William Wentworth (bef. 1616 - abt. 1697)

Born before 15 Mar 1616 in Alford, Lincolnshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Knight) Wentworth — married about 1668 in Dover, New Hampshire [uncertain]

Descendants

Died about 15 Mar 1697 after about age 81 in Dover, Strafford County, New Hampshire

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William Wentworth migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 365) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Magna Carta Trail Pending This profile is in a Magna Carta trail that is pending development. See text for details. Join: Magna Carta Project Discuss: magna_carta

NOTE: A new sketch on William Wentworth and his immediate family is under preparation for separate publication in TAG.^[1] This may appear in or after TAG 91.4: July/October 2020 [to publish spring 2021].

Biography

Elder William Wentworth, founder of the family in North America, baptized at Alford, Lincoln on 15 March 1615/6, was the son of William Wentworth and Susannah Carter Fleming Wentworth.^[1][2][3][4]

New England

William likely arrived Boston in 1636^[5] or 1637, perhaps traveling with John Wheelwright's group.^[6] He soon removed to New Hampshire and the first evidence of his presence in New England was his signature on a petition for "Combination" for a government in Exeter, New Hampshire on 4 October 1639.^[2] He resided at Wells, Maine until about 1649, when he removed to Dover where he spent the rest of his life.^[6] He was granted farm land in 1652, which extended to Garrison Hill,^[5] in Dover.

He was one of the first settlers at Exeter, New Hampshire and later became an Elder at the First Church of Dover.^[2]

Marriages and Children

There is much discussion in volume one of the Wentworth Genealogy as to the identity of his two wives (pages 56-59). He married first, ________,^[1][3] by about 1639 and they had several sons.^[2] He married second to Elizabeth Knights,^[1][3] with whom he issue as well.

Children:

1. Samuel Wentworth, born 1640^[2]
2. John Wentworth^[2]
3. Gershom Wentworth^[2]
4. Ezekiel Wentworth^[2]
5. Paul Wentworth^[2]
6. Sylvanus Wentworth^[2]
7. Timothy Wentworth^[2]
8. Ephraim Wentworth^[2]
9. Benjamin Wentworth^[2]
10. possibly Elizabeth Wentworth, who married Richard Tozer^[2]
11. possibly Sarah, who married Barnard^[2]

Death

William died in Dover, New Hampshire on 15 March 1696/7,^[1] the 81st anniversary of his baptism.^[2]

The inventory of his estate at 15 March 1697 totaled £97 16sd 4d.^[2]

His unmarked grave is in cemetery 800 yards west of his monument.^[5] Part of the monument reads:

"During the 'Dover Massacre', June 28, 1689, his alertness and vigor saved Heard's garrison house. From him came the Royal Governors:

John Wentworth, Lieutenant Governor, 1717-30

Benning Wentworth, Governor, 1741-67, and

John Wentworth, Governor, 1767-75, also

John Wentworth, Speaker of the House, 1771-75: continued the government"

Research Notes

Daughter Sarah

Daughter Sarah from 2nd marriage is not presently linked as his child.

• Sarah Wentworth should be merged with 858
• Sarah Wentworth should be merged with 360

Newly Published Trails

The American Genealogist 91.3, published spring 2021, gives us a new line from Elder WIlliam Wentworth and his cousin Anne (Marbury) Hutchinson through Sir Thomas Hawley to King Henry I and to Magna Carta surety barons Richard de Clare and William de Huntingfield.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} Terry Booth, Paul C. Reed and Nathaniel Taylor, "The English Ancestry of William Wentworth of New Hampshire: Male line ancestry for five generations," in The American Genealogist, vol. 90 no. 4 (Oct 2018). Not available online. Copy in possession of Thiessen-117
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16} Wentworth, John. "The Wentworth Genealogy comprising The Origin of the name, the Family in England and a particular account of Elder William Wentworth, the Emigrant and of his descendants". 2 Volumes, Volume 1. Boston: Press of Alfred Mudge & Son, 1870. Online at Archive.org, page 37, 45-62.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} Roberts, Gary Boyd. The Royal Descendants of 600 Immigrants. Online at Ancestry.com page 399.
4. ↑ Maddison: Lincolnshire Pedigrees, Volume 3 of 3, page 1063, Wentworth of Clee and Waltham.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Find A Grave: Memorial #82608798: memorial plaque
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Bell, Charles Henry. History of the Town of Exeter, New Hampshire (J.J. Little & Co., Astor Place, New York, 1889). Online at Google Books, page 38.
7. ↑ Terry J. Booth, Paul C. Reed, and Nathaniel Lane Taylor. "Margaret De Brewse, first wife of Sir Thomas Hawley (d.1419-20) of Girsby, Lincolnshire: A New Royal Line for the Marbury -Wentworth Immigrant Cousins" in The American Genealogist. Vol. 91, no. 3, spring 2021. Not available online.

See also:

• Richardson, Douglas. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families, 4 vols., ed. Kimball G. Everingham. 2nd edition. Salt Lake City, UT: the author, 2011. Vol. I, page 262, BOSVILE 8.ii. Joan Calverley and John Wentworth, parents of Thomas Wentworth, ancestor or William Wentworth (citing GBR RD600) (see fn. 154).
• "A Plantagenet Ancestry for William Wentworth of NH ?", TC Booth_sbc, and others, <soc.genealogy.medieval>, ref "Genealogics" by Leo van de Pas, 2017
• "Elder William Wentworth line", Alan Chuck, and others, <soc.genealogy.medieval>, ref "Genealogics" by Leo van de Pas, 2017
• Wikipedia: William Wentworth (elder)
• Roberts, Gary Boyd. Notable Kin, Volume One. (Carl Boyer, 3rd; Santa Clarita, California; 1998). Vol. 1, p. 75. Published in cooperation with the NEHGS, Boston, Massachusetts. Not available online.
• Lewis, Marlyn. William Wentworth entry in Our Royal Titles Noble and Commoner Ancestors citing Torrey.
• Torrey, Clarence Almon. Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, 1985). Online database. AmericanAncestors.org[$], NEHGS, 2008, Vol .3, page 1629.
• Terry Booth, Paul C. Reed and Nathaniel Taylor, "The English Ancestry of William Wentworth of New Hampshire: Male line ancestry for five generations," in The American Genealogist, vol. 90 no. 3 (July 2018). Not available online.
• Wheelwright Deed (1629)
• Raid on Dover (June 1689)

Acknowledgements

Magna Carta Project

William Wentworth is listed in Magna Carta Ancestry as a Gateway Ancestor (vol. I, pages xxiii-xxix) and is said to be a descendant of Thomas Wentworth, who appears in a Richardson-documented trail to Magna Carta Surety Barons Hugh le Bigod and Roger le Bigod (vol. I, pages 261-262 BOSVILE). This possible trail needs further research and development and is detailed in the Magna Carta Trails section of his father's profile.

Comments on the profiles of William's paternal grandparents outline other possible trails from Surety Barons Huntingfield and Richard de Clare through William's grandmother Catherine Marbury. (Thanks to Charles Vigneron for setting these out.)

• Needs Development: This profile needs development against the project's checklist to bring it up to current project standards. NOTE: new research needs to be checked before developing this trail (see note at top of profile). Also see SGM discussions (links on this page). ~ Thiessen-117 March 2021.

See Base Camp for more information about identified Magna Carta trails and their status. See the project's glossary for project-specific terms, such as a "badged trail".