from the Genealogies of RI Families: In 1672 he was at Mendon, where he received Lot # 9 in a division of the swamp land. In 1675 he was one of the heads of families resident; at Mendon, but left that town at the outbreak of King Philip's War, as did the rest of the settlers, though he and many others returned after peace had been secured. November 2, 1682, his wife received a legacy of 12 d. from her father's will of this date. June 5, 1683, he took the oath of fidelity, being now a resident of Rehoboth, MA. Feb. 26, 1685, the inventory of his estate, amounting to L138, 17s. 3d., was sworn to by John Bartlett and Mary Aldrich. March 5, 1685, "Whereas administration was granted to Sarah Bartlett, relict of John Bartlett, late of Rehoboth," &c.: but she having died before an inventory had been taken, the Court wished the selectmen to make inquiry for a fit person for administration, and the younger children to be :disposed of as may be most for their good and least charge to the estate."
JOHN BARTLETT, of WEYMOUTH AND CUMBERLAND.
The earliest record, to this time discovered, concerning the progenitor of the Weymouth and Cumberland Bartletts, is found in the town records of Weymouth, Mass. There is only one entry. It reads:
"John Bartlett, son of John Bartlett and Sarah his wife. Born February 11, 1666." Whence came the father of the boy whose birth is recorded, or in what relationship he stood to the others of similar surname, then living in this country, future enquiry may reveal. In order to more clearly understand the conditions, and surroundings, of the subject of this sketch, and his descendants at that early period and to prevent confusion in fixing the places where they located, it appears convenient to mention in proper connection, as nearly as possible, some of the leading features of the incorporation, and settlement, of the towns in which they resided, and with the history of the foundation of which, they are identified. As new towns were frequently set off and divided from the older ones, the personages herein mentioned will appear as residents of different towns, although their location was not changed. We learn from the historian, that in 1622, Thomas Weston, a wealthy merchant of London, who had been interested in the Plymouth Colony, procured a patent for a tract of land on Massachusetts bay and immediately fitted out at his own expense two ships with fifty or sixty men each, for the purpose of settling a plantation. On arrival at Plymouth, many of them being sick, they remained there most of the summer and were treated, it is said, with great kindness by the inhabitants. While convalescing, frequent excursions were made by the more able of the company into the adjacent country, for the purpose of finding a suitable place for settlement. They finally concluded to occupy a place on Massachusetts bay, named by the Indians, Wessagusett, and early in the fall the entire company removed thither and started a plantation.
The company proved, however, to be disorderly, many of them being, as reported, "profane and badly governed," and by their extravagance the colony became reduced to want, thereby causing much suffering. In their intercourse with the Indians they had incurred their enmity by taking their corn and otherwise ill-treating them, and but for the timely assistance of the famous Captain Miles Standish and his little company from Plymouth, they would undoubtedly have been destroyed. The danger being so great from the continued hosffiities of the natives, it was deemed advisable to abandon the plantation, and this was accordingly done.
This disastrous termination of the settlement was unfortunate, as Mr. Weston's designs were said to be philanthropic and but for the mismanagement, of his agents, would have proved successful.
Mr. Weston, who was in London, on being informed of the condition of things in the colony, started at once for the scene of disorder and lost his life while trying to reach the coast. 1
It appears there were a few inhabitants there in 1624, but whether they were of the original party, is not known. It is stated that at this time, 1624, "The few inhabitants of Wessagussett 1The various versions by different writers touching Mr. Weston's motives in settling the plantation, and the time and manner of his death, is not important in this connection. received an accession to their number," among the arrivals being Captain Robert Gorges (Georges) and Rev. William Morrill, from Weymouth, England, and the place is supposed to have been called "Weymouth" after this date. 1
The town was incorporated September 2, 163 5, and the same year, Mr. Hull, a minister from England, and twenty-one families joined the settlement. This town, with many others, suffered during King Phillip's war, and there were seven or eight houses burned by the Indians.
Some time after the birth of their eldest son, John Bartlett and his wife appear to have removed from Weymouth to Mendon, Mass. The latter place had already been settled by people from Weymouth and Braintree and was, probably, incorporated as a town before his arrival.
Mendon, next to Lancaster, is the oldest town in Worcester County and at that time was not the contracted town of to-day, but included a part of Bellingham, all of Milford and Blackstone, a large part of Upton and Northbridge and all Uxbridge.
Bellingham was incorporated as a town November 27, 1719, from parts of Mendon, Dedham and Wrentham.
Milford [the Indian name was "Wopowage,"] was incorporated April 11, 1780, from the east precinct of Mendon.
Blackstone was incorporated March 25, 1845, from Mendon.
Upton was incorporated June 14, 1735, from a part of Mendon, Sutton, Uxbridge, and Hopkinton.
Northbridge was incorporated July 14, 1772, from the north part of Uxbridge; parts of Sutton were annexed February 17, 1801, and March 16, 1844.
Uxbridge (Indian name, "Waeuntug,") was incorporated June 27, 1727, from Mendon. The original grant for Mendon was for eight 1Next to Plymouth, it was the earliest miles square, but the grantee s took possession of nearly double that extent of territory. At a General Court holden in Boston, October 16, 1660, "in further answer to Braintry's petition, the Court declare they judge meete and proper to grant a plantation of eight miles square and that the persons named have liberty to enter upon and make a beginning thereat."
This tract was purchased from the Indians for "twenty-four pound sterling," and a deed was given "Anawassanauk alias John Quashoamait alias William, of Blue Hills; Great John Namsconont alias Peter, and Upannbohqueen alias Jacob of Natic, "to Moses Payne and Peter Brackett, "both of Brantre." The deed was dated April 22, 1662, and witnessed by John Elliot, Sr., John Elliot, Jr., and Daniel Weld, Sr. At the time of the above grant the Court ordered "that Major Atherton, Lieut. Roger Clapp, Elezur Lusher and Deacon Parke, or any three of them, shall be and are hereby empowered to make a valid act there." These were denominated the Committee of Nipmug, which was the original name of the town.
This was the Country of the Nipmug (sometimes called Nipnet and Nipmuck), Indians whose headquarters was said to have been at what is now Oxford, Mass. October 30, 1663, this committee ordered that all persons who had accepted allotments of land in the plantation should remove there with their families by the middle of November, 1664, "upon penaltie of forfeiture of all the grants there."
The first settlers from Braintree were, John Moore, George Aldrich, Daniel Lovett, Josiah Chapin, Ferdinando Thayer, John Scammell, Nathanid Haseman, Alexander Plumley, Matthias Puffer, John Woodland, John Hasber, Joseph Penniman and John Gurney. Those from Weymouth were, Goodman King, Sr., Walter Cook, William Holbrook, Joseph White, Goodman Thomson, Goodman John Raynes, Goodman Bolter, Sr., Abraham Staples, Samuel Pratt and Thomas Bolter, all of which had land allotted them prior to their removal to the town. At a General Court held in Boston, May 15, 1667, the plantation of Nipmug, now called Quinshepauge, was incorporated by the name of Mendon, taking its name probably from the town of Mendham, County of Suffolk, England. Mendon was attached to the County of Middlesex, May 12, 1670.
The original inhabitants settled in what is now called the North Parish. Matthias Puffer erected the second mill in 1681, near where the first one stood, which belonged to Benjamin Albee. Sergeant Josiah Chapin built the first saw mill. It was on Muddy Brook, some distance above where the present road to Milford crosses it. Joseph and Angell Torry, soon after, built a saw mill on School Brook, near where Obidiah Wood's and Lyman Keith's mill stands. Joseph Stevens was the first blacksmith and James Bick the second.
At a town meeting, October 22, 1730, it was voted to provide "a Barrel of Rhum" toward the raising of the new meeting house.
According to Metcalfs "Annals of Mendon," John Bartlett was supposed to be the contractor for building the minister's (Grindal Rawson) house. For it was voted, November 14, 1681, that a note for cel6 "deu to John Bartlett should be made to be paid; the one half in Indian corn, att two shillings a bushel and the other half in pork att 2 pence a pound," this being the same that was to be paid when the house was finished.
The first appearance of the name of John Bartlett upon the Mendon records is as follows: "At a town meeting held January 1, 1671-2, their was granted to John Bartlett a twenty Acor house lotte with all the rights and privileges that other 20 acor lottes have only this accepted that he stay for his Meadow untill all ye inhabitants that came before be satisfied."
At a town meeting, March 18, 1671-2, "It was voted and granted that John Bartlett shall pay oel0 for his lot and take it up by the side of the Mill land." The location of this lot which was soon after laid out to him is described as being on the "west side of Mill river, just above the millpond, and butted and bounded as followeth: Butted northerly upon Common land with a line of marked trees and stakes. Bounded southerly upon Common land with a line of marked trees and stakes. Westerly, partly upon the land of John Dike and partly upon the land of Albeel, and easterly upon Common land with a line of marked trees and stakes with a by-way often rod wide running through the sd land, the whole sum being twenty acors more or less."
The next month, April 14, 1671-2, at a drawing for meadow, John drew lot No. 9, which was situated "below Meadfield road on the Mill Plain and on the edge of 2nd bridges2 plain," and "on both sides of Beaver pond brook," and also on the "north side of Charles river," and was on the east side of Caleb's hill.3
The birth of two of the children of John Bartlett and his wife Sarah are recorded in Mendon, viz: Mary, bom January 1, 1679, and Noah, bom January 29, 1680. The others, with the exception of Daniel, who was bom January 24, 1684, and recorded in Rehoboth, were probably all bom between the time of the birth of the eldest son, John, Jr., at weymouth in 1666, and Mary, bom in Mendon, 1679, but no record of their birth has been discovered. Neither is it known where they resided during the Indian troubles, or the time of King Phillip's war, from 1675 to 1680, which caused the desolation of the town of Mendon. It is presumed, however, that they went with the others who are said to have returned to Weymouth 1probahly Benjamin Albee, who built the first grist mill in Mendon, at this place. It was destroyed by Indians 1675. It was situated near where Nathan Allen's mill now stands. The house lot which was laid out here to John Bartlett, can thus be readily located by any one who so desires. The record shows that John sold his house lot April 3, 1679, but to whom it is not stated.
22nd bridges was the name for one of the branches of Charles River.
and Braintree; although it is possible they may have gone to the island of Rhode Island, where many of the settlers sought refuge during that eventful period.
The last entry in the Mendon records, before the burning of the town by the Indians, was a record of transactions at a town meeting holden May 6, 1675. The next town meeting, alter the close of the war and the return of the inhabitants, was held January 3, 1680. During this interval of about five years, there was no entry made on the town books.
This war, commonly called "King Phillip's War," which desolated the country for several years and came near driving the white settlers from New England, is spoken of in Hubbard's Narrative as follows:
"On the 24th of June, 1675, was the alarm of war first sounded in Plymouth Colony, where eight or nine were slain in and about Swansea." By the same authority we are told that the first blood spilled in the Massachusetts Colony, was at Mendon.
In 1671, a son of Matoonus, one of the Nipmuck, or Nipnett Indians, had been executed at Worcester settlement, for the murder of an Englishman, and his head was placed on a pole, where it remained a long time, a ghastly warning to evil-doers. The father, a grave and sober Indian, who had been constable of Pakachoag by Gookin, although professing Christianity, had no doubt been brooding over the death of his offspring, and with the vindictive principles, so deeply cherished by his people, had only waited for an opportunity to revenge himself. This he did by making a raid on the defenseless settlers at Mendon, July 10, 1675, which resulted in the killing of five of the inhabitants. It is related in John W. Barber's Historical Collections that Richard Post, according to tradition, was the first victim, and was killed near where the office of William Hastings stood. Post lived on the road leading from Mendon to Sherburn, now discontinued as a highway, but still called "Post's Lane."
John Bartlett, then of Mendon, June 6, 1682, bought of William Sabin, fifty acres of land on the Pawtucket River, now called the Blackstone River, in Rehoboth, at a place called by the Indians, "Shunasetaeonet," and described in the deed as lying "between the ancient bounds of Rehoboth and the line between the governments." This deed was recorded in the Cumberland records in 1748, nearly sixty-seven years afterward.
The ancient boundary of Rehoboth was the Pawtucket River, which divided it from Providence on the west, and the Massachusetts Colony on the north. Rehoboth was first called Seacunck, or Seakonk, and was granted to people of Hingham and purchased of the Indian chief, Massasoit, in 1641, but the real settlement did not probably commence until 1643, when Rev. Samuel Newman moved there with the majoriF of his church, from Weymonth. The first meeting of the original planters on record is dated at "Weimouth, the 24th of the 8th month, 1643." The first tract was called eight miles square, but at the present day it would easily measure ten. The old-fashioned method of defining boundaries by an occasional perambulation by town officers was advantageous to the settlers. It is not to be supposed that these pious functionaries intended to cheat the Indians, but the acres were of liberal size as measured by them.
The first addition to the territory of the town was made in 1645, when that tract of land called Wannamoiset, which joined the original grant on the south and which included what is now a part of Swansey, Barfington, and Warren, R.I., was purchased and annexed. The next purchase and grant, and also the last one, was called the North Purchase, and was made in 1661, of Wamsitta, then Sachem of Pokanoket, 1 and comprised that territory which was alterward lWamisitta's original name was Mooanum, but was commonly called Alexander. He was a son of Massasoit and elder brother of King Phillip. [Bliss' History of Rehoboth."] Attleboro and Cumberland, R.I. Attleboro was set off from Rehoboth and incorporated October 19th, 1694, and comprised the present town and Cumberland. 1 That part of Attleboro, since of Cumberland, was called the "Gore," and later, "Cumberland Gore," and was frequently denominated "that gore of land in controversy between the governments."2
lWoonsocket was taken partly from Cumberland, January 31, 1867.
John Bartlett and his wife Sarah were at Weymouth, Mass., before 1666. In 1671 he had removed to Mendon, Mass., and was there in 1679 and 1682. June 6, 1682, he bought land and removed to the place called Senechetaconnet, which, at that time, was in the town of Rehoboth and under the jurisdiction of the Plymouth Colony, but now known as Manville, in the town of Cumberland and State of Rhode Island, --where he died August 17, 1684. Sarak, his wife, died the following January, 1684-5.
Children of John Bartlett.
1. JOHN, b. Feb. 11, 1666, in Weymouth. (1.) JOHN BARTLETT2 (Johnl)
He was b. Feb. 11, 1666, in Weymouth, Mass., and was the eldest son; m. Alice (???). He d. Nov. 8, 1732. She d. the same year. In 1708-9, he purchased of William Sabinl, one of the original proprietors of the Rehoboth, North Purchase, 200 acres of land. He was allotted land, also, 1714, and 1727, by the "Proprietors. ,,2 These additions to the estate which he had purchased from his brothers and sisters, in the settlement of his father's estate, 1698, made him an extensive land-owner, even for those times; for he had, altogether, nearly a thousand acres, nearly all of which abutted the Blackstone river, on the west, and lay between what is now Manville and Cumberland Hill, KI. He was surveyor of highways, constable, member of the town council, etc. 3
2. SAMUEL, b. (???); m. Sarah Inman, Dec., 19, 1695. Born (???); m. Mary, dau. of John and Mary3 (Whitman) Inman, Dec. 19, 1695. Made his will, Feb. 24, 1742-3; d. about 1743. He was surveyor of highways, 1702; constable, 1706; his tax in 1707 was the largest of any one's in town, with one exception. [Attleboro records.] He bought of Samuel Shrouds, or Shoreds, July 1, 1697, a parcel of land on Peetar's River, in Dedham, lying between Mendon and Attleboro. In 1714, his brother John gave him land adjoining his own at Sunnasetaconnet, now Manville, R.I., and he also bought several tracts of fifty and twenty-five acres each, abutting that given him, so that he had quite a snug farm at that place. In addition to other public office held by him at different times, he was a justice of the peace. 1Smithfield rec.
3. JACOB, b. (???); m. Sarah (???). Born (???); m. Sarah (???). He bought, Oct. 29, 1696, a "nine cows' commonage," from James Albee, of Mendon, described in the deed as being between Mendon and Wrentham, adjoining the Plymouth line,1 and was an undivided right in the common lands. Jacob had been living in Providence prior to this time, and it is probable that he very soon after the purchase of this land, settled on it. The Bellingham records2 inform us that, Oct. 27, 1713, the first land laid out in that part of Dedham lying west of Wrentham, and east of Mendon--it being land granted by the lit will be remembered that, Cumberland, at that time, was partly settled and belonged to Plymouth.
4. MOSES, b. (???); m. Deborah (widow of Abraham) Harding. Was born (???); married Deborah, widow of Abraham Harding. He lived in Providence, R. I. At a meeting of the town council of Providence, held March 3, 1695-6,letters of administration were granted to Deborah Harding, widow of Abraham, deceased, to administer to his estate, "and whereas she had lately changed her name and condition by marriage with Moses Bartlett," it was asked that they might jointly administer the said estate, and it was granted "that said Moses and Deborah should jointly administer untill the day of their next meeting, and then to appear before said counsel and render their accounts and give bonds for further administration." Moses made oath to an inventory, 1694. He was constable, 1696. He had laid out, in 1706, by the "Proprietors," on the original right of Benjamin Smith, 110 acres on the west side of the seven mile line at Nipgachuck. In 1708, he had 36 acres more laid out to him, adjoining the 110 acres before laid out. September 27, 1721, there were two acres on the east side of the seven-mile line, at Huckleberry Hill, "adjoining a great cleft: of rocks," laid out to Nm. [Proprietors' records, Providence.] He had, previously, March 14, 1719-20, bought of Andrew Harris, land at "Huckleberry Hill," 20 acres on the "northward and eastward," part of the hill near the "great common," and on the north side of the road, and "nine and one-half acres" on the south side of the road. [Providence Reg. of deeds, Book 4, page 143.] His land conveyances are very numerous. He was often buying and selling. His residence is described as being one and a half miles from the center of the town, the center being then, as now, Weybossett bridge.
5. SARAH, b. (???); m. Captain Valemine Whitman, Jr., Dec. 19, 1694, in Providence, R. I. He was born Aug. 28, 1668, a son of Valentine and Mary Whitman. 1 He was a Captain in the Militia and held many positions of trust in civil life. He and his wife, Sarah Bartlett, had the following children born in Providence, viz.: Sarah, b. June 26, 1696, d. 1698; John, b. Feb. 20, 1698; Henry, b. Jan. 16, 1700; Abiah, b. Jan. 4, 1707-8; Robert, b. May 2, 1712; Benjamin, b. July 22, 1715; Noah, b. Dec. 31, 1717; and a daughter.
1 Valentine Whitman, Sr., was in Providence before 1650; was chosen surveyor, 1656; he was commissioner to treat with the Indians, 1657; constable, 1659; in 1661, was chosen to divide the land. He was very prominent in the affairs of the town and appeared to be the Miles Standish of the colony, especially as related to the Indians, with whom he acted as interpreter, and was often called upon to settle differences with them. He was elected to the Legislature in 1675 and 1685. He died, January 26, 1701. His wife, Mary, died May 31, 1718. He and his wife Mary had Mary, b. 1652, m. John Inman; Elizabeth, b. 1653; Susanna, b. 1658, m. 1683, James Ballou; Valentine, Jr., b. 1668, m. Sarah Bartlett.
6. MARY, b. Jan. 1, 1679. [Mendon records.] 7. NOAH, b. Jan. 29, 1680. [Mendon records.] 8.. DANIEL, b. Jan. 24, 1684. [Rehoboth records.] Born Jan. 24, 1684.1 [Rehoboth records.] He lived in Mendon, Mass., and afterward, in Gloucester, R.I. He was admitted freeman of Gloucester, 1738. He married, first, Mary (???); second, Abigail Tucker, Sept. 25, 1749.2 He sold his right in the undivided lands of Attleboro, to his brother, John, Feb. 14, 1722; he was then living in Wrentham, Mass. He made his will, Feb. 8, 1759, and died, June, 29, 1762, in Gloucester. His will mentions his daughter, Joanna, wife of Jacob Aldrich, and his daughter, Mary, wife of Job Bartlett; also, Sarah Iman, wife of Abraham Inman. These are, probably, all the children he had. His will was witnessed by Abner Bartlett.
ref:: THE BARTLETTS by Thomas Edward Bartlett CS71.B377x Stafford Printing Co. New haven 1892 FTM Genealogy Library.com 11/23/98
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More About John Bartlett and Sarah Aldrich: Marriage: Abt. 1664, Rehobeth, Bristol Co., mA.316
Children of John Bartlett and Sarah Aldrich are:
+Sarah Bartlett, b. Abt. 1668, Mendon, Worchester, MA316, d. date unknown.
John Bartlett (b. Abt. 1642, d. 17 August 1684)
Notes for John Bartlett: