, New Hampshire.

Notes for William "Elder" Wentworth:
William and Elizabeth Wentworth
William Wentworth was baptized in Alford, Lincolnshire, England on 15 March 1615/6, son of William and Susanna (Carter) Fleming Wentworth of Rigsby, Lincolnshire, England, and grandson of Christopher and Katherine (Marbury) Wentworth. He died in Dover, NH 15 March 1696/7.

There is considerable uncertainty about the names of the wives of William Wentworth. It is speculated that he had two wives, and that Elizabeth Kenny was his first wife with the name of his second wife unknown. Another speculation is that his second wife was Elizabeth Knight, daughter of William's friend, Ezekiel Knight, but her dates place her as more likely the age of William's son, Ezekiel, who did have a wife named Elizabeth whose surname has not been found in the records. The subject of the dates of William's marriages and the names of his wives have been discussed at some length in Wentworth's Wentworth Genealogy, pp. 106-109. The conclusion seems to be that unless further information becomes available, the details of his marriages must remain a matter of speculation rather than statements of fact.

Tradition says that William Wentworth left his home in England just subsequent to the time of the disposition of his father's property in England when William was about nineteen years old. Also, that he emigrated from England to America probably in the group with his kinsman, Rev. John Wheelwright. They landed in Boston 26 May 1636.

The first written evidence of William in America is that, on 4 July 1639, he, with 35 people, including Rev. John Wheelwright, signed a "combination" for government at Exeter, NH, Rev. Wheelwright who because of the contents of his sermons had been "banished from Massachusetts and had, with others, purchased from the Indians the title to certain lands on April 3, 1638." When Massachusetts extended its jurisdiction to the Piscataqua River, and thus included Exeter, NH, Rev. Wheelwright had to move again. William Wentworth went with him to Wells, Maine.

Two of William's relatives through the Marbury family, Rev. John Wheelwright and Anne Hutchinson, were individuals who held strong convictions, views which were contrary to those held by most of their contemporaries and even outlawed in Massachusetts. Both were banished and had to move around as Massachusetts expanded its territory.

It appears that William lived in Wells, ME from 1642 to 1649 as he was recorded in 1642 as a juror from Wells to the York County Court. He was listed as constable in 1648 and again on the jury in 1647 and 1649.

Following this, William moved to Dover, NH, where he was generally referred to as "Elder William Wentworth" by virtue of his being a ruling elder of the church. He was "taxed" there in 1650. Dover, NH, then had four parts: Dover Neck, Bloody Point, Oyster River, and Cochecho, and William settled in Cochecho, which is now the central part of the City of Dover. He became involved in lumber manufacturing at the head of tidewater on Fresh Creek where he, with others, were proprietors of a sawmill. William was a selectman over a period of about 20 years, town moderator in 1661, and commissioner (an office in which small cases were adjudged) in 1663.

It is reported that on "June 27, 1689, a Thursday, Indians attacked, and the garrisons of Peter and Tristram Coffin were destroyed, but (the) Heard garrison was saved by William Wentworth who held the door until help arrived."

Although he was a "Ruling Elder" in the Dover, NH church where he officiated as preacher, he also preached in Exeter, NH 1690-1693, where his contract read, "agreed with Mr. Wentworth to supplyu and perform the office of minister for one year, if he be able, at 40 pounds." Later, an entry in the journal of Rev. John Pike read, "Mar. 16 '96/7, Elder Wentworth deceased a few days after he was taken speechless with a sudden shivering."

William Wentworth and his first and/or second wife had eleven children, birth dates of the children not known, but estimated by assuming they were at least 21 years old when recorded as taxed:

Samuel, b. 1641/2; m. Mary Benning.
John, b. ca. 1647; m. Martha Stewart.
Gershom, b. ca. 1649; m. Hannah French.
Ezekiel, b. ca. 1651; m. Elizabeth -----.
Elizabeth, b. ca. 1653; m. (1) James Sharpe, m. (2) Richard Tozier, Jr.
Paul, b. ca. 1659; m. Catherine Stewart.
Sylvanus, m. Elizabeth Stewart.
Timothy, m. Sarah -----.
Sarah, m. (1) Benjamin Barnard; m. (2) Samuel Winch.
Ephraim, m. (1) Mary Miller; m. (2) Elizabeth (Waldron) Beard.
Benjamin, b. ca. 1670; m. Sarah Allen.

More About William "Elder" Wentworth and <Unnamed>:
Marriage: Bet. 1649 - 1650, Dover, STraford, New Hampshire.

Children of William "Elder" Wentworth are:

+John Wentworth, b. Bet. 1644 - 1647, Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts or Wells, Maine, d. October 06, 1716.
William Wentworth, b. Abt. 1641, d. date unknown.
Ephraim Wentworth, b., Dover, New Hampshire probably, d. January 29, 1747/48.
Samuel Wentworth, b. Abt. 1641, d. date unknown.
Gershom Wentworth, b. Abt. 1649, d. date unknown.
Ezekial Wentworth, b. 1651, d. date unknown.
Elizabeth Wentworth, b. 1653, d. date unknown.
Paul Wentworth, b. 1659, d. date unknown.
Sylvanus Wentworth, b. 1659, d. date unknown.
Timothy Wentworth, d. date unknown.
Sarah Wentworth, d. date unknown.
Benjamin Wentworth, b. 1670, d. date unknown.