Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion
Encyclopedia
Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion is a 40-room clapboard house which was built as the home, offices and working farm of Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth
. It is located on the water at 375 Little Harbor Road, about 2 miles southeast of the center of Portsmouth, New Hampshire
. It is one of the few royal governors' residences to survive almost unchanged. The site is a New Hampshire
state park, declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1968. Today, the New Hampshire Bureau of Historic Sites manages the site with the assistance of the Wentworth-Coolidge Commission, a group of volunteer civic and business leaders appointed by the Governor.
, and Benning Wentworth, son of former Lieutenant-governor John Wentworth
, was appointed its royal governor. He requested that the General Court
erect a capitol in Portsmouth, but was refused. In 1750, Wentworth built his estate to include both a 100-acre (40 hectare) working farm and council chamber. The structure was made from existing buildings moved to the site and cobbled together with new sections, giving the house its eclectic appearance. From here Wentworth signed charters creating new towns across New Hampshire and Vermont
.
The Cushing family acquired the property in 1816, and by the 1840s began showing the old mansion, one of America's first historic houses open to the public. Purchased with about 15 acres (6 hectares) in 1886, John Templeman Coolidge III and his wife restored the mansion with the assistance of Sumner Appleton
, founder of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. Coolidge was a Boston Brahmin
, artist
and antiquarian
who used the property as a summer home. His guests included such luminaries as John Singer Sargent
, Edmund C. Tarbell
and Isabella Stewart Gardner
. Coolidge's widow, Mary Abigail Parsons Coolidge, donated the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion to the state in 1954.
Benning Wentworth
Benning Wentworth was the colonial governor of New Hampshire from 1741 to 1766.-Biography:The eldest child of the John Wentworth who had been Lieutenant Governor, he was born and died in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Wentworth graduated from Harvard College in 1715...
. It is located on the water at 375 Little Harbor Road, about 2 miles southeast of the center of Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
. It is one of the few royal governors' residences to survive almost unchanged. The site is a New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
state park, declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1968. Today, the New Hampshire Bureau of Historic Sites manages the site with the assistance of the Wentworth-Coolidge Commission, a group of volunteer civic and business leaders appointed by the Governor.
History of the house
In 1741, the governorship of the province of New Hampshire was separated from that of the province of Massachusetts BayProvince of Massachusetts Bay
The Province of Massachusetts Bay was a crown colony in North America. It was chartered on October 7, 1691 by William and Mary, the joint monarchs of the kingdoms of England and Scotland...
, and Benning Wentworth, son of former Lieutenant-governor John Wentworth
John Wentworth (Lieutenant-Governor)
John Wentworth served as Lieutenant Governor for the Province of New Hampshire from 1717 to 1730.-Biography:...
, was appointed its royal governor. He requested that the General Court
New Hampshire General Court
The General Court of New Hampshire is the bicameral state legislature of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. The lower house is the New Hampshire House of Representatives with 400 members. The upper house is the New Hampshire Senate with 24 members...
erect a capitol in Portsmouth, but was refused. In 1750, Wentworth built his estate to include both a 100-acre (40 hectare) working farm and council chamber. The structure was made from existing buildings moved to the site and cobbled together with new sections, giving the house its eclectic appearance. From here Wentworth signed charters creating new towns across New Hampshire and Vermont
New Hampshire Grants
The New Hampshire Grants or Benning Wentworth Grants were land grants made between 1749 and 1764 by the provincial governor of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth. The land grants, totaling about 135 , were made on land claimed by New Hampshire west of the Connecticut River, territory that was also...
.
The Cushing family acquired the property in 1816, and by the 1840s began showing the old mansion, one of America's first historic houses open to the public. Purchased with about 15 acres (6 hectares) in 1886, John Templeman Coolidge III and his wife restored the mansion with the assistance of Sumner Appleton
William Sumner Appleton
William Sumner Appleton, Jr. was Founder of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities in 1910. He was the chief force behind much of the preservation of historic homes in the New England area...
, founder of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities. Coolidge was a Boston Brahmin
Boston Brahmin
Boston Brahmins are wealthy Yankee families characterized by a highly discreet and inconspicuous life style. Based in and around Boston, they form an integral part of the historic core of the East Coast establishment...
, artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
and antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
who used the property as a summer home. His guests included such luminaries as John Singer Sargent
John Singer Sargent
John Singer Sargent was an American artist, considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation" for his evocations of Edwardian era luxury. During his career, he created roughly 900 oil paintings and more than 2,000 watercolors, as well as countless sketches and charcoal drawings...
, Edmund C. Tarbell
Edmund C. Tarbell
Edmund Charles Tarbell was an American Impressionist painter. He was a member of the Ten American Painters...
and Isabella Stewart Gardner
Isabella Stewart Gardner
Isabella Stewart Gardner – founder of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston – was an American art collector, philanthropist, and one of the foremost female patrons of the arts....
. Coolidge's widow, Mary Abigail Parsons Coolidge, donated the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion to the state in 1954.
External links
- Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion Historic Site, New Hampshire Division of Parks & Recreation
- Wentworth-Coolidge Commission