VOL. XII.

NO. 11.

ROWELL, PRESCOTT & CO., PROPRIETORS.... .C. E. POTTER, EDITOR.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

castle, and promotion through the grades of second and first mate. This kind of life suited the taste of young Wenthworth better than

BIOGRAPHY OF GOVERNOR BENNING that of a student, or than being confined in a

WENTWORTH.

counting room, and in a short time he was in command of a ship and part owner of the BENNING WENTWORTH was the eldest child same. The appointment of his father as sucof Lieut. Governor John Wentworth, and his cessor to Lieutenant Governor Vaughan, wife Mary Hunking Wentworth, and was who was removed from his office in 1717, and born in 1695. His parents being among the the onerous duties of the same, soon took him wealthiest people of the Province, their chil- almost entirely from the counting room, and dren were furnished with the best educa- his son Benning in accordance with the wish tion, wealth could command, or the Province of his father, left his ship, and was duly inafford, and at an early age, Benning entered stalled in the counting room, and entrusted Harvard College, where he was graduated in almost exclusively with the management of 1715, in the twentieth year of his age. While his extensive mercantile business. This was in College, young Wentworth took but a me- a necessary result of Governor Wentworth's dium stand as a scholar, having embibed the position, and the inquietude of the times; notion too prevalent among the sons of the as it was in the midst of an Indian war, which wealthy and influential, that the position and fell in all its fury upon the New Hampshire wealth of his father, would make up for any frontier; and the defence of the Province fell lack of exertion on his part; or any defect of upon him; the Commander-in-Chief, Governeducation, the natural result of such lack of or Shute residing in Massachusetts, and of exertion. After leaving College, he entered course caring little for the affairs of the Provthe counting room of his father, to learn the ince when at home; but now, perhaps forart and mystery of trade. During this time, tunately absent in England. Benning Wenthe made several voyages as supercargo of his worth, in his new position, proved himself father's vessels, as it was then the practice as worthy the confidence placed in him by his now, that the favorite clerks, and sons of ship-father, and managed the affairs of the House ping merchants, intended for mercantile life, with skill and prudence. Meantime he was should make voyages in that capacity, to per-popular with his fellow citizens, and was refect them in all the details of their profession. peatedly elected to offices of trust; representAnd then as now, it was often the case that such supercargoes, were promoted to the command of ships, through the influence of their friends; thus gaining the command of a ship, by "climbing into the cabin window," as sailors say of those appointed to command ships without a regular training upon the fore

ing his native town in the Assembly, at that time the highest and most honorable elective office in the Province, and bestowed upon few that were not qualified for the office, or who would not rather bring honor to the office, than receive honor from the office. He was a member of the House in 1730, when Governor

the Lords of Council, the downfall of Governor Belcher was considered as inevitable.

Belcher vented his petty spleen against his father, the Lieut. Governor, in various acts of annoyance and insult, and was the leader of Benning Wentworth had hitherto taken the an opposition to Governor Belcher and his lead in the opposition to Belcher, but his primeasures, that proved a source of annoyance vate affairs now demanded the whole of his to him. This year, Lieut. Governor Went-attention. The death of his father, leaving a worth died, and his friends thought his death family of sixteen children provided for out of was hastened by the ill treatment he had re- his estate, had limited the means wherewith ceived from Governor Belcher. This fact did to carry on his mercantile trensactions, and he not tend to allay the opposition of the friends was obliged to hire money in England, to purof the deceased Lieut. Governor. On the con- chase lumber here, which he shipped to Engtrary, the opposition gained g at strength, at land and other countries of Europe with home and in England, and upon the appoint- good returns, the lenders waiting for the monment by the Crown of new Counsellors, Ben-ey advanced, until he had sold his lumber. ning Wentworth, and Theodore Atkinson, In this way he was doing a lucrative business. who had married his sister, the very head and But a single misfortune turned the tide in front of the opposition to the Governor, were his affairs and made him bankrupt. He had placed in his Council. Messrs. Wentworth contracted with an agent of the Spanish govand Atkinson took their seats at the Council ernment, to deliver a large amount of oak Board, Oct. 12, 1734. Their appointment, was timber for the royal navy, borrowing the anything but pleasing to Governor Belcher, money in London to pay for the timber. He and he essayed to eject them, but their influ- delivered the lumber in person, but upon apence was too well established at court, and plication for payment of his bill, the agent his attempt was fruitless. with whom he contracted for the timber, havMeanwhile the opposition to the Governor ing been displaced, his successor, upon some continued to increase, as it every day became pretence, put off the payment of the bill, and apparent to the people of the Province, that at length refused peremtorily, the payment of he favored the unjust claim of Massachusetts the same. Disappointed and chagrined, he to a large portion of the lands of the Province, started upon his homeward voyage; but his although he had publicly avowed himself as "a ship foundered at sea, and Wentworth and common father to both Provinces." Many peo- his crew barely escaped from the sinking ship ple interested in the "Masonian Proprietary," with their lives, in an open boat. Fortune and other lands falling withing this claim of favored them and they got safe to land. It Massachusetts, called him an unjust father, was a time when insurance was not fashionaand accused him of downright hypocrisy.-ble, and the loss of his vessel, in addition to All such joined the opposition to the Govern- the loss of his timber, made him a bankrupt. or with a will, and they at length made formal Subsequently he visited Spain, and through complaints against him to the King, some of the British minister attempted to get his claim them with good foundation, and so well allowed, but the attempt was ineffectual, and authenticated, as to lead to a hearing before he returned home in no pleasant state of mind. the Lords of Council, who reported to the Bred in affluence, a successful merchant, King in effect, that Governor Belcher had been among the elite of the Province, his reduction guilty of great partiality towards the Provin- to the state of a beggar, preyed upon his feelce of Massachusetts in regard to her claim to ings. After a time he determind to repair to the lands in dispute betwixt her and the England and petition the King for redress.Province of New Hampshire, "thereby en- For this purpose, his friend Thomlinson as the deavoring to frustrate the intention of his Agent of New Hampshire at the British majesty's commission," which had been ap-court, obtained for him a letter of license from pointed to settle the line in dispute betwixt the two Provinces. Then there was another portion of the people of the Province, who opposed Governor Belcher, neither from personal dislike, family feud, or private interest, but from an honest conviction, founded upon common sense, that the Province would never flourish, as long as it was a mere appendage to the government of Massacuhsetts, to swell the salary of its Governor, and of no other importance to him than to be visited once a year during the session of the Assembly, to make a speech, be feasted, and receive his salary. All such men opposed Governor Belcher, not from any enmity to him, but that he might be removed to make room for a separate government and a separate Governor. All these joining in the complaint against Belcher, his friends could not withstand the opposition, and the King having approved the report of

his creditors, and upon its recipt, he forthwith sailed for London. Upon his arrival, through the influence of Thomlinson his case was laid before the British court, and a petition was presented asking for redress, in which the history of the whole affair was given, and the injustice of the Spanish Court was shown in its proper light. The whole affair was managed by Thomlinson, with much adroitness, and with every prospect of ultimate success, for a negotiation was commenced, and the Spanish court promised payment of the claim, but failed to redeem its promise. At this crisis, most men would have despaired, but Wentworth determined upon another sourse of conduct. The opponents of Belcher had concerted their measures with such success, that it was known that he must be inevitably removed from his office; and the project had already been broached to his Majesty to form

the Province of New-Hampshire into a separate government. These facts Thomlinson had from the very best authority, and he formed his plans accordingly. By his advice, Wentworth changed his ground, and instead of asking for redress against the Spanish Government, he prayed for favor from the British Court, as one deserving it from the services of his family, and from his own misfortunes. His petition met with favor, and the Duke of New Castle promised him the office of Governor of New Hampshire, should that Province be made into a separate Government.This was already considered a fixed fact, and his friends readily advanced the funds to pay his expenses already incurred, amounting to about three thonsand pounds sterling. At length in 1741, the enemies of Belcher, both in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, having made common cause against him, importuned the ministry with so much assiduity, that he was displaced, and New Hampshire was erected into a separate government. His successor in Massachusetts was William Shirley, and Benning Wentworth was made Governor of the Province of New Hampshire. His appointment was peculiarly gratifying to his friends in Portsmouth and to a large majority of the people of the Province, while many of the people saw in the erection of New Hampshire into a separate government, a prestige of sure success to the Province.

dered proclamation to be made "to continue all officers, Civil and Military in their places till further order." The King's writ was issued for calling a new assembly on the 13th of the following January. Upon the meeting of the assembly, Andrew Wiggin Esq. of Stratham was chosen Speaker, and Jas. Jeffrey Clerk. These were friends of the new Governor, and he was not without a powerful influence in the House, as his brother Mark Hunking Wentworth, Esq. was a member from Portsmouth; his brother-in-law, Thomas Packer, Esq. was the member from Greenland; and a relative, Jotham Odiorne, Esq. was the member from New Castle. In fact a very large majority of the House was favorable to the new administration.

In the Council, Hon. Theodore Atkinson, a brother-in-law of the Gov. had been qualified as Secretary, and on the fourteenth of January presented the speech of Governor Wentworth to the Assembly, which was read and commenced as follows:

Royal Commission, I shall in all faithfulness to the Trust commited to me Strictly Support the Honor, Interest and Prerogative of the Crown, and endeavor that the Government shall be prudently administered, That the Public concern Shall be conducted with Integrity, and that your Civil and Religious privileges Shall not only be preserved but advanced to the extent of my power.

Gent. of the Council and of the Assembly, His Majesty out of a tender regard to the future Happiness and Prosperity of his faithful subjects in this Province, has been graciously pleased to answer the united applications to the throne to separate the Government of this Province from the Massachusetts Bay. An event, which if rightly improved will (under the direction of Heaven) be a lasting advanGovernor Wentworth was received at Ports-tage, and will be a means of Replenishing your mouth with every demonstration of joy. He was Towns with People, of Extending and enlargescorted into town by an appropriate caval- ing your Commerce, and since it has been his cade amid the joyful acclamations of thou-Majesty's Pleasure to commit to my charge the sands of people assembled to welcome him to his home, which he had left in misfortune, and to which he now returned in triumph.Compliments were showered upon him on every side and he was hailed as the deliverer of "New Hampshire from contempt and dependence." This was indeed a day of triumph to Wentworth,-such as few men have experienced. Leaving home a few years previous, buoyant with hope of a successful speculation; Gov. Wentworth next adverted to the setlosing by chicanery of the Spanish court, the tlement of the "Boundary Question," thus, most of his fortune; embarking for home, his "His Majesty's great wisdom and impartiality vessel, in which was the balance of his for- in determining the difficulty with the Massa. tune founders at sea; he escapes barely with Bay (which has subsisted in one shape or anlife, and arrives home a bankrupt; visits the other upwards of three score years) is the Spanish court and presses his suit without highest instance of that paternal care, his success; comes home almost in despair; vis- Majesty extends to all his subjects, tho' never its London by license of his creditors; press- so remotely placed, and should Excite a Genes his claim before the British court for re-erous ambition in all orders of persons in the dress but is unsuccessful; sues for favor from Government, who should be first in duty and his sovereign; has hope in his suit-is success- obedience to his Royal person family and ful; and he is now in his native town, the capital of the Province, welcomed by waving handkerchiefs in fair hands, friendly greetings from friendly lips, and the merry, joyous countenances of all around, as the Royal Governer of that Province! Surely such a day of triumph happens to but few men.

Government. This has been your Character and in consequence of that dutiful behavior to your Sovreign you are now beginning to reap the fruits of your past obedience.

After expressing a fear that the Province might not be able to raise their proper quota of troops, to be employed in the West India The Governor having opened his commis- expedition, because many of the people had sion in due form on the 13th of December, enlisted under the pay of other Provinces, 1741, and the same having been publicly read, and complimenting the Province upon the he took the oath prescribed and forthwith or-promptitude with which the payment of

the several issues of paper money had been chief seat of Government amongst them; the made, the Governor introduced the matter memory of whose clement and mild adminisas to his own salary. This subject had pro-trations, will ever be dear to those who were duced contention, betwixt the former Govern- so happy as to experience them." ors and Assemblies, and it was a delicate matter for the Governor to introduce the subject to the Assembly, composed of his own friends

even.

"Gent of the Assembly:

They then adverted to the subject of the Governors salary and say, "As soon as we know what number of inhabitants it's likely will be added to us by the late settlement of the Boundaries and how the money can be raised, we shall make as ample provisions for your Excellency's Hon'ble support as we can in our present circumstances, and as we judge will be agreeable to the minds of our constituents."

After promising to furnish necessary materials for the Fort, pay the indebtedness of the Province in London and passing a deserved compliment upon Mr. Agent Thomlinson, they closed their answer thus, "We shall therefore to the utmost of our power promote unanimity among ourselves and a general harmony and good agreement between the Branches of the Government, nor shall we countenance any spurious pretences to interrupt and destroy such a desirable unity."

It is his Majesty's Especial Command to me, That on my first meeting the Assembly, I recommend to them, That Provision be made, for the Hon'ble Support of the Kings Governor; And that you Settle a Salary on me Suitable to maintain the dignity of my office, and on my successors in Sterling or Proclamation Money, That it may not be liable to vary or Subject to depreciate by the uncertain value of paper Currency. Former Assemblies have paid obedience to his Majesty's command on this Important Subject, therefore I have the less room to doubt your ready compliace herewith, as a contrary behavior will affect your present and future felicity, and to Enable you to comply with your obligations to the Crown, and Thus the Governor and Assembly seemed that no extraordinary Aids should be asked of upon the most friendly terms. But however the people, his Majesty has been pleased to friendly to the Governor, the Assembly were condescend to indulge me with his Royal not prepared to vote him a salary for the askleave, to consent to a further emission of pa-ing, and it will be seen that their answer was per currency provided it can be affected without prejudice to the Trade of the mother Kingdom, which in the enacting all Laws shall expect you pay a particular regard."

After recommending the repair of Fort William and Mary, the payment of debts incurred in England in defending the Province against the claim of Massachusetts and the claim of the Province Agent in London, Mr. Thomlinson, the Governor closed his speech thus:

evasive upon this subject. In it they stipulated that they must learn who were to be taxIed for the salary, and how it was to be raised, and then the amount was to depend upon the views of their constituents. Accordingly on the 19th of February following, when one of the warm friends of the Governor, moved that his salary be fixed at £375, equal to £1500 old tenor, the motion was voted down. Not because the House objected to paying him prop"I shall on my part be ambitious in encour-erly, but because there was and ever had been aging measures in themselves, and think my- from the time of Cranfield, an objection to self happy if while I have the Administration paying a fixed salary to the Governor, as the of the Government in my hands, I can be in-precedent once established, they would feel strumental to make you a useful and flour-themselves bound to follow it, if the Governishing Province. This was my first view, and or were ever so obnoxious. That this vote is my determined aim, and it shall remain un-proceeded from no niggard motive, is shown alterable, until you put it out of my power, by the fact that on the same day the House which I hope yon will carefully avoid." voted to the Governor a gratuity of £500 to pay the charges incurred in coming to his Government, and asked his acceptance of the same.

Jotham Odiorne, Geo. Walton and Samuel Gilman were appointed a Committee on the part of the House, "to draw up an answer to his Excellency's speech, and make return for approbation.'

An answer was duly reported and approved, in which after the usual congratulations and compliments upon his Majesty &c., the House said "We cannot but esteem it as a mark of his Majesty's Special Grace and Favor, and which also calls for our particular acknowledgements on this occasion, that he has been pleased to appoint one to represent his Royal Person, among the People, who stands in a kind of natural relation to them, whose interest in blended with theirs, and who is prompted by many motives, besides natural inclination to promote their welfare. But what still enhances the favor, is that their present Governor's immediate ancestor, long filled the

But Govornor Wentworth under commands from the King, determined to have this matter settled in the outset, and being a man not easily swerved from his purpose, he returned an answer on the 9th of March, refusing the acceptance of their gratuity and insisting upon a fixed salary, agreeably to the suggestion made in his speech at the opening of the Assembly.

The next day the House returned for answer, that the Province was poor and they could make no farther grant to him.

In the meantime, a plan was brought forward by way of meeting the views of the House, expressed in their answer to the speech of the Governor, for taking the census of the tax payers in the Province, for laying an ex

sterling. Thus with a stipulated income of £1300, and the opportunity of receiving as much more in perquisites and gratuities.Governor Wentworth's Spanish Claim had become a not unprofitable investment.

Governor Wentworth had but just got quietly seated in the administration of his government, when the war betwixt Britain and Spain, which had involved France in it, brought a French and Indian war upon the English Colonies in America. Attacks were

cise upon various articles, and for issuing paper money for £25,000 to pay the indebtedness of the Province. It was understood that the Governor approved of these propositions, and on the 13th of March the House voted to pay the Governor a salary of £250 out of money raised from the excise, and £250 to be paid out of the interest to arise from the £25,000 issued, and the "same to be paid annually during the continuance of the act of the £25,000." The Governor closed with this proposition, and thus carried the point of a perma-made by the French upon the English on the nent salary-while the constituency of the Members of the House, were satisfied, as their representatives had shown all proper opposition to a measure demanded by the King, and by thus doing had come out of the opposition by the grant of a moderate salary to be paid in a way that did not demand an exorbitant taxation. The excise was to be raised annually and the issue of £25,000 of paper money, was to be called in, in ten years; thus the Governor's salary was fixed for ten years, without dissent. At the expiration of ten years the deficit of £250 was made up by a direct vote to draw the same from the treasury, and the House generously added a gratuity to cover the Governor's house-rent. Thus by compromise this long mooted point of a permanent salary was settled to the mutual satisfaction of all parties.

island of Canseau, at Placentia, and at Annapolis. These attacks excited the neigboring New England colonies, and they at length determined upon an expedition against Louisburg, the stronghold of the French upon the American Continent. The fortress of Louisburg had been twenty-five years in building, at an enormous expense to the French nation, and its great strength had given it the name of "The Dunkirk of America." It was considered as impregnable; yet it was destined to fall before the adventurous, but determined efforts of raw, New England militia. This expedition originated in New Hampshire.Major William Vaughan, a son of Lieut, Governor Vaughan, has the honor of its origin.Major Vaughan, had been engaged in the fishing business upon the Banks,' and had considerable knowledge of the eastern parts, which he had obtained from fishermen in his employ, and particularly of the harbor and town of Louisburg. He first conceived the idea of taking Louisburg, and proposed the taking it in the Winter when the walls, as he supposed, could easily have been scaled by means of the immense drifts of snow piled against them in that inclement

season.

In this affair, Governor Wentworth displayed a characteristic steadfastness of purpose, that marked all his business transactions. When once fixed in purpose, nothing short of conviction of error could swerve him, and the most common complaint brought against him by his enemies, was, that he carried out his own opinions with a determination partaking of doggedness, rather than with a steadfast-Vaughan was tenacious of his opinions, and ness arising from a conviction of their cor- headstrong in carrying them out. Having rectness. And it is not unlikely that during made up his mind that Louisburg could be the frequent attacks of a disease contracted by taken, he set himself about the matter in earfree living and exposure, and which fastened nest. His first effort was with Governor itself upon him at middle age, that he might Wentworth, who whatever he might have have given cause for such complaints. But thought of the feasibility of the project, one fact speaks volumes in favor of the good- knew that Massachusetts must take the initianess of the man, and the excellence of his ad-tive in the measure, and he advised him to ministration; which is, that with an opposi- lay his plan before Governor Shirley. Shirtion of considerable influence, in and out of ley was a man of energy and talent, and withthe Province, he held the office of Governor al an ambitious man; he received the comfor twenty-five years-longer than any other munications of Vaughan with favor, and deGovernor in America. termined upon bringing the matter before the But the settlement upon him of a perma- Legislature. In the Legislature, the project nent salary, was not the only advantageous was rejected, but mainly through the exersettlement in his favor. Fortune so long un- tion of Vaughan, who went from store to favorable, was now quite lavish of her favors.store, talking up the expedition and obtainThe late Lieut. Governor Dunbar was Survey-ing signatures to a petition to the Legislature, or of his Majesty's Woods in North America. He had been in London as an applicant for the office of Governor of the Province; but failing in that project, he did not care to return to the Province, and readily accepted from Thomlinson the sum of £2,000, to resign the office, to make room for the appointment of Governor Wentworth. Upon Dunbar's resignation, Wentworth was appointed to the vacant Surveyorship with a permanent salary of £800

favoring it, the measure was again brought up for action, and was carried by one vote only. The thing being determined upon in Massachusetts, Governor Wentworth entered into the affair with spirit, and pressed it with all his influence. This was necessary, as the affair seemed at first to most men, as rather quixotic,-yet after a time, men enlisted for the expedition with the greatest alacrity, and the expedition in the end acquired all the en