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Ancestors of Thomas Bradford

Generation No. 1

1. Thomas Bradford, born March 28, 1780 in Orange, North Carolina; died April 16, 1841 in Greene, Indiana. He married (1) Martha A. Garrison February 13, 1804 in Orange, North Carolina.

Notes for Thomas Bradford:
BIO: 28 Mar 1780 - 16 Apr 1841
There is a short account of the Thomas Bradford family in the Central Georgia Genealogical Society quarterly, volume 7 number 2, page 9 which reads: "1817 - Orange County, NC: Thomas Bradford, b 28 MAR 1780, Orange County, NC, d 16 APR 1841, and w. Martha A. b 1779, d 26 JAN 1840 are the first known settlers in Greene County. He first came in 1814 but found the Indians too hostile. He returned in 1817 and settled near present Bloomfield. He was the first Sheriff and later Judge. His son John Bradford, b 2 SEP 1806, NC, d 10 FEB 1854, m. 5 APR 1844, Mary McGRANAHAN, b 1798, d 7 JUN 1847. His son George Bradford, b 25 DEC 1813, NC, d 3 DEC 1876, m. 13 JUN 1841, Minerva Littell, b 1825, IN. His son Thomas Bradford, Jr., b 19 SEP 1808, NC, d 7 FEB 1860, m. 16 DEC 1841, Sarah Harrah. A probable son, William Bradford, m. 2 JAN 1841, Jane Raper. Two brothers of Thomas, settled and died in Daviess County, IN. Thomas descends from John and William Bradford, who came on the Mayflower from Bradford, Yorkshire County, England, and on 11 NOV 1620 signed "Compact" at Cape Cod."
A wealth of information on Thomas Bradford can be found in the "Early History of Greene County" kept in the Bloomfield Public Library. Disjointed excerpts from this source are as follows:
"Greene County was organized in 1821, and was named in honor of General Nathaniel Greene of Revolutionary memory.
Early in the year 1821, Thomas Bradford, as Sheriff pro tem, called an election to be held at his house, for the purpose of electing County Officers. At that election only County Commissioners were elected, and they were Thomas Plummer, David Beem, and Peter Herrington. Thomas Bradford, who acted as Sheriff pro tem, seems to have successfully filled all the necessary officers to constitute a board of election, and to make the election perfect. He gave the Officers their Certificates of Election, and they were sworn into office by Phineas B. Rogers, a Justice of Peace, of Washington, Daviess County, on the 6th day of March, 1821. In addition to the usual oath of office they were required to swear that they had not, since the first day of June, 1816, directly or indirectly, knowingly given, accepted or caried a challenge to any person or persons, in or out of the State to fight single combat with any deadly weapon and that they would not knowingly give, accept or carry a challenge to any person or persons in or out of the State to fight in single combat with deadly weapons during their continuance in office. This stringent oath in regard to fighting duels will astonish many people who do not remember the olden times.
Soon after the Revolutionary War closed, duels became of such frequent occurance that the attention of Legislative bodies was called to it as a growing public evil. After the celebrated duel between Col. Aaron Burr and General Alexander Hamilton, which resulted in the death of General Hamilton, the public mind was more than ever before called to the enormity of this practice. Dueling was prohibited in most states, and in Indiana, from the time she bacame a state, in 1816. Officers, State and County, were required to take an oath similar to the one taken by our Commissioners, as far as it related to dueling.
After the County Board was organized, they appointed Thomas Bradford, Clerk of the Board.
The land for the County Seat was donated by Thomas Bradford, Frederick Shepherd and Zebulom Hogue.
The first Circuit Court convened at the house of Thomas Bradford, which we have been informed, was one mile south of Bloomfield, in September, 1821. J. Doty was President Judge and John L. Buskirk, Associate Judge. Thomas Warnick was Clerk and Thomas Bradford, Sheriff.
The first entry of land was made in 1816 by (paraphrased) 19 named persons including Thomas Bradford.
In 1822 Thomas Bradford was appointed "Lister" for Richland township.
The February (1822) term of the Circuit Court was held by Associate Judges, Thomas Bradford and John L. Buskirk, at the home of Thomas Bradford. John Lemon was Sheriff.
At the August (1822) term, court was held by William Wick, President Judge, and Thomas Bradford, Associate Judge. Court met at the residence of Thomas Bradford, and adjourned to meet at the Court House in Burlington.
The May term, 1824, was held by Jacob Call, President Judge, and by Thomas Bradford and Martin Wines.
This year (1825) the Circuit Court convened, for the first time at Bloomfield. The first divorce ever granted in the county, was this year, and was in favor of Ezekiel Herrington. During this year Judge Bradford retired from the bench, and William B. Morris took his place. We believe it is not saying too much to say that in the organization of the County, and for many years after, Judge Bradford was the active, living, moving and controlling spirit in its civil and political organization.
As stated heretofore, as Sheriff pro tem, he called the first election, gave the Officers their Certificates of Election, and put the county in running order. At his house, all the elections and courts were held for the first two years.
The first elected trustees were Thomas Bradford, James Warnick, Thomas plummer, Ruel Leonard, Jonathan Lindley, Norman W. Pierce and William Freeland.
At the September (1833 or 34) term, Thomas Bradford again appeared as Associate Judge, taking the place of Samuel R. Cavins, who had resigned.
The first blacksmith shop was built by Judge Thomas Bradford, about one mile south of Bloomfield.
Thomas Bradford left a large family."

More About Thomas Bradford:
Occupation 1: Sheriff
Occupation 2: Judge

Marriage Notes for Thomas Bradford and Martha Garrison:
Thomas Bradford listed as the bondsman.

Children of Thomas Bradford and Martha Garrison are:

		i.		John Bradford, born September 02, 1806 in Orange, North Carolina; died February 10, 1854; married Mary McGranahan April 05, 1844.
		ii.		Thomas Bradford, born September 19, 1808 in Orange, North Carolina; died February 07, 1860; married Sarah Harrah December 16, 1841.
		iii.		George Bradford, born December 25, 1813 in Orange, North Carolina; died December 03, 1876 in Greene, Indiana; married (1) Lucinda Anderson; married (2) Minerva Littell June 13, 1841 in Bloomfield, Indiana.

Notes for George Bradford:
BIO: 25 Dec 1813 - 03 Dec 1876
A book entitled "The Early History of Greene County" has within its bounds an article that makes reference to a George Bradford, son of Judge Bradford. While no specific evidence from the article offers proof of this George Bradford to be our specific ancestor, the dates and times are such that coincidence is unlikely. I have therefore chosen to include its lines here, in paraphrase form.
"George Bradford, the proprietor of Bradford's Ferry, at Fairplay is the son of Judge Bradford, recently retired from the bench. George and Henry VanSlyke have probably resided in the county longer than any other men in the Richland township. They came here as children with their parents. In many respects these two men are alike, each has selected for his residence a high and dry location, and their houses are surrounded with all the comforts and conveniences of thrifty farmers. Each farm extends to the river, being part ridge and part river bottom. Each commenced keeping house in an early day, and kept their latch strings out, visible at all times by their passing friends and acquaintenances; and have sustained throughout their lives reputations for hospitality. They are noted for having always attended to their own business, and letting other people's business alone. And while we are writing more for the old folks than the young we will make a digression for the benefit of our young folks and say that Mr. Bradford has a handsome and accomplished daughter. Perhaps Young America does not understand the meaning of "latch string out." In our early days, our people fastened their doors with wooden latches. A string, usually of buckskin, was attached to the latch, and then extended through a hole above the latch, the other end hanging outside the door. When out, by pulling the latch string the latch would be raised and the door could be opened. If the latch string was drawn in, then the latch could not be raised from the out side. Hence the "latch string out" was symbolical of hospitality, and the "latch string in" was symbolical of penuriousness and selfishness."
George Bradford married twice. First to Minerva Littell on 13 June 1841 in Bloomfield, IN. Together they had three children: Martha in 1843, Samuel A. in 1845, and William T. in 1846. George later wed Lucinda Anderson and sired five more sons and daughters: Garrison in 1850, Minerva J. in 1852, Jacob in 1854, George on 26 February 1856, and Richard in 1859. We further note here that son George died 13 October 1934.

More About George Bradford:
Occupation 1: Farmer
Occupation 2: Ferry Proprietor

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