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Character Matters!
Loyalty
Using difficult times to demonstrate my commitment to those I serve. . . .¹
Josiah Bartlett 
 
(1729-1795)
“Character is the inward
motivation to do what is right according to the highest standards of behavior in every
situation. It consists of the stable and distinctive qualities built into an individual’s life that determine his or her 
responses, regardless of the circumstances. It is the wise response to the pressure of a difficult situation and what we dowhen we
think that no one is watching.”²
 
 
Character Matters!! Loyalty (Josiah Bartlett) Page 2
 
All Rights Reserved 
–
Central Illinois 9/12 Project 
Josiah Bartlett
–
A Life of Loyalty
The time is now at hand when we shall see whether America has virtue enough to be free or not.
–
 
Josiah Bartlett 
In 1765, Dr. Josiah Bartlett became deeply interested in public affairs and the colonial cause; and as a result, fellow New Hampshire citizens who recog
nized Dr. Bartlett’s
intelligence and integrity electedhim to represent the city of Kingston in the New Hampshire Provincial Assembly.³ As th
e people’s
representative, Dr. Bartlett strongly supported the colonial interests; he raised the Seventh MilitiaRegiment; and he served as the liaison between the New Hampshire Assembly and British Royal GovernorJohn Wentworth.³Royal Governor Wentworth was well aware of the importance of attracting prominent men likeDr. Bartlett to the royalist, Tory cause. And in order to draw Dr. Bartlett to that cause, GovernorWentworth extended to the doctor what were termed as
magnificent bribes.
Dr. Bartlett received fromGovernor Wentworth an appointment to the office of Justice of the Peace and an appointment asLieutenant Commander of the Seventh Regiment.² These appointments were considered great honors
positions of significant importance
evidence of th
e Governor’s respect for the doctor’s talents and
influence.
However, these magnificent bribes could not and would not seduceDr. Bartlett
.
Shrewdly perhaps, Dr. Bartlett accepted the appointments offered by the Governor; but heremained steadfast in this opposition to the royalist cause. The Royal Governor had failed to realize the
depth of Dr. Bartlett’s devotion to the colonial cause;
he had failed to realize that no matter the cost,
Dr. Bartlett’s
commitment to independence was steadfast and true! ²Some time later, Dr. Bartlett was appointed to the important Committee of Correspondence of the NewHampshire Assembly. He was also chosen as one of two delegates who would represent New Hampshireat the meeting of the First Continental Congress. Sadly, Dr. Bartlett did not attend the meeting of the FirstContinental Congress.
His home was burned down!
Many laid the blame for the home burning on
loyalists who opposed the doctor’s
staunch, patriotic endeavors. ³
[Was this fiery blaze the price the Doctor would have to pay for his loyalty?]
In spite of this agonizing event and the distress and trauma to his family(wife and twelve children, eight of whom lived to adulthood),
he pressed on! ³
 
Nothing coulddiminish his allegiance and loyalty!
 
 
Character Matters!! Loyalty (Josiah Bartlett) Page 3
 
All Rights Reserved 
–
Central Illinois 9/12 Project 
When in May 1774, Dr. Bartlett was appointed as a member of the New Hampshire Committee of Safety, itwas said that
Governor Wentworth became
alarmed 
!
 
The next year, in order to place a barrier inthe path of this Committee of Safety and Dr. Bartlett, as well as to prevent other similaractions/appointments, the Royal Governor dissolved the New Hampshire Assembly.² In spite of
Governor Wentworth’s
bold actions, the New Hampshire Assembly re-assembled; and Dr. Bartlett pressedon as the head of that defiant movement. Not surprisingly, Governor Wentworth again launched outagainst the doctor as he struck
 
Dr. Bartlett’s name from the magistracy
list and then deprived Dr. Bartlettof his military commission. Dr. Bartlett was dismissed from all of his appointed offices for his openresistance to the Crown.³ Amazingly,
Dr. Bartlett’s story of
loyalty does not end there! The provincialCongress assumed the reins of government and immediately re-appointed the steadfast Dr. Bartlett ascolonel of the militia.²
 
A few months later, when hostilities broke out at Lexington and Concord, Royal Governor Wentworth fledfrom New Hampshire and boarded a British warship.
Although the Royal Governor fled,Dr.
 
Josiah Bartlett stayed the course. . . !
G
uided by a life committed to
loyalty
, Josiah Bartlett knowingly, time after time, had chosen paths thatclearly would be riddled with the gravest of difficulties as he chose to remain committed to the colonialcause! He chose to remain committed in the face of the Royal Governor! He chose to remain committedwhen branded as being in opposition to the Crown! He chose to remain committed when faced withstaggering personal, family loss!Before the Congress convened in February 1776, Dr. Bartlett as well as all the other early Founding Fathershad persevered through the gravest of hardships. Having endured what most of us today probably wouldnot, he wrote:
“The time is now at hand when we shall see whether America has virtue enough to be freeor not.” 
Clearly, Dr. Josiah Bartlett had been single-minded in his
loyalty
 
to withstand all regardless of thecircumstances in order
that Freedom and Liberty
 
might prevail
that Freedom and Liberty might beours today!
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