Francis Bradley (abt. 1625 - 1689)

Born about 1625 in England

Ancestors

Husband of Ruth (Barlow) Bradley — married about 1661 in Fairfield, Connecticut Colony

Descendants

Died 22 Oct 1689 at about age 64 in Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut Colony

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Biography

Francis Bradley was born in England.

Francis Bradley was born in 1625 in England.

His father, Francis Bradley-189, was a friend of Gov [[Eaton-104] and Rev. Davenport^[1]. This son, Francis, lived with Gov. Eaton. Cotton Mather left an account of life in Gov. Theophilus Eaton's household in New Haven, CT. In 1650 Francis lived in New Haven, CT, in 1657 he was in Branford, CT: also lived in Fairfield, CT.

Francis Bradley: A Journey from England to America (circa 1625-1689)

Francis Bradley, born around 1625, remains a figure of intrigue and respect in early American history. His origins are somewhat mysterious, with his family's roots in England being unclear. The Bradley name, with its Anglo-Saxon origins meaning "Broad Land," was widespread across many English counties.

In 1637, a young Francis, likely no more than 12 years old, found himself under the guardianship of Governor Theophilus Eaton. Eaton, a man of considerable wealth and influence among the Puritans, left London that year to establish New Haven in America. Being in Eaton's care was a significant opportunity for Francis, offering him a chance for education and growth under the guidance of such an influential figure.

Francis's journey led him to Fairfield, Connecticut, where he settled in 1660. By this time, he was a man of substance and standing. In Fairfield, he married Ruth Barlow, daughter of notable settler John Barlow. Francis quickly integrated into the community, becoming a freeman of the town and acquiring land and respect.

He and Ruth had a family of seven children, and Francis's life in America was marked by stability and prosperity. His legacy continued through his children and the properties he passed down to them, reflecting the customs and norms of the time.

A poignant aspect of Francis Bradley's life is a letter from his brother John Bradley in London, which arrived after Francis's death in 1689. This letter sheds light on the family's background and suggests that Francis's connection to other Bradleys in New Haven was likely distant, perhaps as cousins.

In the end, Francis Bradley's life story is a testament to the opportunities and challenges of the early American settlers. His journey from a young boy under the care of a Puritan leader to a respected member of the Fairfield community encapsulates the spirit of adaptability and resilience that characterized the early colonial period.

Francis Family

Francis (35) married Ruth (Barlow) Bradley (30) (born in 1630 in Connecticut Colony; daughter of John Barlow Sr and Ann (Unknown) Barlow) in 1661.^[2] Their known children were:

1. Daniel Bradley (1662–1668)
2. John Bradley (1664–1703)
3. Ruth (Bradley) Williams (1664–>1715)
4. Joseph Bradley (1664–1668)
5. Abigail Bradley (1667– )
6. Francis Bradley II (1670–~1716)
7. Daniel Bradley (1673–<1713)
8. Joseph Bradley (~1676–~1714)

Francis Death Francis died on 22 October 1689 in Fairfield, Fairfield, Connecticut Colony, aged 63.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.colonialwarsct.org/1638_eaton_davenport.htm
2. ↑ Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700, by Clarence Almon Torrey (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2011) Vol. I, p. 190. BRADLEY, Francis (-1689) & Ruth [BARLOW]; ca 1660/5; Fairfield, CT/Branford, CT/Hartford
3. ↑ Whitmore, Harriet E. Goulden. A Memorial Of The Kindred And Ancestry Of Harriet L. Sturges Goulden, Of Fairfield, Connecticut (1899) Page 21.

See also:

• Bradley, Joseph. Family Notes Respecting the Bradley Family of Fairfield (A. Pierson & Co., Newark, N.J., 1894) Page 1-14 & Page 66: disputed parents
• Daniels, Larry, Butts, Knowles & Hills; The Seeleys, Turneys, Sturges & Barlows (Privately printed, Bowie, MD 20715-1336, March 1993) Page 30.
• NEHGR: The New England Historical and Genealogical Register www.newenglandancestors.org; Cemetery Transcriptions from the NEHGS Manuscript Collections
• Schenck, Elizabeth Hubbell. The History of Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut (J.J. Little & Co., Astor Place, New York, 1889) Vol I, Page 354-.
• Buckingham, Ebenezer. Solomon Sturges And His Descendants A Memoir And A Genealogy (Grafton Press, New York, 1907) Page 16.
• Sherwood, Andrew. Daniel L. Sherwood and His Paternal Ancestors (Ryder Printing Co., Portland, Oregon, 1929) Page 86.
• Peters, Eleanor Bradley. Bradley of Essex County, Early Records: from 1643 to 1746 (The Knickerbocker Press, New York, 1915) Page 197-8.
• Bradley, Joseph. Family Notes Respecting the Bradley Family of Fairfield Page 1-6. The Will of Francis Bradley.