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Rebecca IRVIN ___?-___? |
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____? ROYCRAFT ___?-___? |
____? MOORE ___?-___? |
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____? BRADSHAW ___?-___? |
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Elizabeth ROYCRAFT 1811-1889 |
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Robert M. BRADSHAW 1798-1872 |
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John W. BRADSHAW 1837-1899 |
His family had moved through Virginia to South Carolina and finally settled in Alabama by the time the Civil War started. John became a Confederate Soldier and was severely wounded in the battle at Lafayette, GA in 1864. In a letter to his mother, dated July 23, 1864, he describes his wound from a musket ball that passed entirely through his body, just below his breast bone and then through his right arm. He was writing from a military prison in Louisville KY, where he had been taken after he was captured in Lyfayette Georgia and carried through Chattanooga TN. He was concerned about his brothers in Richmond, who were apparently also Confederate Soldiers, and whether or not his horse had been sent home by Captain James Isbell. He indicated that he would probably be sent to Johnson's Island for an exchange of prisoners. He asked that his sister and brother at home write to him at Johnson's Island. This letter implies that he had one sister and at least three brothers in the U.S. alive at the time.
John's father, Robert M. Bradshaw* (1798-1872), was born in Ireland and emigrated to the U.S. in 1836. There is little doubt that his middle name was "Moore", for that was his mother's maiden surname. Robert arrived in New York City and settled first in New York or [more probably] New Jersey, then moved to Lexington VA, where he was said to "in charge" of the Female Academy in Lexington. He and his family moved to Greenville SC, and thence to Pickensville AL, where they remained until 1856, at which time they moved to Gainesville AL. In 1848, he received an honorary A.M. Degree from the University of Alabama. In 1858 Robert was President of the Alabama Female College (since renamed the Central Alabama Female College). This college catalog listed him as President in 1859, and his wife "Bessie" as the Superintendent of Domestic and Social Duties. This link shows a photograph of Elizabeth (Roycraft) "Bessie" Bradshaw. Other faculty members were Rev. C. A. Stillman, Miss Mary A. Sedgwick, T. Cleaver, and his sister, Miss Elizabeth M. Bradshaw.
The circumstances of Robert and Elizabeth's emigration to the U.S. are uncertain. He was a lifelong Presbyterian, which would imply an ultimate Scottish ancestry. Some evidence points to his having lived in Monaghan County in the Province of Ulster, perhaps in the County seat town of Monaghan, in Ireland. However, it is not known where he was born. It seems that he emigrated with his wife and possibly with some children, [he married in Ireland in 1830] and possibly with his sister, Elizabeth M. Bradshaw. Since he was 28 or 29 years old when he arrived in New York in 1836, it is highly probable that he received some education in Ireland, for he was accepted for good positions in women's academies, and an honorary degree was granted him at the University of Alabama. There is no evidence that he was interested in, or capable of, large land acquisitions or participating in slave ownership.
Family folklore has suggested that he may be related to (but not descended from) the noted regicide judge, John Bradshaw (1602-1659), however, no evidence has been found to support this claim.
John W. Bradshaw's mother, Elizabeth Roycraft* (1811-1889) was known familiarly as "Bessie". She may have been born in Roscommon County in the Province of Connought, Ireland. According to the same source, she may have been born in Leitram County, Province of Connaught. It seems likely that she was born in Roscommon and lived in Leitram, when she was married to Robert M. Bradshaw*. She was an Episcopalian until she settled in Gainesville AL, where she converted to become a Presbyterian, either to suit her husband's wishes, or because of the particular Church available in Gainesville. It is possible that her father was from Leitram and her mother was from Roscommon where they were married, and Bessie was born. It is known that her mother's sister, Elizabeth "Auntie Lizzie" Irvin was born in the town of Boyle, Roscommon County. Rebecca Irvin's other children [surnamed Roycraft] were Ann, Rebecca, Fannie, Mary, and John. One of Rebecca's daughters married a Rev. James Smythe of Pennsylvania. According to some family information, Robert M. Bradshaw* (1798-1872) had 10 children, some of whom may have been born in Ireland, however his will mentions only 4 children:
Dana Bradshaw Parmer found the will of Robert M. Bradshaw in the county Will Book 2 1851-1872, which reads as follows:
"In the name of God Amen. I, Robert Bradshaw, of Gainesville and the County of Sumter and State of Alabama...Item 1, I give and bequeath all the property and estate which I shall to my well beloved wife Elizabeth Bradshaw and my beloved daughter Miss Lizzie M. Bradshaw...the balance remaining thereof is to go to my said daughter, her heirs and if she is then alive and one third to the children of my deceased daughter Mary R. [Hardy] who was the wife of Felix G. Hardy...Item 2, I nominate and appoint my son John W. Bradshaw executor of this my will. And in case he should die, or reasons so that he cannot execute this trust...I name my other son Robert Taylor Bradshaw to execute the same...this 25 day of November 1867. Wit.: Franklin P. Snedecor, Jonathan Bliss [Will recorded May 6, 1872] J.A. Abrahams, Judge."Dana also found an R. T. Bradshaw (b. Mar. 4, 1841), a James Bradshaw (b. Sept. 3 1835), and a Thomas W. Bradshaw (b. Feb 22, 1853) in the Odd Fellows Cemetery around the stone for Robert Bradshaw. These may have been sons who died unmarried long before Robert died and were thus not mentioned in his will. Also, their birth dates imply that these 3 sons were born before Robert and his wife came to Alabama in 1856, but died in Alabama. James and Lizzie would have been "babes in arms" on their immigrant ship in 1836. If Robert M. Bradshaw had a total of 10 children, then either 3 more children were born in Ireland before emigrating to the U.S., perhaps by an earlier wife, or 3 others died before Robert and Bessie arrived in Alabama. The remaining 3 are presently unknown.