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WILLIAM BRADFORD (GOV.) (1590 - 1657) - IMMIGRANT


On 19 March 1590 WILLIAM BRADFORD was born in Austerfield,Yorkshire, England and was baptized in St. Helens, Austerfield, Yorkshire, England. WILLIAM’s parents are William Bradford (Jr.) and Alice Hanson.

1591: FATHER’S DEATH

In July 1691 WILLIAM’s father (age 31) died shortly after WILLIAM was born.

1594: MOTHER’S RE-MARRIAGE

In 1594 WILLIAM’s mother (Alice) remarried and sent WILLIAM (age 4) to live with his Grandfather (William Sr.). In 1596 WILLIAM’s grandfather and grandmother died and WILLIAM (age 6) was taken in by paternal uncles.

RAISED BY UNCLES

Suffering an orphan's trials, WILLIAM spent a most unhappy childhood and sickness afflicted him in early years. To judge from his abounding health and energies in adult life, his illness was psychological in character. But painful as it was, WILLIAM came to regard it as a blessing in disguise, for it had kept him, “from the vanities of youth.”

1602 – 1606: PURITANISM

Introduced to the Puritans in the neighborhood, walking 8 miles to Babworth by way of Scrooby was the first step in WILLIAM's holy, prayerful, watchful, and fruitful Walk with God where in he was very exemplary.

WILLIAM had a Comfortable Inheritance left him of his Honest Parents, and cast him on the Education, first of his Grand Parents, and then of his Uncles, who devoted him, like his Ancestors, unto the Affairs of Husbandry. Soon and long Sickness kept him, as he would afterwards thankfully say, from the Vanities of Youth, and made him the fitter for what he was afterwards to undergo. When he was about a Dozen Years Old, the Reading of the Scriptures began to cause great Impressions upon him; and those Impressions were much assisted and improved, when he came to enjoy Mr. Richard Clifton's Illuminating Ministry, not far from his Abode; he was then also further befriended, by being brought into the Company and Fellowship of such as were then called Professors; though the Young Man that brought him into it, did after become a Prophane and Wicked Apostate. Nor could the Wrath of his Uncles, nor the Scoff of his Neighbours now turn'd upon him, as one of the Puritans, divert him from his Pious Inclinations.

In 1602 WILLIAM (age 12) was deep in the Scriptures. WILLIAM joined Puritan groups that met illegally in nearby Scrooby and by 1606 WILLIAM (age 16) was a member of the Puritan congregation when it separated from the Church of England.

1608: IMPRISONMENT

In 1608 WILLIAM (age 18) was imprisoned in Boston, Lincolnshire, England for attempting to escape to religious sanctuary in Holland.

1609: ESCAPE TO HOLLAND - RELIGIOUS SANCTUARY

In 1609 WILLIAM (age 19) was successful in reaching Holland with 125 Puritans that met illegally in Scooby, England.

RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION

The English monarchs had been imposing their personal religious preferences on the subjects, becoming more and more restrictive of those who did not comply; imposing imprisonment and death on those who did not bow to the current king's choices. Separatists and Puritans and Brownists and Ancient Brethren chose to leave England. By 1608 all of those choosing exile had succeeded in making their escape to the Netherlands. Amsterdam particularly impressed them. Newcomers here had no reason to fear violence. yet, like refugees, they had to contend with many hardships and disabilities. If they were to survive, they had to find employment.

LIFE IN HOLLAND

The company at Green Gate (as they had no formal name) held its own, winning friends and identifying itself with the business reasons as none but citizens could belong to the guilds which controlled all skilled employment.

MAKER OF FUSTIAN

WILLIAM lived with the Brewsters in Stincksteeg (Stink Alley), and then in Green Gate where he became a maker of fustian (weaver of course cloth of cotton and flax-corduroy, mole skin & velveteen).

1612: CITIZEN OF HOLLAND

On 30 March 1612, WILLIAM (age 22) he became a citizen of Leyden, Holland.

COURTSHIP OF ALICE CARPENTER

Tradition says WILLIAM courted Alice Carpenter, but he was opposed by her parents because of his inferior social position.

1613: MARRIAGE OF WILLIAM AND DOROTHY MAY

On 10 December 1613 WILLIAM (age 23) married Dorothy May in Leyden, Holland. WILLIAM sold lands inherited at Austerfield, England and bought a small house on the Back Canal.

1617: SEEKING REFUGE IN AMERICA

In 1617 the congregation decided to seek refuge in America and WILLIAM (age 27) took major responsibility for arranging the details of the immigration. WILLIAM and Dorothy had at least one child:

  1. John (b. about 1618)

1623: LEAVING SON BEHIND

In 1623 WILLIAM and Dorothy left Holland for Southampton where they joined another group of English separatists who would sail with them to America on the Mayflower. WILLIAM and Dorothy left their son John (age 5) in Holland apparently with a family named Robinson. The child never saw his mother again, nor his father for seven years. His heartbreaking appeals and frightened cries at parting may have had something to do with Dorothy's tragic death a few months later.

PILGRIM - DEFINITION

The term Pilgrim is derived from William’s description of himself and his co-religionists as they left Holland for Southampton.

“…In wilderness he did me guide,
And in strange lands for me provide.
In fears and wants, though weal and woe,
A pilgrim, past I to and fro:…”

(part of Poem by William Bradford)

1620: LIFE ON THE MAYFLOWER

On Sep. 6th, having lost seven precious weeks, the Mayflower, leaving London, put out to sea. As the ship had only the crudest of conveniences and no sanitary facilities, the air in the narrow crowded quarters below deck must have been nauseating at best and staggering at worst. The North Atlantic is always cold and passengers found it impossible to keep warm and dry. They ate hard tack, salt horse, dried fish, cheese and beer. Yet the Mayflower was broad of beam, double-decked, with high superstructures--castles--fore and aft. She was also a sweet ship, having engaged since 1616 in wine trade, though she doubtedly retained some trace of years hauling fish, timber, turpentine, tar and other smelling products from Norway. A stout chunky vessel of 180 tons, she was far above the average in size, being a fifth again as large as the three ships--the Susan Constant (100 tons), God Speed (40 tons), and Discovery (10 tons) -- which Capt. John Smith had set sail for Virginia with his company of gentlemen thirteen years before. The Mayflower was packed to the gunwales for 102 passengers had been crammed on board with their goods and supplies.

THE MAYFLOWER COMPACT

After approximately two months at sea mutiny was brewing on the Mayflower. The company needed every able-bodied man it could muster for the tremendous task ahead. To meet the situation, those in command decided once again to rely upon the Word, drafting as formal and formidable a document as they knew how. The church covenants long in use among the Separatists plainly served as a model, and it was probably Brewster's handiwork with other bits of appropriate legal jargon from his days as postmaster at Scrooby. The document was read to the entire company. On 21 November 1620 the covenant was first signed by those (12) who had the privilege of using the title Mr. with Saints and Strangers equally represented. John Carver, William Bradford, followed by Winslow, Brewster and Allerton. Then came Standish, Deacon Fuller, Martin, Mullins, White, Warren and Hopkins. Twenty-seven others signed as well. (Women were excluded.)

ARRIVAL TO AMERICA

The Mayflower had arrived some distance north of their Virginia destination and, because it was already early winter, sought a site near Cape Cod. Passengers spent several more weeks on board while major decisions were being surveyed. Early on Monday, December 11th (the date is Old Style. Current New Style, add ten days. Britain and her colonies did not shift from the old Julian to the new Gregorian calendar until 1752, with curious effects upon the Pilgrim saga dates.), Pilgrims went ashore for a hasty exploration and found the area acceptable. By the following day they were back on the Mayflower to report the news. Bradford returned to learn that on the day after his departure his wife had been drowned. Young Dorothy had somehow fallen overboard while the ship was lying quietly at anchor, so the story has come down to us--perhaps she did. But it is strange that there is not a word in the Pilgrim chronicles about the tragedy--not a phrase, as one expects, about her desperate struggle for life and her heartbreaking cries as attempts to rescue her failed. In his pocket notebook under the heading of Deaths, BRADFORD made this laconic entry--Dec. 7. Dorothy, wife to Mr. William Bradford -- and never mentioned her name again. If Dorothy had jumped overboard, that was reason enough, for at the time nothing was regarded as so heinous an offense against the laws of God and man as taking one's life.

1620: DEATH OF DOROTHY

On 7 December 1620 Dorothy either jumped or fell off the Mayflower and drowned as it was anchored in Provincetown (Cape Cod) Harbor (USA).

1621: WILLIAM BECOMES GOVERNOR

In 1621 April John Carver, Plymouth Colony's first governor, died suddenly and WILLIAM age 31 was unanimously elected to replace him. WILLIAM was reelected 30 times and served until 1656 - all but 5 of the years. During the period of his governorship, and especially during the first few years, WILLIAM provided the strong, steady leadership that kept the tiny community alive despite harsh winters, famine, disease and Indian hostility. He strove to sustain the religious ideals of the founders - a strict Puritan faith.

1623: MARRIAGE OF WILLIAM AND ALICE CARPENTER

After his first wife's death WILLIAM wrote to Alice Carpenter-Southworth: I am not that Bill Bradford I once was. I am now Governor of the Colony, a widower, and if you will come to America, I am at your service.” Apparently the letter did the trick. In 1623 July, Alice arrived in Plymouth on the ship Anne. They were married in the 4th wedding held in the colony.

On 14 August 1623 WILLIAM (age 33) married Alice Carpenter (widow of Edward Southworth) in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. WILLIAM and Alice had at least four children:

  1. WILLIAM (MAJOR) (b. 17 June 1624)
  2. Alice (b. about 1627)
  3. Mercy (b. before 22 May 1627)
  4. Joseph (b. 1630)

Upon the occasion of the Governor's marriage, since I came, Massasoit was sent for to the wedding, where came with him his wife, the queen, although he hath five wives. With him came four other kings and about six score men with their bows and arrows--where, when they came to our town, we saluted them with the shooting off of many muskets and training our men. And so all the bows and arrows was brought into the Governor's house, and he brought the Governor three or four bucks and a turkey. And so we had very good pastime in seeing them dance, which is in such manner, with such a noise that you would wonder. . . . And now to say somewhat of the great cheer we had at the Governor's marriage. We had about twelve pasty venisons, besides others, pieces of roasted venison and other such good cheer in such quantity that I could wish you some of our share. For here we have the best grapes that ever you say--and the biggest, and divers sorts of plums and nuts which our business will not suffer us to look for.

1630: LIFE AS GOVERNOR

In 1630 WILLIAM (age 40) drew up a patent that gave the people self-government and title to the lands they settled, and in 1636 he drafted new laws for the colony.

PEQUOT WAR 1637

1637: PEQUOT WAR

In the 1637 Pequot War WILLIAM’s regime helped other settlements in New England.

1657: DEATH OF WILLIAM

On 9 MAY 1657 WILLIAM (age 67) died and was buried in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

When WILIAM died he was the richest man in the colony - his property valued at 400 Pounds with a home in Plymouth and a farm in Kingston. He left a library of 275 volumes. He was proficient in Dutch, French, Latin, Greek and Hebrew. He learned Hebrew so he could read the Old Testament in the original language. Listed as some of his possessions at his death include: White blankets, green rug, snaphance and matchlock muskets, Holland sheets, hemp sheets, Holland tablecloths, 1 great beer bowl, wine cup, suit with silver buttons, black britches, red waistcoat, lead colored suit with silver buttons, black coat, green gown, violet cloak, 1 black hat, 1 colored hat, light colored cloak, and 6 pairs of shoes. Books included: French Academy, History of the Netherlands, Peter Martire on the Romans, Mayers works on the New Testament, Luther on the Galations, Calvin on Genesis and Commentary on the Acts, Mr. Ainsworth on Genesis and Exodus, Gifford Refuted, Speed's General Description of the World, a Physics book, and 2 Bibles.

THE WILL OF WILLIAM BRADFORD

The last Will and Testament Nunckupative of Mr William Bradford senir: Deceased May the Ninth 1657 and exhibited to the court held att Plymouth June 3d 1657.

Mr William Bradford senir: being weake in body but in perfect memory haveing Defered the forming of his Will in hopes of haveing the healp of Mr Thomas Prence therin; feeling himselfe very weake and drawing on to the conclusion of his mortall life spake as followeth; I could have Desired abler then myselfe in the Desposing of that I have; how my estate is none knowes better then youerselfe, said hee to Lieftenant Southworth; I have Desposed to John and William alreddy theire proportions of land which they are possessed of; My Will is that my son Josepth bee made in some sort equall to his brethern out of my estate; My further Will is that my Deare loveing wife Allice Bradford shalbee the sole Exequitrix of my estate; and for her future maintainance my Will is that my Stocke in the Kennebecke Trad be reserved for her Comfortable Subsistence as farr as it will extend and soe further in any such way as may bee Judged best for her; I further request and appoint my welbeloved Christian ffrinds Mr Thomas Prence Captaine Thomas Willett and Lieftenant Thomas Southworth to be the Suppervissors for the Desposing of my estate according to the prmises Confiding much in theire faithfulnes I comend unto youer Wisdome and Descretions some smale bookes written by my owne hand to bee Improved as you shall see meet; In speciall I Comend to you a little booke with a blacke cover wherin there is a word to Plymouth a word to Boston and a word to New England with sundry usefull verses; These pticulars were expressed by the said William Bradford Govr the 9th of May 1657 in the prsence of us Thomas Cushman Thomas Southworth Nathaniell Morton; whoe were Deposed before the court held att Plymouth the 3d of June 1657 to the truth of the abovesaid Will that it is the last Will and Testament of the abovesaid Mr William Bradford senir.

***

Notes On William Bradford

Information is based on the following sources:

William Bradford Web Site, by David Jay Webber: http://www.angelfire.com/ny4/djw/williambradford.html SEE WEB SITE SOURCE INDEX.

William Bradford’s Mayflower Passenger List: http://members.aol.com/calebj/bradford.html SEE WEB SITE SOURCE INDEX.

William Bradford, Pilgrim Hall Museum http://www.pilgrimhall.org/bradfordwilliam.htm SEE WEB SITE SOURCE INDEX.

Modern History Sourcebook: William Bradford: from History of Plymouth Plantation, c. 1650. http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1650bradford.html SEE WEB SITE SOURCE INDEX.

Rootsweb.com: Contact: Robert Edwin Washburn <[email protected]> SEE WEB SITE SOURCE INDEX.

ADDITIONAL SOURCES:

Alice Bradford HISTORY: From Family History News 1988, p.5.

A description of the marriage is found in a letter written by a visitor to Plymouth Colony, Emmanuel Altham, in 1623.

The early years of Bradford's life are described by Cotton Mather in his book Magnalia Christi Americana first published in 1702.

The Encyclopedia Of Colonial And Revolutionary America by John M. Faragher, Pub. Facts on File 1990.

Officers of the Old Colony and of the Pilgrim Church lists William BRADFORD and his, his sons and stepsons many times: OFFICERS OF THE OLD COLONY: Governors Bradford, William, 1621-32, 1635, 1637, 1639-43, 1645-57. ASSISTANT GOVERNORS: Bradford, William 1633-34, 1636, 1638, 1644; Southworth, Thomas, 1652-53, 1657-69; Bradford, William (younger) 1659-81; Southworth, Constant 1670=78. TREASURERS: Southworth, Constant 1659-79; Bradford, William (younger) 1680-86, 1689-92.

The poem written by William Bradford was published after his death in Nathaniel Morton's New England's Memorial, which was first published in 1669.

p.455+ William BRADFORD became an important and wealthy man. (also see BRADFORD, Constant; for extent of estate at time of William Bradford's death--Saints Strangers p.338)

Saints And Strangers by George F. Willison, 1945, p.45-46.

The Will of William Bradford. Caleb Johnson © 1997


BRADFORD’s WRITINGS

The History of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647, by William Bradford was first printed in full in 1856 and is a minor classic reflecting the unusual qualities of the man and the values of the small group of English separatists who became known as Pilgrims.

William Bradford's Letter-book: William Bradford kept a letter-book, in which he wrote down copies of all the significant letters he wrote or received. The book was plundered during the Revolutionary War, and was discovered in Halafax, Nova Scotia in the 1790s, being used as wrapping paper in a fish market. What was left of the book was saved.. Most letters relate to colony business agreements with the Merchant Adventurers, or social letters with members of the Leyden congregation, but often diverge into many subjects. These letters can be found at: http://members.aol.com/calebj/letterbook.html

The poem written by William Bradford was published after his death in Nathaniel Morton's New England's Memorial, which was first published in 1669. NOTE: Certain verses left by the honoured William Bradford, Esq. Governour of the jurisdiction of Plymouth, penned by his own hand, declaring the gracious dispensations of God's providence towards him in the time of his life, and his preparation and fittedness for death.

NOTE:

After John Quincy Adams rescued it from oblivion in 1802, it has been hailed as a great charter of freedom. It did not apply to all, and its promise of just equall lawes was often more honored than observed.

William Bradford wrote Of Plymouth Plantation, chronicling the history of the Plymouth Colony, and the events that led up to their leaving England for Holland, and later to New England. William Bradford also wrote part of Mourt's Relation: A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, and he recorded some of the important letters he wrote and received in a letterbook which still partially exists. Nathaniel Morton's 1669 book, New England's Memorial also records a poem written by William Bradford on his deathbed. There are also two elegy poems written in 1657 after Bradford's death--the first elegy poem is anonymous, and the second elegy poem was written by Josias Winslow.

This was an accidental drowning. The story of the suicide, affair with Captain Christopher Jones, etc. comes from a fictional soap opera story published in a national women's magazine in 1869--a story published as truth by the author, based on family stories, but which the author later admitted was an invention of her own imagination. For further information on this, see Mayflower Descendant 29:97-102 , and especially 31:105.

Cotton Mather in his Magnalia Christi Americana wrote that William Bradford: “. . . was a Person for Study as well as Action; and hence, notwithstanding the Difficulties through which he passed in his Youth, he attained unto a notable Skill in Languages; the Dutch Tongue was become almost as Vernacular to him as the English; the French Tongue he could also manage; the Latin and the Greek he had Mastered; but the Hebrew he most of all studied, Because, he said, he would see with his own Eyes the Ancient Oracles of God in their Native Beauty. He was also well skill'd in History, in Antiquity, and in Philosophy; and for Theology he became so versed in it, that he was an Irrefragable Disputant against the Errors, especially those of Anabaptism, which with Trouble he saw rising in his Colony; wherefore he wrote some Significant things for the Confutation of those Errors. But the Crown of all was his Holy, Prayerful, Watchful and Fruitful Walk with God, wherein he was very Exemplary. At length he fell into an Indisposition of Body, which rendred him unhealthy for a whole Winter; and as the Spring advanced, his Health yet more declined; yet he felt himself not what he counted Sick, till one Day; in the Night after which, the God of Heaven so fill'd his Mind with Ineffable Consolations, that he seemed little short of Paul, rapt up unto the Unutterable Entertainments of Paradise. The next Morning he told his Friends, That the good Spirit of God had given him a Pledge of his Happiness in another World, and the First-fruits of his Eternal Glory: And on the Day following he died, May 9, 1657 in the 68th Year of his Age. Lamented by all the Colonies of New England, as a Common Blessing and Father to them all.”

POEM BY WILLIAM BRADFORD
From my years young in days of youth,
God did make known to me his truth,
And call'd me from my native place
For to enjoy the means of grace.
In wilderness he did me guide,
And in strange lands for me provide.
In fears and wants, though weal and woe,
A pilgrim, past I to and fro:
Oft left of them whom I did trust;
How vain it is to rest on dust!
A man of sorrows I have been,
And many changes I have seen.
Wars, wants, peace, plenty, have I known;
And some advanc'd, others thrown down.
The humble poor, cheeful and glad;
Rich, discontent, sower and sad:
When fears and sorrows have been mixt,
Consolations came betwixt.
Faint not, poor soul, in God still trust,
Fear not the things thou suffer must;
For, whom he loves he doth castise,
And then all tears wipes from their eyes.
Farewell, dear children, whom I love,
Your better Father is above:
When I am gone, he can supply;
To him I leave you when I die.
Fear him in truth, walk in his ways,
And he will bless you all your days.
My days are spent, old age is come,
My strength it fails, my glass near run:
Now I will wait, when work is done,
Until my happy change shall come,
When from my labours I shall rest,
With Christ above for to be blest

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