Lemuel James Bradford (1802 - 1838)

Born 17 Mar 1802 in South Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Eliza (Scott) Bradford — married about 1833 in St. Clair, Alabama, United States

Died 5 Aug 1838 at age 36 in St. Clair, Alabama, United States

Biography

Lemuel was born in 1802. He was the son of Philemon Bradford and Susanna Clopton. He passed away in 1837.

Lemuel James is the younges son named in the 1824 will of his father Philemon Bradford.

He married Eliza Scott in early 1833. By the time of his January 1834 letter^[1], they were parents to a baby boy whom they called Scott.

L.J. died in St. Clair county, Alabama on 5 August 1838, aged thirty-six years old

Slave Ownership

His father's bequest included one enslaved person that he left to his son Thomas:

Elias, a boy -- left to son Lemuel James Bradford

Research Notes

There is a land patent assigned to a Lemuel J. Bradford in St. Clair, Alabama -- posthumously. [[1]]

Name: Lemuel J Bradford

Issue Date: 20 Sep 1839

Place: St. Clair, Alabama, USA

Land Office: Tuscaloosa

Meridian: Huntsville

Township: 15-S

Range: 2-E

Section: 2

Accession Number: AL2620__.091

Document Number: 20383

Original URL: http://glorecords.blm.gov/deta...

Sources

1. ↑ Bradford Family Letters

• Lemuel James Bradford cited in will of Philemon Bradford, South Carolina, Archives and History [2] Search results for Bradford, Philemon: Series: S108093; Reel: 0013; Frame: 00203; Item: 000; Record 5 of 6 records

BRADFORD, PHILEMON OF GREENVILLE DISTRICT,

WILL TYPESCRIPT: (3 FRAMES)

WILL BOOK B, PAGES 58-60; ESTATE PACKET: APT 2, FILE 82).

• Find A Grave Memorial for Lemuel James Bradford [3]

BIRTH March 17th 1802

DEATH August 5th 1838 (aged 36)

BURIAL Red Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, Springville, St. Clair County, Alabama, USA

MEMORIAL ID 31849228 · View Source

Photograph of tombstone reads "L.J. Bradford" and provides dates

• Transcriptions of two Bradford Family letters, posted at Ancestry.com

[[4]]. Original source: from Bledsoe Collection at Anniston Ala. library letter 10 Nov. 1832 from Lemuel J. Bradford to William Grisham letter 21 January 1834 from Lemuel J. Bradford to William Grisham , citing wife Eliza (Scott) and son "we call his name Scott".

Letter Transcripts

At Mr. Shotwell's [Geo. Shotwell, at St. Clair Co., AL]

10th Novr. 1832

My dear Brother (William Grisham),

I wrote you by the first mail after Abraham's [Bradford slave] arrival, but in such haste that I gave you but few of the particulars. Now I propose to give you a few more, and send this by a different route. The mail leaves Ashville on every Thursday going Southward & on Sunday morning northward. I think I will write you again in 2 weeks by each route-- I had lately come to conclusion that at the Wetumpka Falls on Coosa River would be a good place to sell goods, and had you not moved to Cherokee [County, Georgia] C.H. should have proposed going in to business with you there. I believe I wrote you that the lots had been sold at that place which had been reserved by the Government for a Town. I expected to have attended tha sales, but was taken sick just before, sale commencing on the 2nd Monday in Sept. I learn that most of the lots sold low & mostly bot. by a company who owns the land adjoining directly below. This company designs to lay a town on their land (it being a more handsome site for a Town) and sell the lots abut the 1st Feby. next. It is generally thought that a Town will soon spring up there -- and must certainly flourish it being at the head of steamboat navigation. Perhaps if you should live to be disappointed at the first elections after your county is organized into counties it may suit you yet to go into business at that place if the prospects then seems good. I think I shall shortly own a lot there-- but I am still anxious to own that land where we lay the night before we parted--The Indians are still opposed to selling to the Govt and will perhaps sell to individuals this winter. Brother Wm. [William D Bradford] has mov'd to a spring about 1/2 a mile from where he lived when you was there, our crop of corn is tolerable good but I think there are as many bushels of peas on the ground as corn, I have never seen such peas grow.

You mention in yours that if I should not marry etc. etc. that I would visit you at Ch. C. H. before, or at the time of your election -- I presume I shall not be married, and when a convenient season offers, I will call on you. I should be very glad indeed to see Susan, E.M. , & Jo,& particulary the last mentioned.

Sifax [Bradford slave from South Carolina] comes in--I ask him the news-- says all well at his house-- but call'd at Mr. Gowan's on his way, & learned that Mr. & Mrs. Gowan both complaining. But about little Billy, has recovered and is quite fat & peart--Wiley Truss has mov'd to the place he bo't of Mr. Bythe & Mr. Blythe has gone to the place Wiley left-- says Susan [Bradford Truss] is getting quite round about the waist again--but mightly peart & well pleased with her new home--Mother is well- mightly election at the big spring next Monday for Jackson or some of the big men.

My dear Brother, I do feel much indebted to you for the Intelligence your letters have given me & hope you will keep up the correspondence. I was glad to hear who was your senator and Repr's--I lament the accident to that best of young ladies, Miss Calhoun. I hope she will soon recover-- Miss Dabney you say was married to Jas. Calhoun. I wish them a great deal of happiness all along thro' life --'spose your little daughters will soon know what it is to go to cabbin as you have raised & covered one. What did you send to Warsaw for? if it be a fair question now as you get the news so soon from Milledgeville you will know early how the drawing, in the gold & land lottery [GA 1832] goes on or has gone one, you informed me of having a list of the 1st days drawing. I mention in my last that I expectedan Interest in some draws , belonging to a Mr. George G. Downs--he has lived in several counties of Georgia but he mov'd here from Cherokee County from jsut beflow that shashallow ford on the Chestatee R. but he gave in his name in Madison cty. you will please let me know wheterh or not you know any thing _____- _____ and if he should draw a prize, or if you should _____ _____ know it as soon as possible.

Among the most pleasing information which you gave me was that of Mr. now Brother Stephens & others being baptized lately. you will please present my brotherly love to him & remember me in an affectionate manner to his family.

You say Susan had a quilting on the 17 ult. with about a dozen young ladies who did not near finish the quilt. Our niece Nancy Shotwell, says tell Susan she should always invite old ladies on such occasions-- they will do much the most work. Nancy says little George grows larger and prettyer every day. and I think she tells the truth. still he is not as handsome as my J. Lemuel [Grisham's son, named after Lemuel].

We rec'd by last mail from Huntsville 600 beautifully printed Jackson tickets for the election next Monday. This county goes the hold-hog for J & V. Buren. Mrs. Shotwell & all this family send their love to you & Susan-- Sister Gowan wrote Susan lately, I sent the 1st letter by private conveyance--my respect to all those who may enquire after me & for yourselves my best love L. J. Bradford

Ashville A.

Nov. 11 1832

Sent to William Grisham P. master

Cherokee Court House, cherokee County Gerogia.

-- Wetumpka 21 Jany 1834 [St. Clair County, AL]

My dear Brother & Sister (William Grisham and Susan Bradford Grisham,

Your kind favor of the 10Inst came duly to hand by last mail. It was rec'd with much pleasure and esteemed as letter A.NO. 1, it found my famly all at home & favored with good health, my wife & man-child had just got home and all served to cheer my heart, the little man has a sparkiling deep blue eye full of expression with quite a handsome face as I thilk and has already rec'd many affec't, kisses for you & sister, We call his name "Scott",

I am proud to learn that you was successful in your Election & hope that your term of serviece will be an easy, pleasant & profittable one.

I find that you have suffered some uneasiness on acct the long delay in the arrival of my goods which came to hand (mostly) on Xmass Eve & which I should have informed you of sooner, but if ever I have had a press on hand it has been since then--our sales have already amtd to $12,000-- & I think in good hands and at a fair price. Some of the new merchants here complain of dull times, but my business has been better than common. Jas declned taking an in't in the goods after you requested to be off. thus I now have the whole resonsibility & no doubt may make more money, yet I feel that I should have been better satisfied to have continued in the firm.

I am now prepaing to build a very large & commodious Store House 48 X 60 feet two story, with a partition thru' the centre, expect also to build a very extensive Warehouse between this & fall.

I have lately red'd letters from Brother Philemon & nephew A. H. Stotwell-- their wives have each had a son born lately and as well as is common in such cases. Wm has sold out his In't in the store of Shotwell & Thomason at the Big Spring or Springville. sold to Thomason without making a great deal of money in the operation. He speaks of coming to Wetumpka, but he's so very notional I make no certain calculation on him. He is at his fathers now but does not expect to remain long. I learn that mother has moved to Mr. Shotwells & that Mr. Shotwell has bot the Mills & land formally owned by Mr. John Allen Esqr. & intends moving to that place. I have lately bo't a valuable tract of land in St. Clair myself, with two fine sulphur springs & 2 or 3 of limestone. it is the same lately owned by John Bush & Geo. W. Patrick. It lies within about 6 miles of the comtemplated Rail Road from this to Bever creek & should that road be made I shall (if I should live so long) build a good house on my land & perhaps make it a place of resort in the summer time.

Our bridge is paying now about $100 pr week clear of expenses notwithstanding the rate of toll is very low at present. I shall now come to a close & let Jas. fill the next page. J Lemuel Bradford to William & Susan Grisham Jan 21 1836

Forgot to tell you that Mary Scott came home with my wife to spend the winter she is quite an interesting little girl & joins Eliza & myself in love to you & sister & children. L.J. B.

Dear Aunt & Uncle,

You see from the foregoing page that it was designed for myself to fill the presnt one but I feel as though I should be committing a trepass to attempt to add anthing more to the very ineteresting information contained in the former part of this letter-- so you will please excuse me at present and I will give you lines at length in a few days. Your friend in truth J. M. Bradford

Addressed to William Grisham Esqr. P. Master

Canton, Cherokke Cty GA.

notes:

[ James Bradford son of Henry Bradford of St. Clair Co., another brother of Lemuel James remained in Wetumpka as a merchant, his one son and two daughters dying without children.]

[Mary Scott assumed a younger sisiter of Eliza Bradford.]