This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/3YF.2ACIB/1957 Message Board Post: PILGRIM WILLIAM BRADFORD (GOVERNER OF PLYMOUTH) William Bradford and Beverly Briggs are 1st cousins 11 times removed. Their common ancestors are Alexander Carpenter-8N0X-46 and Priscilla Dillen-8LBZ-MS. William Bradford was born in 1590 in the small farming community of Austerfield, Yorkshire. His father William died when young Bradford was just one year old. He lived with his grandfather William, until his grandfather died when he was six. His mother Alice then died when he was seven. Orphaned both from parents and grandparents, he and older sister Alice were raised by their uncle Robert Bradford. William was a sickly boy, and by the age of 12 had taken to reading the Bible, and as he began to come of age he became acquainted with the ministry of Richard Clyfton and John Smith, around which the Separatist churches of the region would eventually form about 1606. His family was not supportive of his moves, and by 1607 the Church of England were applying pressure to extinguish these religious sects. Bradford, at the age of 18, joined with the group of Separatists that fled from England in fear of persecution, arriving in Amsterdam in 1608. A year later he migrated with the re! st of the church to the town of Leiden, Holland, where they remained for eleven years. Bradford returned to Amsterdam temporarily in 1613, to marry his 16-year old bride, Dorothy May. In Leiden, Bradford took up the trade of a silk weaver to make ends meet, and also was able to recover some of the estate in England that he had been left by his father, to support himself and his new wife in Leiden. They had a son, John, born about 1615-1617. By 1620, when a segment of the church had decided to set off for America on the Mayflower, Bradford (now 30 years old) sold off his house in Leiden, and he and his wife Dorothy joined; however, they left young son John behind, presumably so he would not have to endure the hardships of colony-building. While the Mayflower was anchored off Provincetown Harbor at the tip of Cape Cod, and while many of the Pilgrim men were out exploring and looking for a place to settle, Dorothy Bradford accidentally fell overboard, and drowned. John Carver was elected governor of Plymouth, and remained governor until his death a year later in April 1621. William Bradford's chair. Photo courtesy of the Pilgrim Hall Museum Bradford was then elected governor, and was re-elected nearly every year thereafter. In 1623, he married to the widowed Alice (Carpenter) Southworth, and had a marriage feast very reminiscent of the "First" Thanksgiving, with Massasoit and a large number of Indians joining, and bringing turkeys and deer. Bradford was the head of the government of Plymouth, oversaw the courts, the colony's finances, corresponded with investors and neighbors, formulated policy with regards to foreigners, Indians, and law, and so had a very active role in the running of the entire Colony. With his second wife, he had three more children, all of which survived to adulthood and married. Beginning in 1630, he started writing a history of the Plymouth Colony, which is now published under the title Of Plymouth Plantation. A number of his letters, poems, conferences, and other writings have survived. William Bradford was generally sick all winter of 1656-1657; on May 8, Bradford predicted to his friends and family that he would die, and he did the next day, 9 May 1657, at the age of 68. Modified Register for Governor of Plymouth Colony W Bradford First Generation 1. Governor of Plymouth Colony William Bradford was christened on 19 Mar 1589/1590 in Austerfield, York, England. He died on 9 May 1657 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts. William married (1) Dorothy May daughter of Henry May on 10 Dec 1613 in Amsterdam, Holland. Dorothy died fell from the Mayflower’s deck and drowned in Cape Code (Provincetown) Harbor. They had the following children: 2 M i. John Bradford was born about 1615/1617. He died on 21 Sep 1676 in Norwich, Connecticutt. John married Martha Bourne . William married (2) Alice Carpenter daughter of Alexander Carpenter and Priscilla Dillen on 14 Aug 1624 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Alice died on 26 Mar 1670. They had the following children: + 3 M ii. William Bradford was born on 17 Jun 1624. He died on 20 Feb 1703/1704. 4 F iii. Mercy Bradford was born on 22 May 1627 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts. She died on 9 May 1657. Mercy married Benjamin Vermayes or Fearmayes on 21 Dec 1648. + 5 M iv. Joseph Bradford was born about 1630. He died on 10 Jul 1715.  Second Generation 3. William Bradford (William) was born on 17 Jun 1624 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts. He died on 20 Feb 1703/1704 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts. William married (1) Alice Richards daughter of Thomas Richards on 23 Apr 1650. Alice was born in 1627. She died on 12 Dec 1671. They had the following children: 6 M i. John Bradford was born on 20 Feb 1651/1652. John married Mercy Warren . 7 M ii. William Bradford was born on 11 Mar 1654/1655. William married Rebecca Bartlett . + 8 M iii. Thomas Bradford was born about 1656. 9 F iv. Alice Bradford was born about 1658. Alice married (1) William Adams . Alice married (2) James Fitch . + 10 F v. Mercy Bradford was born on 2 Sep 1660. + 11 F vi. Hannah Bradford was born on 9 May 1662. + 12 F vii. Mary or Melatiah Bradford was christened in 1669. 13 M viii. Samuel Bradford was born in 1668. Samuel married Hannah Rogers . 14 F ix. Mary Bradford was christened in 1669. Mary married William Hunt . 15 F x. Sarah Bradford was born in 1671. Sarah married Kenelm Baker . William married (2) Wiswall . They had the following children: + 16 M xi. Joseph Bradford was born in 1674. William married (3) Mary Wood . Mary died on 6 Jan 1714/1715. They had the following children: 17 M xii. Israel Bradford was born about 1678. Israel married Sarah Bartlett . 18 M xiii. Ephraim Bradford was born in 1680. Ephraim married Elizabeth Brewster . 19 M xiv. David Bradford . David married Elizabeth Finney . 20 M xv. Hezekiah Bradford . Hezekiah married Mary Chandler . 5. Joseph Bradford (William) was born about 1630. He died on 10 Jul 1715 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts. Joseph married Jael Hobart daughter of Peter Hobart on 25 May 1664 in Hingham, Massachusetts. Jael was christened on 30 Dec 1643. She died on 14 Apr 1730. They had the following children: 21 M i. Elisha Bradford . Elisha married (1) Hannah Cole . Elisha married (2) Bathsheba LaBrocke . 22 M ii. Joseph Bradford .  Third Generation 8. Thomas Bradford (William, William) was born about 1656. Thomas married Ann Smith . They had the following children: + 23 M i. James Bradford . 10. Mercy Bradford (William, William) was born on 2 Sep 1660. Mercy married Steel . They had the following children: + 24 M i. Eliphalet Steel . 11. Hannah Bradford (William, William) was born on 9 May 1662. Hannah married Josiah Ripley . They had the following children: + 25 M i. Joshua Ripley . + 26 F ii. Alice Ripley . 12. Mary or Melatiah Bradford (William, William) was christened in 1669. Mary married (1) John Steele . They had the following children: + 27 M i. Thomas Steele . Mary married (2) Samuel Stevens . 16. Joseph Bradford (William, William) was born in 1674. Joseph married (1) Anna Fitch . They had the following children: + 28 M i. Elisha Bradford . Joseph married (2) Mary Fitch .  Fourth Generation 23. James Bradford (Thomas, William, William). He had the following children: + 29 F i. Mary Bradford . 24. Eliphalet Steel (Mercy Bradford, William, William). He had the following children: + 30 F i. Mercy Steel . 25. Joshua Ripley (Hannah Bradford, William, William). He had the following children: + 31 F i. Mary Ripley . 26. Alice Ripley (Hannah Bradford, William, William). Alice married Edgerton . They had the following children: + 32 F i. Mary Edgerton . 27. Thomas Steele (Mary or Melatiah Bradford, William, William). He had the following children: + 33 F i. Susanna Steele . 28. Elisha Bradford (Joseph, William, William). He had the following children: + 34 F i. Deborah Bradford .  Fifth Generation 29. Mary Bradford (James, Thomas, William, William). Mary married Woodard . They had the following children: + 35 M i. Asa Woodard . 30. Mercy Steel (Eliphalet Steel, Mercy Bradford, William, William). Mercy married Webster . They had the following children: 36 M i. Noah Webster . 31. Mary Ripley (Joshua Ripley, Hannah Bradford, William, William). Mary married Abbe . They had the following children: + 37 F i. Rachel Abbe . 32. Mary Edgerton (Alice Ripley, Hannah Bradford, William, William). Mary married Fuller . They had the following children: + 38 F i. Alice Fuller . 33. Susanna Steele (Thomas Steele, Mary or Melatiah Bradford, William, William). Susanna married Hosmer . They had the following children: + 39 F i. Ruth Hosmer . 34. Deborah Bradford (Elisha, Joseph, William, William). Deborah married Jonathan Sampson son of Jonathan Sampson. They had the following children: 40 F i. Deborah Sampson .  Sixth Generation 35. Asa Woodard (Mary Bradford, James, Thomas, William, William). He had the following children: + 41 M i. Masury Woodard . 37. Rachel Abbe (Mary Ripley, Joshua Ripley, Hannah Bradford, William, William). Rachel married McClellan . They had the following children: + 42 M i. James McClellan . 38. Alice Fuller (Mary Edgerton, Alice Ripley, Hannah Bradford, William, William). Alice married Ballard . They had the following children: + 43 F i. Mary Ballard . 39. Ruth Hosmer (Susanna Steele, Thomas Steele, Mary or Melatiah Bradford, William, William). Ruth married Kellogg . They had the following children: + 44 M i. Ephraim Kellogg .  Seventh Generation 41. Masury Woodard (Asa Woodard, Mary Bradford, James, Thomas, William, William). He had the following children: + 45 F i. Lurena Woodard . 42. James McClellan (Rachel Abbe, Mary Ripley, Joshua Ripley, Hannah Bradford, William, William). He had the following children: + 46 M i. George McClellan . 43. Mary Ballard (Alice Fuller, Mary Edgerton, Alice Ripley, Hannah Bradford, William, William). Mary married Kilbourn . They had the following children: + 47 F i. Maria Kilbourn . 44. Ephraim Kellogg (Ruth Hosmer, Susanna Steele, Thomas Steele, Mary or Melatiah Bradford, William, William). He had the following children: + 48 M i. Edward Kellogg .  Eighth Generation 45. Lurena Woodard (Masury Woodard, Asa Woodard, Mary Bradford, James, Thomas, William, William). Lurena married Householder . They had the following children: + 49 F i. Lois Householder . 46. George McClellan (James McClellan, Rachel Abbe, Mary Ripley, Joshua Ripley, Hannah Bradford, William, William). He had the following children: 50 M i. Commander of Union forces, Civil War George McClellan . 47. Maria Kilbourn (Mary Ballard, Alice Fuller, Mary Edgerton, Alice Ripley, Hannah Bradford, William, William). Maria married Eastman . They had the following children: 51 M i. George Eastman . 48. Edward Kellogg (Ephraim Kellogg, Ruth Hosmer, Susanna Steele, Thomas Steele, Mary or Melatiah Bradford, William, William). He had the following children: + 52 F i. Cordelia Kellogg was born in 1829.  Ninth Generation 49. Lois Householder (Lurena Woodard, Masury Woodard, Asa Woodard, Mary Bradford, James, Thomas, William, William). Lois married Hefner . They had the following children: + 53 M i. Glenn Hefner . 52. Cordelia Kellogg (Edward Kellogg, Ephraim Kellogg, Ruth Hosmer, Susanna Steele, Thomas Steele, Mary or Melatiah Bradford, William, William) was born in 1829 in Egremont, Massachusetts. Cordelia married Edward Franklin Bartholomew . Edward was born in 1828 in Wallingford, Connecticutt. They had the following children: + 54 F i. Sophia Aurelia Bartholomew was born in 1859.  Tenth Generation 53. Glenn Hefner (Lois Householder, Lurena Woodard, Masury Woodard, Asa Woodard, Mary Bradford, James, Thomas, William, William). He had the following children: 55 M i. Hugh Hefner . 54. Sophia Aurelia Bartholomew (Cordelia Kellogg, Edward Kellogg, Ephraim Kellogg, Ruth Hosmer, Susanna Steele, Thomas Steele, Mary or Melatiah Bradford, William, William) was born in 1859. Sophia married Charles Claude Runner . They had the following children: 56 M i. Waldo E. Runners . Waldo married Unknown .