By Muriel Bristol | April 9, 2023
Ichabod H. Wentworth was born in Rochester, NH, December 14, 1795, son of Ichabod and Keziah (Cook) Wentworth.
Ichabod H. Wentworth served in Long’s Command during the War of 1812. Major Edward Jennings Long (1771-1824) of Portsmouth, NH, was in charge of a NH militia artillery detachment, between October 5, 1814, and November 22, 1814. (See also Milton in the War of 1812).
Ichabod H. Wentworth married in Rochester, NH, December 18, 1817, Peace Varney, both of Milton. She was born in Dover, NH, in October 1794, daughter of Aaron and Annie (Clements) Varney.
(The children of Ichabod H. and Peace (Varney) Wentworth were Hiram Varney Wentworth (1818-1890), and Eli Wentworth (1821-1863)).
Father-in-law Aaron Varney died in Milton, February 3, 1818. Mother-in-law Annie (Clements) Varney died in Milton, in 1818.
Son Hiram Varney Wentworth was born in Milton (or Rochester), November 12, 1818. He was a namesake for his maternal uncle, Hiram Varney (1804-1855).
I.H. Wentworth and his father, Ichabod Wentworth, signed the Milton Anti-Division Remonstrance of June 1820. (See Milton Militia Dispute – 1820 and Milton Anti-Division Remonstrance – June 1820).
Son Eli Wentworth was born in Milton, February 19, 1821.
The Milton Selectmen of 1824 were H. Hayes, H. Meserve, and I.H. Wentworth. The Milton Selectmen of 1825 were Jas. Hayes, Jr., I.H. Wentworth, and Thos. Chapman.
The Milton Selectmen of 1828 were Stephen Drew, W.B. Wiggin, and I.H. Wentworth.
Ichd H. Wentworth headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 30-39 years [himself], one female aged 30-39 years [Peace (Varney) Wentworth], one female aged 15-19 years, one male aged 10-14 years [Hiram V. Wentworth], and one male aged 5-9 years [Eli Wentworth]. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Jona Hurd, and Ichd Wentworth.
Mother Keziah (Cook) Wentworth died in Milton, April 4, 1833. Father Ichabod Wentworth died in Milton, April 16, 1834.
Ichabod H. Wentworth headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 40-49 years [himself], one female aged 40-49 years [Peace (Varney) Wentworth], one male aged 20-29 years [Hiram V. Wentworth], one male aged 15-19 years [Eli Wentworth], one female aged 15-19 years, and one male aged 5-9 years. Four members of his household were engaged in Agriculture. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of John Plumer, Jr., and William Wentworth.
Son Hiram V. Wentworth married, circa 1842, Mary Jane Nute. She was born Milton, circa July 1820, daughter of John C. and Sarah A. (Varney) Nute.
Son Eli Wentworth married in Milton, July 23, 1843, Mehitable Jane “Jane” Howe, both of Milton. She was born in Milton, in 1822, daughter of Jonathan and Mehitable (Twombly) Howe. Jacob Davis performed the ceremony.
The Milton Selectmen of 1843 were Jas. Hayes, Jr., I.H. Wentworth, and Asa Fox. The Milton Selectmen of 1844 were Jas. Hayes, Jr., Asa Fox, and I.H. Wentworth. The Milton Selectmen of 1845 were Asa Fox, I.H. Wentworth, and David Wallingford.
Ichabod H. Wentworth received an initial five-year appointment as a Milton justice-of-the-peace, July 6, 1846. Joseph Pearl and Robert Mathes received their appointments to that office on the same day.
Milton sent Ichabod H. Wentworth to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representative in 1846 and 1847. He served on the Unfinished Business Committee.
Rep. [Dr.] Nathaniel Low (1792-1883) of Dover, NH, drafted several preambles to a so-named “Personal Liberty” bill. It opposed slavery and its extension into new territories. But, beyond what was usually said on these issues, it contained a novel argument that slave labor constituted unfair competition against the free labor of northern farmers.
Whereas the interests of New-Hampshire have been opposed, disregarded and compromised in reference to that policy which opens to the farmer a near and ready market for his produce, stimulates enterprise, rewards industry, develops skill, employs labor and fills the land with a thriving and happy population, and
Whereas the feelings and principles of her citizens on the great questions of human liberty and human rights have been so perversely misrepresented as to make them seemingly the advocates and champions of slavery; and
Because the eagerness for territorial acquisition, in order to multiply new states, with forms of government making slavery perpetual, evinces a conspiracy to extend the hateful institution, to protect and confirm it by additional ties and fresh securities; whereby the expectation of the friends of liberty, who believed that, under the beneficent influence of our compact and form of Union, the foul blot of slavery would, at no distant period, be effaced our national escutcheon, have been grievously disappointed: Therefore,
Resolved, That pending the choice of an individual to represent to this state in the Congress of the United States, it is expedient to declare, that the policy of protecting American free labor against unfair competition with the cheaper labor of other nations ought to be sustained; and as every man is born free and has an equal right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, we do
Further solemnly disclaim, in behalf of the people of New-Hampshire, all sympathy with that odious system of oppression which robs him of these inestimable blessings, and asserts the doctrine that one man may rightfully hold and use another as property; such abominable principles being at war with the inalienable rights of man, abhorrent to every feeling of humanity, and to every dictate of religion and morality (NH General Court, 1846).
On June 9, 1846, Rep. Wentworth of Milton voted with the 160 representatives [70.2%] that voted in favor of this preamble to the so-named “Personal Liberty” bill, as opposed to the 68 representatives [29.8%] that voted against it.
On June 18, 1846, Rep. Wentworth presented the petition of Thomas Y. Wentworth (1798-1866), which sought to join a part of West Milton to neighboring Farmington, NH. The Committee on Towns and Parishes, to which the petition had been referred, postponed consideration until the next legislative session.
Mr. Wentworth presented the petition of T.Y. Wentworth and others, to disannex a portion of land in the town of Milton, and annex the same to the town of Farmington (NH General Court, 1846).
Rep. Wentworth of Milton voted with the 173 representatives [72.4%] that voted in favor of postponing the Northern Extension and Connecticut River Valley Railroad bill, as opposed to the 66 representatives [27.6%] that voted against postponing it.
Ichabod H. Wentworth, a farmer, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Peace Wentworth, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), and Nathan Nutter, a shoemaker, aged thirty years (b. NH). Ichabod H. Wentworth had real estate valued at $3,500. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Asa M. Durell, a farmer, aged eighty-one years (b. ME), Eli Wentworth, a shoe manufacturer, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH), and Hiram B. Wentworth, a shoe manufacturer, aged thirty-one years (b. NH), in a three-family residence on one side, and, on the other side, Hiram Gerrish, a farmer, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH).
Ichabod H. Wentworth received a five-year renewal of his appointment as a Milton justice-of-the-peace, June 27, 1851. Joseph Pearl and Robert Mathes received their renewals on the same day.
Justices of the Peace. MILTON – Stephen Drew, John L. Swinerton, Joseph Cook, John J. Plummer, Daniel Hayes, jr., Daniel P. Warren, James Berry, Ichabod H. Wentworth, Joseph Pearl, Robert Mathes, Èlias S. Cook, David Wallingford, John E. Goodwin, Charles C. Hayes, Jas. Jewett, Thos. Y. Wentworth, Asa Fox, James Connor, Eli Wentworth (Lyon, 1854).
Brother-in-law Hiram Varney died in West Milton, September 8, 1855.
Ichabod H. Wentworth received a five-year renewal of his appointment as a Milton justice-of-the-peace, June 24, 1856. Joseph Pearl and Robert Mathes received their renewals on the same day.
Ichabod H. Wentworth, a farmer, aged sixty-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton (“Milton P.O.”) household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Peace Wentworth, aged sixty-four years (b. NH). His household appeared in the enumeration between those of George W. Jones, a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. ME), and Alfred Tuttle, a farmer, aged fifty-five years (b. NH).
Ichabod H. Wentworth was an incorporator of the First Christian Society of Milton, when the NH Legislature authorized it in June 1860. (This was the Christian Church of which Daniel B. Goodwin (1811-1888) would be the Elder).
CHAPTER 2429. AN ACT to incorporate the First Christian Society in Milton. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
SECTION 1. That Ichabod H. Wentworth, Joseph Cook, Isaac C. Young, Jonathan Howe, and Joseph Goodwin, and other proprietors and pew-holders in the Union Christian Chapel in Milton, their associates, successors, and assigns, be, and are hereby incorporated and made a body politic and corporate, under the name of the First Christian Society in Milton, with all the powers and privileges necessary and proper for effecting the object of their incorporation, and are authorized to ordain and establish such by-laws and regulations not repugnant to the constitution and laws of this State, as they may think proper, for the election and government of the officers and members, and the management of the property of said society.
SEC. 2. Said society may take, hold, and possess by purchase, gift, devise, or otherwise, any real and personal property to the amount of three thousand dollars, the major part whereof being now invested in the meeting-house now occupied by the First Christian Society (so called) in Milton, with the land upon which the same is situated, for the purpose of maintaining a house of public worship, and other buildings connected therewith, and for the support of public worship therein. … (NH Secretary of State, 1860).
Son Eli Wentworth died of a fever at Snyder’s Bluff, Milldale, MS, July 18, 1863, aged forty-two years, six months. (He was a quartermaster in the U.S. Army). The Army death register had him as Lt. Eli Wentworth, a member of the Sixth NH Volunteer Regiment, which was then in the 1st Brigade, 2nd Division, 9th Army Corps. The Sixth NH Volunteer Regiment’s assistant surgeon, F.N. Gibson, recorded his death, from Feb. [Febrile] Typhoid.
Ichabod H. Wentworth, a farm laborer, aged seventy-four years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Peace Wentworth, keeping house, aged seventy-four years (b. NH), and Martha Hayes, aged seventy-six years (b. NH). Ichabod H. Wentworth had real estate valued at $1,200 and personal estate valued at $2,000. His household appeared in the enumeration between those of Luther Hayes, a farmer, aged fifty years (b. NH), and James H. Tibbetts, works for shoe factory, aged twenty-five years (b. ME).
Ichabod H. Wentworth made his will, presumably in Milton, October 28, 1871. He devised $200 and an undivided share in West Milton land to his son, Hiram V. Wentworth; $50 to Mary J. [(Nute)] Wentworth; $50 to Mehitable J. [(Howe)] Wentworth; $10 to Clara M. [(Wentworth)] Burley, wife of Daniel S. Burley; a life estate in all notes, bonds, money, and personal property to his wife, Peace [(Varney)] Wentworth; and, after her decease, the household furniture to Mary J. [(Nute)] Wentworth and Mehitable J. [(Howe)] Wentworth. He devised the remaining undivided share in the West Milton land to his grandsons, Henry H. Wentworth and Charles W. Wentworth, as well as any rest and residue not devised. (The land was bounded north by land of H.H. Pinkham, west by land of Joseph Horn, south by land of Joseph Barker, and east by land of David Furbush). John F. Hart, Ira S. Knox, and Ezra H. Twombly signed as witnesses (Strafford County Probate, 83:99).
Daughter-in-law Mary J. (Nute) Wentworth died in Milton, May 13, 1872, aged fifty-one years, ten months.
Ichabod H. Wentworth died of paralysis and fever in Milton, July 19, 1872, aged seventy-six years, seven months. He was a farmer. His last will was proved at Strafford County Probate court held in Dover, NH, in August 1872 (Strafford County Probate, 83:101).
Peace (Varney) Wentworth died of catarrh and age in Milton, August 14, 1873, aged seventy-six years, ten months. She was a widow.
Son Hiram V. Wentworth died in Milton, September 12, 1890, aged seventy-one years, ten months, and seventeen days. C.D. Jones, M.D., signed the death certificate.
Daughter-in-law Mehitable Jane (Howe) Wentworth died in Milton, April 30, 1895, aged seventy-two years.
References:
Find a Grave. (2011, December 31). Aaron Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/82754067/aaron-varney
Find a Grave. (2011, December 31). Ichabod Wentworth. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/82754387/ichabod-wentworth
Lyon, G. Parker. (1854). New-Hampshire Annual Register, and United States Calendar. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=W0A4AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA60
NH General Court. (1846). Journal of the Senate of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=Li4TAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA2-PA5
NH General Court. (1847). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=wcdHAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA4
NH Secretary of State (1860). Laws of the State of New Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=_pVGAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA2325
Milton Observer 