CAPT. JOSEPH BARTLETT, born November 18, 1686 Newbury, MA, was the son of Richard BARTLETT III and Hannah EMERY. In 1707 he was drafted, along with others, to defend the town of Haverhill against an expected attack of French and Indians from Canada. He was stationed in the house of Capt. Simon WAINWRIGHT on August 29, 1708 when about 160 French and 50 Indians attacked the town and set fire to several buildings. They were informed for their own saftey to surrender. Joseph BARTLETT hid his gun in the chimney above the fireplace and surrendered. He was taken to Canada and remained a prisoner of the French until October 5, 1712. At that time he started his return to Newbury, arriving November 8. Sometime later he visited Haverhill and found his gun where he had hidden it. The story goes, the gun was kept in the family and Joseph’s grand-nephew, Richard BARTLETT, then of Amesbury, carried it while a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

Joseph married December 5, 1717, Elizabeth TEWKSBURY, and following her death married on April 27, 1721 Sarah HOYT. He was the first "captain" of the town of Newton, New Hampshire and long a Deacon in the Church of Christ. He died February 1, 1754 at age 68, and Sarah died May 28, 1787, age 90 years. Joseph and Sarah are buried in Newton Town Hall Cemetery.

Submitted by Pat Rodgers.
(patrodgers(AT)tds(DOT)net)

Town Hall Cemetery, Newton, NH
****
Captain Joseph Bartlett Esq.
First Capt. of the Town,
& many years a Deacon
in the Church of Christ
who died Feb. 1st 1754
in the 68th year

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