Person:Joseph Bartlett (7)

This story comes from Robert Freeland, the Bartlett Society's Secretary-Treasurer, 2001

April 9, 1702 had been another busy day for Joseph Bartlett, Jr. at the family cooper shop. Coopering is hard work and making wine barrels is the most exacting of all cooperage work. Joseph greeted his wife Lydia and their five children; Joseph, Samuel, Lydia, Benjamin, and Sarah. They had been married for 11 years. She had been Lydia Griswold when they married in 1692, daughter of Frances and Mary (Tracy) Griswold. This father Joseph had built the house they lived in on Brook Road in Manomet.

Joseph hung up his hat and went to the barnyard across the cart path to check on his prize bull. No one knows exactly how it happened. He may have been wearing a red shirt, or some other article of red clothing. The bull charged furiously at him, and before Joseph could reach the fence, the bull caught up with him and gored him again and again. He was only 38 when he died. They buried him on Burial Hill in Plymouth, beside his father and mother.

Lidia was appointed administratrix of his estate and guardian of the children. Two years later she remarried, to Joseph Holmes, by whom she had Fear and Joseph.

When Joseph's oldest son, Joseph Bartlett III, came of age, he married 2nd cousin Elizabeth Bartlett. She was the daughter of Samuel Bartlett, son of Benjamin Bartlett of Duxbury and his wife Sarah Collier. The young couple settled into the house on Brook Road where his parents had lived. Robert Freeland, a direct descendant, still lives thre with his family. They no longer keep a bull on the premises.

Condensed from Mayflower Descendant

Joseph Bartlett died intestate, and his widow Lydia was appointed administratrix. In the settlement dated 18 December, 1713, Lydia was called "now the wife of Joseph Holmes Junr of Plimoth".

Items from his estate included The homestead and Salt marsh, the pasture, Tarrowes Feild and 40 acres adjoining, 45 acres and Sarah Warrens Lot, Lands at Agawam, Littles meadow, flat at Ele River...

"The hous loot or hoome steed being a bout 70 : or : 80 : acres Together with the dwellen hous barn and sheep hous crib ochard and fenses Thar on standen".

Son Joseph, being the eldest, received a Double Portion... Samuel the 2d Sons Portion... The Third Sons Benjamins Portion... Lidia the Eldest Daughters Portions...

1. ↑ General Society of Mayflower Descendants. Mayflower Families in Progress. (1991)
   Richard Warren, p. 10, 42.

   Robert Bartlett, p. 9 (#24), 23

2. ↑ George E. Bowman, Editor. Mayflower Descendant
   Vol. 2, p. 18 (children); 13, p. 205 (marriage); 16, p. 64 (death); 19, p. 72-76 (estate).
3. ↑ William T. Davis. Ancient Landmarks of Plymouth. (1899)
   p. 19.
4. ↑ William T. Davis. Genealogical Register of Plymouth Families. (1895; 1975)
   p. 141.
5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 van Antwerp, Lee Douglas, and Ruth Wilder Sherman. Vital Records of Plymouth, Massachusetts to the Year 1850. (Camden, Maine: Picton Press, 1993)
   page 136.

   'Sergant Joseph BARTLETT decd. April 9th 1703'

6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 Kingman, Bradford. Epitaphs from Burial Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts, from 1657 to 1892: with biographical and historical notes. (Brookline, Massachusetts: New England Illustrated Historical Pub., 1892, c1892)
   page 7.

   Here Lyeth Buried ye Body of Joseph Bartlett Who Departed This Life Aprill ye 9th 1703 In ye 38th Year Of His Age.

7. ↑ Bartlett Society.