Maj. William Bradford Jr. ¹

  General Notes:

http://dunhamwilcox.net/ma/bridgewater15.htm
William (s. of the Governor) was a Major and Deputy Governor lived in Kingston, near Duxbury, and was one of the original proprietors of Bridgewater ; m. Alice, D. of Thos. Richards of Weymouth ; she was a very respectable woman, and in an eulogy, after her death, on the colony records, was called "Mrs. Alice Bradford Jr.": they had:

John 1652, William 1655, Thomas, Samuel 1668, Hannah, and Mercy.

His w. died, and he m. a wid. Wiswall, and had a s. Joseph.

She died, and he m. Mary, wid. of Rev. John Holmes of Duxbury and D. of Dea. John Wood or Atwood of Plymouth, 1661, and had :
Israel, David, Ephraim, Hezekiah, Melatiah, Mary, Alice, and Sarah : some of these Ds. might have been born of the I st or 2d wife :

his last w. d. 1671, ae. 44 ; he d. Feb. 20, 1704, ae. 79.
(Note from Colleen Cahoon, his first wife, Alice, died in 1671; his last wife is noted in the NEGHR vol. 2, page 45, to have died 6 Jan 1714/15... )

Thomas and Joseph went to Conn.
Hannah m. Joshua Ripley of Hingham.
Mercy and Melatiah m. men by the name of Steel in Conn.
Israel m. Sarah, D. of Benja. Bartlett Jr., and he, Ephraim, and Hezekiah settled on the paternal estate in Kingston.
Mary m. Thomas or Samuel Hunt of Duxbury or Kingston.
Alice m. a Fitch of Norwich, Conn.
Sarah m. Kenelm Baker of Marshfield, and was mother of the late Wm. Baker, Messenger of the Governor and Council, and of a Mrs. Scollay of Boston.

Rev. Timothy Alden said that the children by the first w. were Israel, Ephraim, Samuel, and John ; by the 2d Joseph ; and by the 3d William, Thomas, David, and Hezekiah, and that he had three Ds.; but query.


William⁴ Bradford (William³) Will

Plymouth County Probate Records, Volume II, pages 40 - 43.
Mayflower Descendant 4:143+

The Last Will & Testament of William⁴ Bradford living in the Township of Plimouth in the Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England

I the sd William⁴ Bradford being Exercised with many bodily Infirmitys which gives me cause to think the time of my dissolution to be near being of a disposeing mind & memory do make ordaine & constitute this my last will & Testament as followeth.
Impr: I Commit my soul to God my Creator & my body to the dust of the Earth to be decently buried in hopes of a glorious resurection through the meritts of my dear Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ. As to what outward Estate it hath Pleased God to bless me with I dispose of the same as followeth my debts being all first faithfully fully & truly satisfied and paid.

Impr: my Will is that my Loving wife Mary Bradford have her thirds in my Lands & meadows where I now dwell in the Township of Plimouth as also in all my lands or meadow which I have Elce where not by me heretofore disposed of dureing her naturall life & that she have with David⁵ Bradford my son the house in which I live with the barn & orchard by it during her life & after her decease that my sd son David Bradford shall have my sd house barn & orchard to him & his heirs for ever saveing that my Will is that my sons Ephraim⁵ Bradford & Hezekiah⁵ Bradford shall have so much Interest in my sd house as to have liberty to dwell therein till they can provide for themselves otherwise.

ffurther my Will is that my wife before mentioned shall have et third part of all my goods & Chattells for her own forever together with a bed & sutable furniture to it
Item

to my Eldest son John⁵ Bradford I have made over tracts of Lands and meadows as pr deed under my hand & seal appeareth whereon he now liveth further I give & bequeath to him my fathers manuscript viz: a Narrative of the begining of New Plimouth Pareus upon the Revelations and Barriffs Military discipline.
Item

To my Grandson William⁶ Bradford the son of my son William⁵ Bradford-deceased I have given tracts of Land & meadow as Appear under my hand & seal further I give to him when he shall come of age one of Mr Perkins his workes.
Item

To my son Thomas⁵ Bradford I have given a portion in Lands in Norwich (which were the Lands of my brother John⁴ Bradford) as pr: deed under my hand & seal may Appear.
Item

To my son Samuel⁵ Bradford I have given tracts of Land under my hand & seal as may appear;

Item to my son Joseph⁵ Bradford a portion of Lands near Norwich aforesaid (which was his Mothers & part I Purchased) as may appear under hand & seal also I give to him the history of the Netherlands, & a Rapier.

Item I Give & bequeath unto my\emdash our sons John⁵ Bradford, Thomas⁵ Bradford, Samuel⁵ Bradford & Joseph⁵ Bradford all that my Pattent Right which I have to the head of Cape Cod.

Item I Give & bequeath to my son Samuel Bradford my right of Commonage or Common Right which I have in the Township of Duxborrough.

Item It is my Will that my sons Israel⁵ Bradford, Ephraim⁵ Bradford, David⁵ Bradford & Hezekiah⁵ Bradford shall have all that my farm or tenement whereon I now dwell together with all the fences orchads trees and fruittrees [p. 41] ffruittrees (Except what is above Excepted) standing or growing thereon wth all other Lands meadows swamps or right of lands that I now have within the Township of Plimouth lying on the Northerly side of the brooke Commonly called stony brooke with all & singuler the previledges thereof which sd lands meadows farme or tenement abovesd I do by these presents give bequeath & demise to my sd four sons, (that is to say Each of them an Equal part or proportion) to them & their heirs for ever not to be sold given or made away either the whole or any part thereof Except to Each other or some bearing the name of the Bradfords decended from me this I give & bequeath to them hoping they will show themselves very Carfull of dutifull & Respectfull to my Loving wife their mother dureing her life.

Item It is my will that whereas my son Israel⁵ Bradford hath been at charge in building an house upon part of the aforesd farm or tenement that he the sd Israel shall have & Enjoy the sd house for his own together with an acre of land thereunto Adjoining to him & his heirs forever.

Item I will & bequeath to my sd son Israel⁵ Bradford my belt & Rapier.

Item I Give to my son Ephraim⁵ Bradford one of my musquetts & a table with drawrs.

Item I Give to my son David⁵ Bradford my silver Bowl after his mothers decease not to be Alienated from the family of the Bradfords.

item I Give to my son Hezekiah⁵ Bradford my gold ring & a silver spoone.

Item I Give to my Grandson John⁶ Bradford, Dr Willets works on Gensis & Exodus.

Item I Give to my Grandson William⁶ Bradford the son of John⁵ Bradford my silver wine Cup when he Comes of age.

Item I Give to my daughter Mercy⁵ Steel, Hannah⁵ Riply, Melatiah⁵ Steel, Mary⁵ Hunt to Each of them beside what portion I have already given ten shillings a peice to be paid within a year next after my decease

Item I Give & bequeath to my daughter Alce⁵ Fitch a wrought Cushion that was her Mothers.

Item I Give unto my daughter Sarah⁵ Baker two of my biggest pewter platters & also a China bason. Also a Cow to be delivered to her within a year after my decease.

Item I Give unto my son Samuel⁵ Bradford all my Lattin bookes, to Encourage him in bringing up one of his sons to Learning which said bookes it is my Will that they shall by him be given to his sd son whom he shall so bring up.

Item I Give to Every one of Daughters a good booke which they may chose out of my Liberary.

Item I Give to hannah⁵ the wife of my son Samuel⁵ Bradford mr Borroughs upon the Eleventh of Mathew.

Item It is my will that the rest of my bookes be safely keept by my Executors & In Case my son Samuel⁵ shall bring up one of his sons to Learning to be by sd Executors delivered to him when he Comes of age.

I do Constitute & Appoint my Loving sons John⁵ Bradford Samuel⁵ Bradford & Israel⁵ Bradford as Executors of this my last Will & Testament to pay such debts as I owe, to Receive my dues and to see my body decently buried, to defray the charge thereof, And to see my will (as near as they can) in all the perticulers of it performed, thus hopeing that they will faithfully perform such a trust Committed unto them I do Revoke & make void any former will by me at any time heretofore made. I the sd [p. 42] I the said William⁴ Bradford have hereunto set my hand & seal this twenty ninth day of June one thousand seven hundred & three 1703
Signed Sealed & Declared to be William⁴ Bradford (Seal)
his Last Will and Testament
In presents of us
John Rogers
Thomas Loring
Ephraim Little Jur:


Memorand: That on the 10th day of March Annoq: Dom: 1703 the above named Ephraim Little & Thomas Loring two of the witnesses to this Instrumt: made oath that they were present with Major Wm⁴: Bradford late deceased & saw him signe & seal & heard him declare this Instrument to be his last will & Testament & that he was then of a disposing mind & memory to the best of their Judgments And on the 29th day of the same month of march the above named John Rogers the other Witness above named made oath to the same before me.

Nathaniel Thomas Judge of Probates
Pli: ss: Nathaniel Thomas Esq: Appointed & Comisionated Judge of the Probate of Wills & Granting letters of administration &c: to all unto whome these presents shall Come Greeting Know yea that on the twenty ninth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & four Before me at Plimouth in the County of Plimouth the Will of Major William⁴ Bradford late of Plimouth aforesd deceased to these presents annexed was proved approved & allowed who haveing whilst he lived & at the time of his death Goods Chattels Rights or Creditts in the County aforesd, And the Probate of the sd will & power of Comitting administration of all & singuler the Goods Chattels Rights & Creditts of the sd deceased & also the hearing Examining & allowing the accompts of the same by virtue thereof Appertaining unto me The administration of all the goods Chattels Rights & Creditts of the sd deceased & his will in any manner Concerning is hereby Comitted unto John Bradford Samuel Bradford & Israel\emdash Bradford sons of the sd Deceased & Joynt Executors in the same Will named well & faithfully to Execute the sd will and to administer the Estate of the sd deceased according thereunto & to make a true & perfect Inventory of all & singuler the goods Chattels Rights & Creditts of the said deceased & to Exhibett the same into the Registry of the Court of Probate for the County aforesd at or before the twenty third day of June next Ensueing, & also to Render a plain & true accompt of their sd administration upon oath, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & the Seal of the said Court of Probate, Dated at Plimouth aforesd the day & year first above written.

Nathaniel Thomas Register Nathaniel Thomas
Plimouth february 28 1703

The Inventory of the Estate of Major William⁴ Bradford deceased taken & apprized by Us the Subscribers.To Wearing apparrill to Cash to a Ring to arms 06 00 00
to Cattell 08 14 00
to Chares & Cushings 00 13 00
to a Chest & Cubbert & trunk 00 00 9 00
to mantel 00 08 00
to a Carpitt 00 03 00
to Plate 07 10 02
to pewter 01 12 00
[p. 43] To Earthen ware 00 02 02
to Iron ware 01 04 00
to table Linnen 02 00 00
to a bell 00 03 06
to a spining wheel 00 00 5 00
to a desk & two trunks 00 08 00
to other old Lumber 00 00 9 00
to bookes IS 03 00
to beds & furniture 04 08 00
to brass & bellmettle 01 08 00
70 00 00


Thomas Loring
Elisha Wadsworth
Memorandum that on the 10th day of March 1703/4 before Nathll: Thomas Esq . Judge of the Probates &c: Major John Bradford & Samuel Bradford Executors to the last will & testament of their father Major William Bradford Deceased made oath that the above written is a true Inventory of the Estate of the sd deceased so far as they know & when they know of more that they will discover the same.
Nathaniel Thomas Register

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http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~decann/genealogy/master/b139.htm#P40280 :

From 1657 to 1658 he was a Member of the Council of War.

He owned a large estate inherited from his father after 1657.

William⁴ lived at the north side of the Jones River in the section known as Stony Brook in Kingston, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

He served in the military as Major Commander-in-Chief of Plymouth forces in The Great Swamp Fight in 1675. He was severely wounded during the fight.

From 1679 to 1685 he was a Treasurer.

William⁴ was elected as Deputy Governor from 1682 to 1686 in New Plymouth Colony.

In 1687 he was a Member of Gov. Andros Council.

From 1689 to 1691 he was a Treasurer.

William⁴ was elected as Deputy Governor from 1689 to 1691 in New Plymouth Colony.

In 1691 he was an a Member of the Council of Massachusetts.

From 1692 to 1698 he was a Councillor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay.

He had his estate probated in Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

His will mentions his wife, living children and grandson William⁶.

He⁴ is buried beside his father the Governor, William³ Bradford.

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NEGHR vol. 2, page 45:

"He was next to Myles Standish, a chief military man of the Colony. In Philip's War he was commander in chief of the Plymouth forces, and often exposed himself to all its perils. At the Narraganset Fort Fight he received a musket ball in his flesh, which he carried the remainder of his life. In that deperate mid-winter encounter--where both parties fought for their very existence, nearly a thousand Indians fell a sacrifice, and about one hundred and fifty of the English were killed or wounded."

"In the war with the Indians, he held the rank of Major, and was Assistant Treasurer and Deputy Governor of Plymouth, from 1682 to 1686, and from 1689 to 1691, and in the latter year he was one of the Council of Massachuetts."

"His residence was in what is now Kingston, on the south side of Jones' river. He died on the 20th of Februray, 1703-04, ae. about 80."

"His autograph, in 1683 is here representd. (page 46 of said volume 4 of the NEHGR)."

William married Alice Richards, daughter of Thomas Richards and Unknown, about 1650.¹ (Alice Richards was born in 1627 ¹ and died on 12 Dec 1671 ¹.)

William next married Sarah Tracy.²

William next married Mary Atwood, daughter of Deacon John Atwood and Unknown, in 1661.¹ (Mary Atwood was born in 1627 and died in Jan 1714 ¹.)