M. before 6 Sep 1636 in (probably) Massachusetts
Wife: Ann (possibly Warriner)
D. 14 Mar 1676 in Northampton, Massachusetts
Robert Bartlett of colonial Northampton had a life that included many themes of Puritan history: migration from England, relocation to Connecticut, a witchcraft scandal, and King Philip’s War. There were two men named Robert Bartlett in the Puritan colonies of New England and they’ve sometimes been confused with one another. This Robert Bartlett was of unknown origins and first appeared in records boarding the ship Lyon in Bristol, England on September 16, 1632. The ship was said to carry 123 passengers on a voyage that took about 12 weeks. There is speculation that Robert, who had no family with him, may have been a servant to another passenger.
Robert only lived in the Massachusetts colony for a couple of years. In 1636, some Puritans split off to form a new settlement along the Connecticut River, and he was one of them. In February 1639, Robert was listed in a land inventory at Hartford as owning 4 parcels of land totally more than 8 acres. He was married to a woman named Ann, whose maiden name may have been Warriner. It isn’t known when or where their wedding took place; by 1645, they had four children.
There’s indication that Robert may not have been among Hartford’s leaders. He didn't become a freeman until April 10, 1645. And two records describe behavior that wasn’t looked upon favorably by authorities. A record dated June 30, 1646 stated that Robert, “for his gross misdemeanor in slandering Mrs. Mary Fenwick, is to stand on the pillory, Wednesday during the lecture, then to be whipped, & fined five pounds & half year’s imprisonment.” There are no details regarding exactly what did or said to Mrs. Fenwick, but the level of punishment suggests it must have been fairly serious.
Example of a pillory used in colonial New England.
After Robert was presumably jailed for his crime, another record indicated that he was whipped for “giving ill counsel” to other prisoners. Afterwards, he seemed to regain his standing in the community, and was appointed the job of “chimney viewer” in Hartford in 1650, meaning that he inspected people's chimneys to make sure they were properly cleaned.
In 1653, Robert joined a group of men who moved upriver to the new settlement of Northampton, Massachusetts. He was among the 24 petitioners for land which was purchased from the Indians; ten of the petitioners met in nearby Springfield on October 3rd and agreed that anyone who failed to make a permanent place in the new town by the following spring would forfeit his land. Only eight men followed through and Robert was one of them. The town of Northampton was incorporated in 1654, and was laid out soon after. Robert settled on a road called Pleasant Street and his house was said to be “nearest to the ferry” at the edge of town. Later, for a time, the road was named after him as “Bartlett Street.”
Robert was said to be the first constable of the town, but once again, his behavior seems to have affected his position and he was replaced. This was because he was censured by the town in about 1656 for some sort of “misdemeanor” he had committed. Further trouble followed a couple of years later when on September 28, 1658, he was charged with striking the wife of Thomas Root with a stick. The notes of the court procedure indicate that he “acknowledged his offense,” and settled the matter without a trial.
In 1656, both Robert and his wife Ann testified in the trial of Mary Bliss Parsons. Their testimony was in support of Mary, who had been accused by another woman, Sarah Bridgman, for causing the death of her infant son by use of witchcraft. Ann was a friend of Mary Parsons and told the court that she had seen Sarah Bridgman's infant leading up to its death, and was aware the child was always sickly. Robert told what he knew of Sarah Bridgman being a woman who gossiped. Mary Parsons was acquitted, though oddly would be brought up again in another witchcraft charge by Robert's son Samuel in 1674.
The final chapter of Robert’s life involved King Philip’s War. In 1675, the indigenous people who lived in the Massachusetts area organized a rebellion against the English encroachment on their tribal lands, and western Massachusetts was the site of much of the violence. On March 14, 1676, a band of Indians broke part of the stockade near Robert's Northampton home, setting fires and leaving five settlers dead. Robert was one of them, being killed just outside of where he lived. He was buried in the road because at the time, it wasn't safe to move his body to a proper burial place. Later his remains were moved to the yard of his house.
In 1653, Robert joined a group of men who moved upriver to the new settlement of Northampton, Massachusetts. He was among the 24 petitioners for land which was purchased from the Indians; ten of the petitioners met in nearby Springfield on October 3rd and agreed that anyone who failed to make a permanent place in the new town by the following spring would forfeit his land. Only eight men followed through and Robert was one of them. The town of Northampton was incorporated in 1654, and was laid out soon after. Robert settled on a road called Pleasant Street and his house was said to be “nearest to the ferry” at the edge of town. Later, for a time, the road was named after him as “Bartlett Street.”
Map of Northampton showing location of Robert's house.
Robert was said to be the first constable of the town, but once again, his behavior seems to have affected his position and he was replaced. This was because he was censured by the town in about 1656 for some sort of “misdemeanor” he had committed. Further trouble followed a couple of years later when on September 28, 1658, he was charged with striking the wife of Thomas Root with a stick. The notes of the court procedure indicate that he “acknowledged his offense,” and settled the matter without a trial.
In 1656, both Robert and his wife Ann testified in the trial of Mary Bliss Parsons. Their testimony was in support of Mary, who had been accused by another woman, Sarah Bridgman, for causing the death of her infant son by use of witchcraft. Ann was a friend of Mary Parsons and told the court that she had seen Sarah Bridgman's infant leading up to its death, and was aware the child was always sickly. Robert told what he knew of Sarah Bridgman being a woman who gossiped. Mary Parsons was acquitted, though oddly would be brought up again in another witchcraft charge by Robert's son Samuel in 1674.
The final chapter of Robert’s life involved King Philip’s War. In 1675, the indigenous people who lived in the Massachusetts area organized a rebellion against the English encroachment on their tribal lands, and western Massachusetts was the site of much of the violence. On March 14, 1676, a band of Indians broke part of the stockade near Robert's Northampton home, setting fires and leaving five settlers dead. Robert was one of them, being killed just outside of where he lived. He was buried in the road because at the time, it wasn't safe to move his body to a proper burial place. Later his remains were moved to the yard of his house.
Robert left an estate valued at £654, but Ann died only a few months after her husband on July 3, 1676. His legacy includes being one of the names listed on the Founder’s Monument in Hartford, Connecticut.
Children:
1. Abigail Bartlett — B. 6 Sep 1636, (probably) Hartford, Connecticut; D. 15 Jul 1689, Northampton, Massachusetts; M. (1) John Stebbins (1626-1679), 17 Dec 1657; (2) Jedediah Strong (1637-1733), 19 Dec 1681, Northampton, Massachusetts
2. Samuel Bartlett — B. about 1639, Hartford, Connecticut; D. 26 Feb 1712, Northampton, Massachusetts; M. (1) Mary Bridgeman (~1650-1674), 27 Apr 1672, Northampton, Massachusetts; (2) Sarah Baldwin (1653-1717), 1676, Northampton, Massachusetts
3. Nathaniel Bartlett — B. about 1643, Hartford, Connecticut; D. 8 Dec 1691, Northampton, Massachusetts
4. Deborah Bartlett — B. 8 Mar 1645, Hartford, Connecticut; D. 12 Nov 1711, Hatfield, Massachusetts; M. John Cowles (1641-1711), 23 Nov 1668, Hartford, Connecticut
Sources:
History of Northampton, Massachusetts from its settlement in 1654, James Russell Trumbull, 1898
Genealogical and biographical sketches of the Bartlett family in England and America, Levi Bartlett, 1876
Passengers on the "Lion" From England to Boston, 1632, and five generations of their descendants, Vol. 1, Sandra Sutphin Olney, 1992
Record of Robert's death.
Children:
1. Abigail Bartlett — B. 6 Sep 1636, (probably) Hartford, Connecticut; D. 15 Jul 1689, Northampton, Massachusetts; M. (1) John Stebbins (1626-1679), 17 Dec 1657; (2) Jedediah Strong (1637-1733), 19 Dec 1681, Northampton, Massachusetts
2. Samuel Bartlett — B. about 1639, Hartford, Connecticut; D. 26 Feb 1712, Northampton, Massachusetts; M. (1) Mary Bridgeman (~1650-1674), 27 Apr 1672, Northampton, Massachusetts; (2) Sarah Baldwin (1653-1717), 1676, Northampton, Massachusetts
3. Nathaniel Bartlett — B. about 1643, Hartford, Connecticut; D. 8 Dec 1691, Northampton, Massachusetts
4. Deborah Bartlett — B. 8 Mar 1645, Hartford, Connecticut; D. 12 Nov 1711, Hatfield, Massachusetts; M. John Cowles (1641-1711), 23 Nov 1668, Hartford, Connecticut
Sources:
History of Northampton, Massachusetts from its settlement in 1654, James Russell Trumbull, 1898
Genealogical and biographical sketches of the Bartlett family in England and America, Levi Bartlett, 1876
Passengers on the "Lion" From England to Boston, 1632, and five generations of their descendants, Vol. 1, Sandra Sutphin Olney, 1992
The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633, Robert Charles Anderson, 1995
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