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Descendants of William Bradford

Generation No. 3

3. WILLIAM⁶ BRADFORD (WILLIAM⁵, WILLIAM⁴, ROBERT³, PETER², ROBERT¹) was born March 19, 1589/90 in Austerfield, Yorkshire, England (Source: Mayflower Descendent. Bowman, George E., ed. 1899-1940. 34 Vols. Boston, 1981. Microfiche Mayflower Increasings Bradford Register, Vol 4 , 83 & 84 ), and died May 09, 1657 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, MA (Source: Mayflower Descendent. Bowman, George E., ed. 1899-1940. 34 Vols. Boston, 1981. Microfiche Mayflower Increasings Bradford Register, Vol 4 , 83 & 84 ). He married (1) DOROTHY MAY December 10, 1613 in Leyden, Holland (Source: Mayflower Descendent. Bowman, George E., ed. 1899-1940. 34 Vols. Boston, 1981. Microfiche Mayflower Increasings Bradford Register, Vol 4 , 83 & 84 ), daughter of HENRY MAY. He married (2) ALICE CARPENTER August 14, 1623 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, MA (Source: Chrisman Pedigree Mayflower Descendent. Bowman, George E., ed. 1899-1940. 34 Vols. Boston, 1981. Microfiche Mayflower Increasings ), daughter of ALEXANDER CARPENTER and PRISCILLA DILLEN.

Notes for WILLIAM BRADFORD:
William Bradford

GENEALOGICAL SUMMARY
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BAPTISM: 19 March 1589/90, Austerfield, York, England

DEATH: 9 May 1657, Plymouth, MA

MARRIED: (1). Dorothy May, Amsterdam, Holland, 10 December 1613

(2). Alice (Carpenter) Southworth, 14 August 1623

PARENTS OF WILLIAM: William Bradford and Alice Hanson

PARENTS OF DOROTHY: prob. Henry May

PARENTS OF ALICE: Alexander Carpenter

CHILDREN by Dorothy May:

1. John (b. c1618, Leyden, Holland; d. bef. 21 Sept. 1676, Norwich, CT; m. Martha Bourne)

CHILDREN by Alice Carpenter:

2. William (b. 17 June 1624, Plymouth, MA; d. 20 February 1703/4, Plymouth, MA; m1. Alice Richards, aft. 23 April 1650; m2. name unknown; m3. Mary (Wood) Holmes, c1676)

3. Mercy (b. bef. 22 May 1627, Plymouth, MA; d. bef. 9 May 1657; m. Benjamin Vermayes/Fearmayes, 21 December 1648)

4. Joseph (b. c1630, Plymouth, MA; d. 10 July 1715, Plymouth, MA; m. Jael Hobart, 25 May 1664, Hingham, MA)

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William Bradford came on the Mayflower with his wife Dorothy (May). She fell off the Mayflower and drowned when it was anchored in Cape Code (Provincetown) Harbor. Some historians believe this may have been a suicide.

After the death of John Carver, he was elected governor of the Plymouth colony, and continued in that capacity nearly all his life. He also 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.

The ancestry of William Bradford is as follows:

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(6) Robert? Bradfourth, b. c1435, taxed 1522, d. prob. 1523.

(5) Peter Bradfourth, of Bentley, Arksey, York, England; b. c1460, d. 1542/3; married at least twice, names unknown.

(4) Robert Bradfourth, of Wellingley, Tickhill, York, England; b. c1487; d. 1552 or 1553; m1. (---)(---); m2. Elizabeth (---)

(3) William Bradford, bur. Austerfield, York, England 10 January 1595/6; m. bef. 1552, (---)(----); m2. Margaret Fox, 19 October 1567, Harworth, Nottingham, England.

(2) William Bradford, b. c1560, bur. 15 July 1591, m. Alice Hanson on 21 July 1584, Austerfield, York, England. Alice Hanson, bp. 8 December 1562, m2. Robert Briggs, 23 February 1593. She the daughter of John Hanson and Margaret Gressam.

(1) William Bradford, Mayflower passenger.

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Interesting quotes from Mayflower passengers
All quotes are from William Bradford unless otherwise noted
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[PILGRIMS PREPARE TO DEPART LEYDEN, HOLLAND]

"So they left that goodly and pleasant city which had been their resting place near twelve years; but they knew they were pilgrims, and looked not much on those things, but lift up their eyes to the heavens, their dearest country, and quieted their spirits."

[THE MAYFLOWER DEPARTS HOLLAND]

"The next day (the wind being fair) they went aboard and their friends with them, where truly doleful was the sight of that sad and mournful parting, to see what sighs and sobs and prayers did sound amongst them, what tears did gush from every eye, and pithy speeches pierced each heart; that sundry of the Dutch strangers that stood on the quay as spectators could not refrain from tears. Yet comfortable and sweet it was to see such lively and true expressions of dear and unfeigned love. But the tide stays for no man, calling them away that were thus loath to depart, their reverend pastor falling down on his knews (and they all with him) with watery cheeks commended them with most fervent prayers to the Lord and His blessing. And then with mutual embraces and many tears they took their leave one of another, which proved to be the last leave to many of them."

[DEATH AT SEA]

"And I may not omit here a special work of God's providence. There was a proud and very profane young man, one of the seamen, of a lusty, able body, which made him the more haughty; he would always be contemning the poor people in their sickness and cursing them daily with grievous execrations; and did not let to tell them that he hoped to help to cast half of them overboard before they came to their journey's end, and to make merry with what they had; and if he were by any gently reproved, he would curse and swear most bitterly. But it pleased God before they came half seas over, to smite this young man with a grievous disease, of which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the first that was thrown overboard. Thus his curses light on his own head, and it was an astonishment to all his fellows for they noted it to be the just hand of God upon him. . . In all this voyage there died but one of the passengers, which was William Butten, a youth, servant to Samuel Fuller, when they drew near the coast."

[THE MAYFLOWER ARRIVES AT CAPE COD]

"Being thus arrived in a good harbor, and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of Heaven who had brought them over the vast and furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element."

[OVERVIEW OF CONDITIONS AFTER ARRIVAL]

"But here I cannot but stay and make a pause, and stand half amazed at this poor people's present condition; and so I think will the reader, too, when he well considers the same. Being thus passed the vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before in their preparation . . . they had now no friends to welcome them nor inns to entertain or refresh their weatherbeaten bodies; no houses or much less towns to repair to, to seek for succour . . . and for the season it was winter, and they that know the winters of that country know them to be sharp and violent, and subject to cruel and fierce storms, dangerous to travel to known places, much more to search an unknown cost. Besides, what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men--and what multitudes there might be of them they knew not. . . . If they looked behind them there was the mighty ocean which they had passed and was now as a main bar and gulf to separate them from all the civil parts of the world."

[PILGRIMS PLACE IN HISTORY]

"May not and ought now the children of these fathers rightly say: 'Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean, and were ready to perish in this wilderness, but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice and looked on their adversity . . . Let them therefore praise the Lord, because He is good: and His mercies endure forever.' . . . When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way, and found no city to dwell in, both hungry and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before the Lord His loving kindness and His wonderful works before the sons of men."

[THE FIRST WINTER]

"But that which was most sad and lamentable was, that in two or three months' time half of their company died, especially in January and February, being the depth of winter, and wanting houses and other comforts; being infected with the scurvy and other diseases which this long voyage and their inaccommodate condition had brought upon them. So as there died some times two or three a day in the foresaid time, that of 100 and odd persons, scarce fifty remained. And of these, in the time of most distress, there was but six or seven sound persons who to their great commendations, be it spoken, spared no pains night nor day, but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, clothed and unclothed them. In a word, did all the homely and necessary offices for them which dainty and queasy stomachs cannot endure to hear named; and all this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least, showing herein their true love unto their friends and bretheren; a rare example and Worthy to be remembered. Two of these seven were Mr. William Brewster, their revered Elder, and Myles Standish, their Captain and military commander, unto whom myself and many others were much beholden in our low and sickly condition. And yet the Lord so upheld these persons as in this general calamity they were not at all infected either with sickness or lameness. And what I have said of these I may say of many others who died in this general visitation, and others yet living; that whilst they had health, yea, or any strength continuing, they were not wanting to any that had need of them. And I doubt not their recompense is with the Lord."

[INDIAN RELATIONS]

"All this while the Indians came skulking about them, and would sometimes show themselves aloof off, but when any approached near them, they would run away; and once they stole away their tools where they had been at work and were gone to dinner. But about the 16th of March, a certain Indian came boldly amongst them and spoke to them in broken English, which they could well understand but marveled at it. At length they understood by discourse with him, that he was not of these parts, but belonged to the eastern parts where some English ships came to fish . . . his name was Samoset. He told them also of another Indian whose name was Squanto, a native of this place, who had been in England and could speak better English than himself. Being, after some time of entertainment and gifts dismissed, a while after he came again, and five more with him, and they brought again all the tools that were stolen away before, and made way for the coming of their great Sachem, called Massasoit. Who, about four or five days after, came with the chief of his friends and other attendance, with the aforesaid Squanto. With whom, after friendly entertainment and some gifts given him, they made a peace with him (which hath now continued this 24 years.)" [written in 1645]

[TWO ACCOUNTS OF THE FIRST THANKSGIVING]

"[BRADFORD] They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings against the winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercised in fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion. All the summer there was no want; and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they first came . . . And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc."

"[WINSLOW] Our harvest being gotten in, our Governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a more special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruit of our labours. They four in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help besides, served the Company almost a week. At which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their great king, Massasoit with some 90 men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted. And they went out and killed five deer which they brought to the plantation and bestowed on our Governor and upon the Captain and others."

[EDWARD WINSLOW ON INDIAN AND ENGLISH WOMEN]

"[The poor Indian women] sold their coats from their backs, and tied boughs about them, but with great shamefacedness (for indeed they were more modest than some of our English women)."

[BRADFORD REMINISCES IN 1630 ABOUT THE COLONY'S SUCCESS]

Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and, as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shown unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation; let the glorious name of Jehovah have all the praise."

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Bradford, William

William Bradford was one of the leaders of the pilgrims who established Plymouth Colony. He was its governor for more than 30 years. His History of Plymouth Plantation, 1620-1647, first printed in full in 1856, 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. Bradford was born in March 1590 in Austerfield, Yorkshire, the son of a yeoman farmer. He was self-taught. As a young man, he joined Puritan groups that met illegally in nearby Scrooby and was a member of that congregation when it separated from the Church of England in 1606. Bradford was among the 125 Scrooby separatists who sought (1608) religious sanctuary in Holland. When the congregation decided (1617) to seek refuge in America, Bradford took major responsibility for arranging the details of the emigration. The term Pilgrim is derived from his description of himself and his coreligionists as they left Holland (July 22, 1620) for Southampton, where they joined another group of English separatists on the Mayflower. Bradford was one of about a dozen original Scrooby church members who sailed for America on the Mayflower. When John Carver, Plymouth Colony's first governor, died suddenly in April 1621, Bradford was unanimously elected to replace him. He was reelected 30 times. In 1640, Bradford and the group of original settlers known as the "old comers" turned over to the colony the proprietary rights to its lands, which had been granted (1630) to him by the Warwick Patent and then shared by him with the old comers. During the period of his governorship, and especially during the first few years, Bradford provided the strong, steady leadership that kept the tiny community alive. He strove to sustain the religious ideals of the founders and to keep the colony's settlements compact and separate from the larger neighboring colonies. Bradford died on May 9 or 19, 1657.
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BRADFORD, William (1590-1657), American colonial governor, one of the Pilgrim Fathers and historian, born in Austerfield, Yorkshire, England. In 1606 he joined the Brownists, a dissident Protestant sect, and three years later, in search of freedom of worship, went with them to Holland, where he became an apprentice to a silk manufacturer. He sailed on the Mayflower in 1620, and after his arrival in the New World he helped found Plymouth Colony. In April 1621 he succeeded Gov. John Carver as chief executive of Plymouth Colony. Except for five years, Bradford served as governor almost continuously from 1621 through 1656, having been reelected 30 times. In 1621 he negotiated a treaty with Massasoit, the chief of the Wampanoag Indians. Under the treaty, which was vital to the maintenance and growth of the colony, Massasoit disavowed Indian claims to the Plymouth area and pledged peace with the colonists. Bradford was a delegate on four occasions to the New England Confederation, of which he was twice elected president. His History of Plimouth Plantation (1856) is the primary source of information about the Pilgrims.

Source: Funk & Wagnalls New Encyclopedia

Notes for ALICE CARPENTER:
ALICE CARPENTER was the daughter of Alexander Carpenter of Wrington, Somerset and Leiden, Holland, she married Edward Southworth at Leiden (MD 10:1). After the death of Southworth, she sailed to Plymouth on the Anne in 1623, and shortly after arrival married Gov. William Bradford as his second wife. She had four sisters associated with Plymouth Colony, Juliana, Priscilla, Agnes, and Mary (Mary Lovering Holman, The Scott Genealogy [Boston, 19191). All the sisters eventually came to Plymouth except Agnes, who married Samuel Fuller, but died before he sailed on the 1620 Mayflower. Alice's two sons by her ftrst marriage, Constant and Thomas Southworth, came to Plymouth after her. Her sister Priscilla's husband, William Wright, mentioned in his will his "brother Will Bradford," who had also been mentioned in the will of Samuel Fuller, her sister Agnes's widower, (MD 1:200, 24).

Child of WILLIAM BRADFORD and DOROTHY MAY is:

JOHN⁷ BRADFORD, b. Abt. 1618, Leydon, Holland (Source: World Family Tree 5251Mayflower Increasings); d. Bef. September 21, 1676, Norwich, CT (Source: Bradford Register, Vol 4 , 83 & 84Mayflower Increasings); m. MARTHA BOURNE, Bef. 1651 (Source: World Family Tree 5251).

Children of WILLIAM BRADFORD and ALICE CARPENTER are:

ii.

WILLIAM⁷ BRADFORD, b. June 17, 1624, Plymouth, Plymouth County, MA; d. February 20, 1702/03, Plymouth, Plymouth County, MA.

iii.

JOHN BRADFORD, b. 1618, Plymouth , Plymouth, MA; d. Of Plymouth, Plymouth, MA.

iv.

MERCY BRADFORD, b. Bef. May 1627, Plymouth, Plymouth, MA (Source: World Family Tree 5251Mayflower Increasings); d. Bef. May 09, 1657, Of Plymouth, Plymouth, MA (Source: Mayflower Increasings); m. BENJAMIN VERMAYES, December 21, 1648, Plymouth , Plymouth, MA (Source: Bradford Register, Vol 4 , 83 & 84Mayflower Increasings).

JOSEPH BRADFORD, b. 1630, Plymouth, Plymouth County, MA; d. July 10, 1715, Plymouth, Plymouth, MA.

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