Notes for: Moses Bartlett, Sr.
He was 74 when he died. Some information about this family came from a web site at http://www.uftree.com/UFT/WebPages/annable/ANNABLE/. The contact email was annable at usmo.com.
The following was sent to me by Gary Bartlett:
Moses Bartlett - A Clinton, Michigan Area Pioneer - Revisited
By Gary A. Bartlett
Back in May if 1991, I was in between marriages, and living alone in an apartment in Tecumseh, Michigan. One evening, I received a phone call from a woman in Oregon, Ohio - across the river from Toledo - who had somehow got wind of the fact that I was into family history research. She had a Bartlett ancestor who she suspected was in turn a descendant of Moses Bartlett, who she identified as an early resident of Clinton, Michigan. She asked me if I was related to Moses since I too was a Bartlett and a resident of Lenawee County - albeit several generations removed from his era - and I told her no way - definitely not. My Bartlett family was from Fulton County, Ohio, and did not come up here to Lenawee County, Michigan until 1909. Now - at that point in my life, I was single, with plenty of free time on my hands, and not much purpose in life except for my job. Moreover, I had worked for my employer long enough that I had a lot of vacation time built up. Consequently, I told the woman that even though I was certain that Moses Bartlett and I were not related, I would see what I could find out about him, since I had access to local records.
Initially, I had misgivings about the undertaking, (perhaps not the best choice of words within the context of a discussion on digging up someone's dead relatives). At that point in my career as a genealogist, I had already done a considerable amount of research, having begun my investigation into my family origins back in 1985, but only on my own family lines - never on anyone else's ancestors. This may seem like a strange thing to say, but I was not sure that my investigative skills would transfer over to family history research outside my own family tree. Perhaps my reservations arose from a feeling that I would be prying into someone else's family business - snooping, so to speak. Nevertheless, I had given my word that I would see what I could find out, and being blessed - sometimes cursed would be a better word - with a high level of natural curiosity, I decided to accept the challenge, and forge ahead with my investigation. To make a long story short, devoting a couple of vacation days to my research, I was indeed able to come up with some information on Moses Bartlett, a Clinton, Michigan area pioneer, which is reviewed below.
My research on Moses Bartlett began with a trip to the Lenawee County Courthouse in Adrian, Michigan, where I found his death record on page # 16 of Liber D, which indicated that he died on 27 Dec 1911 at age 92 years - eight months - 24 days. This would make his date of birth 03 Apr 1819, if I have extrapolated correctly. The death record indicated that he was born in Vermont, and identified his parents as Moses Bartlett Sr. & Persis Rowner, both of whom were born in Vermont.
Moving onward I was able to find two obituaries for Moses Bartlett. The first obit came from the Thursday 28 Dec 1911 edition of the "Adrian Daily Telegram" newspaper, in Adrian, Michigan which is hereby transcribed:
"Was a resident of Clinton 50 years"
"Moses Bartlett, village pioneer, dies at age 94* years from infirmities of years".
(* Conflicts with the official death record which identifies his age at death as 92 years).
“Clinton, Michigan - December 28th - the death of Moses Bartlett occurred at his home yesterday morning from a complication of diseases due to old age. Mr. Bartlett has been in failing health for some time and confined to the house for the past four weeks, where everything was done for him. The deceased was in his 94th year, and a resident of this village for the past 50 years. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Sarah Stevens and Mrs. Will Eccles, one granddaughter Mrs. A. M. Kennedy, and two great-grandchildren Miss Doris and Donald Kennedy, besides other relatives. The funeral will be held at the late resident's home Friday afternoon at 1:30 standard time. Burial at Riverside.” (Gary Bartlett note - Riverside Cemetery, Clinton, Michigan).
The above obit was found on microfilm at the Adrian Public Library in Adrian, Michigan.
The second obit is similar to the first, but it has additional details. It comes from Tuesday 02 Jan 1912 edition of the "Tecumseh Herald" newspaper in Tecumseh, Michigan, and is hereby transcribed:
“Moses Bartlett”
“Moses Bartlett of Clinton passed away suddenly December 27 of brights disease with dropsical tendencies. He was sitting at the dinner table alone, when his daughter heard a fall, and going to the dining room found he had passed away. He was 93 years of age (Gary Bartlett note - age at death closer than the Adrian obit, but still not correct) and had always been a hail, hearty man and has been able to be upon the street until within a few weeks. He was a man well-known in Tecumseh. He was a native of Vermont coming to Michigan when 17 years of age (Gary Bartlett note - i.e. around 1836) living in Bridgewater (Gary Bartlett note - i.e. Bridgewater Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan, organized in 1833, located just north of Clinton Village, across the county line) until 1861 when he settled in Clinton, where he resided until the time of death. He lived for 75 years within 15 miles of where he first made his home. He leaves two daughters, Mrs. Will Eccles and Mrs. Sarah Stevens, one granddaughter, Mrs. Alex Kennedy and two great grandchildren, Doris and Donald. The funeral was conducted by Rev. Dean Channer of Adrian, on Friday afternoon December 29 with burial at Riverside.”
The above obit was found on microfilm at the Tecumseh Public Library, Tecumseh Michigan.
Next, I pulled the death record on Sarah E Stevens, found on page # 251 of Liber F of the Lenawee County vital records. She died 27 Sep 1942. According to her death record, her parents were Moses Bartlett born in New York and Anna English born in Ireland.
I then looked up the obit on Sarah E Stevens, found in the Monday 28 Sep 1942 edition of the Adrian Daily Telegram, Adrian, Michigan, which is likewise on microfilm at the Adrian Public Library. I did not make a word-for-word transcription of that particular obit. The only info of interest was that she was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Moses Bartlett who moved to Michigan from New York. Further, Sarah E. Bartlett Stevens was born in Bridgewater Township. Age at death - 93 years. (i.e. she was born in Bridgewater Township, Washtenaw County Michigan, just north of the village of Clinton in Lenawee County Michigan, around 1849, bearing in mind that Moses Bartlett did not move into Clinton Village per se, until 1861). From Sarah Stevens' death record, we know that her mother - Moses Bartlett's wife - was Anna (English) Bartlett.
I likewise pulled the death record on Anna (English) Bartlett, found on page # 322 of Liber B of Lenawee County vital records. She died on 9 May 1899, and she was born in Ireland. Her father was John English, born Ireland, and her mother was listed as unknown.
Reviewing the 1874 plat map of Bridgewater Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan, an M. Bartlett - presumably Moses Bartlett - is shown on section # 31. (Gary Bartlett note - He was already living in Clinton Village by that time, but apparently still owned land in Bridgewater Township). Also on section # 31 is an H. Bartlett and there is a William R. Bartlett on section # 33. My guess would be that these two other Bartlett's were sons of Moses Bartlett, who were both dead and gone by the time that Moses died at 92 or so years, and hence they were not mentioned in the obits.
I also pulled the 1880 Federal Census record for Clinton Village, Lenawee County, Michigan, which they have file at the Adrian Public Library, Adrian Michigan. It shows Moses Bartlett age 61* - wife Anna age 61 - and daughter Anna age 22. Moses is identified as a “speculator”, whatever that means - real estate agent? The census record further states that Moses was born in New York and his wife was born in Ireland, consistent with their death records.
(*1880 - 61 = 1819, consistent with his death record)
I finished my survey by offering these comments and suggestions:
1) Even though Moses Bartlett resided in the Clinton, Michigan area for 75 years, he spent the first 25 years of that time on a farm in Bridgewater Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan just north of Clinton Village, across the county line. He did not become a resident of Clinton Township, Lenawee County Michigan, until moving into the village in 1861. Presumably therefore, all the children of Moses and Anna English Bartlett were born in Washtenaw County.
2) An attempt should be made to locate the microfilm of the original Federal Census records for Bridgewater Township, Washtenaw County for 1840, 1850, in 1860. They may have them in Ann Arbor, and they are sure to have them at the new Library of Michigan in Lansing.
3) H. Bartlett and Wm R. Bartlett shown on the 1874 plat map may have been sons of Moses Bartlett, and their death records are presumably on file in Ann Arbor. (There may be living descendants).
4) Moses Bartlett still owned land in Washtenaw County after moving to Lenawee County in 1861. Land records could be checked for the sale of that land.
Furthermore, I told the woman that if she could definitely tie her Bartlett ancestor to Moses and Anna (English) Bartlett, she might want to research Moses Sr. & Persis (Rowner) Bartlett of Vermont. There may be a connection to Josiah Bartlett of New Hampshire, who signed the Declaration of Independence.
Where I checked:
1) Lenawee County Probate Court - the index of wills does not mention Moses Bartlett. He apparently died intestate.
2) Lenawee County Registrar of Deeds - his property in Clinton Village was deeded over to his daughter Sarah E Stevens in 1912 per Liber 237/ page 344.
3) Lenawee County Clerk's Office - found death records for Moses Bartlett, Anna (English) Bartlett, and Sarah E Bartlett Stevens.
4) Adrian Public Library, Adrian, Michigan - found an obit on Moses Bartlett.
5) Tecumseh Public Library, Tecumseh Michigan - found an obit on Moses Bartlett.
6) Lenawee County Library, Adrian Michigan - found nothing.
7) Clinton Public Library, Clinton Michigan - found a plat map of Clinton Village (forgot to check date).
8) Saline Public Library, Saline, Michigan - found a plat map of Bridgewater Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan 1874.
Having finished my brief survey of what I could find out about Moses Bartlett from local records, I put my findings into a letter, and sent it to the woman in Oregon, Ohio. I did not hear back from her. Because I like to tie up loose ends, I sent her a follow-up letter a month later, asking whether she received my information or not. She sent my follow-up letter back to me with a short, terse, handwritten note stating simply that “she was not related”. What an attitude, I thought. I had expended time, effort, and a couple of vacation days, using my gasoline to make trips from Tecumseh to Adrian, Clinton, and Saline, and did not even get a thank you. Nevertheless, it had not been a total waste of my time, as I did learn two important things: 1) my investigative expertise did indeed transfer outside my own family tree, and - most importantly - 2) if someone goes to the trouble to do genealogical research for you, you should always graciously thank them for their time and effort - even if the information they supply is irrelevant or useless. I always try to do this faithfully, as a courtesy to all those who assist me in my research.
Now - as a postscript to my preliminary investigation on Moses Bartlett, it is fitting to reiterate that it was done back in 1991 - before the Internet - when we did genealogical research the old fashioned way. For the sake of this article revisiting my earlier research, I thought it might be interesting to see what now might be available on Moses Bartlett on the web. The first place I checked was “Family Search”, going straight to the Find-A-Grave entry for him. There I found memorials for Moses Bartlett Jr. # 71813934, wife Anne (English) Bartlett # 78232074, father Moses Bartlett Sr. (1772-1845) # 53983954, and mother Persis (Ranney) Bartlett (1778-1840) # 53983812. According to Find-A-Grave: 1) While there seems to be some confusion as to where Moses Bartlett Jr. and his parents were born, it would appear that he was born in New York, and his parents were born in Massachusetts. 2) The maiden surname of the mother of Moses Bartlett Jr. of Clinton was Ranney, not Rowner as it appears to be on his death record. (A copy of the death certificate is posted on Find-A-Grave, and the scribbly handwriting could well be Ranney), 3) Moses Bartlett Jr. and his siblings were all born in Sempronius, Cayuga County, New York, where Moses Sr. & Persis (Ranney) Bartlett married on 01 Feb 1801, and 4) Horace Bartlett and William Bartlett who appear on the 1874 plat map of Bridgewater Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan in close proximity to the property of Moses Bartlett, were brothers of his, not sons as I had erroneously surmised back in 1991. Consolidating information from Find-A-Grave and his obits, it would appear that Moses Bartlett Jr. moved with his parents Moses Sr. & Persis (Ranney) Bartlett and siblings from Sempronius, Cayuga, New York to Washtenaw County, Michigan in around 1836. (Moses Bartlett Sr. is shown as a resident of Sempronius, Cayuga, New York in the Federal Census records of 1800, 1820 & 1830 - could not locate 1810 on the web - and a resident of Lodi Township, Washtenaw County, Michigan - which adjoins Bridgewater Township located to the southwest on a diagonal - in the Federal Census of 1840). Through find-A-Grave, it is also possible to follow the family line back a couple more generations to Dr. Phinehas Bartlett who was born on 15 Feb 1745 in Portland, Middlesex, Connecticut, and died on 29 Oct 1799 in Ashfield, Franklin, Massachusetts (where Moses Bartlett Sr. was born in 1772) - and to connect with various siblings of Moses Bartlett Jr. and his parents. (Since Phinehas Bartlett was born in Connecticut, I checked my copy of Families of Early Guilford, Connecticut by Dr. Alvin Talcott, Compiler, & Jacquelyn L. Ricker, Editor, Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore, 1984, for descendants of George & Mary (Cruttenden) Bartlett of Guilford - my immigrant ancestors - but did not find Phinehas listed, so my original assessment that my Bartlett family line and Moses' Bartlett family line are not related - at least on this side of the Atlantic - probably holds true). The Find-A-Grave information clears up a few uncertainties and presents some new ones. Additionally, I checked Census Finder for the Federal Census records for 1850/60//70/80/1900 & 1910, all of which show Moses Bartlett Jr. as being born in New York, even though the death certificate posted on Find-A-Grave shows his birthplace as Vermont, and lists the birthplaces of both his parents as unknown. It is fitting to add in this respect, that in the case of both the 1900 & 1910 Federal Census records, they show Moses Bartlett as being born in New York, and both his parents as being born in Massachusetts. For his daughter Sarah Stevens who lived with Moses the last several years of his life, she is shown as being born in Michigan - her father in New York - and her mother in Ireland. From the consistent census information showing Moses Bartlett Jr. as being born in New York and his parents being born in Massachusetts, I can only conclude that the death certificate posted on Find-A Grave, death record in Liber D (now identified as Book # 9904) in the Lenawee County, Michigan Courthouse, and the obit in the 02 Jan 1912 edition of the "Tecumseh Herald" newspaper in Tecumseh, Michigan are all incorrect, and that the informant at the time of his death - his daughter Anna (Bartlett) Eccles - was mistaken. This is difficult to explain, given that in the Federal Census of 1910, Anna Eccles - also living in Clinton, Lenawee, Michigan - identified the birthplace of her father as New York and the birthplace of her mother as Ireland - inconsistent with the information she gave on her father's death certificate a year later - why? (Even original source records cannot always be trusted).
I will not attempt to sort out the discrepancies, nor will I pursue this research further, as it is not my family line nor am I attempting to investigate on someone else's behalf at this point. My purpose in checking the Internet was simply to demonstrate that there is more data out there to be gathered, should anyone be inclined to do so. The existing documentation does establish that Moses Bartlett was indeed a pioneer of the Clinton, Michigan area, where he lived to a ripe old age. My guess is that Bartlett Street in Clinton Village and Bartlett Highway just west of town, both owe their names to his particular Bartlett family.