Sarah Bradbury

William married Rebecca Wheelwright Maverick. Rebecca (daughter of John Wheelwright and Mary Hutchinson) was born about 1653 in ?; died on 20 Dec 1678. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Thomas Bradbury has two notable lines of royal descent. One from Alfred the Great and the other from Charlemagne. His coat-of-arms is enrolled as 139.


The Bradbury family of early New England (Thomas Bradbury and Mary Perkins) has been traced through the Bradbury line all the way back to Charlemagne, King of the Franks, born in the year 742. For detailed information, see the book, The Ancestry of Thomas Bradbury and his wife Mary Perkins, by John Brooks Threlfall.

Thomas Bradbury was from Wicken Bonhunt, Essex, England, baptised in 1610/11, the son of Wymond Bradbury and Elizabeth Whitgift. He married Mary Perkins about 1636 and lived in Salisbury, Massachusetts.He was made a freeman in 1640. He was constable, schoolmaster, town clerk, Captain of the military, and a deputy to the general court for seven years. His graceful handwriting appears in many documents in the archives of Essex county, Massachusetts.

His wife, Mary Perkins was accused of witchcraft in 1692 and in spite of testimonies to her excellent character, she was convicted at
the age of 77, but she was not executed.

Thomas died in March 1694/95, and Mary died on Dec 20, 1700. Their daughter Jane Bradbury born in 1645 married Henry True, son of Henry True and Israil Pike.

Thomas married Mary Perkins about 1636. Mary (daughter of John Perkins and Judith Gater) was born on 3 Sep 1615 in Hillmorton, Warwick, England; died on 20 Dec 1700 in Salisbury, MA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Along with the normal difficulties of being a pioneer wife, raising eleven children and three grandchildren whose parents had died, Mary ran afoul of the "Witchcraft Delusion" in her later years. When she was about 80, she was standing at her door one day when a rider came by, and his horse stumbled. Although he was not unseated, he heard a half-witted boy cry out that Goodwife Bradbury had caused the problem and had the power of the Devil. Upon questioning, the boy said she had muttered strangely when the rider appeared, and when he was in front of her home, a blue boar ran out of the house and between the horse's legs. Then, she had recalled the boar and sent it to the back of the cabin. On this evidence, the cry of "Witch!" was heard. She was brought to trial with others who were accused. Her husband spoke eloquently in her defense, and over a hundred other neighbors also spoke on her behalf. Accounts vary, but it appears she was convicted, but not sentenced to death or any of the various trials of truth.

John married Mary Hutchinson about 1645 in Salisbury, Essex, MA. Mary (daughter of Edward Hutchinson and Susannah) was born about 1605 in Alford, Lincoln, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Wymond married Elizabeth Whitgrift about 1607. Elizabeth (daughter of William Whitgrift and Margaret Bell) was born in Mar 1573/74 in Cleavering, Essex, England; died on 26 Jun 1612 in Croyden, Surrey, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Passenger on Lyon during winter trip arriving Boston on February 5, 1630/1. He and his wife are positions 107 and 108 on list of early members of Boston First Church. Their daughter, Lydia, was baptised at this church on 3 June 1632.
He was one of four men appointed to set bounds between Dorchester and Roxbury. He was a deputy of the court on 26 May 1636.
The Town of Ipswich paid him 12p a day as a soldier against Indians.
He made is will on March 28, 1654 naming his wife as Executrix.
The will was proved on September 26, 1654.

John married Judith Gater on 9 Oct 1608 in Hillmorton, Warwickshire, England. Judith (daughter of Michael Gater and Isabel Baylie) was born about 1588 in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]