| Simon Bradstreet migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See Great Migration Begins, by R. C. Anderson, Vol. 1, p. 209) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm |
19th Governor John Leverett |
20th Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony 1679 - 1686 |
President of the Council of New England Joseph Dudley |
Governor in Chief of the Dominion of New England Sir Edmund Andros |
21st Governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony 1689 - 1692 |
Governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay Sir William Phips |
Contents |
(most extracted from GMB, pp 209-215)
Simon Bradstreet was baptized at Horbling, Lincolnshire, 18 Mar 1603/4, son of Rev. Simon Bradstreet.[1]
He married first, before 1630, Anne Dudley, daughter of Thomas Dudley. She died at Andover, MA 16 Sept 1672. He married second 6 Jun 1676 Ann (Downing) Gardner, baptized St. Brides Fleet Street, London, 12 Apr 1633, dau of Emanuel Downing (by his second wife, Lucy Winthrop), and widow of Capt. Joseph Gardner of Salem (son of Thomas Gardner).[3]; she d. 19 Apr 1713.[4]
Simon and Anne (Dudley) Bradstreet and Thomas and Dorothy Dudley (Anne's parents) came with Governor Winthrop from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony on the ship "Arabella" in 1630.
According to the records of the first Boston Church, Simon was the seventh member. This would have been in the fall of 1630.[5]
He settled initially in Boston, removed to Cambridge in 1634, Ipswich in 1636, Salem in 1646, Andover 1652, Salem 1676, Boston by 1689, Salem 1692.
He returned to England and back again in 1662.
He died in Salem, MA 27 Mar 1697.[6] He was buried at Old Burying Point Cemetery, Salem, Essex Co., MA
The names of those living at Sempringham during the 1620s that developed the idea to form the Massachusetts Bay Company that led to the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony: [7]
Dated 23 Dec 1689, codicil 27 Jan 1692/3, proved 2 Apr 1697
"...having given all my eight children such portions as I thought meet and equal & divided my plate and household stuff amongst them" the remained bequeath to "my dear and loving wife Mrs. Ann Bradstreet all that estate real and personal whatsoever that I had of hers or with her in marriage... (according to agreement made with her before marriage) in lieu of her thirds" ... also "my negro woman Hannah and her daughter Bilhah now living with me, not to be sold to any except in way of marriage, but if she finds meet to dispose of them or either of them before or at her death, then to some of my children whom she pleaseth"... also provisions at the house in Boston with one quarter rent of the house wherein I lived at my death... whereas "by a former will I had given to my eldest son Samuel Bradstreet my farm at Lynn" but at his death by his will given to Mary Bradstreet "his eldest daughter by his first wife whom I have been forced to educate and maintain... since September 1670... and have now three of my said son's children sent me from Jamaica" make some alteration to this gift by granting my wife L10 a year from the arm and "to the said Mercy Bradstreet the daughter of my son Samuel" the farm in Lynn occupied by Cornet John Lewis, to her and her heirs or in want of such heirs of her body, to the children of her father Samuel Bradstreet equally... to "John and Simon Bradstreet two my son Samuel's children now with me my house and land in Lynn"... to "Anne Bradstreet another child of my son Samuel Bradstreet" a house and land in Lynn... "my dear and loving wife Mrs. Ann Bradstreet" executrix as regards the three children of my son Samuel viz. John Simon and Anne; to the three children of my son Simon Bradstreet viz, Simon John and Lucy... to Simon Bradstreet the eldest of the three children before mentioned... to my son Dudley Bradstreet... my house and farm at Topsfield wherein he now liveth... and to each of his children living at my decease L10 apiece... to "my grandchild Mr. John Cotton of Hampton" L20 and to his sisters "the daughters of my daughter Dorothy"... to "my son-in-law Mr. Andrew Wiggin" all that debth which he owest me L50" and to every of his children by my daughter Hannah.... to "my daughter Mrs. Sarah Ward and to her husband capt. Samuel Ward" all that debt which her former husband Mr. Richard Hubbard owed me being more than L100, and to every of her children... to "my daughter Mrs. Mercy Wade and to her husband Mr. Nathaniel Wade"... to "the three children of my son Simon"... to "my son Dudley Bradstreet"....
By first wife:
[What is the source of the following narrative?]
Governor Simon Bradstreet, son of a non-conforming minister, was born March, 1603, at Horblin, Lincolnshire. His father died when he was fourteen years old, and he was committed to the care of Hon. Thomas Dudley, for eight years following. He spent one year at Emanual College, Cambridge, pursuing his studies amidst various interruptions.
Leaving Cambridge, he resided in the family of the Earl of Lincoln, as his steward, and afterwards lived in the same capacity with the Countess of Warwick. He with Mr. Winthrop, Mr. Dudley, and others, agreed to emigrate, and form a settlement in Massachusetts; and being appointed an Assistant, he with his family and others went on board the Arbella, March 29, 1630; anchored, June 12, near Naumkeak, now Salem, went on shore, but returned to the vessel at night; came, on the 14th , into the inner harbor, and went on shore. He attended the first Court, Aug 23, at Charlestown.
In the spring of 1631, Mr. Bradstreet with other gentlemen commenced building at Newtown, now Cambridge, and his name is among those constituting the first company which settled in that town in 1632. He resided there several years. In 1639, the court granted him 500 acres of land in Salem, in the next convenient place to Gov. Endicott's farm. It appears that he resided a short time at Ipswich.
Mr. Bradstreet was among the first settlers of Andover, and was highly useful in promoting the settlement, in bearing the burdens incident to a new plantation, and in giving a right direction to its affairs. About the year 1644, he built the first mill on the Cochichewick. He was a selectman from the first record of town officers to 1672, soon after which, he probably spent most of his time in Boston and Salem. He was the first Secretary of the colony, and discharged the duties of the office many years. He was one of the first Commissioners of the United Colonies in 1643, and served many years with fidelity and usefulness in this office. In 1653, he with his colleague vigourously opposed making war on the Dutch in New York, and on the Indians; and it was prevented by his steady and conscientious opposition and the decision of the General Court of Massachusetts, though earnestly and strenuously urged by all the Commissioners of the other three colonies.
He was deputy Governor from 1672 to 1679, when he was elected Governor, and continued in office till Mr. Joseph Dudley, his nephew, was appointed, in 1686, head of the administration, and the government was changed and the Charter annulled.
Gov. Bradstreet was considered at the head of the moderate party; and, when the Charter was demanded by King Charles, he thought it better that it should be surrendered, than that it should be taken away by judgement, as in that case it might be more easily resumed.
He strenuously opposed the arbitrary proceedings of Andros; and when, in 1689, the people put down his authority, they made their old Governor their President. He continued at the head of the administration till May, 1692, at the advanced age of 89 years, when Sir William Phips arrived from England with the new Charter, in which Sir William was appointed Governor, and Mr. Bradstreet first Assistant. He had been in service in the government sixty-two years, excepting the short administrations of Dudley and Andros. No man in the country has continued in so high offices so many years, and to so advanced age as he. He was a popular magistrate, and was opposed to the witch delusion in 1692, which caused great alarm and distress at the commencement of Gov. Phips' administration. "He lived to be the Nestor of New England," for all who came over from England with him, died before him.
The following inscription is on the monument erected in Salem to Gov. Bradstreet:
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Categories: Arbella, Winthrop Fleet | Burying Point Cemetery, Salem, Massachusetts | Puritan Great Migration | Notables