William Bradley (1757 - 1841)

Born 1757 in Kirkby Stephen, Westmorland, England

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Hutchinson — married 29 Aug 1790 in Kirkby Stephen, Westmorland, England

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Andrew Lancaster [send private message]

Biography

William Bradley was a clogger, a maker of a type of footware.

He was 32 when he married Margaret Hutchinson in Kirkby Stephen, 29 August 1790.

This makes it clear that he was baptised 25 Dec 1757, and his father's name was Thomas Bradley.

9 June 1796 - Margaret wife of William BRADLEY of Kirkby Stephen was buried. Then aged 36.

William re-married to Anne Robinson in 1810, who lived until 1850.

Burial 19 Mar 1841 - William BRADLEY of Kirkby Stephen, aged 81

In a description of the family by a local poet John Close several members of the family were described, including William.

At ' Castle Burgos,' lives BILL—his brother,

He'll make his clogs—and sing like mad,

A sad droll dog he is like no other;

I'll notice him just by and by, He is a jolly frisky lad ;

The poem explains that his uncle was a clogger also for 7 years, but then went to school and became a clergy man and school master. Bill's brother Thomas also became a clergyman.

Another poem all about Bill explains that Castle Burgos is the name of his shop, and that Bill was so drole a talker as to be called the village joker.

Sources

• The Kirkby Stephen page of genealogist Nancy McLaughlin.
• The Bradley ancestry webpage of Andrew Lancaster.
• John Close was a close friend of the Bradley family. Close, who was not a highly respected poet, but was well known, wrote at least two volumes concerning the people of Kirkby Stephen. "The Book of the Chronicles: or Winter Evening Tales of Westmorland" and "Once a Year, Tales and Legends of Westmorland" both works appear on books.google.com. Bill appears in the first of these.