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played by illustrious hands。 The stillness and loneliness of the old house
seem saddest here。 The jeweled fingers are dust； the merry laughs have
turned themselves into silent； sorrowful phantoms； stealing from chamber
to chamber。 It is easy to believe in the traditional ghost that haunts the
place
〃A jolly place in times of old； But something ails it now！〃
The mansion at Little Harbor is not the only historic house that bears
the name of Wentworth。 On Pleasant Street； at the head of Washington
Street； stands the abode of another colonial worthy； Governor John
Wentworth； who held office from 1767 down to the moment when the
colonies dropped the British yoke as if it had been the letter H。 For the
moment the good gentleman's occupation was gone。 He was a royalist of
the most florid complexion。 In 1775； a man named John Fenton； and ex…
captain in the British army； who had managed to offend the Sons of
Liberty； was given sanctuary in this house by the governor； who refused to
deliver the fugitive to the people。 The mob planted a small cannon
（unloaded） in front of the doorstep and threatened to open fire if Fenton
were not forthcoming。 He forth…with came。 The family vacated the
premises via the back…yard； and the mob entered； doing considerable
damage。 The broken marble chimney…place still remains； mutely
protesting against the uncalled…for violence。 Shortly after this event the
governor made his way to England； where his loyalty was rewarded first
with a governorship and then with a pension of L500。 He was governor of
Nova Scotia from 1792 to 1800； and died in Halifax in 1820。 This house is
one of the handsomest old dwellings in the town； and promises to outlive
many of its newest neighbors。 The parlor has undergone no change
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An Old Town By The Sea
whatever since the populace rushed into it over a century ago。 The
furniture and adornments occupy their original positions and the plush on
the walls has not been replaced by other hangings。 In the halldeep
enough for the traditional duel of baronial romanceare full…length
portraits of the several governors and sundry of their kinsfolk。
There is yet a third Wentworth house； also decorated with the shade of
a colonial governorthere were three Governors Wentworthbut we shall
pass it by； though out of no lack of respect for that high official personage
whose commission was signed by Joseph Addison； Esq。； Secretary of State
under George I。
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An Old Town By The Sea
V。 OLD STRAWBERRY BANK
THESE old houses have perhaps detained us too long。 They are merely
the crumbling shells of things dead and gone； of persons and manners and
customs that have left no very distinct record of themselves； excepting
here and there in some sallow manuscript which has luckily escaped the
withering breath of fire； for the old town； as I have remarked； has managed；
from the earliest moment of its existence； to burn itself up periodically。
It is only through the scattered memoranda of ancient town clerks； and in
the files of worm…eaten and forgotten newspapers； that we are enabled to
get glimpses of that life which was once so real and positive and has now
become a shadow。 I am of course speaking of the early days of the
settlement on Strawberry Bank。 They were stormy and eventful days。 The
dense forest which surrounded the clearing was alive with hostile red…men。
The sturdy pilgrim went to sleep with his firelock at his bedside； not
knowing at what moment he might be awakened by the glare of his
burning hayricks and the piercing war…whoops of the Womponoags。 Year
after year he saw his harvest reaped by a sickle of flames； as he peered
through the loop…holes of the blockhouse； whither he had flown in hot
haste with goodwife and little ones。 The blockhouse at Strawberry Bank
appears to have been on an extensive scale； with stockades for the shelter
of cattle。 It held large supplies of stores； and was amply furnished with
arquebuses； sakers； and murtherers； a species of naval ordnance which
probably did not belie its name。 It also boasted； we are told； of two drums
for training…days； and no fewer than fifteen hautboys and soft…voiced
recordersall which suggests a mediaeval castle； or a grim fortress in the
time of Queen Elizabeth。 To the younger members of the community glass
or crockery ware was an unknown substance； to the elders it was a
memory。 An iron pot was the pot…of…all…work； and their table utensils were
of beaten pewter。 The diet was also of the simplestpea…porridge and
corn…cake； with a mug of ale or a flagon of Spanish wine； when they could
get it。
John Mason； who never resided in this country； but delegated the
management of his plantation at Ricataqua and Newichewannock to
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An Old Town By The Sea
stewards； died before realizing any appreciable return from his enterprise。
He spared no endeavor meanwhile to further its prosperity。 In 1632； three
years before his death； Mason sent over from Denmark a number of neat
cattle； 〃of a large breed and yellow colour。〃 The herd thrived； and it is said
that some of the stock is still extant on farms in the vicinity of Portsmouth。
Those old first families had a kind of staying quality！
In May； 1653； the inhabitants of the settlement petitioned the General
Court at Boston to grant them a definite townshipfor the boundaries were
doubtfuland the right to give it a proper name。 〃Whereas the name of this
plantation att present being Strabery Banke； accidentlly soe called； by
reason of a banke where strawberries was found in this place； now we
humbly desire to have it called Portsmouth； being a name most suitable for
this place； it being the river's mouth； and good as any in this land； and
your petit'rs shall humbly pray；〃 etc。
Throughout that formative period； a