William Wentworth | |
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| Born | baptized 15 March 1615/16 Alford, Lincolnshire, England |
| Died | 15 March 1696/7 |
| Other names | Elder William Wentworth |
| Education | signed his name to documents |
| Occupation(s) | Sawmill proprietor, church elder |
| Spouse(s) | (1) name unknown (2) Elizabeth Knight |
| Children | Samuel, John, Gershom, Ezekiel, Elizabeth, Paul, Sylvanus, Timothy, Sarah, Ephraim, Benjamin |
| Parent(s) | William Wentworth and Susanna Carter |
William Wentworth (1616–1696/7) was a follower of John Wheelwright, and an early settler of New Hampshire. Coming from Alford in Lincolnshire, he likely came to New England with Wheelwright in 1636, but no records are found of him in Boston. When Wheelwright was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for his role in the Antinomian Controversy, he established the settlement of Exeter, New Hampshire, and Wentworth followed him there and then to Wells, Maine. After Wheelwright left Wells for Hampton, New Hampshire, Wentworth went to Dover, New Hampshire, and that was where he lived the remainder of his life. He was the proprietor of a sawmill, and held several town offices, but is most noted for being an elder in his Dover church for nearly 40 years. He had 11 children with two wives, and numerous descendants, including many of great prominence.