Josiah BARTLETT

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Chief Justice of Common Please
• Fact: First Governor of the State
• Fact: Delegate to the Congress at Yorktown
• Fact: Justice of the Superior Court
• Fact: Chosen Delegate to the Continental Congress
• Fact: President of New Hampshire
• Fact: Chief Justice
• Fact: Re-Elected to the Continental Congress
• Fact: Senator to Congress
• Fact: Representative from Kingston, New Hampshire

Notes:

Josiah was a signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Hampshire; he was the first to vote for and the second after John Hancock to sign it.

Studied medicine under Dr. Ordway of Amesbury
Finished his medical education in 1750
At 21 years of age, began the practice of medicine in Kingston, New Hampshire
Was a member of the convention which adopted the Federal Constitution

Excerpt from "Early New England People": After an imperfect medical education, he began the practie of medicine at Kingston, N.H., and soon became eminent by his success intreating a malignant throat disease which was fatal among children and very prevalent in the towns of New Hampshire. The method, hitherto, of treating this disease, was as higly phlogistic complaint, but he was led from his own reason and observation to manage it differently. He made use of the Peruvian bark as an antidote and preventative, and his practice was very successful. In 1765, and annually until the Revolution, he was chosen to the Legislature. He was a member of the committee of safety, upon whom devolved for a time the whole executive government of the State, and on the organization of government by a Provincial Congress, of which he was a member he was appointed a justice of the peace and Colonel of the 7th regiment. Being a delegate to Congress in 1775 and 1776, he was the first to give his vote for the Declaration of Independence, and its first signer after the President. He accompanied Gen. Start to Bennington, as agent of the State to provide medicines and other necessaries for the New Hampshire troops. He was again a delegate to Congress He was appointed Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pease in 1779, a Justice of the Superior Court in 1784, and Chief Justice in 1788. He was an active member of the convention called to adopt the Federal Constitution. He was for three years President of the State, and under the new Constitution, Governor. He was also President of the New Hampshire Medical Society, which he was chiefly instrumental in founding. He received an honorary degree of M.D., from Dartmouth College. He was always a patron of learning, and a friend to learned men. His son Josiah was a physician of extensive practice.

Declaration of Independence Signer. He was also the first man to vote for independence, when the issue came up for vote on July 2, 1776. Born in Amesbury, Massachusetts, the youngest of seven children, where his parents ran a farm called "The Lion's Mouth" in Amesbury, Massachusetts. Josiah's father was also a shoemaker. After some formal schooling, 16 year old Josiah was apprenticed to an Amesbury physician, where for the next five years, he studied medicine and became a doctor, setting up his practice in Kingston, New Hampshire, about ten miles from Amesbury. In 1754, he married his cousin, Mary Bartlett, and they would have twelve children, eight of whom lived to adulthood. In 1765, Dr. Bartlett was elected to the New Hampshire legislature, where he became known as a sharp critic of British policies in the colonies. He was chosen to serve in the First Continental Congress, in 1774, but his house burned down under mysterious circumstances and had to be rebuilt, so he decided not to go. He twice served in the Second Continental Congress, from 1775 to 1776, and again from 1778 to 1779. On July 2, 1776, he was the first congressman to vote for independence, and two days later, he was the first man to vote to approve the Declaration of Independence. During the War for Independence, he worked in Congress to build the American Navy and in spare hours, he worked in a hospital treating wounded soldiers. After the American Revolution, he served as the Chief Justice for the New Hampshire State Supreme Court, from 1788 to 1790, and then as Governor of New Hampshire from 1790 to 1794. In 1787, when the US Constitution was being voted upon in the New Hampshire legislature, he worked tirelessly to have the Constitution adopted. He died at age 65, within a year after leaving office as Governor. The town of Bartlett, New Hampshire, was named after him.

Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson

Josiah married Mary BARTLETT on 15 Jan 1754 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. Mary (daughter of Capt Joseph BARTLETT and Sarah HOYT) was born on 27 Dec 1730 in Newton, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire; died on 14 Jul 1789 in Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire; was buried in Plains Cemetery, Kingston, Rockingham Co., New Hampshire. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Occupation: "Cordwainer"

Stephen married Hannah WEBSTER on 18 Dec 1712 in Salisbury, Essex Co., Mass.. Hannah (daughter of John WEBSTER and Bridget HUGGINS) was born on 05 Oct 1692 in Newbury, Essex Co., Mass.; died on 15 Jan 1768. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]