Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-11-27
WOODSTOCK, VT., THURSDAY, NOV. %, 1873.
They are published by the son who

Ihey are p,'pliSheu "! tiic SUI VIM
gave them to me, Lewis w. Brewster,
Esq, at the Portsmouth JONW0l office.
And so much entertaining informa-
ton, interesting and amusing incident
and anecdote, strange antiquarian lore,
history, biography and story, I nave
rarely if ever found put away into
two volumes of the records of one
town. If | were son of old Ports
mouth, or the descendant of one its
sons. of whatever generation, | would
not grudge the moderate sum of
twenty or fifty dollars to get these
books which | presume can be had
for five by sending to the publishers.
[ have read them through and through,
and then gone back to enjoy the
graphic and now familiar stories Of
old time life in this remarkable place.
So fresh and new is everything with
lis in our young and rapid country
that it seems like getting into a fairy
land to be set back two hundred years
in New Hampshire, and to minglo in
gay and festive scenes which are not
surpassed and scarcely equalled in
our day for splendor.
The old mansions of Portsmouth
have their histories, and if / were to
take you to each one of them and tell
you what ! have learned about them
from these books Of Mr.. Brewster.
you would be greatly entertained.
The Wentworth houses are among the
most interesting in their histories, and
although yon have heard one or two
Of these stories. before. ! shall tell you
of one of the mansions, or rather Mr..
Brewster shall tell YOU, while You and
| listen.
GOV. BENNING wENTwoRTI-nls SEAT
At LITTLE HARBOR-lTS PRESENT
srATE---M0IIY rITMAN- ROMANTIC
MARRIAGE OF THE GOVERNOR WITH
MARTHA IIILToN---COI. MICHAEL
wENTwORTII--wAs VISIT
THERE,
Benning Wentworth, in 174l, re
ceived the commission of Governor of
New Hampshire, and entered upon
the duties of his Office with much
ec'at. 1t is probable that he resided
at the homestead for several years, as
it was not until 1850 that he built the
retired and romantic residence at Lit.
tie Harbor-about to miles from the
centre Of business-which became his
residence ever after, to the termina-
ton of the twenty-five years during
which he held his commission.
The house is generally of two stor-
les in height, with wings forming
three sides Of q square. Its style Of
architecture is nondescript. 1t ap-
pears group of buildings, such as
from time to time may have been at
tached to one another, of no particu-
lar height or size. 1t contained for
merly fifty two rooms-a part OF the
house was a few years since removed,
leaving now forty-Gve apartments.
he hol5 e is so hid benin d an emi n.
ence that it is not visible from the
road, and cannot be seen until YOU
enter the gate. On the north and
east the prospect is open to the water.
The cellar is extensive, and for safety
the Governor kept his horses there in
time of danger A troop of thirty
horses could here be accommodated.
The mansion has yet the Council
Chamber, an imposing, high. studded
room, where meetings important to
the State and nation were held by the
Council for many years. By its side
opens the Billiard room-where the
ancient spinet of the family is still
located-and in its corner the 6utet
which has held many full and empty
punch bowl. The little side-rooms
where cards and other games were
long played by the illustrious visitants
of this hospitable home, still remain.
AT the entrance of the Council
Chamber the racks for twelve guns
still remain, which were for guards
when occasion required. The Coun-
Gil Chamber is finished in the best
style of the last century--the carved
work around the mantel being more
than a years labor with the knife and |
chisel of carpenter,
Around the room are variety of
pictures Of the family of the present
residents, among them choice paint
ing by Copley of the beautiful Doro-
thy Quincy, who became the wife of
John Hancock, and afterwards Madam
Scott Sho ,,oe oonnooioJ ,,,;tl +ho |