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History of the Great Lakes
Illustrated, In Two Volumes, Vol. II
Chicago, J. H. Beers & Co., 1899
[125-126]
CAPTAIN JOHN L. BARTLETT, whose lakefaring life dates back to
1851, takes rank among the oldest masters in active service on
shipboard. He is a descendant of good old New England stock, and
is therefore still full of vitality and energy, and his long
experience makes him a valuable man in his present employ,
especially as a Georgian Bay pilot. He was born at Clayton,
N.Y., April 21, 1830, a son of JOSEPH and CHARLOTTE (FARR)
BARTLETT. The father was born in Bennington, Vt., in 1782, and
died near Forestville, Mich., in 1856, while the mother was a
native of Chesterfield, Chester Co., N.H., and died in the town
of Fine, St. Lawrence Co., N.Y., in 1847. The paternal grand-
father was JOHN BARTLETT, a son of JOSIAH BARTLETT, who was one
of the signers of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The
grandmother was Mrs. OLIVE (COLLARD) BARTLETT, a daughter of
JOSEPH COLLARD, who was a petty officer in the British navy, and
took an honorable part in the colonial English and French wars.
CAPTAIN BARTLETT acquired his education in the public schools
of Clayton, N.Y., which he attended until he reached the age
of fifteen years. He then went to Fine, St. Lawrence Co., N.Y.,
where he worked on a farm with his father until the death of
his mother, at which time he was seventeen years old. It was in
1851 that he went to Clayton and shipped on the schooner Utica
with CAPT. JAMES BORLAND, and after three months he joined the
schooner G. S. Wickes as seaman. The next season he went before
the mast on the schooner Patrick Henry with CAPT. JOHN ESTES,
and in 1853 on the schooner Montezuma. In the spring of 1854 he
shipped on the schooner Marshfield, and closed the season on the
bark Danube; began the season of *1885* on the Milwaukee Belle,
and finished as master on the schooner Cambria. In 1856 he be-
came mate of the brig S. C. Walbridge; going thence to Julia
Smith as master in 1857, and remained on her till August of
that year, when she was sold, then joined the schooner J. F.
Tracy as mate, and during the season of 1858 accepted the same
position on the schooner Wm. H. Craig.
The season of 1859 found him serving as mate on the bark
Sonora, and in 1860 began the season as mate on the schooner
Rebecca, closing on the schooner Comely as master, and in 1861
filled a like position on the schooner Petrel; 1862 came out as
second mate on the schooner Nightingale, but after making one
trip was appointed master; master of bark Fame in 1863; 1864-65
also in command of the schooner Walrus; 1866 became mate of the
schooner John Hibbard, laying her up in the fall as master.
In the spring of 1867 CAPTAIN BARTLETT took out master's
papers, which were unlimited, and came out in command of the
new steamer Henry Howard. In the spring of 1868 he was appointed
master of the schooner Home, and sailed her three seasons; 1871
went as mate on the schooner Kate Richmond; 1872 was mate on the
bark Wells Burt, and the following seasons filled a like posi-
tion on the vessels named: 1873, Grace Murray; 1874, Narra-
gansett; 1875, L. W. Perry; 1876, E. C. Roberts; 1877, steam-
barge H. C. Schnoor, and in September of that season became
master of the schooner Sasco; 1878 acted as mate on the schooner
Frank Perew, and in 1879 was in the same capacity on the
schooner Carlingford. During 1880 went on the Melvina in the
same position, and remained as such till July, 1881, when he
became her master for the balance of the season. During the
season of 1882 officiated as mate on the Ira Lafrinier and the
tug Peter Smith, remaining on the latter boat and in the same
position till July, 1883, when he went as mate of the tug Kate
Winslow; and in 1884-85 served in like capacity on the William
Goodnow; 1886 joined the schooner M. F. Merrick as her mate, and
finished the season on the tug Ella M. Smith. The season of 1887
found him mate of the Niagara, and that of 1888 master on the
same vessel, going, in 1889, again as mate of the Peter Smith,
after which he filled the same position on the Ella M. Smith for
the remainder of the season of 1889, and again joined her in
1890. The next two seasons he was mate on the Peter Smith, and
in 1893 was transferred to the fine tug Sweepstakes as master.
This was followed by two seasons on the Lake tug Niagara as
mate. In the spring of 1896 he was appointed master of the Peter
Smith, and continued to sail her up to 1898, thus rounding out a
period of forty-seven years without losing a season ashore.
CAPTAIN BARTLETT possesses the happy faculty of never getting
into trouble with his boats, thereby winning the confidence
and esteem of the owners.
Socially, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, and the Royal Arcanum.
On December 14, 1856, CAPTAIN BARTLETT wedded Miss AMELIA E.,
daughter of HARVEY J. BROWN, who was a son of MAJOR BROWN of
Revolutionary fame, noted for his patriotic quarrel with
BENEDICT ARNOLD, having accused the latter of attempting to
sell the stronghold of West Point to SIR GUY CASTLETON, then in
command of the British fleet. The children born to this union
are: DELOS; HARVEY C.; ROSELLA, now the wife of FRANK COLBORN,
of Cripple Creek, Colo.; ESTELLA M.; SCHUYLER; OMAR D.; and CORA
BIRD, now the wife of WILLIAM ARMOR, also of Cripple Creek. Mrs.
BARTLETT died on March 20, 1889, and on December 4, 1897, the
Captain chose for his second wife ZUBA KENDALL, daughter of
SOLOMON GOTHAM, of Clayton, N.Y. The family residence is in
Clayton, New York.
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