Bpt as ‘first s. & secd child of Joel Bartlett, carpenter (youngest s. of William & Grace..) & Elizabeth his wife (secd d. of James & Sarah Raphiel, of Southleigh)’124
Devon Record Office: Branscombe Parish
Catalogue Ref. 239 A - 3 Settlement examinations
   FILE - William Bartlett, carpenter - ref.  239 A - 3/PO 10/6  - date: 1825
            [from Scope and Content] Now residing in Branscombe. Born of parents legally settled in Branscombe. When aged 8 yrs old., he was bound as a parish apprentice to Joseph Hooke of Bickham, Branscombe with whom he lived for about three years. Then he went to live occasionally with his son, Anthony Hooke at Dunscombe, Salcombe Regis. Lived there about four years, did not come to Joseph Hooke for about half a year. He went to Starcross and engaged with the master of a collier from Newcastle and remained with him four days, when his father enquired what Joseph Hooke meant to do with him. He was asked to take him home and to do the best he could with him. Mrs Hooke proposed that he should be taken before a magistrate and he should be released from his indenture. Mr Hooke objected saying that Joel Barlett (father of William), should take him home, his father took him home. His father brought him to his business as a carpenter. From that time Mr Hooke never received any advantage from his services. He worked with his father until he was twenty three years old. Then he went to Lyme and worked as a journeyman at weekly wages and never engaged for any longer time. He continued working there for about four years, when he returned to Branscombe, and has worked there at daily work. Then he worked at Exeter for about six months and returned to Branscombe29