Does Anyone have?

SunsetPointWentworth · 01-17-2011, 09:59 PM

Any pictures of Gov John Wentworths house before it was destroyed? I have a few pics of the foundation, but none of the house intact. photo courtesy of www.seacoastnh.com

fmgate · 01-20-2011, 01:19 PM

The estate was destroyed by fire in 1820, before the general use of photography. I recall seeing a bit about the archaeology of the site on NH Crossroads or some other similar program. I recall in that program a rendering of the floor plan of the estate.

What you are likely to find is an artist's rendering of the estate based on archaeological evidence. I suppose there is the possibility of contemporary paintings of the estate while it existed. Perhaps you might find some leads in reveiwing the following sources:

---, 1988 America's Oldest Summer Place. Archaeology, Vol. 41(6):60-61.
---, 1988 John Wentworth's Frontier Plantation in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Historical New Hampshire, Vol. 43(3):181-201.
---, 1989 America's First Summer Resort: John Wentworth's 18th Century Plantation in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Archeologist, Vol. 30(1).

Argie's Wife · 01-20-2011, 02:38 PM

Source: http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/programs/sta...st_details.htm

Governor Wentworth State Historic Site, Wolfeboro
In 1768, New Hampshire’s last royal governor, Governor John Wentworth of Portsmouth, began clearing a 6000-acre site in Wolfeboro for a summer estate. From Wentworth’s inventory records we know that a large salaried labor force built a mansion, scores of outbuildings, a game reserve, mills and a landing on Lake Wentworth. Wentworth fled New Hampshire on the eve of the Revolution, and his estate was seized and later sold at auction. The mansion house burned in 1820. In 1933, historian Lawrence Shaw Mayo gave the core of the estate – 96 acres – to the state. Today, the town of Wolfeboro prides itself on being the oldest summer resort in America, and the Department of Resources and Economic Development and the Friends of the Governor Wentworth State Historic Site care for the property.

Source: http://www.seacoastnh.com/Places_%26..._Summer_House/

Rattlesnake Gal · 01-21-2011, 11:19 AM

"Winnipesaukee Annals" - An Historical Glimpse
by McDude

SunsetPointWentworth · 01-21-2011, 07:16 PM

Thank you very much Rattlesnake Gal. I really enjoy your posts, along with Mcdudes. They are always very interesting and informative.

01-17-2011, 09:59 PM	#1
SunsetPointWentworth Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: claremont/wolfeboro Posts: 155 Thanks: 114 Thanked 51 Times in 26 Posts	Does Anyone have? Any pictures of Gov John Wentworths house before it was destroyed? I have a few pics of the foundation, but none of the house intact. photo courtesy of www.seacoastnh.com Last edited by SunsetPointWentworth; 03-13-2011 at 10:10 PM.

01-21-2011, 11:19 AM	#4
Rattlesnake Gal Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Central NH Posts: 5,252 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 1,447 Thanked 1,349 Times in 475 Posts	"Winnipesaukee Annals" "Winnipesaukee Annals" - An Historical Glimpse by McDude

01-21-2011, 07:16 PM	#5
SunsetPointWentworth Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: claremont/wolfeboro Posts: 155 Thanks: 114 Thanked 51 Times in 26 Posts	Thank you very much Rattlesnake Gal. I really enjoy your posts, along with Mcdudes. They are always very interesting and informative. Last edited by SunsetPointWentworth; 01-25-2011 at 09:37 PM.

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01-20-2011, 01:19 PM	#2
fmgate Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 43 Thanks: 8 Thanked 10 Times in 4 Posts	The estate was destroyed by fire in 1820, before the general use of photography. I recall seeing a bit about the archaeology of the site on NH Crossroads or some other similar program. I recall in that program a rendering of the floor plan of the estate. What you are likely to find is an artist's rendering of the estate based on archaeological evidence. I suppose there is the possibility of contemporary paintings of the estate while it existed. Perhaps you might find some leads in reveiwing the following sources: ---, 1988 America's Oldest Summer Place. Archaeology, Vol. 41(6):60-61. ---, 1988 John Wentworth's Frontier Plantation in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. Historical New Hampshire, Vol. 43(3):181-201. ---, 1989 America's First Summer Resort: John Wentworth's 18th Century Plantation in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Archeologist, Vol. 30(1).

The Following User Says Thank You to fmgate For This Useful Post:
SunsetPointWentworth (01-20-2011)

01-20-2011, 02:38 PM	#3
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	Source: http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/programs/sta...st_details.htm Governor Wentworth State Historic Site, Wolfeboro In 1768, New Hampshire’s last royal governor, Governor John Wentworth of Portsmouth, began clearing a 6000-acre site in Wolfeboro for a summer estate. From Wentworth’s inventory records we know that a large salaried labor force built a mansion, scores of outbuildings, a game reserve, mills and a landing on Lake Wentworth. Wentworth fled New Hampshire on the eve of the Revolution, and his estate was seized and later sold at auction. The mansion house burned in 1820. In 1933, historian Lawrence Shaw Mayo gave the core of the estate – 96 acres – to the state. Today, the town of Wolfeboro prides itself on being the oldest summer resort in America, and the Department of Resources and Economic Development and the Friends of the Governor Wentworth State Historic Site care for the property. Source: http://www.seacoastnh.com/Places_%26..._Summer_House/

The Following User Says Thank You to Argie's Wife For This Useful Post:
SunsetPointWentworth (01-20-2011)

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