Jonas was born on 10 April 1803 and baptized with his brother Avery at the Congregational Church in Wilmington, Vermont, on 21 October 1804.1 His parents were born Perley Bartlett and Lucy Bartlett. They first cousins once removed, and the intermarriage of Hows and Bartletts in Marlborough, Massachusetts, in their recent ancestry gave them almost the same genetic makeup. In light of this, moving to Vermont was commendable. Jonas grew up on a farm north of the village of Wilmington. In his early 20s he moved to Providence, Rhode Island, but what drew him there isn't known. Given Jonas' later career choices, he had no inclination to farm in the wilderness of Vermont. He was in Rhode Island by 1826, operating the Washington Observatory at Fox Point.2

THE OBSERVATORY

The Lessee of this fashionable place of resort, respectfully informs the public, and citizen strangers, that it is now open for the spring and summer seasons. It is situated on an eminence which commands a beautiful view of Narragansett Bay and the adjacent country; and it is admitted by all who have visited it to be a delightful place of resort. Attached to the Observatory, are two excellent Bowling Alleys, not inferior to any in Rhode-Island. The Bar is supplied with the best liquors that can be procured, and other refreshments such as Fruits, Pastry, &c. Every attention will be paid to those who visit the establishment; and affords an agreeable walk, particularly to gentlemen strangers who visit the town for observation and amusement. The Observatory will be kept open from 7 o'clock, A. M. till 9 P. M.

J. BARTLETT3

This advertisement appeared during what may have been a hot early September in 1828: "OBSERVATORY - Refreshments of every kind will be served up this day, at this cool and pleasant retreat. In the evening the building will be elegantly illuminated, and a large balloon will be sent up at half-past eight o'clock."4
     Two years later he took the lease of another recreational spot: Horton Grove in North Providence.5 In an advertisement, it was a "delightful Summer Retreat, where he [Jonas] will be happy at all times to wait on those who may honor him with their company. Clubs and private parties can at all times be accommodated with rooms, refreshments and suppers, and no exertions on the part of the proprietor will be spared to procure the fruits of the seasons, and the luxuries of the market. As a place of genteel, fashionable amusement, the Grove is not surpassed in New-England, and is too well known to need description at this time. As it is situated but a mile and a half from Providence Court House, the proprietor invites all to call and see for themselves, and he hopes none will go away dissatisfied." Little has been found about this place, so a description would have been useful. It was adjacent to the North Burying Ground and partially surrounded by the Blackstone Canal and the Smithfield Turnpike, so it was conveniently located. The following is a bit more revealing:

It's interesting to know that the Washington Observatory, an obvious competitor, did have bowling alleys. What changes Jonas may have made to Horton Grove haven't been found. His stay there was brief, probably due to the property being sold on August 1831. He advertised up to May of that year with his name, then reports of fresh stawberries being available there appear in June. The lease was taken by someone else by 10 September. The auction notice describes the property as having "a two story House, about 40 by 34 feet, with a Piazza on three sides - good Celars, 4 well finished rooms on the first floor and 5 on the second, with complete garret room; a Barn, Stable, Chaise House and other buildings; 4 acres 58 rods of land well stocked iwth apple, peach, cherry and other trees; grape and raspberry vines; a large strawberry and asparagus bed, and a pond stocked with trout." Rent for the property was $400 a year. Newspapers are mum as to what occupied Jonas the year after Horton Grove.

1. Congregational Church records, transcribed and deposited at the Wilmington Town Clerk's office. Jonas' birth date and place come from family notes. They can be found in print in The Providence Privateer...an account of the family of Nicholas Hopkins (Providence:1893), 56, written by Albert Holbrook, Jonas' brother-in-law. Nicholas was an uncle of Albert and Harriet (Holbrook) Bartlett. There is no reason to doubt that Albert got his information about Jonas and Harriet's family directly from family members. This information can also be found, verbatim, in Albert's handwriting in his unpublished manuscript on the Holbrook family, 1889, p. 21 (in the collection of The Rhode Island Historical Society and online at the RI Genweb site). Although there is no official record of Jonas' birth in Wilmington, his parents were living there when he was born.
2. Providence city directory (1826). He also appears on a list of letters remaining at the Providence post office on 31 July (2 August issue of The Providence Patriot).
3. The Providence Patriot, or Columbian Phenix,beginning 16 May 1827, 3.
4. Ibid, 3 September 1828, 2.
5. Ibid, 17 July 1830, 3.
6. Ibid, 26 January 1828, 2.
7. Ibid, 1 September 1832.
8. The Newport Mercury, 25 September 1833.
9. Horton Grove was next to the North Burying Ground, and therefore very near the home of the Hopkins and Holbrook families. Widow Sarah (Hopkins) Holbrook lived there, presumably with her daughter Harriet and two boys, before her death in 1825. The property was owned by their cousin Edward Hopkins up to 1840. If the Holbrook children remained there, it is reasonable to think that it was proximity that brought Harriet Holbrook and Jonas together. It probably wasn't in church, although they may have favored the same denomination. Harriet's parents were married by the minister of the First Baptist Church. Harriet and Jonas were married by the minister of the Third Baptist Church. The latter was very close to the Washington Observatory. Did Jonas worship there when he was nearby, and if so, did he continue to after he moved? If Harriet was living in the old Hopkins house in 1833, it's not likely she attended church at the opposite side of the city, since it was very much of its neighborhood. There is too little information to be conclusive. It isn't even known if Jonas lived where he worked, although it's likely. It's possible that Jonas liked Rev. William Phillips of the Third Church enough to make the trip across town after his presumed move, and Harriet was amenable to having him marry them. Their engagement would have happened after Jonas took over the Mansion House. Perhaps Harriet was living nearby and they met at the First Baptist Church.