[begin quote "Genealogical and family history of the state of New Hampshire: a record of the achievements of her people in the making of a commonwealth and the founding of a
nation" comp. under the editorial supervision of Ezra S. Stearns assisted by William F. Whitcher and Edward E. Parker. The Lewis publishing company, 1908. p 1165.]

Joseph Pitman, says report, was born in London England, about 1759, and emigrated to New England a short time prior to the American Revolution, in which he took part as a privateersman. After the war he went to Bartlett and became one of the original settlers of the town, taking up land on Stark's location. From the time of his settlement to the time of his death he was a most valued and useful citizen. He was moderator of the first town meeting and early held the office of selectman.

He married Alice Pendexter and they had eleven children; William, Samuel, John, Joseph, Walter A., Sally, Rebecca, Alice, Dorcas A., Susan and Polly. Dorcas and Polly died young. Sally married Joseph Philbrick. Rebecca became the wife of A.D. Gardner. Alice married Woodman Carlton, and Susan married J.T. Wentworth.

[end quote]

A Joseph Pitman signed the Association Test in Portsmouth in 1776. He would have to be at least 21, which puts his birthyear in 1755 at the latest (not 1759 as in the Stearns book). This also makes him two years older than his wife Alice (b. 1757) instead of two years younger.

I don't buy the part about being born in London. I'll bet he named his oldest son (William) after his father, and the second son (Samuel) after his grandfather, and they were probably in the Portsmouth, NH, area. (The third son, John, was named after his wife's father.)

Joseph is buried in the Intervale Cemetery in Lower Bartlett. Gravestone says he died Jan 17, 1820.

1. Rebecca C. Pitman b: 17 Nov 1790 in Bartlett, New Hampshire