-------------------- Begin Original Message -------------------- Message text written by INTERNET:BRADLEY-ROOTS-L@rootsweb.com "Also, it was said that our line of Bradley was at one time O'bralligan?? I can find no references to this name at the moment, I've only heard it said, never written down. Anyone know how to spell it?" -------------------- End Original Message -------------------- Mellissa, I know of no Bradleys on the Mayflower, but considering some of the claims, it must have been an enormous ship. According to the BRADLEY SOCIETY JOURNAL (Jan 19,1994, VOL I., NO. 1 ­now extinct?) "IRISH BRADLEY­ ORIGINS.... Bradley is the English family name generally used to identify the descendants of a noted Irish clan whose Gaelic surname was O'Brolachain. The descendants of Brolachan, an ancient personal name. The adaptation of Bradley is an aglicization of O'Brolachain is another haphazard way in which registrars sometimes used what they thought might be the nearest English equivalent when transcribing Irish names into the records for the first time. The truer transliteration of the name, O'Brollaghan, survives in some places but is comparatively rare. The Irish Bradleys were a famous Ulster family whose original home was the district around Clogher, County Tyrone. This clan traces its descent to Suibhane Meann, King of Ireland in the 7th century. From Clogher, they spread northward to Derry and Donegal in the service of the O'Neills and O'Donnells and later down the westewrn seaboard through Mayo down to Cork and Kerry. Numerically the family name is still strongest in Tyrone, Derry and Donegal, while Cork is their Munster stronghold. In history the name appears most frequently in Irish Annals as noted churchmen and educators. Hugh, the son of Maelbrighde O'Brolachain, the builder, was a celebrated ollav or professor. His brother, Maelbrighde, was Bishop of Kildare. Donal O'Brollachain was Abbot of the famous monastery of Derry, while Flaibhertach O'Brollachain rebuilt the Cathedral of Derry in 1164. Many others of the name continued this family tradition of learning down until the Elizabethan wars brought the decline of the leading Gaelic clans of Ulster and with them their cultural heritage. In the United States, Colonel Bradley was one of Washington's trusted leaders. Most Reverend Dennis mary Bradley (1846-1903) was the first Bishop of Manchester, New Hampshire." _______ ...No references given in the article. Gary Bradley Livermore, CA