Richard Bartlett, Sr., and
Joan Unknown emigrated in 1634 from England to British Colonial America on the Ship Mary and John. He lived between 1635 and 1647 in Bartlett's Cove, Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts.
Richard Bartlett, Sr., left a will dated 19 April 1695. (New England register, Vol. 40, pp. 200-201.) Richard's will was proved on on 18 July 1698. (New England register, Vol. 40, pp. 200-201.) His estate was probated in Essex County, Massachusetts. PROBATE: The Probate Records of Essex County, Massachusetts, Vol. I, -1664, page 86-87, Estate of RICHARD BARTLETT of Newbury. 'The testimony of William Titcombe & Anthony Somersby concerning the last will & testament of Richard Bartlett, sen[ior], of Newbury, decesed the 20th of May 1647. About a month before he deceased, we being with him & two of his sonnes being present, he being very ill & had bene weake all the spring finding in himselfe that he was not like to continew, he desired vs to take notice what his mind was concerning that small estate he had [and] how he would kispose of it. As for his sonne
John Bartlett he had done for hjim more than for the rest of his children & at that tyme did not dispose any to him. To his sonne
Christofer Bartlett he did bequeath the debt which latly he had borrowed of him which was five bushells of wheat if soe be it should please the Lord to take him away at this sicknesse or ellse if he should lye longe vizitted his necessity would require that he should pay it againe. To his
daughter Johan, wife of William Titcombe, he bequeathed one paire of new shoes for herselfe & her foure daughters each one a paire of shoes. And all the rest his goods & chattells that were not disposed of he bequeathed wholly to his sonne
Richard Bartlett whom he made his sole heire & executor. I Anthony Somersby the next day Pswaded him to give somthing to his sonne
John Bartlett. His answere was that he had bene with his sonne
Richard Bartlett this twelve month & all that he had was to little for to give him seing he had bene weake & ill & could doe little but lay vpon his sonnes charges; besides said he if I should lye longe and for
John I have done more formrly yet I will give him the wariming pan and vpon his sonnes request he gaue him a great bible : this he spake being in perfect memory & soe continewed to the last breath. 'I Edward Rawson wittnes to the last pt of the will that I often heard the said Richard Bartlett, sen[ier] (the tyme of his sicknesse) say he would & did give all to his sonne Richard Bartlett 29th September 1647. This was before the witness Edward Rawson.' The first part of this will proved 28 : 7 1647, by Mr. Rawson, the whole by Anthony Somersby. Ipswich Deeds, vol. 1, leaf 25. Inventory of estate of Richard Bartlett of Newbury, shoemaker, deceased May 21, 1647, taken by William (his mark) Titcombe, John Batlettt & Anthony Somersby : in leather, 2li. 15s.; his wearing apparrell, 1li. 4s.; 2 paire of canvas sheets, 1li. 1s.; one old shire & a napkin, 2s. 1d.; one old coverlet & a blanket, 1li.; one old flock bed & a bolster, 1li.; one old great kettle, 12s.; one paire of pott hangers, 1s. 4d.; one brasse pott, 10s.; two little kettles, 5s.; one . . .
Estate of Richard (1) Bartlett of Newbury:
The Testimony of William Titcombe & Anthony Somersby concerning the last will and testament of Richard Bartlett, Sr. of Newbury deceased the 20th of Mary 1647. About a Newbury deceased) three acres of upland adjoining to this house, & but if she died & then to my three daughters Abigail, Hannah and Rebecca Bartlett.
Item I give to my three daughters (above named) I give my dwelling house and barn and orchard and land adjoining about 12 acres; also one freehold in the commons of New bury, purchysed of Mr. Henry Sewell of Newbury & also several lots of land specified.
Item My will is & I do hereby apoint my three daughters namely Abigael Bartlett, Hannah Bartlett, & Rebecca Bartlett to be executors of this mye last will and testament, giving and bequeathing the beside what I have formerly given them, all the rest of my estate not mentioned in this My will, whither debts due to me bye bill fond booke, or otherwise or whatever may heer after appear to be mine my debts & funnerall charges being by them discharged.
Lastly I do appoint Tristram Coffin Esq. & my Cosen [a brother's child] John Bartlett and my three sons afore named as overseers to advise my Exectr in the Management of the trust committed to them in this my last will & testament. Heerby renouncing all former wils of mine.
Dated 19 April 1695. Proved Jul 18, 1698. (New England register, Vol. 40, pp. 200-201.)
Richard Bartlett married Abigail, who died March 8, 1687, He died, 1698, aged seventy-seven years.
Additional source: https://archive.org/details/genealogicaland00bartgoog/page/n19/mode/1up.
OULD NEWBURY":
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
By
John J. Currier.
ILLUSTRATED.
BOSTON:
DAMRELL AND UPHAM.
1896.
BARTLETT'S COVE. (page 230)
On the westerly bank of the Merrimack River, just above the Essex Merrimack Bridge, the family of
Richard Bartlett, Sr., settled at a very early date. They came to New England in 1635, probably in company with Rev. Thomas Parker and others from Wiltshire, England, in the ship " Mary and John." The name of
John Bartlett, eldest son of
Richard Bartlett, appears in the list of passengers by that vessel.
Richard Bartlett, Sr., brought with him from England a copy of the Breeches Bible, which has been carefully preserved in the family, and was exhibited by Miss Elizabeth G. Hoyt, of Chelsea, Mass., at the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Newbury, June 10, 1885. Mr. John Ward Dean has given a very minute and interesting description of this Bible in the Genealogical Register for April, 1886; and in the same number may be found a carefully prepared article on " Newbury and the Bartlett Family," by John Coffin Jones Brown, Esq. From the original written records in this old Bible, and the additional information supplied by the publication referred to above, it is evident that the children of Richard Bartlett, Sr., at the time of his emigration to America, were as follows : —
Joane. born Jan. 29, 1610.
John, born Nov. 9, 1613.
Thomas, born Jan. 22, 1615.
Richard, born Oct. 31, 1621.
Christopher, born Feb. 25. 1623.
Anne, born Feb. 26. 1625.
Richard Bartlett, Sr., died May 20, 1647. There has been some doubt whether he came to New England with his sons in 1635 ; but the discovery of his nuncupative will and the inventory of his personal estate, now for the first time published, will set these doubts at rest. Both the will and inventory are exceedingly interesting, and throw considerable light upon the history of those early days. The will expressly states that the testator gave to his son
John " the greate bible," undoubtedly the one exhibited at the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of Newbury ; and the items of the inventory are of sufficient historical importance to warrant their publication in full, with the appraised values affixed. In the Essex Registry of Deeds, Ipswich Series, book 1, pages 26 (89) and 26 (91) are the following records : —
The testimony of William Titcombe & Anthony Somersby concerning the last will & testament of
Richard Bartlett sen'r, of Newbury, deceased, the 20th of May: 1647: aboute a month before he deceased, we being with him, & two of his sons being present, he being very ill, & had bene weake all the spring, finding in himselfe that he was not like to continew. he desired us to take notice what his mind was concerning that small estate he had. how he would dispose of it: as for his sonn
John Bartlett he had don for him more than for the rest of his children, and at that tyme did not dispose any to him. To his sonne
Christopher lIartlett he did bequeath the debt which latly he had borrowed of him, which was five bushells of wheate, if so be it should please the Lord to take him away at this sickness, or ells if he should lye longe vissitted. his necessity would require that he should pay it againe. To his daughter
Johan, wife of William Titcombe, he bequeathed one pair of new shoes for herselfe, & her four daughters each one a pair of shoes; & all the rest of his goods & chattells that were not disposed of he bequeathed wholy to his sonne
Richard Bartlett, whom he made his sole heir & executor. I, Anthony Somersby. the next day persuaded him to give something to his son
John lIartlett, his answer was, that he had been with his sonne
Richard Bartlett this twelve month, & all that he had was to little for to give him, seing he had bene weake & ill & could doe little but lay upon his sonnes charges, besides, sd he. if I should lye longe sick I shall be chargable to Richard & not to any of the rest, and for John I have done more formerly, yet I will give him y* warming pan. and vpon his sonns request he gave him a great bible: this he Spake being in perfect memory, and so continued to the last breath.
I. Edward Rawson, wittness to the last part of the will, that I often heard the said
Richard Bartlett. sen*r, say (y* time of his sickness) he would & did give all to his sonne Richard Bartlett, the 29"' of September, 1647, this was before y* witness.
Edward Rawson.
Mr. Rawson Sworne to the first part of this will: Anthony Somersby sworne to the wholl will, before the Court held at Ipswich. 2.Sth: 7"' month. 1647, p. me
Robert Lord. Clerke.
An Inventory of the Goods & Chattells of
Richard Bartlett of Newbury, shoemaker, who deceased the 21th of May, 1647, taken by William Titcombe,
John Bartlett & Anthony Somersby.
£ s. d.
Imprimis: in leather valewed at 2150
Item : his wearing apparrell 1 4 0
Item : 2 pairs of canvas sheets 1 10
Item: one old shirt & a napkin o 21
Item: one old coverlit & a blankett, 1 00
It: one old flock bed & a bolster 1 00
It: one old great Kettle 0120
It: one pair of pott hangers o 14
Item: one brasse pott ..0100
Item : two little kettles o 50
It: one small brass morter, o 7 6
It: one warming pan, o 60
It: one great bible ot2o
It: some other small bookes o 7°
It: one cow 4 5°
It: one heiffer 1 1 5 0
It: his working geare & lasts : o 4°
It: in old pewter platters, and an old pint pott 0 20
It : one Spitt & frying pan, o 3 6
It: one small muskett o 9 o
It: one paire of bellowes, . . o 10
It: bushell bagg, 2 old chests, a stone bottle & a half bushel bag o 50
It: his debts, 4190
It : in Silver .250
Witness that this is a true inventory.
the m'ke of William Titcomb,
John Bartlet, Anthony Somersby.
Testified before the Court upon oath by Anthony Somersby. 28th : 7th: 1647. p. me Robert Lord, Clerke.
Joane, the eldest daughter of
Richard Bartlett, Sr., married William Titcomb, who is said to have come to New England in the ship " Hercules," and whose testimony is given in the affidavit quoted above. He was also one of the appraisers of the estate.
The sons,
John, Richard, and Christopher, are mentioned in the list of freeholders in the town of Newbury, Dec. 7, 1642, "as entitled to their proportionable right in all the waste lands undisposed of."
John was made a freeman May 17, 1637. When the new town was laid out, lot No. 27 was assigned to him. " Nov. 29, 1647, John Pike, Jr., of Newbury, for a bill of assigned for me to take up of Richard Kent, senior, of Newbury, by
John Bartlett, & J£a cash," conveyed to
John Bartlett, of Newbury, "4 acres in ye verge of lotts, on the north side of the frogge pond in Newbury, in the new towne, being bounded on ye north with the land of Anthony Morse, on the south with the land of Thomas Browne, on the east end the land of John Bonde, and on the west with the streete" (Essex Deeds, Ipswich Series, book 1, page 54 (177). This lot of four acres of land was on Market Street, then called Cross Street. The house that John Bartlett owned and occupied stood on the southeasterly side of the lane leading to Watts' Cellar, now State Street, as will appear by the following conveyance made May 29, 1660, and recorded in book 3, page 177 (132), Ipswich Series : —
John Bartlett. senr, of Newbury, for love & as part of a portion in marriage to my son
John Bartlett with Sara, daughter of John Knight. senr, of Newbury, conveys to said John and Sara 6 acres of land in Newbury, "in the field comonly knowne by the name of the nether nyne lotts, being six acres of my eight that is scitvate in the field abovesayd. reserveing full two acres of the sayd eight for my owne proper use on the north syde next to the land of Anthony Morse, seni', the other six acres is bounded with the land of Steephen (ireenliefe on the east, the abovesayd two acres on the North, the high street on the South, the Crose Street on the west, as also two acres of land more being halfe mv house lott, having Edward Richardsons land on the North. Wm. Chandlours land on the Hast, the lane goeing downe to Watts his Seller on the west, and my other part of land on which my house [graphic] standeth vpon the south." with house built on the said two acres, &c.; & also a freehold bought of Thomas Dow.
John Bartlett died Feb. 5, 1678, at the age of sixty-five.
His brother
Christopher bought of William Titcomb, March 1, 1651, four acres of land "in the feild called the lower nine lotts, bounded by the highway neere the frogg pond on the South & Cross street on the west, John Bond's land on the east, & John Bartlett's on the north" (book 1, page Ill (325), Ipswich Series). Six or seven years later Christopher was probably settled at Bartlett's Cove. Feb. 3, 1658, he conveyed to John Bayley eleven acres of land " bounded by the highway to Salsberry new Towne on the south and Merrimack River on the North " in exchange for fifteen acres of land bounded by the Merrimack River on the north and his own land on the other three sides (book 3, page 260 (196), Ipswich Series). This last deed was not acknowledged until 1661, and was not recorded until 1673. April 8, 1662, he sold to Henry Teuxbury twenty acres of land in Newbury, bounded by the Merrimack River on the north, by a creek on the east, by land of Goodman Moody on the south, and land of grantor on the west (book 2, page 184 (341), Ipswich Series).
Christopher Bartlett died March 15, 1669-70.
Thomas Bartlett, a brother, born Jan. 22, 1615, and
Anne Bartlett, a sister, born Feb. 26, 1625, probably died in England.
Richard Bartlett, Jr., who was made executor of his father's will and also residuary legatee, was probably the first one of the family who settled at Bartlett's Cove. March 26, 1650, he bought eight acres of land of John Spencer " on y* north side of Merrimack ridge as it is bounded by John Pike's land on the east and the land of Mr William Thomas on the west, the streete on the South and a parcell of land comon on the north next to Merrimack river of an equal breadth," with cellars, houses, etc. (book 1, page 70 (218), Ipswich Series). And April 10, 1652, he bought an adjoining lot of William Thomas, " bounded with Merrimack River on the north and the high Street on the South " (book 3, page 350 (270), Ipswich Series). This last deed was not acknowledged until 1663, and was not recorded until 1675.
April 22, 1652, Lieutenant Robert Pike, of Salisbury, sold to
Richard Bartlett, of Newbury, five acres of upland in Newbury, " nere Merrimack, bounded east on John Emery's land, west s'd Richard Bartlett, north Merrymake River, South High Street" (book 1, page 128 (366), Ipswich Series).
Nov. 11, 1652, Edward Rawson, of Boston, gentleman, and wife, Mrs. Rachell, for £S, sold to
Richard Bartlett, of Newbury, eight acres of upland in Newbury, " bounded with the land of the sayd Richard Bartlett on the east, the highway on the south, the land of James Jackman on the west, and Samuell Poores on the North." The deed was acknowledged in 1656, and recorded in 1675 (book 3, page 352 (272), Ipswich Series).
Oct. 20, 1669, Henry Teuxbury, of Newbury, weaver, for ,£100, sold to
Richard Bartlett, of Newbury, house, barn, and twenty-six acres of pasture and arable land in Newbury, " which I lately purchased of Christopher Bartlett, of Newbury, bounded with Merrimack River on the North, the land of Steven Swett & Robert Coker on the east, a black oake being the Southeast corner bounds, next the highway the land of Christopher Bartlett abovesayd and the highway on the south bounds, and Christopher Bartlett's land also on the south" (book 3, page 353 (272), Ipswich Series).
Some, if not all, of the land described in the above deeds was at or near Bartlett's Cove, and has remained in the possession of the family to the present day.
Richard Bartlett, Jr., was prominent in church affairs, and took an active part in the long struggle between Rev. Thomas Parker and the members of his church under the lead of Mr. Edward Woodman. He was a delegate to the General Court for several years. He died previous to July 18, 1698, aged seventy-seven. In his will, dated April 19, 1695, and proved July 18, 1698, he gives to his three daughters, Abigail, Hannah, and Rebecca, "his dwelling house and barn and orchard and land adjoining, about 12 acres," and the rest and residue of his estate, not specifically devised, to his sons Samuel, Richard, and John.
His son
Samuel was born Feb. 20, 1646, and married Elizabeth Titcomb, of Newbury, May 23, 1671. Hon. Levi Bartlett, of Warner, N. H., in his biographical sketches of the Bartlett family, says, " During the arbitrary and tyrannical government of Sir Edmund Andros,
Samuel Bartlett was a very active and zealous partisan ; and, when affairs were approaching their crisis, he mounted his horse, and set out from home with an old rusty sword, minus a scabbard, and reached Boston in season to assist in the imprisonment of Sir Edmund." He was one of the founders of Queen Anne's Chapel. Rev. Matthias Plant, rector of the parish from 1722 to 1753, married Lydia, the youngest daughter of Samuel Bartlett. In the church records, under date of Oct. 29, 1727, in the handwriting of Mr. Plant, is a brief account of the earthquake which contains some interesting facts, especially a statement to the effect that " the very first shock opened a new spring by my father Samuel Bartlett's house in the meadow." This spring now furnishes the water supply for the city of Newburyport. Samuel Bartlett died May 15, 1732, aged eighty-seven, and was buried in the churchyard connected with Queen Anne's Chapel, now a part of the Belleville Cemetery. On his tombstone is an inscription, which states that " He was one of the first founders of this church."
His brother
Richard, born Feb 21, 1649, married Hannah Emery Nov. 18, 1673. There were nine children, seven sons and two daughters, by this marriage. One of the sons, Joseph, was drafted, and sent to Haverhill to defend that town from the attack of Indians in 1708. He was captured, and carried to Canada, where he remained a prisoner for more than four years. Another son, Stephen, was the father of Hon. Josiah Bartlett, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
John Bartlett, son of Richard Bartlett, Jr., and brother of Samuel and the above-named Richard, was born June 22, 1655, and married Mary Rust Oct. 29, 1680. He learned the trade of tanner, and established himself in business at Bartlett's Cove. For several generations the tanning of [graphic] hides was continued on the same spot, and traces of the old vats can still be seen. Ship-building was also established there at a very early date.
Until quite recently there was no causeway or embankment along the Newbury shore. Small boats and fishing craft could easily enter the Cove from the river, and the tide ebbed and flowed in the basin that now forms the reservoir of the Newburyport water supply. Under date of March 10, 1761, Coffin, in his History of Newbury, says "a ferry was granted from Newbury to Salisbury about the middle of Bartlett's Cove " ; but, evidently, the court held at Ipswich and Salem did not confirm this grant, as will appear from the following papers now on file in the office of the clerk of courts at Salem: —
To the HonI,k' His Majestys Justices of the Court of Quarter Sessions to be holden at Ipswich. March y* 31, 1761.
The Petition of sundry Persons whose.
56