Bartlett, Josiah, 1729-1795

Staff Only

Dates

Existence: 1729 - 1795

Biography

Josiah Bartlett was born at Amesbury, Massachusetts in 1729. Around 1746, he began the study of medicine and started practicing in Kingston, New Hampshire in 1750. In 1756, he was elected to the Colonial Assembly and in 1767, he became a colonel of his county's militia. He was also appointed justice of the peace by Governor John Wentworth. In 1774, Bartlett joined the Assembly's Committee of Correspondence and began his work with the revolutionary leaders of the other 12 colonies. In 1775, he was selected as a delegate to the Continental Congress where he served on the Safety, Secrecy, Munition, Marine and Civil Government Committees. As a delegate he was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Bartlett was re-elected to Congress in 1778, and served on the committee that drafted the Articles of Confederation. In 1788, he was made Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court and was among those that adopted the U.S.Constitution at the New Hampshire Convention. From 1791 to 1792 he served first at the chief executive of New Hampshire and then as president. In 1792, he became governor, a position he held until 1794. Bartlett died on May 19, 1795.

Found in 6 Collections and/or Records:

Josiah Bartlett papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-181

MS-181

Date(s): 1774 to 1888

Abstract

Josiah Bartlett (1729-1795), statesman and governor of New Hampshire. The collection consists of private and public papers relating to his involvement in the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. presidency and governorship of New Hampshire.

Nicholas Gilman letter

Collection

Identifier: Mss 791576

Mss 791576

Date(s): 1791-10-26

Scope and Contents

Nicholas Gilman letter to Josiah Bartlett.

Peter Gilman letter

Collection

Identifier: Mss 773464.1

Mss 773464.1

Date(s): 1773-08-14

Scope and Contents

Letter from Peter Gilman in Exeter, N.H. to Josiah Bartlett in Kingstown.

R.D. Mussey letter

Collection

Identifier: Mss 830126

Mss 830126

Date(s): 1830-01-26

Abstract

In English.

Thomas Rice letter

Collection

Identifier: Mss 776268

Mss 776268

Date(s): 1776-04-18

Scope and Contents

Two-page letter from Thomas Rice of Pownalborough, Massachusetts to Josiah Bartlett in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, making a request, on behalf of the county of Lincoln, regarding the provincial post office.

William Whipple letter

Collection

Identifier: Mss 778507

Mss 778507

Date(s): 1778-09-07

Scope and Contents A descriptive four-page letter concerning the American Revolution. Whipple relays to Bartlett, physician, statesman, and first constitutional governor of New Hampshire, an account of the New Hampshire militia and other New England militia units commanded by General John Sullivan during an engagement with the British Army at Rhode Island, August 1778. Whipple laments the fact that militia units left Sullivan's troops at their discretion rather than at the command of their officers. The letter...