The Memoirs of his late Excellency Josiah Bartlett first Governor of the State of New Hampshire, before 1828-1843

Collection Name:

Josiah Bartlett Family Papers

Title:

The Memoirs of his late Excellency Josiah Bartlett first Governor of the State of New Hampshire, before 1828-1843

Creator:

Bartlett, Levi, 1763-1828
Bartlett, Richard, 1794-1837
Bartlett, Ezra, 1770-1848

Creator Role:

Author

Accession / Call Number:

1940.003

Object ID:

1940.003.031

Date:

before 1828-1843

Type of Material:

textual record

Physical Description:

1 biography

Language:

English

Scope and Content:

This laudatory biography of Josiah Bartlett (1729-1795) was written by his oldest son, Levi Bartlett (1763-1828). After a long introductory section about the origins of the Bartlett name, an explanation of family heraldry, and a genealogy, the manuscript proceeds chronologically for approximately the first 35 pages, then recapitulates and rewrites earlier material. This is followed by an 1831 note by Richard Bartlett correcting Bartlett genealogical information. The document closes with an 1843 entry in which Ezra Bartlett (1770-1848) added a page enlarging on Josiah’s death. The main body of the text describes Josiah’s physical appearance, intelligence, personality, interests, and skills and gives an overview of his early medical and later political career. The author consulted Josiah’s letters and other contemporary records for information about his time in Philadelphia as delegate to the Continental Congress, the writing of the Declaration of Independence, his contribution to the Revolutionary War by championing General John Stark, his long public service in New Hampshire as Governor, legislator and Judge. For the most part, these events are summarized rather than observed first hand. Some events and local issues seem either to have been witnessed by the author or to have been often-told family stories - these include: Josiah Bartlett’s young adult years of medical education and practice and his innovative treatments in an epidemic of "canker" from the mid-1750s to 1760s. The author, Levi Bartlett, was also a physician; hence, medical matters are treated at some length using the medical vocabulary of the period. The deaths of both Josiah and his wife, Mary, are described in full. Small politics and feuds, including events such as: Josiah’s difficult entry into politics as a town selectman in 1761, when his opponent was a long-serving "native son" of Kingston; local reaction to a peddler trying to sell tea after the Boston Tea Party; and a failed suit brought by Josiah Bartlett for the town against a resident who built his house too close to the public road which resulted in the homeowner’s grudge against Bartlett. The fire that destroyed the Bartlett home in 1774, including where family members slept (including the "negro boy"), how the structure had been originally built and added to over 20 years, some information about interior furnishings and decoration, and a sketch of the floorplan of the house. The "negro boy" (an adolescent) is mentioned again in 1775, when he ran away and joined the Continental army. Some of the content about Josiah’s time in Philadelphia (1775-1776) does not focus on the Revolutionary struggle, but rather reflects his family’s interest in and concern about his private life there: his inoculation for small pox, how he traveled from New Hampshire to Philadelphia, his health, his servant (or lack of same). The text of this document focuses on Josiah Bartlett and his professional/public activities. Other family members are either not described at all (his children) or are mentioned in conventional ways: Mary Bartlett, Josiah’s wife, for example, is said to have been beautiful when young, and then a faithful wife, affectionate mother and hard worker, but there are no examples of her personality or behavior. There is also no detail on what it was like on a day-to-day basis to live through the Revolutionary War period in a small town in agricultural New Hampshire, or how Mary managed while Josiah was away in Philadelphia. The author of the memoir also expresses some opinions on the Revolutionary War, why it had to happen, unrest in New Hampshire and elsewhere after the war, and the characters of people such as John Stark, George Washington Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and John Adams.

Subjects:

Biography , Genealogy , Heraldry , United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783 , African Americans , Medicine--Practice , Medical education , Dwellings

Locations:

Kingston, NH
Philadelphia, PA

People:

Bartlett, Josiah, 1729-1795 , Bartlett, Levi, 1763-1828 , Bartlett, Ezra, 1770-1848 , Bartlett, Richard, 1794-1837 , Stark, John, 1728-1822

Organizations:

Bartlett family

Terms of Use:

For permission to reproduce or publish this item, please contact the New Hampshire Historical Society. Users are responsible for following all copyright and intellectual property laws.

Credit Line:

Gift of Mrs. John Watt.
Digitization supported by an anonymous donor.

Restrictions:

Available for research.

Level Description:

Item

Box Number:

2