Sarah Aldrich (b. 16 January 1645/46, d. 17 February 1684/85)
Sarah Aldrich (daughter of George Aldrich and Katherine Seald) was born 16 January 1645/46 in Braintree, Norfolk Co., MA58, and died 17 February 1684/85 in Attleboro, Bristol Co., MA58. She married John Bartlett on Abt. 1664 in Rehobeth, Bristol Co., mA58, son of Richard Bartlett and Johan.
Notes for Sarah Aldrich: See more notes with husband John Bartlett CUMBERLAND INCORPORATED.
The place where many of the descendants of John Bartlett had settled was within the disputed territory and near the line of the present boundary between Rhode Island and Massachusetts. There was great inconvenience in not knowing to what town or state their holdings should be rated. This vexatious question was at last settled, however, and January 27, 1746-7, the gore of land belonging to Attleboro was annexed to Rhode Island and incorporated as the town of Cumberland, its name being taken from Cumberland, England, which it is said to resemble, it being like the latter town, rich in mineral wealth. Old deeds which had remained unrecorded for years, owing to the interested parties not knowing in which town their possessions lay, were then brought forward and duly recorded.
In Arnold's History of Rhode Island, Vol. II., there is a copy of a map which was sent to England during the boundary controversy, which represents the whole territory--the "Gore,"--between Abbot's Run and the Pawtucket River as being "Senechataconett. "1 It is possible that the whole of that section had become at that late period, known by that name, but from the wording of numerous conveyances, there can be little doubt that at the ] Shunasetaconet, where John Bartlett located in Rehoboth, is, like most Indian names, spelled many different ways, but the spelling here adopted appears to have been the most common. The very diversified orthography, found in the early town records, has been perplexing. It was thought best, when practicable, to reproduce the original; especially when spelling the names of persons
early time when John Bartlett bought his land and took up his residence there, the name had a local significance and applied directly to this place, now known as Manville, R.I. This appears more probable because there is an island here which was called Senechetaconett Island. It being also one of the principal fording places and the only one in that vicinity, at that time, it would give the locality that importance which would require a name. Had not this place been called and known by the name of Senechetaconet, the land which John Bartlett here bought of William Sabin would have been described in the deed as "the fording place."
On the west side of the Blackstone River, in what was known as Providence Plantations, several changes took place, which it will be well to mention, as the Bartletts occupied considerable territory of what was afterward Scituate, Smithfield and Gloucester, R.I. The town founded by Roger Williams in 1636 and named Providence, "in gratitude to his Supreme Deliverer," originally included the whole of the north part of the State of Rhode Island west of the Blackstone River, and no division was made until February 20, 1730-1. At this date, an act was passed "for erecting and incorporating the outlands of the town of Providence into three towns." These towns were Scituate, Smithfield and Gloucester. Since that time there have been many sub-divisions. Burrillville, named after Hon. James Burfill, was set off from Gloucester, October 29, 1806, and the town of Lincoln, named in honor of the late Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, was taken from Smithfield, March 8, 1871. There was also a part of Smithfield appropriated, in connection with that taken from Cumberland in the foundation of the new town of Woonsocket, incorporated January 31, 1867. Other towns were formed and incorporated from the very large tract of land which first comprised the so-called Providence Plantations.
As John Bartlett had removed to Rehoboth, and within the jurisdiction of Plymouth, according to the custom of those times, he was obliged to take the oath of allegiance, or "fidelity," to that government. This he did, as we find the following in the Plymouth Colony Court Records, June 6, 1683:
"This Court, Captain Richmond, of Little Compton, and John Bartlett, of Rehoboth, took the oath of fidelitie to this government." 1
John Bartlett and his wife did not long enjoy their new possessions. The Rehoboth records have this: 2"John Bartlett buried 17th August, 1684. Sarah, wife of John Bartlett, buried 17th January, 1684-5." After her husband's death, Sarah had petitioned the General Court at Plymouth for letters of administration, but before they reached her, she, too, had died. The case was again taken under advisement, at a court held in Plymouth, March 5, 1684-5, and the following order was passed: "Whereas, administration was granted to Sarah Bartlett, relict of John Bartlett, late of Rehoboth, and an order to the Worsh Mr. Daniel Smith to take her oth to the inventory, but before there was oppertunity for soe doeing, said Sarah died, the Court therefore requests the Worsh Mr. Daniel Smith, together with the celeet men of Rehoboth' to make enquiry for a fitte person to take out letters of administration on the estate, and that the younger
1precisely one year from the date of the deed of land which he bought from William Sabin.
children, by the said Mr. Smith, and the celeet men of the towne, be disposed as may be most for theire good & least charge to the estate, and the estate be according to theire best judgment secured and improued for the benefitt of the orphanes, and that they giue aceounpt of theire aetings and all matters relating to said children and estate to the next Court, and for theire confeirmation, and further settieing the children that ma chuse theire guardians, be sent to the General Court for approbation. And ifa meete psn psent himself that will giue bond to adminne stration to the said pson, and giue oth to the inventory, and that bee make a return of his doeings to the next Court."
The estate was "inventoried and apprised by the Proprietors," February 26, 1684, and a copy sent to Plymouth, which is on record there. The following articles were mentioned in the inventory:
THE BARTLETT INVENTORY.
"Wearing apparel, Bedding, Wife's apparel and Linnen, Warming pan & pewter, Iron Potts & Possnett, Spinning Wheel Cards and Leather, Chests, Box & Linhen, Rumletts, Pails, and other Coopet's Wares, Trays, Dishes & Bronchors, Glass Bottles & Spoons, Pinchers; Knives, Awls, Hammers & Gimbletts, TrowelIs, Tounges, Bellows & Chairs, Two Guns, Sword, Sickle, a Smoothing Iron, Yarn & Cloath, Earthen Pots, Bedding in the chamber, Saddle & Pillian, A Box Salt & a Chest with Carpenters' Tools, Weidges, Rings, Bridles, Halters, Axes & Hoes, Sulkies with their tackling and forks, Cart, Plow & Chains att, A Trapp on son by Information, A Raw Hidde, Swine, Two Oxen, Three Cows & two Heifers, a Mare & Colt. Qu Indian Corn, The House & fifty acres of land enclosed. The rest of the North Share undivided, Halfa grist mill & five acres land adjoining on Providence side by Information," The whole of which was apprized at oe1301, 17s. 3p. "This is a just apprisement of the above said estate according to our understanding."
PETER HUNTE.
"John Bartlett & Mary Aldrich made oath to this Inventory the 19th March, 1684-5, before Daniel Smith, Assistant."
JOHN PECK. NICHOLAS PECK.
This was a large estate to have in those days, and this, too, just after the close of that devastating war with King Phillip, when all suffered such extreme losses. At this time, nearly every article of manufacture was imported from England, and it had not been many years since their cows and horses were received from the mother country. And those "Sulkies and their tackling;" what a luxuryY For at that time almost the only means of locomotion was by horseback. The cows, so useful for the dairy, were also brought into requisition at the plow and cart, --very few settlers keeping oxen. We can imagine how some of the descendants would prize the sword mentioned in the inventory, were it in their possession to-day. Bruised and bent and battered as it would be, it would be very precious. It may have done service for King Charles or Cromwell.
John Bartlett's worldly possessions were much greater than those of any others of the same name, and greater than most of those of other names, who had then reached this country. There is ample evidence that his children received educational treatment which few were able to enjoy, and it is regrettable that they were orphaned among strangers, in a strange land, at such a tender age. It is not easy to comprehend the hardships suffered, and difficulties overcome, by these courageous pioneers in this almost barren wilderness, where they built their homes. They were the sort of men who laid the foundations of consitutional liberty, in great and free and happy America. All honor to them!
The estate of John Bartlett and wife was very likely held in trust by the "Proprietors" until 1698. At that time, the children, except Noah and Daniel, not then of age, signed an agreement for the distribution of the property, which had become impaired by providing for many young children during the fourteen years which elapsed after the death of their parents. The following is a copy of the agreement recorded in the Bristol county probate office at Taunton, Mass."
COPY OF AGREEMENT
"Whereas, John Bartlett & Sarah Bartlett, sometime of Rehoboth, deceased in the year 1684, and leaving eight children behinde them & an estate undisposed on in lands & chattels, the children being under age & this estate not yett settled, We, the said children being severall of us, come to full age; & being desirous to be invested of our generail rights in that estate of our said fathers, Have for and in Consideration of fifty acors of Land and a fiftieth part of aright in Comonage, and fourteen pounds on shilling in Lawfull mony in hand already well and truly paid; to us by our elder brother John Bartlett, the reseipt whereof we doe own and acknowledgd, & therewith doe rest our selves ffully sattisfied, Contented & paid, and doe by these presents for our selves, our heiors, executours & assignes ffully & freely & absolutely exhonorate, aquitt & discharge our said Brother, John Bartlett, his heiors, executours & administratours & asignes & every of them off and frome every part &parcle of lands and monys; before expressed these Children that have thus jointly & severally Agreed with ther Brother John Bartlett; are Samuell Bartlett, Moses Bartlett, Jacob Bartlett, Vallinetine Wlliteman and Sarah Whiteman, his wife and Mary Bartlett; Samuel Bartlett hath Agreed for the fifty acors of land and afiffieth part of aright in Comonage--; and Moses Bartlett, for four pounds, one shilling in mony, and Jacob Bartlett, for four pounds in mony and Vallintine Whitman and Sarah, his wife, for three pounds in mony, and Mary Bartlett, for three pounds; flor and in Consideration of said lands & mony, we, the sd children before named, Haue Given, Granted, Bargained and sold, And doo by thes presents, Give, Grant, Bargaine, sell, alieu enfeoffe, rattitle & Contime unto our said Brother, John Bartlett, his heiors & executors, administratours and asignes for ever: all an singuler our rights, titles, interests, claimes or demands whatsoever that ever we had or have in or to the estate of our said father, John Bartlett, deceased: In wittness of the premises we haue jointly and seuerally sett to our hands and scales, this second day of January, 1698, or '99.
"And ffurther the humble request of us who doe hereunto subscribe; is that the honored Mr. John Sarfin, Esquire and Judg of probates ofwils, would be pleased to accept of this our agreement and grant that a record may be made of the same.
John Bartlet [Seal.] Signed, Scald & Samuel Bartlet. [Seal.] delivered in Jacob Bartlet. [Seal.] presents of us: Moses Bartlett. [Seal.] Valintine Whitman Jonathan Sprague, in behalf of [Seal.] Sarah Whitman, his wife. Anthony Sprague. Mary Bartlet. [Seal.]"
ref:: THE BARTLETTS by Thomas Edward Bartlett CS71.B377x Stafford Printing Co. New haven 1892 FTM Genealogy Library.com 11/23/98
More About Sarah Aldrich and John Bartlett: Marriage: Abt. 1664, Rehobeth, Bristol Co., mA.58
Children of Sarah Aldrich and John Bartlett are:
+Sarah Bartlett, b. Abt. 1668, Mendon, Worchester, MA58, d. date unknown.
Sarah Aldrich (b. 16 January 1645/46, d. 17 February 1684/85)
Notes for Sarah Aldrich: