Josiah Bartlett Jr. was born in November of 1729, in Amesbury, Massachusetts. His father was Stephen Bartlett and his mother of the Webster family.

Josiah learned Latin and Greek early on and at the age of 16 began his study of medicine with Dr. Ordway.

At the age of 21 he began his own medical practice and found residence with the Reverend Joseph Secombe. The Rev. had an extensive library and Josiah took full advantage of it.

Bartlett was a medical agent to Gen. John Stark at Bennington; a member of the colonial legislature of New Hampshire 1765-1775; he also was a Member of the Continental Congress in 1775, 1776 and 1778; he was a signer of the Articles of Confederation and was the second signer of the Declaration of Independence, after John Hancock; Bartlett had to flee, his home because his house was burned down in retaliation for signing the declaration of independence. He was chief justice of the court of common pleas in 1778 in New Hampshire and became justice of the superior court in 1784 and chief justice the supreme court of New Hampshire in 1788; he was a member of the convention which framed the Federal Constitution in 1787; in 1789 he was elected to the United States Senate from New Hampshire, but declined due to health, and at the same time resigned as chief justice; from 1790-1794 he was the Governor of the State of New Hampshire 1790; and a member of the constitutional convention of 1792.

According to a book entitled “Collections, Topographical, Historical and Biographical relating principally to New Hampshire by Misters Farmer and Moore 1822. “Dr. Bartlett was a great observer of nature in all diseases and never was bound to dogmatical medical rules in prescribing for his patients.”

The book continued by saying that “Having emancipated his mind from the trammels of arbitrary rules, he founded his practice upon the details of nature and experience-readily perceiving the love of Deity to all his works; in giving to the mind a beneficent pleasure in goodness, directed by conscience and reason, and to the body, the healing power of nature, instead of traditionary rules.

Misters Farmer and Moore also said that “With these principles, Dr. Bartlett began his career of public usefulness, accurately discriminating between error and truth.”

Though his upbringing was Calvinistic, and was a member of the Congregational Church, Bartlett vacillated between the teaching of Arminius and that of Calvin.

Josiah Bartlett, as the governor of New Hampshire Called on the people of the state to confess before God their aggravated transgressions and to implore His pardon and forgiveness through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ . . . that the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ may be made known to all nations, pure and undefiled religion universally prevail, and the earth be fill with the glory of the Lord.

Josiah and Mary Bartlett, his cousin, were married in 1754; they had 12 children of which 8 survived to adult-hood. Mary was his closest friend and counselor, a true biblical helpmeet. According to his own declaration, Josiah Bartlett declined re-election as governor of New Hampshire.  He died shortly afterward in his sixty-sixth year, on May 19, 1795; he was broken down by grief and the double duties and responsibilities imposed upon him since Mary’s death.

Josiah Bartlett, husband, father, statesman, Christian, and a great Founding Father of these, the United States America.