By Muriel Bristol | July 30, 2023
Ambrose H. Wentworth was born in Middleton, NH, July 7, 1832, son of Ebenezer, Jr., and Sophia (Roberts) Wentworth.
Ebenezer Wentworth, a farmer, aged sixty-three years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Eighth (1860) Federal Census. His household included Sophia [(Roberts)] Wentworth, aged fifty-seven years (b. NH), John Wentworth, a shoemaker, aged thirty years (b. NH), Ambrosse Wentworth, a shoemaker, aged twenty-eight years (b. NH), E.P. [Eli Plummer] Wentworth, a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH), and L.H. [Luther H.] Wentworth, aged fifteen years (b. NH). Ebenezer Wentworth had real estate valued at $3,500 and personal estate valued at $1,000. John Wentworth had personal estate valued at $500; Ambrosse Wentworth had personal estate valued at $300; and E.P. Wentworth had personal estate valued at $400. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ira F. Howe, a farmer, aged fifty-four years (b. NH), and Mary A. Wakeham, aged thirty-five years (b. NH).
Milton sent Ambrose H. Wentworth and Thomas H. Roberts to Concord, NH, as its NH State Representatives, for the 1865-66 biennium. During their biennium, they would vote on two proposed additions to the U.S. Constitution, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth amendments.
Ambrose H. Wentworth was assigned to Retrenchment and Reform Committee and Thomas H. Roberts was assigned to the Military Accounts Committee. They were allocated 105 miles for their travel allowance.
New Hampshire was the twenty-third state of the necessary twenty-seven state approvals necessary for ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
ARTICLE XIII. SECTION 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction. SEC. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.
Rep. Roberts and Rep. Wentworth, both of Milton, were among the 215 NH House members [69.1%] that voted in favor of the Thirteenth Amendment, on Thursday, June 29, 1865, while another 96 NH House members [30.9%] voted against it. (Several absent members were permitted to add their votes, be they pro (2) or con (1), after the initial vote). Both houses of the NH General Court finalized their approvals by July 1, 1865. (Other states would add their approval to the Thirteenth Amendment after its ratification, some as late as 1995).
A year later, New Hampshire was the second state of the twenty-eight state approvals necessary for ratification of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
ARTICLE XIV. Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. Section 2. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, Representatives in Congress, the Executive and Judicial officers of a State, or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years of age, and citizens of the United States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion, or other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. Section 5. The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Rep. Roberts and Rep. Wentworth, both of Milton, were among the 207 NH House members [64.9%] that voted in favor of the Fourteenth Amendment, on Thursday, June 28, 1866, while another 112 NH House members [35.1%] voted against it. Both houses of the NH General Court finalized their approvals by July 6, 1866. (Other states would add their approval to the Fourteenth Amendment after its ratification, some as late as 2003).
On Friday, June 29, 1866, Rep. S.G. [Brig. Gen. Simon G.] Griffin (1824-1902) of Keene, NH, from the Military Affairs Committee, presented a petition seeking to authorize towns to “equalize” enlistment bounties. (Some towns had outbid others during recruiting). He moved that it should be ruled inexpedient to legislate (ITL). Rep. Isaac Adams (1802-1883) of Sandwich, NH, moved the alternative that it should be recommitted to the Military Affairs Committee in order that they might produce a bill on the subject. In the roll call vote that followed. Rep. Roberts and Rep. Wentworth, both of Milton, were among the minority of 97 members [43.3%] that voted to recommit, as opposed to the majority of 127 members [56.7%] that voted not to recommit.
On Friday, July 6, 1866, Rep. Alvah M. Kimball (1829-1869) of Rochester, NH, moved that a committee report on spiritous liquors, which recommended indefinite postponement of sundry petitions and bills related to the subject, be accepted. Rep. Roberts and Rep. Wentworth, both of Milton, were among the minority of 102 members [42.1%] that voted to accept the report, as opposed to the majority of 140 members [57.9%] that voted not to accept the report.
Ebenezer Wentworth, a farmer, aged seventy-two years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Ninth (1870) Federal Census. His household included Sophia [(Roberts)] Wentworth, keeping house, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), Ambrose H. Wentworth, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH), William E. Goodwin, aged sixteen years (b. NH), Ellen A. Corson, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), and Ralf S. Corson, aged four months (b. NH). Ebenezer Wentworth had real estate valued at $2,500 and personal estate valued at $1,075. Sophia Wentworth had personal estate valued at $500; Ambrose H. Wentworth had personal estate valued at $2,200. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Samuel Sanborn, a farm laborer, aged seventy-four years (b. ME), and Ira F. Howe, a farmer, aged sixty-three years (b. NH).
Father Ebenezer Wentworth died of a spinal complaint in Milton, April 24, 1874, aged seventy-six years, ten months. (The original death certificate had a bracketed question mark next to the 1874).
Brother John W. Wentworth died of consumption in Haverhill, MA, July 1, 1877, aged forty-seven years, twenty-two days. He was a married shoe cutter.
Luther H. Wentworth, a traveling agent, aged thirty-five years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Tenth (1880) Federal Census. His household included his son, Randolph Wentworth, aged nine years (b. MA). (Luther H. Wentworth was divorced). They shared a two-family residence with the household of Ambrose H. Wentworth, a farmer, aged forty-eight years (b. NH), who headed the other portion of the two-family residence. His household included his mother, Sophia [(Roberts)] Wentworth, a widow, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH). She had rheumatism. This two-family residence appeared in the enumeration between the household of Mary A. Varney, keeping house, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), and Thomas J. Howe, a farmer, aged forty-eight years (b. NH).
Mother Sophia (Roberts) Wentworth died in Milton, August 16, 1883, aged eighty years, three months.
DEATHS. In West Milton, August 16, after years of suffering, Sophia, widow of the late Ebenezer Wentworth, aged 8o years, 3 mos. (Farmington News, August 24, 1883).
Hiram Barker (1815-1887) died of paralysis in Farmington, NH, March 26, 1887, aged seventy-one years, three months, and five days. His last will was challenged over the issue of whether or not his mind had been sound when he made his last will. Ambrose Wentworth was one of a number of witnesses who testified in January 1888.
BARKER WILL CASE. … Ambrose Wentworth. I live in Milton. Have known Hiram Barker from my boyhood and the son [Hiram Henry Barker (1851-1915)] since he was three years old. My first intimacy with the father was due to my love of learning. My debative powers led him to solicit my society. Mr. Barker used to come to my store frequently and converse with me about his son. He told me there was no one who could care for his son so well as I. Hiram wanted me to induce his son to go to school. He once said to me that these saloons were tending to injure his son. That “he is sure to be a drunkard as the waters are to run down hill. I have had at least a hundred conversations with the elder Barker. He had a “chronic fear” that his son would be a drunkard. I have no knowledge at all of young Hiram’s drinking. The son seemed perfectly diligent in business. The son was closer than his father, and I told him so. I once told his father that his son never drank half as much as those democratic members of congress which he used to talk about. I asked his father if he saw the evils of liquor in his family? He said, “no, no, no, not that.” He said he used his influence to have the son arrested in order to benefit him when influenced by liquor. Hiram has called me in and consulted about spiritualism. It was after his wife’s death [in 1880]. He said a Boston medium told him that his wife wanted him to build a tomb. He said, “Ambrose, I am going to heed this voice. I am going to build this tomb because of the mighty influence which I have heard from Boston.” He once told me he had hot flashes in his brain and prickly sensations in his limbs. Asked me what I thought of them? I told him the symptoms of my father. I went to his office once and paid a note due from my brother-in-law. He could not cast the interest. Said he was growing worse, and laid it to tobacco. Once told me that he had tried to leave off tobacco, but had a terrible fright. He once told me, “You are happier than I.” I once told him I considered him wrong. A hundred times he called me into his office and talked to me upon that most delicate and wonderful subject of spiritualism. He believed in it. [Witness still on the stand when going to press]. (Farmington News, January 6, 1888).
LOCALS. Cyrus Elkins purchased a pair of work horses in Boston last week. He has the contract to haul the wood from the Ambrose Wentworth lot to the depot (Farmington News, October 26, 1888).
WEST MILTON. Summer travellers have returned to their homes, excepting Mr. and Mrs. Luther Wentworth, who are still rusticating in the Green Mountain region, while Wentworth Farm is under the control of Mr. Ambrose Wentworth, who has been receiving a visit from Mr. John Wakeham (Farmington News, October 28, 1892).
LOCALS. Mr. Wilder has been visiting his friend, Ambrose Wentworth at West Milton (Farmington News, April 6, 1894).
Ambrose H. Wentworth, a farmer, aged sixty-seven years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Twelfth (1900) Federal Census. His household included his brother, Luther H. Wentworth, a commercial traveler, aged fifty-five years (b. NH), and his sister-in-law (of seven years), Flora N. [(Nelson)] Wentworth, aged forty-five years (b. VT). Ambrose H. Wentworth owned their farm, free-and-clear. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Edwin Kenney, a carriage dealer, aged sixty-two years (b. ME), and J. William Harriman, a farmer, aged thirty-seven years (b. NH).
WEST MILTON. Ambrose Wentworth, who broke his ankle so badly about New Year’s, is not yet able to be up. A troublesome abrasion where the bone cut through, and his age, have retarded his recovery, but improvement is perceptible week by week (Farmington News, March 15, 1901).
WEST MILTON. L.H. Wentworth and wife have moved to their new home in Farmington. Ambrose Wentworth, who has been a lifelong resident of Milton, will make his home with them (Farmington News, November 28, 1902).
PERSONAL. Mr. Ambrose Wentworth, who has been confined to his bed for the past month, is able to be about the house (Farmington News, May 29, 1903).
PERSONAL. Ambrose Wentworth was 74 years old Saturday. Since January 1st, when he became partially paralyzed, he has not left his bed, but can feed himself, and enjoys his pipe and newspaper (Farmington News, July 13, 1906).
LOCAL. Ambrose Wentworth of North Main street, who has not been dressed since he experienced a paralytic shock Jan. 1, ’07, was 77 years old the seventh of this month no says he feels as well as ever, although eyes, ears and teeth are failing. His appetite is good, and this eccentric bachelor who is a “two mealer” finds digestion still perfect (Farmington News, July 23, 1909).
Luther H. Wentworth, a traveling salesman, aged sixty-five years (b. NH), headed a Farmington, NH, household at the time of the Thirteenth (1910) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Flora N. [(Nelson)] Wentworth, aged fifty-six years (b. VT), and his brother, Ambrose H. Wentworth, aged seventy-seven years (b. NH). Luther H. Wentworth owned their farm on North Main Street, free-and-clear. Flora N. Wentworth was the mother of two children, of whom zero were still living. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Frank W. Walsh, a shoe factory foreman, aged thirty-six years (b. NH), and William L. Barry, a bank bookkeeper, aged fifty-six years (b. NH).
Personal. Mr. Ambrose Wentworth entered on his 80th year July 7 (Farmington News, July 14, 1911).
Personal. Mrs. E. Plummer Wentworth of Haverhill, Mass., was recently in town to visit her brother-in-law, Ambrose Wentworth, who is failing in health (Farmington News, October 17, 1913).
Ambrose H. Wentworth died of old age in Farmington. NH, November 4, 1913, aged eighty-two years, three months, and twenty-seven days. He had resided there for ten years, i.e., since circa 1903, with his previous residence having been in Milton. P.H. Greeley, M.D., signed the death certificate.
West Milton. Many of the old friends and people of Ambrose Wentworth were saddened to learn of his death which occurred at his home in Farmington last week (Farmington News, November 14, 1913).
Brother Luther H. Wentworth died of myocardial insufficiency at the NH State Hospital in Concord, NH, December 1, 1917, aged seventy-three years, and thirteen days.
References:
Find a Grave. (2014, September 21). Hiram Barker. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/136232079/hiram-barker
NH General Court. (1866). Journal of the House of Representatives of the State of New-Hampshire. Retrieved from books.google.com/books?id=szgtAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA5
Milton Observer 