Notes and Links

• m1. Anne ___?*
• Robert and his first wife had 1 child, a son:
  • William Bradford* (c1515-1595)

• m2. Elizabeth ___?
• Robert and Elizabeth had 8 children:
  • Robert Bradford; d. 1578
  • Richard Bradford; d. by 1557/8
  • John Bradford; left Yorkshire and moved to Preston, near Brighton, Suxxex, England, accordung to a descendant.
  • Peter Bradford; bur. at Tickhill, July 4, 1557.
  • Thomas Bradford; d. 1605. Thomas helped raise Gov. William Bradford of Plymouth.
  • Hugh Bradford; d. by 1557/8
  • Katheryn Bradford; d. by 1557/8
    • m. John Ogden and had 5 children, surnamed Ogden: Lancelot, William, Robert, Ursula, and Richard.
  • Alice Bradford; married in her father's lifetime and had a daughter, Anne ___?, and 2 o3 three more children.

Brief Biography:

Robert's father was Peter Bradford (c1460-1542), who was probably born about 1460, married twice, and had five children by each wife. He lived to be about 82 years old and died between Jan. 17, and Mar 19, 1542/3. He lived his entire life in Bentley, Parish of Arksey, York County, England. His will included "one ewe lamb" for each grandchild, suggesting that he raised sheep. His will mentions no wife or wives, and it would appear that they died before him. His five children by his first unknown wife were:

• Peter Bradford, (The "yonger") of Bentley, b. c1483, d. between Feb. 12, 1557/8 and Apr. 6, 1558. His wife, although he wished to be buried beside her, is unknown. He does not appear to have had any children, since his will mentions only his brothers and sisters and neices and nephews, and a peculiar reference to "brethren".
• John Bradford, b. c1485.
• Robert Bradford (b. c1487 - d. between Nov. 28, 1552 and Oct. 5, 1553), see above.
• Katheryne Bradford, b. c1489, d. before Feb. 12, 1557/8. She married before Jan.17, 1542/3, ___? Seall (or Sayle or Saile) and had five children surnamed Seall: Nicholas, John, Agnes, William, and Elizabeth.
• Agnes Bradford, b c 1491, d. before Feb. 12, 1557/8. She m1. ___? Jennings and had a son, John Jennings. She m2. before Jan. 17, 1542/3, John Ellis and had a daughter, Jennet Ellis.

Peter Bradford (c1460-1552) had five children by his second unknown wife:

• George Bradford, b. c1494, married with at least one child by 1542/3
• Thomas Bradford, b. c 1496, still living in 1542/3, married and had a son, Robert Bradford
• William Bradford, b. c1498
• a daughter, b. c1503, d. before Jan. 17, 1542/3, married George Felde, and had children.
• Richard Bradford, b. c1510.

Peter's father was most probably Robert Bradford (c1435-1523), known in his time as Robert Bradforth, who was most probably the earliest ancestor presently known in this Bradford line. He is identified as the Robert Bradforth who was taxed in goods at Bentley, in the Parish of Arksey, in the Subsidy of 14 Henry VIII (1522-23), but who was not taxed in the Subsidy of 16 Henry VIII (1524-25), his wife being taxed in that year instead. It is inferred that he died in the interim, in 1523. His wife or wives names are unknown, and he left no will that has yet been found. He almost certainly left two sons, William and Peter, both of whom left wills, and perhaps a third, named John. It is possible, but less likely, that Robert was a brother to William and Peter. It is not known whether or not Robert was literate, for the All Hallows Church in Arksey, which he may have attended, did not have a Bible in the Engliah Language until the early 1500s. It is also not known if Robert owned any property. There is no evidence that he did, however, the fact that he was taxed on goods indicates that he may have practiced a trade, or, held some merchant inventory of goods. His sons were:

• William Bradford (c1458-1533) of Bentley, who married Edith Mirfyn, and left a will indicating that he had no children. His will named his wife, Edith, his brothers, Peter and John, and their children. He bought land and a house in Bentley in 1521/2 and bought two houses and land in Arksey in 1528-29, and paid taxes in goods at Bentley, according to official records. His will also mentioned that he owned land in "Stokbrig". His wife and Francis Frobysher were the executors of his will.
• Peter Bradford (c1460-1542), see above.
• John Bradford, about whom little is known. He was mentioned in the wills of both of his brothers, William and Peter, but apparently left no will of his own that has yet been found. It is possible that John moved away from the area after Peter died in 1542. There is a will of a John Bradford, brother of a William Bradford of Fishlake, grandsons of Peter, that could be mistaken to be the will of this John Bradford, but is clearly of a later time. Since Peter lived to be about 82 years of age, John must have lived nearly as long or longer because he was in Peter's will.

References:

• English Origins of New England Families, 2nd Ser. Vol. 1. p. 243 Ancestry of the Bradfords of Austerfield, Co. York by William Bradford Browne. Ed. by Gary Boyd Roberts, pub. by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1985.
• The Mayflower Web Pages
• Bradford of Plymouth by Bradford Smith, Pub. by J. B. Lippencott, 1951.
• Descendants of Governor William Bradford, by Ruth Gardiner Hall, under auspices of the Bradford Family Compact.
• Bradford Genealogy by Faith Bradford
• A Line of Bradfords 1460-1988 by Bradford Stone