By Muriel Bristol | August 16, 2026
William Wentworth was born in Rochester, October 20, 1730, son of Ephraim and Martha (Grant) Wentworth.
William Wentworth married in Dover, NH, in 1754, Hannah Hayes. She was born in Portsmouth, NH, January 5, 1734, daughter of Ichabod and Abigail (Evans) Hayes.
(The known children of William and Hannah (Hayes) Wentworth were: Mary Wentworth (1756–1836), Ichabod Wentworth (1759–1834), William Wentworth (1761–1795), Abigail Wentworth (1764–1838), Martha Wentworth (1766–179?), Sarah Wentworth (1770–1852), Ephraim Wentworth (1773–1846), and Hannah Wentworth (1778–1845)).
Daughter Mary Wentworth was born in Rochester, NH, October 8, 1756.
Son Ichabod Wentworth was born in Rochester, NH, February 25, 1759. He was a namesake for his maternal grandfather, Ichabod Hayes.
Son William Wentworth [Jr.] was born August 15, 1761.
Daughter Abigail Wentworth was born June 2, 1764. She was a namesake for her maternal grandmother, Abigail (Evans) Hayes.
Daughter Martha Wentworth was born August 21, 1766. She was a namesake for her paternal grandmother, Martha (Grant) Wentworth.
Daughter Sarah Wentworth was born September 26, 1769.
Son Ephraim Wentworth was born June 16, 1773. He was a namesake for his paternal grandfather, Ephraim Wentworth.
[William Wentworth] was at the battle of Bunker Hill, and served more or less through the war of the Revolution (Wentworth, 1878).
Hannah Wentworth was born in Rochester, NH, March 22, 1778.
William Wentworth appeared in a muster roll of Major Amos Morrill’s Company, in the 2nd NH Battalion, November 2, 1780. The muster roll ran from July to October 1780. It had marginal notes about Constitution Isle and Fishkill, NY.
Wm Wentworth [Went appeared in a pay abstract of Capt. Moses Duston’s Company, in Lt. Col. George Reid’s 2nd NH Regiment. The abstract concerned January 1781.
William Wintworth [Wentworth] appeared in a pay abstract of Capt. Moses Duston’s Company, in Lt. Col. George Reid’s 2nd NH Regiment. The abstract ran from February to April, 1781.
“In 1781 the towns of Wakefield and Somersworth (N.H.) had a controversary as to which town he [William Wentworth] should be credited” (Wentworth, 1878).
Somersworth, July 3, 1781. These May Certify the Mens Names under Written Belongs to and Enlisted for the town of Somersworth for During the War for three years Returnd from the Army Last March during the War, Vizt George Fall, Edward Grant, John Smith, Ebenr Whitehouse, John Canney, William Wentworth, Saml Grant, Cato Wallingford, James Marden. New Recruits for three years Joseph Tate, Benja Tate, Tobias Cole, Paul Yeaton. Total Thirteen. Errors Excepted. Ebenr Ricker, Benja Quimby } Select Men.
William Wentworth appeared in a pay abstract of Capt. Moses Duston’s Company, in the 2nd NH Regiment. The abstract concerned January 1782. Marginal notes mentioned detachments at Schenectady, Fort Herkimer, Fort Dayton, Albany, and New Windsor, NY.
Will Wentworth appeared in a pay abstract of Capt. Moses Duston’s Company, in the 2nd NH Regiment. The abstract concerned February 1782. Marginal notes mentioned detachments at Schenectady, Fort Herkimer, Fort Dayton, Albany, and New Windsor, NY.
Daughter Abigail Wentworth married, circa 1784, George Yeaton, he of Wolfeboro, NH. He was born circa 1760.
Strafford County historian Duane H. Hurd noted the settlements at Plummer’s Ridge, after 1772, of Benjamin Scates, Beard Plumer and his brother Joseph Plumer. He noted further that they were followed by James C. Hayes, David Wallingford, William Palmer, Elijah Horn, Moses Chamberlain, and others.
This was soon followed by quite a rush of settlers to the west side of the town, Daniel Hayes, Caleb Wakeham, Enoch Varney, Samuel Nute, William Wentworth, William Tuttle, Ichabod Hayes, James Hayes, Ebenezer Coursan, and Stephen Merseron [Meserve], being among the first, Jeremiah Cook, Dudley Burnham, Jotham Nute, Otis Pinkham, Ephraim Plumer, John Twombly, James Varney, John Varney, William Mathes, and others coming soon after (Hurd, 1882).
William Wentworth was among the three hundred ten Rochester inhabitants that petitioned the NH legislature, August 30, 1785, seeking repeal of an act requiring milled boards to be square-edged and an inch thick (and other lumber in proportion). Those inhabitants described themselves then as being “largely Concerned in Lumber.” They sought also repeal of an act forbidding transport of lumber to the British West Indies, and seeking the issuance of a new paper money (Hammond, 1884). (See Rochester Lumber Remonstrance – August 1785).
Daughter Martha Wentworth married in Rochester, NH, June 7, 1787, James Varney, she of Rochester, NH, and he of Dover, NH.
Son Ichabod Wentworth married (1st), circa 1788, Mercy Wentworth. She was born circa 1768, daughter of [his uncle,] Ephraim Wentworth.
Son William Wentworth [Jr.] married, circa 1788, Jemima Dearborn, of Hampton, NH. She was born August 15, 1761.
Wm Wentworth headed a Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, household at the time of the First (1790) Federal Census. His household included two males aged 16-plus years [himself], four females, and two males aged under-16 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Wm Henderson and Timo Roberts. (See Northeast Parish in the First (1790) Federal Census).
Ichabod Wentworth headed a Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, household at the time of the First (1790) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 16-plus years [himself], one female, and one male aged under-16 years [Jonathan Wentworth]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of James Goodwin and Enoch Varney. (See Northeast Parish in the First (1790) Federal Census).
Wm Wintworth [Jr.] headed a Parsonsfield, ME, household at the time of the First (1790) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 16-plus years [himself], one female [Jemima (Dearborn) Wentworth], and two males aged under-16 years.
George Eaton [Yeaton] headed a Wolfeboro, NH, household at the time of the First (1790) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 16-plus years [himself], and three females [Abigail (Wentworth) Yeaton].
James Varney headed a Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, household at the time of the First (1790) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 16-plus years [himself], two females [Martha (Wentworth) Varney], and one male aged under-16 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ezecal Hays and Jotham Nute. (See Northeast Parish in the First (1790) Federal Census).
Son Ichabod Wentworth married (2nd) in Rochester, NH, March 10, 1791, Keziah Cook, he of Rochester, NH, and she of Somersworth, NH. She was born in Somersworth, NH, circa 1763.
Daughter Sarah Wentworth married in Rochester, NH, January 1, 1793, Dudley Burnham, both of Rochester, NH. He was born in Somersworth, NH, August 15, 1762, son of Nathaniel and Mehitable (Colbath) Burnham.
Daughter Mary Wentworth married in Rochester, NH, October 1, 1793, John Varney, both of Rochester, NH.
Son William Wentworth [Jr.] died in Parsonsfield, ME, May 6, 1795.
Son Ephraim Wentworth married, April 7, 1796, Susannah Cook, she of Middleton, NH. She was born May 6, 1794.
Daughter Hannah Wentworth married in Rochester, NH, March 22, 1798, Jeremiah Cook, both of Rochester, NH.
Widowed daughter-in-law married (2nd), April 15, 1798, Joshua Palmer, of Parsonsfield, ME.
William Wentworth died in Milton, October 20, 1798.
John Varney headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Mary (Wentworth) Varney], and one female aged 16-25 years. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
Ichd [Ichabod] Wentworth headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Keziah (Cook) Wentworth], one male aged 10-15 years, two males aged under-10 years, and three females aged under-10 years. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
James Varney headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Martha (Wentworth) Varney], one female aged 10-15 years, one male aged under-10 years, and two females aged under-10 years. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
Dudley Burnham headed a Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 16-25 years [Sarah (Wentworth) Burnham], three females aged under-10 [Mehitable Burnham and Hannah Burnham] and one male aged under-10 years [Dudley Burnham, Jr.]. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
Ephm Wentworth headed a Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years, one male aged undr-10 years, and two females aged under-10 years. (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
Jeremiah Cook headed a Northeast Parish, Rochester, NH, household at the time of the Second (1800) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 16-25 years [Hannah (Wentworth) Cook], one male aged under-10 years, and one female aged under-10 years. (See South Milton Farmer Samuel Bragdon (1771-1840)). (See Northeast Parish in the Second (1800) Federal Census).
Son-in-law John Varney died in Milton, July 11, 1806, ae. fifty-seven years, six months.
Hannah (Hayes) Wentworth died in Milton, August 11, 1808.
Wd [Widow] Mary [(Wentworth)] Varney headed a Milton household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. Her household included one female aged 45-plus years [herself], and one female aged under-10 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of James Varney and Jonathan Nute. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
Ichabod Wentw [Wentworth] headed a Milton household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one female aged 45-plus years [Keziah (Cook) Wentworth], one female aged 16-25 years, three males aged 10-15 years, and one female aged 10-15 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ephraim Wentw [Wentworth] and John Meservy. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
Geo. Yeaton headed a Wolfeboro, NH, household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one female aged 45-plus years [Abigail (Wentworth) Yeaton], one male aged 16-25 years, one female aged 16-25 years, one male aged 10-15 years, two females aged 10-15 years, three males aged under-10 years, and two females aged under-10 years.
James Varney headed a Milton household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one female aged 45-plus years, one male aged 16-25 years, two females aged 10-15 years, and one male aged under-10 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ezekiel Hayes and Wd [Widow] Mary [(Wentworth)] Varney. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
Dudley Burnham headed a Milton household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 45-plus years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Sarah (Wentworth) Burnham], one female aged 16-25 years [Mehitable Burnham], one male aged 10-15 years [Dudley Burnham, Jr.], one female aged 10-15 years [Hannah Burnham], four females aged under-10 years [Abigail Burnham, Ruth Burnham, Mary Burnham], and one male aged under-10 years [Nathaniel W. Burnham]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of John Drew and Joseph Cook. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
Ephraim Wentw [Wentworth] headed a Milton household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years, one female aged 16-25 years, two females aged 10-15 years, three males under-10 years, and two females aged under-10 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Nathl Whitehouse and Ichabod Wentw [Wentworth]. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
Jere. Cook headed a Milton household at the time of the Third (1810) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 26-44 years [himself], one female aged 26-44 years [Hannah (Wentworth) Cook], one male aged 10-15 years, one female aged 10-15 years, two males aged under-10 years, and one female aged under-10 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Daniel Wentworth and John Drew. (See Milton in the Third (1810) Federal Census).
William Wentworth signed the Milton anti-division remonstrance of June 1820 requesting that Milton not be divided in two parts. He signed also the Milton militia division petition of November 1820. (See Milton Militia Dispute – 1820).
Son-in-law Dudley Burnham died in Milton, April 29, 1826.
Son-in-law James Varney died in Milton, December 16, 1828.
To the Honorable Daniel C. Atkinson, the Judge of Probate within and for the County of Strafford – SHOWS KEZIAH VARNEY, administratrix of the goods and estate of JAMES VARNEY, jr., late of Milton, in said county, deceased, that the personal estate that was of the said James, at the time of his decease, is insufficient to answer the debts due from said estate, and the expenses of administering, by the sum of three hundred dollars:- Therefore, your petitioner prays your honor to grant her license to sell so much of the real estate that was of the said James at the time of his decease, including the reversion of her dower therein, and also including one quarter of the reversion of the dower of one Abigail Varney, relict of Enoch Varney, late of said Milton, deceased, as will be sufficient to raise said sum of three hundred dollars, for the purpose aforesaid – Said real estate is all in said Milton. And as in duty, &c., &c. KEZIAH VARNEY. Milton August 10, 1830 (Dover Enquirer, July 31, 1830).
J.C. [John C.] Varney 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 20-29 years [Hannah (Varney) Varney], one male aged 10-14 years [Seth Varney], one female aged 5-9 years [Mary A. Varney], one male aged under-5 years [George W. Varney], one female aged under-5 years [Hannah A. Varney], and one female aged 70-79 years [Mary (Wentworth) Varney]. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Hopley Varney and Jas [James] Varney.
Ichd Wentworth headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 70-79 years [himself], one female aged 60-69 years [Keziah (Cook) Wentworth], and one female aged 30-39 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Ichd H. Wentworth and Edward Tibbetts. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Geo. Yeaton headed a Wolfeboro, NH, household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 70-79 years [himself], one female aged 50-59 years [Abigail (Wentworth) Yeaton], one male aged 30-39 years, one female aged 20-29 years, and one female aged 10-14 years.
Jas [James] Varney headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 70-79 years [himself], and one female aged 20-29 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of J.C. Varney and Ira Varney. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Sarah [(Wentworth)] Burnham headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. Her household included one female aged 60-69 years [herself], one female aged 30-39 years, one male aged 20-29 years, one female aged 20-29 years, and one male aged 10-14 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Hannah Pinkham and Isaac Young. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Eph. Wentworth headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 50-59 years [himself], one female aged 50-59 years, one female aged 30-39 years, one male aged 20-29 years, and one female aged 20-29 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Abigail Varney and Jos. C. Wentworth. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Jeremiah Cook headed a Milton household at the time of the Fifth (1830) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 50-59 years [himself], one female aged 50-59 years [Hannah (Wentworth) Cook], one male aged 20-29 years, one male aged 15-19 years, one female aged 15-19 years, and one male aged 10-14 years. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Hiram Cook and Timo Brewster. (See Milton in the Fifth (1830) Federal Census).
Daughter-in-law Keziah (Cook) Wentworth died in Milton, April 4, 1833.
Son Ichabod Wentworth died in Milton, April 16, 1834.
Daughter Mary (Wentworth) Varney died October 2, 1836.
Daughter Abigail (Wentworth) Yeaton died of old age in Wolfeboro, NH, March 11, 1838, aged seventy-three years. She was a married housekeeper.
Hannah [(Yeaton)] Furber headed a Wolfeboro, NH, household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. Her household included one female aged 50-59 years, one female aged 20-29 years, one female aged 15-19 years, one male aged 10-14 years, and one male aged 80-90 years [George Yeaton]. Her household included [her father,] George Yeaton, a Revolutionary pensioner, aged eighty years.
Nathaniel Burnham headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 30-39 years [himself], two females aged 20-29 years [Ruth E. (Davis) Burnham and Mary Burnham], one male aged 20-29 years, one male aged 5-9 years, and one female aged 70-79 years [Sarah (Wentworth) Burnham]. Two members of his household were engaged in Agriculture. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Isaac C. Young and Jeremiah Cook.
Ephraim Wentworth headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 60-69 years [himself], one female aged 60-69 years, and one female aged 40-49 years. One member of his household was engaged in Agriculture. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Moses Nute and Hannah Varney.
Jeremiah Cook headed a Milton household at the time of the Sixth (1840) Federal Census. His household included one male aged 60-69 years [himself], one female aged 60-69 years [Hannah (Wentworth) Cook], one male aged 30-39 years, one female aged 20-29 years, one male aged 10-14 years, one male aged under-5 years, and two females aged under-5 years. Three members of his household were engaged in Agriculture. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Nathaniel Burnham and Harpley [Hopley] Varney.
Son-in-law George Yeaton died of old age in Wolfeboro, NH, November 22, 1845, aged eighty-five years. He was a farmer.
DEATHS. In Wolfeborough, Nov. 23d, Mr. George Yeaton, a Revolutionary Pensioner, aged 83 (Dover Enquirer, December 16, 1845).
Daughter Hannah (Wentworth) Cook died in Milton, November 29, 1845.
Son Ephraim Wentworth died in Milton, October 17, 1846, aged seventy-three years, four months.
Daughter-in-law Susanna (Cook) Wentworth died in Milton, September 6, 1848, ae seventy-five years, four months.
Daughter-in-law Jemima ((Dearborn) Wentworth) Palmer died in Parsonsfield, ME, February 3, 1849.
Sarah [(Wentworth)] Burnham, aged eighty years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. Her household included Mehitable Burnham, aged fifty-six years (b. NH). Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Mary Young, aged forty-nine years (b. NH), and James H. Pinkham, a shoemaker, aged twenty-six years (b. NH).
Joseph Cook, a farmer, aged forty-one years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventh (1850) Federal Census. His household included Lydia Cook, aged forty-two years (b. NH), Jeremiah Cook, a farmer, aged seventy-five years (b. NH), Frances J. Cook, aged fifteen years (b. NH), Mary Cook, aged thirteen years (b. NH), and Martin V.B. Cook, aged eleven years (b. NH). Joseph Cook had real estate valued at $2,000. Their household appeared in the enumeration between those of Samuel W. Pinkham, a farmer, aged forty-one years (b. NH), and Hopley Varney, a farmer, aged fifty-eight years (b. NH).
Son-in-law Jeremiah Cook died of heart disease in Milton, December 5, 1851, aged seventy-six years, one month, and twenty-five days.
DEATHS. In Milton of disease of the heart, Dec. 5th, Mr. Jeremiah Cook, aged 76 years, 1 month and 25 days (Dover Enquirer, December 23, 1851).
Daughter Sarah (Wentworth) Burnham died in Milton, January 22, 1852.
References:
Find a Grave. (2019, May 6). Sarah Wentworth Burnham. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/198913637/sarah-burnham
Find a Grave. (2022, July 11). Hannah Wentworth Cook. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/241512591/hannah-cook
Find a Grave. (2011, December 31). Mary Wentworth Varney. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/82754041/mary-varney
Find a Grave. (2011, December 31). Ephraim Wentworth. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/82754520/ephraim-wentworth
Find a Grave. (2011, December 31). Ichabod Wentworth. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/82754387/ichabod-wentworth
Find a Grave. (2011, December 31). William Wentworth. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/82754465/william-wentworth
Find a Grave. (2015, July 3). Abigail Wentworth Yeaton. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/148615496/abigail-yeaton
Wentworth, John. (1878). Wentworth Genealogy. Boston, MA: Little, Brown & Co.
Wikipedia. (2025, July 31). Fort Dayton. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Dayton
Wikipedia. (2025, December 31). Fort Herkimer. Retrieved from en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Herkimer
Milton Observer 