This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Bray, Bradford, Whitaker, Cantey, Wiggins, Crowell, Baker Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/5gF.2ACIB/1256.1.1.1 Message Board Post: This is all v e r y interesting. Not only are the Brays & Bradfords related anciently, as identified by their haplotype (I), but the Brays lived above the stream/river and the origin of the Bradford name is: "The name of Bradford is derived from the Saxon "Bradenford," or "Broad-ford," and is doubtless very ancient. Names of individuals were often derived from the names of the places at which they happened to reside; and names thus acquired were transmitted to families. Hence, some individual who resided at some time, at some broad ford of some stream, river or estuary, in due time was called by the name of that locality, Broad Ford and afterwards Bradford as a more convenient word for utterance." Interesting. The Brays lived on the hill above the Bradfords. The paths of their descendants later crossed in NC along with the descendants of Oliver Cromwell. Interesting happenstance we only know because of the science of Genetic Genealogy plus our traditional paper trails. ! The possibilties of the two disciplines together are undefinable at this time. Thanks for looking at your records, I'll keep looking around for Angelica's maiden name, but for the moment will have to go with ANGELICA BRAY as earliest known ancestor for the maternal project. Regards, Becky