By Muriel Bristol | August 10, 2025
Some thirty-five Strafford County inhabitants petitioned NH Governor Jeremiah Smith and his Executive Council, January 2, 1810, seeking appointment of Maj. Andrew Wentworth of Somersworth, NH, as Strafford County Sheriff.
They intended that he replace the “present holder,” Col. James Carr, also of Somersworth, NH, who had been sheriff for ten years. Other petitions circulated too, including at least one in favor of incumbent Col. Carr. (See Strafford County Sheriff Petition – [January 22,] 1810).
State of New Hampshire.
To his Excellency the Governor and the honorable Council of the State of New Hampshire ~ Respectfully sheweth the Subscribers, Inhabitants of the County of Strafford, being highly impressed with the great importance to the peace and happiness of the government ~ that every officer of government Should faithfully and attentively discharge the Several duties of their respective offices ~ and in order that should be performed ~ men of discernment ~ known as men who respect the constitution and the Laws of the State, lover[s] of order and good Government, should from time to time be appointed to fill those vacancies that may be occasioned by death, resignation, or the expirati0n of their several commissions ~ understanding the Commission of the high Sheriff of the County of Strafford will expire in February next ~ the undersigned beg leave to observe to your Excellency and the honorable Council that should you be of the Opinion that the good of the State and the happiness of the Citizens of the County of Strafford would be promoted by the appointment of Some other person to fill that important office than the present holder ~ they would most respectfully Name ~ Majr Andrew Wentworth of Somersworth in the County of Strafford ~ we feel a Strong confidence in Saying he is a Gentleman whose tolerance and General Knowledge of business should enable him to discharge the Several duties of that important Office respectfully as it relates to the Government with promptness, faithfulness and humanity as respects the Citizens of the County of Strafford ~
the citizens of his own Town for many Years past have united in their suffrage in electing him their Representative in the general Court where he has ever been known as an independent member, and a firm Supporter of the Constitution and Laws of the State, as an important Militia officer, it is our duty to Say that a very Considerable part of the great improvement that has been made in the discipline of the Militia in the County of Strafford has been the result of his Knowledge, attention, and most faithful discharge of his Duty as inspector of the Militia, and as in duty bound we ever pray ~ January 2d 1810 ~
[Column 1:] Thos Cloutman, Joseph Berry, Francis Berry, Simeon Wiggin, Josiah Wiggin, Jeremiah Cloutman, James Berry, William Berry, John Cloutman, Beniah Dore, John Hart, George Young, Daniel Grant, Joseph Libbey, David Corston, David M. Corston, James Merrow,
[Column 2:] William Leavitt, Jeremiah Goodwin, Jeremiah Goodwin Junr, Jona Moulton, Caleb Wingate, Timo Wentworth, Ephraim Twomly [Twombly], William Courson, Wm S. Nutter, John Remick Jr, Joseph Dearborn, Nath Gilman, Solomon Wiggin, Nathan Jones, Daniel Cloutman, Benjamin Horn, Gilman Cloutman, John Wiggin
Another petition, which was nearly identical, but was dated January 6, 1810, circulated separately.
Gov. Smith was a Federalist, whose single-year term was sandwiched between two terms of Democratic-Republican John Langdon.
References:
Find a Grave. (2010, August 20). Andrew Wentworth. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/57379165/andrew-wentworth
Wikipedia. (2025, July 26). List of Governors of New Hampshire. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_governors_of_New_Hampshire
Milton Observer 