RHODA BARTLETT TRUE
Fourth child, fourth daughter of Josiah Bartlett, Esq signer of the Declaration of Independence and eventual Governor and Mary Bartlett.
b. Kingston, NH on 22 May 1760 Kingston NH,
m. Reuben TRUE on 22 Feb 1789.
d. Salisbury, MA on 25 Sept 1794.
Children:
Levi TRUE, b. 22 June 1790; dy burial unknown
Josiah Bartlett TRUE, b. 4 Sept 1792 d Jan 20 1831 @38 years, Burlington Vt.
Inscription from her beautify tombstone:
Consort of Mr. Reuben True and Dau. of His Excy Josiah Bartlett, Esq.; died in the 35th year of her age.
Her headstone is the oldest in the cemetery (Salisbury Historical Society).
The stone reads :
Stop my friend and take a second view
The dust that’s here, was once beloved like you
The connection of Josiah Bartlett Esq. to Salisbury NH predates the arrival of his daughter and husband about 1789-1790. He was a frequent visitor from Kingston NH, a participant in the Meeting House services on Searles Hill as he owned a pew in the church itself.
He came on occasion to visit his nephew Dr. Joseph Bartlett who practiced medicine in Salisbury ultimately for 30 years. The Meeting House on Searles Hill existed from about 1769-1790. Dr Bartlett arrived in town 1771 and resided on the South Rangeway west of Stirrup Iron Brook, seemingly close to base of Searles Hill. There is no building however there are some intriguing cellar holes. More research in needed to determine exactly where on the South Road this very early home was located. Apparently it may have still been in existence in 1890 as it is described in the History of Salisbury as opposite the residence (1890) of William Merrill.
REUBEN TRUE
b. Oct 16, 1761, Salisbury Mass.
d. Dec 1826 ae 65 yrs
Reuben True Farm:
abt 1790 Reuben True Home is Built
Location Salisbury Heights Rte 4 & 127. Later Purchased abt 1816 by the Pettengills who made extensive alterations and establish the tavern known as the Bell tavern later known as the Traveller Home- Historic Salisbury Houses by Paul S. Shaw
From the History of Salisbury:
Most notable for:
June 1789 Reuben True is noted as having been part of a group of citizens forming the Baptist Society which moved forward to erect a new place of worship of at the Center Village. For a time the group held meetings in private houses ands in an old schoolhouse which they had bought of the town. Oct 1790 it was decided to build Reuben True was part of a commitee to sell pews.
1798 p.200 Corporate officer of the first Library in Salisbury
P 307 took part in negations and arguments to determine the route of the Fourth NH turnpike.
1801 involved in town boundary perambulations 328 abt 1816 Testified Town perambulations (Involved in settling town lines specifically nw corner bonds which he investigated in 180)
1804 p 415 Taxed as one of the first chaise owners in town