Major William Bradford, Jr., born June 17, 1624 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; died February 20, 1703/04 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. He was the son of Governor* William Bradford and Alice Southworth. He married Mary Atwood December 24, 1675 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.
Mary Atwood, born January 1654/55 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; died January 6, 1714/15 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. She was the daughter of John (Wood) Atwood and Sarah Masterson.
Notes for Major William Bradford, Jr.:
William Bradford was the son of Governor William Bradford who came on the ship "Mayflower" in 1620 and his wife, Alice (Carpenter) (Southworth) Bradford. He married first, Alice Richards; married second, widow Wiswell; and married third, Mary (Atwood) Holmes, the widow of Rev. John Holmes and the daughter of John (Wood) Atwood and Sarah Masterson. In addition to the four children he had by his third wife, he also had John, William, Thomas, Alice, Mercy, Hannah, Melatiah, Samuel, Sarah and Mary by his first wife, and a son, Joseph, by his second wife.
William Bradford resided on the north side of the Jones River in the section known as Stony Brook, Kingston, where he inherited a large estate from his father. He served as major commander-in-chief of the Plymouth forces at the Great Swamp Fight in 1675 and was severely wounded. He was also a deputy in 1657; an assistant in 1658-81; and Deputy Governor of the Plymouth Colony from 1682-1686 and 1689-1691. He held the office of Deputy Governor for the last ten years of the Colony's existence except the last three years of Andro's administration. He also was a member of the Council of Massachusetts in 1691; treasurer in 1679-1685, 1689-1691; a member of the Council of War in 1657-1658; a Councilor of the Providence of Massachusetts Bay in Charter in 1692; and one of Governor Andro's Council in 1687.
Next to Miles Standish, he was probably the principle military man of the Plymouth Colony. He was first made captain and in King Philip's War held the rank of major. He was one of the owners of the Little Lotman's purchase in Middleboro, Plymoiuth Co., Massachusetts, but never lived in that town. William died in 1704, and his tombstone is on Burial Hill next to his father's.
A Geneological Dictionary Oof the First Settlers of New England, Before 1692 - Vol. 1 - Savage, James - 1860-62:
Bradford, William, [[vol. 1, p. 232]] Plymouth, s. of (William) rep. 1657, assist. 1658, was wound. in the gr. Narraganset fight, 19 Dec. 1675, and carr. the ball in his body to the end of life; was dep.-gov. of the Col. from 1682 till arr. of new chart. exc. when one of Sir E. Andros's counc. 1687 and 8; d. 20 Feb. 1704; by first w. Alice, d. of Thomas Richards of Weymouth, wh. d. 12 Dec. 1671, had John, b. 20 Feb. 1653, wh. m. 5 Feb. 1674, Mercy, d. of Joseph Warren, and d. 8 Dec. 1763; his w. outliv. him 12 yrs.; William, 11, bapt. 25 Mar. 1655, wh. m. 1679, Rebecca, d. of Benjamin Bartlett, and d. 1687; Thomas, wh. was of Norwich, had part of est. of his uncle John, with wh. he had liv. perhaps m. Hannah, d. of Rev. James Fitch, and d. 1708; Alice, wh. m. first, 27 Mar. 1680, Rev. William Adams of Dedham, as his sec. w. and next, was sec. w. of Hon. James Fitch of Norwich; Hannah m. 28 Nov. 1682, Joshua Ripley of Hingham, wh. rem. to Windham, Conn. after hav. two ch.; Mercy, bapt. 2 Sept. 1660 at Boston ch. wh. m. 16 Sept. 1680, Samuel Steele of Hartford; Meletiah, wh. m. John Steele of Norwich; Samuel, b. 1668, m. Hannah Rogers, and d. 1714; Mary m. William Hunt; and Sarah m. Kenelm Baker. By sec. w. wid. Wiswall, of wh. the former h.+s name is not seen, he had only Joseph, wh. d. 17 Jan. 1747, at New London. By third w. Mary, wid. of Rev. John Holmes of Duxbury, d. of John Wood, or Atwood, of Plymouth, he had Israel, wh. m. Sarah, d. of Benjamin Bartlett, jr.; Ephraim, m. 13 Feb. 1710, Elizabeth Bartlett; David, wh. m. 1714, Elizabeth Finney, and d. 1730; and Hezekiah, wh. m. Mary Chandler; the last four liv. at Kingston. Shurtleff, ut sup. His s. Samuel, beside four ds. had three s. Gershom of Kingston; Perez, H. C. 1713, a counsel. of Mass.; and Gamaliel, also a counsel. whose s. Gamaliel, a col. in the army of the Revo. d. 1806, f. of the late Alden, H. C. 1786, Secr. of Mass. wh. d. 1843. Alden, Coll. of Epit. III. 246, 7. Fourteen of this name had been, in 1834, gr. at Harv. and seventeen at other coll. of N. E.
Children of William Bradford and Mary Atwood are: i. Israel Bradford, born Abt. 1677 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; died March 26, 1760 in Kingston, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; married Sarah Bartlett November 27, 1701 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.
ii. David Kingston Bradford, born Abt. 1684 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; died March 16, 1729/30 in Kingston, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; married Elizabeth Finney February 23, 1713/14 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.
iii. Ephraim Bradford, born 1685 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; died February 7, 1745/46 in Kingston, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; married Elizabeth Brewster February 13, 1709/10 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; born Abt. 1690 in Duxbury, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; died December 5, 1741 in Kingston, Plymouth Co. Massachusetts. More About Ephraim Bradford: Burial: February 20, 1745/46, Kingston, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts
iv. Hezekiah Bradford, born Abt. 1686 in Kingston, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts; died Aft. April 23, 1761; married Mary Chandler May 21, 1714 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.
William Bradford was born 17 Jun 1624 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA, and died 20 Feb 1703/04 in Plymouth, Plymouth, MA. He married Mary Atwood on 24 Dec 1675 in Duxbury, MA, daughter of John Atwood (Wood) and Sara(h) Masterson.
Notes for William Bradford: Here lyes ye body of Honourable Major William Bradford who expired Febr ye 20th 170 3/4 Aged 71 years. He lived long but still was doing good, & in his country's service lost much blood. After a life well spent he's now at rest, His very name and memory is blest. Major William Bradford , son of the Governor, early obtained high distinction in the Colony, having been elected an Assistant and chief military commander soon after the decease of his father. He was a Major in the army, and was an active officer in King Philip's war. When the colonial government terminated, in 1692 , he became Deputy Governor, and afterward a Counsellor of Massachusetts . He had fifteen children, nine sons and six daughters. The late Ebenezer Cobb of Kingston, who lived to the remarkable age of 108 years, well remembered the funeral of Deputy Governor Bradford. The public road between Kingston and Plymouth was obstructed by deep snow, and the corpse was carried from his family residence near Jones' River, along the seashore, it being the expressed desire of the deceased to be buried near the body of his father. His tombstone indicates the spot where the Governor was probably buried, the father lying on the east side of the son, while Joseph lies in another row, northerly.
More About William Bradford and Mary Atwood: Marriage: 24 Dec 1675, Duxbury, MA.
Children of William Bradford and Mary Atwood are: +Israel Bradford, b. ca. 1678, Kingston, Plymouth, MA, d. 26 Mar 1760, Kingston, Plymouth, MA.
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