Notes:

William Bradford
description
Born: 1589, Austerfield
Died: 1657, Plymouth

Orphaned at 7. Childhood illness meant he was too ill or weak to work on the farm so read and studied especially the Scriptures. As a teenager drawn to local Separatist Church and regularly listened to Richard Clyfton. When faced prosecution started meeting secretly at William Brewster's house. When Church congregation moved to Holland in 1608 he went with them. Married Dorothy May who was originally from Wisbech in 1613 in Amsterdam. They had a son John born in 1617. Leading member of group planning move to America. Kept journals of early experiences. Active in searching for settlement. Married widow Alice Southworth (nee Carpenter) in 1623. Elected 2nd Governor - re-elected 31 times before his death missing only 5 years. Plymouth commissioner for the United Colonies. President 1652 and 1656. At his death in 1657 he had a library of over 100 books.

Governor married Dorothy MAY, Seperatist on 9 Nov 1613 in Leyden, Holland. Dorothy (daughter of Henry MAY, seperatist) was born in Abt. 1597 in Wisbeach, England; died on 9 Dec 1620 in Cape Cod Harbor; was buried in Provincetown, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. John BRADFORD was born in 1618 in England; died on 21 September 1676 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut.

Family/Spouse: Alice CARPENTER SOUTHWORTH, 10. Alice (daughter of Alexander CARPENTER, 11) was born in 1590; died on 26 Mar 1670 in Plymouth Harbor. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Major William (Lt. Joseph) BRADFORD was born on 17 June 1624 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts; died on 20 February 1704 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; was buried in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
2. Joseph (Jael Hobart) BRADFORD, twin was born in 1630 in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; died on 10 July 1715 in Kingston, Plymouth County, Massachusetts; was buried in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.
3. Mercy (Benjamin) BRADFORD VERMAGE was born in 1630.

William married Alice HANSON, 11. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]