Richard Bartlett (1621 - bef. 1698)

Born 31 Oct 1621 in Earnley, Sussex, England

Husband of Abigail (Wells) Bartlett — married about 1645 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts Bay [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 25 Jun 1698 before age 76 in Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Katharine Ortloff [send private message]

Biography

Richard Bartlett immigrated to New England as a child during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640).

The Bartletts may have come from Wilshire, England on the Hercules or Mary and John with Rev. Thomas Parker. ^[1]. They arrived in the area of Newbury, Massachusetts Colony about 1634.

Richard was born October 31, 1621 to Richard Bartlett and his wife Joane, whose surname is unknown. His father's family Bible gives the dates of Richard's birth. He passed away in 1698. He was buried July 18, 1698 at Newbury, Essex, Massachusetts.

He married a woman whose first name was Abigail. Her maiden name is unknown. Names suggested without sufficient primary documentation include Abigail Wells, Abigail Wells, and Abigail Belnap. His wife may have been a widow before she married Richard Bartlett.

Occupation: shoemaker, cordwainer, yeoman.

Richard took the oath of allegiance at Newbury in 1678 and was a representative to the General Court from Newbury in 1679 and made a proposition to the town of Haverhill about land in Amesbury near the Haverhill line. He was mentioned as being from Amesbury that year, however, he was listed as being from Newbury in his will and in 1668 when he bought land in "Jemaica" (West Amesbury). Richard was made a freeman in 1654.

Newbury was having continued problems with its minister in 1670 as to who controlled the church: "We whose names are here underwritten do consent to the writing, which do declare an act of the church laying Mr. Parker under blame, and suspending him from all official acts in the church. Dated sixteenth of March, 1670... Richard Bartlett."^[2] The debate over Mr. Parker's beliefs continued as did the flood of paper going to the General Court from his proponents and his detractors. Edward Woodman's party of 41 people, who were against Parker, was sentenced on 29 May 1671 for its activities against Parker. Richard was fined four nobles (a noble was 6/8). This was not the end of it for these disgruntled souls as at a meeting of the selectmen on 31 Mar. 1679 deacon Abraham Merrill was ordered "by the selectmen to bee a tithing man to have inspection into and look over these families that they attend the publick worship of God, and do not break the sabbath, and further you are to attend as the court order declares. The names of the families are... Richard Bartlet."^[3] The family's displeasure with the established ministry in the town continued as we find the following in the town records for 21 Dec. 1694: "John and Samuel Bartlet, Abraham Morrill and John Emery and Joseph Bailey were bound over and admonished for opposing their ordained minister, Mr. John Richardson."^[4] In 1711 they went as far as starting to build their own meeting house: "Samuel Bartlett... John Bartlett, Nathan Bartlett, Richard Bartlet... and Skipper Lunt, their carpenter, and several others have cut and halled timber in order to build a meeting house and intend to raise said meeting house within one fortnight and set it at or near the east end of the west precinct in Newbury as they inform us... "July 19th, 1711. The Court advised and directed for the preservation of the peace of the town of Newbury that the persons herein named and others concerned, desist their proceeding to the raysing their meeting house until there be a hearing of the matter before the court."^[5] As can be imagined they did not follow the order and a subsequent cease and desist order came from the court.

Richard evidently kept a journal which was in existence when Coffin wrote his history of Newbury. He quotes from it: "In 1676, turnips one shilling pere bushel, hemp and butter sixpence per pound. In 1687, cotton wool was one shilling and sixpence per pound."^[6]

Richard is listed in the tax list of Gov. Andros: “An Invoyes of August, ’88. Newbury- Heads 0, Houses 2, Plow Lands 7, Meadow 4, Pastr 1, Horses 1, Cows 3, 1 yr. old 2, Hoggs 1”.^[7]

Death and Probate

Richard died shortly before 25 June 1698 when inventory of his estate was taken.

Richard's will dated 19 April 1695, proven 18 July 1698: “In the name of God… I Richard Bartlet Senr of Newbury... in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in new England…

And for such Good things of this world as it hath Pleasd God to Comitt to my stuard ship I… do dispose as is herafter expressed

Impr I Give to my son Samuel Bartlet one third pt of my Lott of upland & meadow in Almsbury called the Pond Lott by the plaine. Also one third part of my Sawmill Lott in Almsbury. Also one third part of that Lott of upland wch I bought of James George in the township of Almsbury wth all the privideges to the said parccells of Land belonging to be the Lawfull Inheritance of my said son Samuel bartlet his heyres & Assignes for ever, As also all the Lands & meadow wch I have formerly given to my said son as by Deeds may appear As also one third pt of a household or priviledg in the commons or undivided lands in the towne of Rowling origenaly belonging to Richard Bartlet wth all the priviledges that may or shall arise therby in time to come

Item I Give to my son Richard Bartlet one third pt of ye Lott of upland & meadow in Almsbury called the Pond Lott by the Plaine, as also one third pt of my saw mill Lott in Almsbury, Also one third pt of that Lott of upland wch I Bought of James George in the towne of Almsbury wth all the priviledges so the said Parcells of Land belonging to be the lawfull Inheritance of my said son Richard Bartlett… As also al the upland & meadows wch I have formerly given my said son as by Deeds may appear As also one third pt of a ffree hold or priviledg in ye commons or undivided land of the towne of Newbury origenaly belonging to my Honord ffather Richard Bartlet late of Newbury deceased wth all the priviledges yt shall or may arise therby in time to come

Item I Give to my son John Bartlet one third pt of my Lott up upland & meadow in Almsbury called the Pond Lott by the plaine, As also one third pt of my saw mill Lott in Almsbury. Al Also one third pt of that Lott of upland wch I bought of James George in the township of Almsbury wth all the Prividedges to the said Parcells of Land belonging to be the Lawfull Inheritance of my said son John Bartlett… As Also all the uplands & meadows which I have formerly Given my said son as by Deeds may appear. Also one third pt of a ffreehold or priviledg in the commons or undivided lands of the towne of Newbury origenaly belonging to my Honourd ffather Richard Bartlet late of Newbury deceased wth all the prividedges that shall or may arise therby in time to come.

Item I give to my Grand Daughter Tirza Bartlet the Daughter of my son Thomas Bartlet (late of Newbury deceased) the three acres of upland wch my said son thomas did improve in his life time adjoining to his house wth all the [ ] & priviledges thereunto belongin wth al my right in the said Dwelling house to her my said Grand Daughtr Tirza Bartlet and the heyrs of her Body Lawfully begotten for Ever. But if my sd Grand Daughter shall dye leaving no issue of her body lawfully begotten then the said house & land wth all the Priviledges & appurtenances to the same belonging shall be and remaine to my three Daughtrs namely Abigael Bartlet, Hanah Bartlet & Rebecca Bartlet… be equally divided among them.

I Give to my three daughtrs viz Abigaell Bartlet, Hanah Bartlet & Rebecca Bartlet I give my now dwelling house and Barne & orchard & all my land thereunto adjoining being about twelve acres be the same more or less excepting the three acres formerly disposed of to my Grand Daughtr afore named in this my last will & testament. Also one free hold wth all the priiledges that hear after may [ ] ther by in the commons of Newbury wch freehold was formerly purchased of Mr henry Sewall of newbury, Also my two freehold Lott Lying in the upper Wood in newbury: viz: the seaventy ninth Lott & the eighty fifth Lott. Also my Rate Lott in the upper woods Also a Lott of meadow in Plumb Island Lying between the lott of james Ordway & John Slate against the Pines, Also a parcel of meadow neere great Pine = Island Joynng to the meadow of L lott Danll Peirce his meadown being about six or seaven Acres be it more or less Also all my Houshold Goods and moveables of all sorts, Also all my living stock of Cattell & Swine & corne & also debts due to me, all wch I give to my three duaghtrs before named… to be equaly divided among them Always Provided & my will is that if any one of my Duaghters should marye that then she shall have one third pt of the moveables of the personal estate given by this my will & one third freehold Lott in the upper woods before mentioned at her choice and the remainder of the estate heer be given to my daugts to remaine to the other that are unmarried and if an other of my daughtrs should mary shee shall have the other freehold Lott & one third pt of the moveable estate as the first and if the third should marye she to have the house & land wher I now dwell wth the other third pt of the moveable estate she repaying to her other two sisters so much as her portion heer in mentioned is greater then theirs so as to mak ym all equall in [  ? ] My Will further is that after the marriage or decease of my three daughtrs before named that my sons Samuel Bartlet & Richard Bartlet shall have all yt pece of meadow neer Pine Island Joyning to L lott Danll Peirces meadow to be equally divided between them & my son John Bartlet to have the Plumb Island Lott before named as theyr Lawfull Inheritance…

I doe hereby appoint my three daughtrs namely Abigael Bartlet Hana Bartlet & Rebecca Bartlet to be the executrs of this my last will & testament giving & bequeathing to them besids what I have formerly given them all the rest of my estate not mentioned in this my will whither debts dew to me by bill bond booke or orther note or what ever may hereafter appeer to be mine my debts & funeral charges being by them discharged

Lastly I do apoynt Tristram Coffin Esqr & my Cosen John Bartlet and my three sons afore named as over seers to advise my Executrs in the management of the trust Comitted to them… this nineteenth day of Aprill… sixteen hundred ninty & five
Richard Bartlet
In presens of us
Henry Short
Caleb Richardson
James Ordway”

“an inventory of the estate of Richard bartlet senior late of newbury disese: taken this 25 : dy of june 1698…

To the dwellin hous and barn and 9 acres of land
ajoyning and orchard........................................140-0-0
To two fre hold lots and a Rate lot in the pine
woods..................................................................060-0-0
To a medo lot at plumb Iland: and about 7 acres of
meddo at the ould barn....................................050-0-0
To a free hould of privilidg in all common land.005-0-0
To another free hould of privilidg in common land
in newbury..........................................................005-0-0
To 3 acres of land : fower to tarza bartlet Thomas
bartlet dafter......................................................024-0-0
To wareing appareill wollin and linn : and books
8lb........................................................................008-0-0
To thre cows and two stears and a calfe 12lb and
swine 1lb.............................................................013-0-0
To 2 fethar beads and 2 flock beads 4 coshuns 3
pillos....................................................................012-0-0
To 6 course beds and 2 sett of Covlins : 5 : pare of
shets and pillo casis...........................................012-0-0
To 3 beadsheds and covds: 20s. and 7 chares. 2
tabels and a [  ? ]............................................002-10-0
To on chist : and 2 boxis : and 3 wheels : a cobard :
2 paill.................................................................001-10-0
To pewtor and [ ] and iron pots tramils warmin
pan tonges..........................................................005-0-0
To a mill saw and a iron box. A [  ? ] axs knife : 2
axis [  ? ] : 2 forks............................................001-10-0
To shovel and a dung fork and 10 [  ? ] trais. Spit
andirons..............................................................002-0-0
To a carpit flax. Wowll. [  ? ] of cloth. [  ? ]
a [  ? ]...............................................................003-10-0
To skins and lather 4lb and [  ? ] and severall
utensals 40s........................................................006-0-0
To one dusen & half of napkens & a tabell cloth.001-16-0
............................................................................423-16-00

Debts due from the estate
To funeral chargis : 7lb: to the [  ? ]
To several debts due to other men

This inventory taken and apprised by us… this 25 dy of jun. 1698

Tristram Coffin
John Bartlett
Jacob Tappin”^[8]

Children

Richard and Abigail Bartlett were parents of eight children all born in Newbury:

Samuel- b. 20 Feb. 1645/6, m. 23 May 1671 Newbury, Elizabeth Titcomb (d. 26 Aug. 1690 Newbury), d. 15 May 1732 Newbury

Richard- b. 21 Feb. 1648/9, m. 18 Nov. 1673 Newbury, Hannah Emery, living in 1712

Thomas- b. 7 Sept. 1650, m. Nov. 1685 Newbury, Tirzah Titcomb (m.2. James Ordway, d. before Oct. 1699), d. 6 Apr. 1689 Newbury

Abigail- b. 14 Mar. 1652/3, m. 27 May 1700 John Emery, living in 1712

John- b. 22 June 1655, m.1. 29 Sept. 1680 Newbury, Mary Rust, 2. 13 Nov. 1710 Dorcas Phillips (d. 18 Jan. 1719), d. 24 May 1736 Newbury

Hannah- b. 18 Dec. 1657, living in 1695

Rebecca- b. 23 May 1661, m. 5 Sept. 1700 Isaac Bailey

Research Notes

Sources checked to find the identity of Richard Bartlett's wife:

Editing Note: There is no reliable evidence found so far that connects Abigail Wells as wife to Richard Bartlett.

One profile (pre-merge) provided a specific birthdate of August 6, 1620, but without source. First record of her father's presence in NE was in 1638 in Scituate, MA.

http://minerdescent.com/2011/03/21/thomas-wells-colchester

Barbour, Lucius Barnes, Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: Baltimore, Maryland, 1977

http://www.bartlettsociety.org/other-bartletts/

Savage, Joseph, Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1981, Originally Published: Boston, 1860-1862.

Pope, The Pioneers of Massachusetts, Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1977, Originally Published: Boston, 1900.

Clarence Almon Torrey, Elizabeth Petty Bentley, New England Marriages Prior to 1700, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Seventh Printing, 2004

Hoyt, David W., The Old Families of Sailsbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1982. Originally published 1897 - 1916.

Barbour, Lucius Barnes, Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc.: Baltimore, Maryland, 1977

Sources

1. ↑ NEHGR Vol. 40 pp 192-204
2. ↑ "A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport and West Newbury"- Joshua Coffin, Samuel Drake, Boston, 1845- p. 83
3. ↑ "A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport and West Newbury"- Joshua Coffin, Samuel Drake, Boston, 1845- p. 122
4. ↑ "A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport and West Newbury"- Joshua Coffin, Samuel Drake, Boston, 1845- pp. 160-1
5. ↑ "A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport and West Newbury"- Joshua Coffin, Samuel Drake, Boston, 1845- pp. 179-80
6. ↑ "A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport and West Newbury"- Joshua Coffin, Samuel Drake, Boston, 1845- p. 140
7. ↑ Taxes Under Gov. Andros- NEHGR- Vol. 32, p. 161 (Apr. 1878)
8. ↑ Essex County Registry of Probate- Docket No. 1946

• Hoyt, David W., The Old Families of Sailsbury and Amesbury, Massachusetts, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1982. Originally published 1897 - 1916. pp. 55-7, 875.

• New England Historical and Genealogical Register Vol 40 p 192-204 date April, 1886 "Newbury and the Bartlett Family" by John Coffin Jones Brown, Esq. of Boston. (On line at the NEHGR's website AmericanAncestors.org,a premium web-site)

• Discussion on WikiTree's G2G Forum: Who is interested in the origins of Richard Bartlett of Newbury, WikiId Barttelot-17

• Discussion on WikiTree's G2G Forum: Who was the wife of Richard Bartlett (b. 1621 England d. 1698 Newbury, Massachusetts)? Mar 13, 2013.

• Ancestral File, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R), Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998. Repository: Family History Library, 35 N West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150 USA, Ancestral File Number: 9CQN-8G

Acknowledgements

Fay Poe, Katie Ortloff, Patricia Short, Rich Davis, Phil Swiderski, Robert Weaver, Cindy Threat, Beth Bryant, original profile by Hollis Bartlett, G2G comment by Anonymous, merging and clean up by Becky Syphers. This list may be incomplete.