Josiah Bartlett: Lives, Fortunes, Sacred Honor

Mark Cole

Like many of the men who pledged their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to secure the independence of the American colonies, Josiah Bartlett lived a life of astonishing productivity.

For nearly fifty years, he practiced medicine as a frontier doctor in a remote part of New Hampshire. He served in the legislative, judicial and executive branches of government, started and presided over the New Hampshire Medical Society, and with his wife, Mary, raised eight children. He was no stranger to controversy, and like his fellow signers, knew something about courage and perseverance: prior to 1776, he lost his house in a fire likely set by loyalists to the British crown. In addition, over the years, three of his eleven children died in infancy. Even so, he faithfully soldiered on.

Bartlett’s Home

Bartlett had no college education, let alone a degree in medicine or law (there was no such thing in those days). But that didn’t stop him from becoming a famous and innovative physician and a justice on the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

As a doctor in a remote part of New Hampshire, Bartlett was naturally called to leadership and wore many hats. He was a colonel in the county militia, a justice of the peace and a farmer.

When New Hampshire and other colonies began the march towards independence, Bartlett joined them and was eventually elected to the Continental Congress. He famously and openly fought with the Tory governor of New Hampshire, a former political ally. When his house was burned, his resolve was not weakened. Those likely responsible for burning his house dramatically miscalculated.

It was only natural, then, that when the Continental Congress voted on declaring independence, Bartlett’s name was called first and he responded affirmatively.

Dr. Josiah Bartlett thus went down in history as the first American to vote for independence.

He survived the Revolution, but did see action as a field surgeon in the Battle of Bennington. His governmental service during the rest of his life centered around New Hampshire and included Chief Justice and Governor of New Hampshire. Each of his three surviving sons and five of his grandsons became physicians.

Learning. Service. Family. Liberty. These values defined the life of Dr. Josiah Bartlett. He is a hero and role model, worthy of our admiration and imitation.

Want more awesome history on our Founders? 

Check out Mark’s book: 

Lives, Fortunes, Sacred Honor: The Men Who Signed the Declaration of Independence