Robert Bartlett
Wine cooper of Plymouth, who came on the Anne in 1623, was made a freeman in 1633 and married Mary Warren, probably about 1629. In 1660 he was convicted of speaking contemptuously of the singing of psalms. He died at Plymouth in 1676. Probably the father of Rebecca (Bartlett) Harlow and Sarah (Bartlett) Rider.
Life
- c. 1603Bornc. 1603
The year of the Puddletown, Dorset, baptism proposed by Hunt (TAG 35, 1959), which is unproven.
compiledpossible - c. 1629Married Mary WarrenPlymouth, Plymouth Colony
After 22 May 1627, when both were in different lots of the cattle division, and probably about 1629 from the ages of their children. Mollie has 1628.
inferredprobable - 1676Diedbetween 19 Sept and 29 Oct 1676, Plymouth, Plymouth Colony
Nuncupative will 19 Sept 1676; inventory exhibited 29 Oct 1676.
documentedproven
Family
- Father
- Robert Bartlett of Puddletown, Dorset
Hunt (TAG 35, 1959) proposed the Robert baptised at Puddletown 27 April or 27 May 1603, son of Robert and Alice (Barker), calling it "an excellent clue" needing further evidence; Prindle (TAG 55, 1979) followed. Unproven.
compiledpossible - Mother
- Alice (Barker) Bartlett
Follows from the Puddletown proposal.
compiledpossible - Spouse
- Mary Warren
In 1636/7 the court confirmed lands given by Elizabeth Warren to "her sonnes in law, Richard Church, Robert Bartlett, and Thomas Little, in marriage wth their wiues, her daughters."
2 children
- Children
Pedigree
Notes
Came on the Anne in 1623: “Robt Bartlet one acre” in the 1623 division (PCR 12:6). Unmarried in Francis Eaton’s lot of the 1627 cattle division (22 May 1627). First recorded with the Warrens on 1 July 1633: “Mrs Warren & Robt Bartlet mow where they did last yeare” (PCR 1:15). Freeman 1633. “Robert Bartlett, of the Towne of Plymouth … wine Cooper” in a deed of gift to his son Joseph, 14 July 1673. In 1649 his brother-in-law Richard Church sold him a house and land at Eel River for £25, payable partly “in a red ox called ‘Mouse’” and partly in goods “at Mr. Paddy’s” (Mollie, citing the colony deeds; not checked).
In 1660 he “appeered, being summoned to answare for speakeing contemptuously of the ordinance of singing of psalmes, and was convict of the fact, and did inpart acknowlidg his euill therin, promising that hee would bee warned of soe doeing for the future, expressing these words, that hee hoped it should bee a warning to him” (PCR 3:188).
His inventory, £170 16s 6d, was exhibited “on the oath of Mary Bartlett widdow.” Bartlett Y-DNA (two of his sons’ lines match) confirms the American line.
Banks (1929) suggested an origin in Aldgate, Shoreditch or Whitechapel only because he married Mary Warren. Mollie’s descent from the Bartelots of Stopham, Sussex, “who came with the Conqueror,” has no published evidence.
Open questions
- His English origin. Read Hunt (TAG 35:214) and Prindle (TAG 55:164-66) on Puddletown.
- The 1649 Church-to-Bartlett deed, to check Mollie’s “red ox called Mouse.”
Mollie's typescript
Mollie notes that he was the first of the name in New England, coming in the Anne and settling at Plymouth.
Robert Bartlett was the earliest settler of that name in New England. He came in the ship Anne and settled in Plymouth Massachusetts.
p. 37 →Mollie suggests he was a cooper, as many of good family had to take up trades, and describes him as well respected though not called "Mr.," serving on juries and as surveyor of highways, with the earliest cattle-mark entered in the colony.
Robert was a man of good standing, and highly respected, but he was not given the title of "Mr." as was his father-in-law Richard Warren. ... Robert's is the earliest entry of cattle-marks in the Colony.
p. 38-9 →Mollie records his purchase of Richard Church's house at Eel River in 1649, paid partly in a red ox called "Mouse," his admonition in 1660 for speaking against the singing of psalms, and his death at Plymouth in 1676.
On the 11th of May 1660 Robert Bartlett was brought before the court for speaking contemptuously of the ordinance of singing psalms; acknowledging his error and promising not to do so again, he was admonished and discharged
p. 39a →
Checked against the records
- UnlikelyRobert Bartlett met Mary Warren in London, beginning their romance
Banks (1929) placed Bartlett in Aldgate only because he married Mary Warren; no record puts either of them there. Mary was born about 1610, so she was about thirteen when she came on the Anne in 1623. They married after May 1627, probably about 1629.
Read it in the book, p. 37 → - UnlikelyRobert Bartlett sprang from the Bartelots of Stopham, Sussex
No published evidence links him to the Bartelots, and Mollie's source admits there is "no available proof". His English origin is unknown. The one serious lead, still unproven, is a Robert baptised at Puddletown, Dorset, in 1603, son of Robert and Alice (Barker) (Hunt, TAG 1959).
Read it in the book, p. 38 → - ProvenRobert Bartlett may have been a cooper
He was. A deed of gift of 14 July 1673 to his son Joseph calls him "Robert Bartlett, of the Towne of Plymouth ... wine Cooper" (Plymouth Colony deeds 3:301, as quoted on WikiTree).
Read it in the book, p. 38-9 → - ProvenRobert Bartlett was admonished in 1660 for scorning psalm singing
Confirmed. In 1660 he was "summoned to answare for speakeing contemptuously of the ordinance of singing of psalmes", was convicted, "did inpart acknowlidg his euill therin", and promised "that hee would bee warned of soe doeing for the future" (Plymouth Colony Records 3:188).
Read it in the book, p. 39a →
Connections
- Famous kin
- Richard Gere
Actor
Richard Gere is the seventh cousin, once removed, of the centre of this tree.
- Richard Gere