Humphrey BRADSTREET (1594 – 1655) was Alex’s 10th Great Grandfather; one of 2,048 in this generation of the Miller line.

Humphrey Bradstreet was born in 1594 in St.Mary, Suffolk, England. His father was Thomas BRADSTREET.  He married Bridget HARRIS in 1622  in Capel Saint Mary, Suffolk County, England

Humphrey was 40 years old when he came to America in 1634 from Ipswich in the ship Elizabeth with wife Bridget and children Hannah, John, Martha, and Mary.   Richard KIMBALL and his extended family arrived on this same voyage. Humphrey settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts and was admitted as a freeman on May 6, 1635 along with Richard KIMBALL He was made a representative to the general court in 1635.   He died on 25 September 1655 in Ipswich, Essex, MA.  As he lived near Rowley line, Richard ordered his body to be put in the graveyard there.

Bridget Harris  was born ca. 1604 in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. Her parents were John HARRIS and Bridget [__?__].  Bridget died in Nov 1665 in Ipswich, Mass. Children of Humphrey and Bridget:

	Name	Born	Married	Departed
1.	Hannah Bradstreet	1625 Rattlesden, Suffolk, England	Daniel Rolfe  1645 Ipswich, Essex, MA . Nicholas Holt 20 Jan 1658 Ipswich Essex, Mass	20 Jun 1665 Andover, Essex, Mass
2.	John Bradstreet	1631 Ipswich, Suffolk, England	Hannah Peach ca.  1656 Marblehead, Essex, MA	1660 Marblehead, Essex, MA
3.	Martha Bradstreet	1631 Ipswich, England	Thomas Rowlandson 1648 (Annulled) . William Beale 1655 Marblehead	6 Apr 1675 Marblehead
4.	Mary BRADSTREET	1633 Ipswich, England	John KIMBALL 6 May 1655 Ipswich Mass	6 Mar 1698 Ipswich Mass
5.	Sarah Bradstreet	1638 Ipswich, Essex, Mass	Nicholas Wallis 15 April 1657 Ipswich
6.	Rebecca Bradstreet	1639 Ipswich or Rowley, Essex, Mass.	George Bonfield 13 April 1657 Marblehead, Essex, Mass	30 Apr 1687 Marblehead, Essex, Mass
7.	Moses Bradstreet	1644 Ipswich, Essex, Mass.	Elizabeth Harris 11 Mar 1662 in Rowley, Essex, Mass . Sarah  Platt (Widow of Samuel Prime) 11 Mar 1662 Ipswich, Mass	17 Aug 1690 Rowley, Essex, Mass.

Humphrey was the second cousin of Governor Simon Bradstreet sharing great grandfather John Bradstreet.

Simon Bradstreet (1604 –  1697) was a colonial magistrate, businessman, diplomat, and the last governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Arriving in Massachusetts on the Winthrop Fleet in 1630, Bradstreet was almost constantly involved in the politics of the colony but became its governor only in 1679. He served on diplomatic missions and as agent to the crown in London, and also served as a commissioner to the New England Confederation. He was politically comparatively moderate, arguing minority positions in favor of freedom of speech and for accommodation of the demands of King Charles II following his restoration to the throne.

Bradstreet was married to Anne, the daughter of Massachusetts co-founder Thomas Dudley and New England’s first published poet. He was a businessman, investing in land and shipping interests. Due to his advanced age (he died at 93) Cotton Mather referred to him as the “Nestor of New England”.

George DOWNING’s  grand daughter Ann Downing b. 12 Apr 1633 in Salem, Mass.; d. 19 Apr 1713 Salem, Essex, Mass. m1.  Capt. Joseph Gardner 2 May 1667 in Salem, Essex, Mass. m2. Simon Bradstreet 1676 when Ann was 43 and Simon 72 years old.

Humphrey’s Ancestors

Humphrey’s father Thomas Bradstreet was born in 1573 Ipswich, Suffolk, England. Thomas died in 1594.

Humphrey’s grandfather Humphrey Bradstreet was born 1540 in Gislingham, Suffolk, England. He married 21 Oct 1564 in Gislingham, Suffolk, England to Audrey Straketon (b. 1539 in Gislingham, Suffolk, England) Humphrey died 7 Aug 1618 in Gislingham, Suffolk, England.

Humphrey and Simon shared great grandfather John Bradstreet, born 1518 in Gislingham, Suffolk, England. He married Joan Warren (b. 1529 in Gislingham d. 1560) John died 1559 in Gislingham, Suffolk, England

Simon’s Ancestors

Simon’s  father Simon Bradstreet was born 1580 in Horbling, Lincolnshire, England. He married 1600 in Horbling, Lincolnshire, England. to Margaret [__?__] (b. 1584 in Horbling – d 1631 in Horbling)  He was the rector of the parish church, and was descended from minor Irish nobility. He was a vocal Nonconformist, imparting his his Puritan religious views to his son early in life. Simon died 9 Feb 1621 in Horbling, Lincolnshire, England

Simon’s grandfather Symond Bradstreet was born 1542 in Gislingham, Suffolk, England. Simon died 9 Feb 1621 in Horbling, Lincolnshire, England.

Simon and Humphrey shared great grandfather John Bradstreet, born 1518 in Gislingham, Suffolk, England. He married Joan Warren (b. 1529 in Gislingham d. 1560) John died 1559 in Gislingham, Suffolk, England

The New England Historical and Genealogical Register 1911,.

The will of John Bradstreet of Capel, dated 1610, mentions a nephew Humphrey Bradstreet, probably the emigrant Humphrey Bradstreet, aged 40, who came in 1634 from Ipswich in the ship Elizabeth  with wife Bridget and children Hannah, John, Martha, and Mary.

I believe John of Capel, the testator of 1610, and his brother Thomas (probably father of Humfrey), to be the sons of that name born to Humfrey Bradstreet of Gislingham in 1568 and 1571. I also believe that the son Simon Bradstreet, mentioned in the will of John Bradstreet of Gislingham in 1559, was the father of Rev. Simon Bradstreet and grandfather of Governor Simon Bradstreet.

It is known that the Governor’s father. Rev. Simon, born about 1565-70, was a minister and held a living at Horbling, Lincolnshire, where the Governor was born in 1603, and that before this he held a living at Hinderclay, co. Suffolk, which is only five miles from Gislingham. (For the will of Rev. Simon Bradstreet of Horbling)There were Bradstreet families at Buxhall and vicinity, but there is no apparent connection with the Gislingham and Capel families. E. F.]

Humphrey’s American Career

6 May 1635 –  Humphrey became a Freeman  was thereafter referred to as Mister (vs.
Goodman).

2 Sep 1635 – Was appointed the deputy for Ipswich to Massachusetts Bay General Court on
6 May 1635 –  Included on committee to consider Mr. Endicott’s defacing of the colors,

28 Dec 1641, 26 Sep 1648 – Served on Essex County jury

Humphrey, like many of his contemporaries, used the court to address personal squabbles  and disagreements. He was commonly at odds with John Cross, whom he likely knew prior  to his immigration, as Mr. Cross and his wife Anne were also passengers on the Elizabeth.

“Humphrey sued John Cross at court 27 March, 1649, but the case was nonsuited…John
Cross returned the favor and sued Humphrey Broadstreet, Richard Jacob and John Gage
for trespass on 25 September 1649…Cross also sued John Bradstreet that day. The family  was again entangled with Cross in November 1649 when Cross was fined for slanderous  speeches against Mr. Rogers of Rowley, and John Bradstreet was fined, evidently for the  same thing, and Humphrey served as his surety.

“A later court case, 26 December 1649, showed that the trespass in question dealt with a
gray colt. Bradstreet claimed that the colt was not his, ‘he never had a colt in his life’. At
September Term 1650, Humphrey Bradstreet and John Bradstreet had their bond of good  behavior discharged.

“On 29 March 1653, Humphrey took Stephen Kent to court ‘for taking away, using and
abusing and not returning a boar, and for suspicion of taking away other swine.’ The case
was withdrawn.”

1653 – Humprhey sold his daughter Abigail’s father-in-law [our ancestor]  Richard KIMBALL a horse for 50 pounds.

Richard KEMBALL. sen’r, & Joseph Fowler, both of Ipswich,  wheelwright & husbandman, in the county of Essex, in New England, do bind ourselves, heirs & executors, to Humphry BRADSTREETE of Rowley, in the same  county, in the full & just sume of fifty pounds, for to secure the said Humohrey,  his heirs, executors & administrators, from all charges & incumbrances touching the horse that the s’d Humphry BRADSTREETE, hath sould me, and recovered  from Zacheus Gould , in December 1649, witness our hand. Richard KIMBALL  (the marke of). Joseph Fowler. Signed, sealed & del’d in the presence of these, 3  of the 01 month, dat. 1653, witnes Matha WIllims  John Bradstreete.”

The family farm, a 130-acre parcel granted to Humphrey by King Charles I
in 1635, was left to his son Moses. This farm remained in the family, passed down from
generation to generation, until it was sold in 2007 to the Town of Rowley for 2.75 million
dollars.  The land, he said, had passed in unbroken succession from father to son from 1635 to 2001, when George F. Bradstreet assumed ownership.

The current barn on the property was constructed about 1774, and the house about 1850.

Will of Humphrey Bradstreet Essex Co. Probate Files Docket 3,081

The last will and testament of Umphrah Brodstreate of Ipswich, jul 21 1655 being weake in boddy doe therfore ordaine this my last will, in manner as followeth: I give my soule to God that gave it me, and my boddy to be buried in the buring place of Rowley, and doe beleve the cumfortable resurrection of the same; as for my outward estate, my will is my farme on which I now dwell, with halfe the commons belonging to me from Ipswich, and all the commons to me from Rowley, shall be my beloved wifes, for the terme of her life , in case she doe not marry, but if she marry , then the one halfe of the farme shall be for the bringing up of my sonn Moses, and in case she dy, before my sonn Moses attain the age of 21, then the one halfe shall be my sonn Mosesis, and the other halfe (that is the benefit of it) shall be equally divided among my five daughters, or so many of them as shall be then Living, and my will is that when my sonn Moses attains the age of 21: he shall have and injoy the whole said farm except my wife be then living , who shall then enjoy halfe the said farme, with all the dwelling house for the terme of her life, and after her death it shall all be my sonn Mosesis.

Item I doe give unto my wife Bridget one brown cow, one ew sheepe, one horse colt.

Item I doe give unto my sonn John allmy farme at Mudde River, now in the occupation of Richard Camball of Ipswich, with one halfe of my commons from Ipswich soe long as he keeps the farme unsold, but in case he sell it, the commons are to returne (and belong) to the farm given to my wife.

Item I doe give to my daughter Hannah Rofe 20 (twenty) pound.

Item I doe give to my daughter Martha Beale one pound and more. I doe leeve fiftene pounds in the hand of her mother, to be given to her her or to her child at her discretion.

Item I doe (give) to my daughter Mary Brodstreete forty pound.

Item I doe give to my daughter Sarah Brodtreete thirty pound.

Item I doe give to my daughter Rebecca Brodstreet forty pound :

Item I doe give to my two grand choldren Daniel and Hannah Rofe each of them five pound to be paid out of the farme by my sonne Moses when they attain the age of 21 years.

Item I doe give to Sammuell Beale (five pound) to be paid as above as the said Daniell and Hannah Rofe is.

Item I doe give to the pore of Rowley one pound

and my will is that if my estate doe fall short of the full discharge of all my debts and Legacies then there shall be an equall abatement out of the severall Legacies given acording to proportion. and I doe intreat my beloved friends Mr Sammuell Phillips, Mathew Boyes, and John Harris, to ioine with my wife for the disposing of my children in mariage. or otherwise as need may require. and I doe make my wife Bridget Brodstreete Sole exequiteris of this my last will, and I have hereunto set my hand July 21: 1655: Humphri Bradstreet Witness: Mathew Boyes, John Harris. Proved 25:7:1655 by the witnesses.

Bridget Harris Bradstreet died on November 16, 1665 in Ipwich, Essex, Mass. Her will was probated in September, 1666. John KIMBALL was appointed one of the executors of her will which was proved March 28, 1666. She left her most of her worldly goods to her daughters since her sons had inherited from their father.

Moses inherited her barn, musket (a long gunintended to be fired from the shoulder), large chest, chair, a kettle, a “bern” vessel, two “kelers”, and a churn in addition to the 40 pounds he had already received.

Martha Kimball (Beale?) inherited the land that she already had, a green hood, a pewter dish, a book by John Norton, one sheet and one “pelober.”
Mary Kemball inherited her old Bible, a cloth waistcoat (vest), a small reticule? (peticutes), a bolster, one pillow, one pewter dish, and one brass candlestick.

She gave Mary and Sarah Wallace her “fteny.” They were to both use them. They also received her beehive and they were to give the first swarm to their other two sisters.

Sarah received a book by Thomas Cobbet, a serge (strong twilled fabric) gown and cloak, a pewter dish, a skillet, her mother’s bed, a bolster and pillow, and pillow form, a white rug, one iron pot, and one pintado? (chintz) petticoat.

Rebecca Bonfield received a black serge petticoat, shawl? (baring chulh), a pewter dish, and the two best iron pots.

Hannah’s daughter Hannah Rolfe received her hat, wearing linen, a chest, one pair of sheets, a two year old cow, and a serge waistcoat..

The will of Mrs. Bridget Bradstreet of Ipswich was proved in the court held at Ipswich March 28, 1666. The following is a copy of the original instrument on file in the probate office at Salem.

The fextenth day of Ocktober in the yer of our lord 1665 I Bregit Brodftret of Ipfwipch in New England being of whole mind and of good and perfect memory doe make and ordaine this my Laft will and testiment in maner and forme following:

Inprimes bejng now very weake I Commend my Spirit in to the hands of my Lord and fauiour Jefus Chrift and my body to the grond with an Liuly hope of my Refure un to Life at the coming of my Lord and fauior Jefus Chrift

Itum I will that all debts and duties as I ough to any one be well and truuly paid by mine Executor here after named

Itum After all my funerall Expences difcharged: I will that my fon Mofes fhall haue my Barne: and my mufket: ad my great Cheft: and Chaire: I all foe giue unto him the kettle: the Bern veffell: ad my touw kelers: and my churne together with what I haue all Redy giuen to my fon mofes: which as I confeue doth amount to aboue forty pounds.

2ly vnto my Eldeft daughter martha Kimball: I giue the ground of mine that fhe haue in Pofetion and my grene hood: a peuter difh: and Mr Nortons Bocke: and on fheat and on Pelober

3ly I giue unto my daughter Mary Kemball my ould bibell: my cloth wefkot: my fmell peticutes an boulfter on yelow: on peuter difh: and on brafen candill ftick

I giue unto my daughter Kemball and my daughter walles my fteny the Eufe of them both and after the defes of ether of them the Longeft Liuer of them and all foe I giue to them my fkey of Befe: and my defier is that they giue tham furft fworme to ther other too Sifters:

4th I giue unto my daughter wailes Mr. Cobbets Bock: my ferg gound: ad cloke; on peuter difh and on fkilit: the Bed that I now Ly upon; on boulfter ad yellow and yellow Born: or whight Ruge: on Iron Pote: and on Penifton Peticote.

5ly I giue vnto my daughter Rebecka bondfeld I giue vnto hur my blacke ferg peticote: and my baring chulh: on Peuter difh and my touw beft IRon pots

6ly vnto my grad child hanah Roph I giue my hate: my waring liny and my cheft: and on Pair of fheat : and I giue vnto hur on ho * cow toow yer ould in the fpring and I giue on Serg wefket

7ly my will is that the Reft of my goods: Chattels: and debts be Equally diuided among my fouer dafters aboue Ritten

and I will and nominate and doth her by difier my Louing frend Samuell plats: to be mine Execkter of this my will and I doe defier him to fee this my will full feled and in witnes her of I haue her unto fet to my hand the day and and yer of our Lord aboue mentioned

I do will defier and nominate my louing frinds Samuell Appleton and Jofeph Whipple to be my ouer fers of this my will

The mark of B B Breget Brad

In the Prefents of us
Samuell Appleton,
Jofeth Whipple

Children

1. Hannah Bradstreet

Hannah’s first husband Daniel Rolfe was born 1620 in Ipswich, Essex, Mass. His parents were Robert P Rolfe and Joan Isles. Daniel died 24 Jun 1654 in Salem, Essex, Mass .

According to the Essex Antiquarian in the court of June 3, 1651 “Joseph Muzye fined for lying and for saying, when some one was reading that it was the devil’s service book. Witness: Daniell Rofe.”

Daniel, Sr. died in 1654 before Daniel, Jr. was born. The inventory of his estate gives us a fascinating glimpse of their lives. Although Hannah was made the administratrix of the estate, all the the family’s assets were listed because they belonged to her husband since a married woman could not own property in her own name.

Daniel  Rolfe Jr was slain by Indians  in the Great Swamp Fight,the 19 Dec., 1675 attack on the fort at Narragansett.

Daniel owed more neighbors than any other relative I can find.  Inventory of the estate of Daniell Rofe of Ipswich, deceased taken June 24, 1654, by Daniel (his D mark) Thurston, John (his I mark) Gage and Robert Lord:

One bedsted & cord, £1;
a little flock-bed & boulster, an ould Rugge & blanket, 2 paire of sheetes, 16s.;
His weareing apparell, £3 10s.;
a little table and 2 chaires, 2 little stooles, 12s.;
one Cradle, 4s.; a warmeing pan, 4s. 6d.;
1 skillet & brase ladle, . 3s. 6d., 8s.;
one Iren pot, 8s.,
1 dozzon of trenchers, 12d., 9s.;
one square, 3 agures, a broad axe & a pr. compasses, 12s.; felling axes & one howe, 5s.;
other Tooles & an ould sithe & one hinge, 12s.,
another ould sithe & snath, 2s. 6d.;
a hatbrish axe, a pr. of sisers and an ould tubb, 2s.;
a fowling peece, £1. 13s. 4d.;
one box, 4s.,
1 houre glass, 1s., 5s.;
1 beetle, 20d., one Iron pot, 10s., 11s. 8d.;
an ould bible & one other booke, 6s.;
one little kettell & a little skillet, 6s.; 2 sives, 2s.;
one earthen pot, 4 spoones, 20d., 3s. 8d.;
4 little keelars, 7s.,
one little pondering tub, 3s., 10s.;
1 ould chirne, one runlet bucking tub & firkin, 9s.;
one bottle & other wooden ware, 5s. 6d.;
one earthen pot & 20 lb. of butter, 10s.;
5 cheeses, 4s.;
a pr. of wood in scales & earthen weres, 6s.;
an acre of Rye on the ground, £1;
4 acres of Indian corne slit corne, £3;
about 9 acres of wheat & barlye, 1 £6;
a paire of oxen, £16 5s.,
1 cart & plough, 32s., £17 17s.;
a cowe & a calfe, £6; one asse, £5, 11li.;
one small sow & 2 piggs, £1 10s.;
a raper, 22s., belt, 2s., £1 4s.;
powder & shot, 18d.;
a drum & sticks, £2;
a little fowleing peece, £1;
a chaire, 18d., 1s. 6d.;
owing to the estate, £3;
the grass that is to be mowne, £1 12s.;
£3 of yarne, 5s.;
total, £74 17s. 8d.

Debts due:
To Mr. Jewet [Jewett], £11  & he requires £9 more for damages, £20;
to my father, Humphry Broadstreet, £11;
to Goodman Weekes of Salem, £6;
to John Woodam, £ 10s.;
to Goodman Thurston, £1 19s.;
to John Gage, £3.; to Mr. Baker, 10s.;
to Nath. Stow, 40s., £2. 10s.;
to Goodwife Elitrip & Marke Quilter, 2li.;
to Lieft Remington, 12s.,
to Goodman Kemball [Kimball], 12s., £1. 4s.;
to Mr. Payne, 4s. 6d.,
to John Tod, 24s., £1 8s. 6d.;
to Goodwife Lumkin, 3s.;
to William Beale, £4;
to Major Denison, 10s. 6d.;
total, £60  5s.

Hannah’s second husband Nicholas Holt was born 19 Oct 1602 in Ramsey, Essex, England. His parents were Thomas Holt and [__?__]. He manufactured woodenware and called himself a “plate turner.” On the ship roll he was called “tanner”. He first married Elizabeth Short. She died at Andover, November 9, 1656. After Hannah died, he married 21 May 1666 in Andover, Essex, Mass. to Mrs. Martha Preston, widow of Roger Preston (b. 1622 in Enband – d. 21 Mar 1703 in Andover, Mass.) Nicholas died 30 Jan 1685 in Andover, Essex, Mass.

Nicholas came from Romsey, England, in the ship “James,” William Cooper, master, sailing April 6, and landing in Boston June 3, 1635. He was one of the first settlers at Newbury and Andover, Massachusetts. At Newbury he was husbandman, proprietor and town officer.

17 May 1637 – Admitted Freeman.  Nicholas Holt, we learn from the historian, Coffin, took great interest in Governor Winthrop’s campaign for the governorship against Sir Harry Vane, as the close of the latter’s term drew near. So Mr. Coleman, with nine others including John CHENEY,  Thomas COLEMAN, Henry Sewall Jr, Nicholas Noyes [Cheney’s future father-in-law], Robert Pike [future founder of Nantucket, liberal dissenter, witch trial critic and son-in-law of Joseph MOYCE], Archelaus Woodman [Edward WOODMAN‘s half-brother], Thomas Smith, James BROWNE, and John Bartlett, walked forty miles from Newbury to Cambridge on foot to take the “freeman’s oath” and qualify themselves to vote in the election which was soon to take place.  It was by such prompt movements that Winthrop was elected and the conservative party triumphed.

Vane lost his position to the elder John Winthrop  in the 1637 election.  The contentious election was marked by a sharp disagreement over the treatment of John Wheelwright, a supporter of Anne Hutchinson [daughter of our ancestor Francis MARBURY  (1555–1611) (wikipedia)] Winthrop won in part because the location of the vote was moved to Cambridge, reducing the power of Vane’s Boston support.  In the aftermath of the election Anne Hutchinson was put on trial, and eventually banished from the colony.

Many of her followers seriously considered leaving after the election. At the urging of  Roger Williams, some of these people, including Hutchinson, founded the settlement of Portsmouth on Aquidneck Island in the Narragansett Bay (later named Rhode Island and joined to Providence to form the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations).

Vane decided to return to England, apparently with the notion that he would acquire a royal governorship to trump the colonial administration.  Before his departure, he published A Brief Answer to a Certain Declaration, a response to Winthrop’s defense of the Act of Exclusion; this act was passed after the election to restrict the immigration of people with views not conforming to the colony’s religious orthodoxy.

He was a tanner as well as a farmer. He removed to Andover in 1644. He sold his Newbury land November 14, 1652.

2. John Bradstreet

John’s wife Hannah Peach was born 1646 in Marblehead, Essex, Mass. Her parents were John Peach and Alice Ealis Ester. After John died, she married 14 Jun 1660 in Marblehead, Essex, Mass to William Waters (b. 1646 in Marblehead, Essex, Mass. – d. 1684 in Essex, Essex, Mass.) Hannah died in 1687 in Mass. John  probably suffered from mental illness. John Winthrop mentioned in his journal that John Bradstreet was accused of bewitching a dog. The dog was hung as a witch. John was whipped.  He was tried in Ipswich on July 28,1652,on a charge of “familiarity with the devil.” John said that he had read a magic book and heard a voice telling him.

Go make a bridge of sand over the sea; go make a ladder of sand up to heaven, and go to God and come down no more.

The witnesses against him were [our ancestor] Frances PARRATT and wife, of Rowley, and William Bartholomew of Ipswich; who testified that he told them that he had read in a book of magic, and that he heard a voice asking what work he had for him; and the voice answered, “Go make a bridge of sand over the sea; go make a ladder of sand up to heaven, and go to God and come down no more.” It is supposed that Bradstreet had related to these witnesses what he had heard in a dream; and yet, upon that testimony principally, he was held on a charge of witchcraft and, according to Winthrop, publicly whipped. The court found that he had told a lie. This was his second conviction. He was sentenced to be whipped or to pay a fine of twenty schillings.

Earlier according to the Essex Antiquarian Volume 9 in the court of June 3, 1651

Thomas Scott deposed that he heard Joseph Muzy say that John Bradstreett had three or four bastards at Road eyeland and that he should know them wherever he saw them for they had a natural mark and that was lowell ears like their father, and I told him so to his face. Sworn to in Ipswich court 25-1-1651.

Joseph Fowler testified that being upon occasion at Goodman Cross’ house to see him, being very sick, Joseph Muzi being present, John Bradstreet and I persuaded Joseph Muzi to give his brother satisfaction for calling him bastard and to agree with him. Joseph replied:

You have been whipt once allredy for faying yt the fellow in the filver buttons came and faid he fwore hime befor the gret faggamore the deputy Gouernar and he would doe the beft he could to bring hime to it againe and tould him he would haile hime out by the hares and yt he waf good for nothing but to rune rouging about the Cuntry. That he heard this latly deceafed John Croff fay that he formarly loued John brodftret well vntell that Joseph Muzi had railed fuch reports on hime which caufed him to procfcecut againft him which he feaied now feing he waf a lying fellow had don him rong for the faid John cross: faid he was fuch a lying felow thar waf noe beleving of him he waf a nofe to fet a hole town and cuntrary togeather by the years.

Sworn to in Ipswich court 25- 1 -1651.

Daniell Roffe testified that he heard Joseph Muzi say he never spoke the words, but the witness spake falsely; and another time I heard him say he would rather my brother would be quiet, but if he would come to the court he should make yet appear to be true of what he had said: he thought he were better they did not go to the court, but if they did it would be to his disgrace as to me; also, that my brother Bradstreet and I being at Goodman Cross, the latter said I believe Joseph Muzi is a lying fellow and the cause of the breaches between John Bradstreet and myself. Sworn to in Ipswich court 25-1-1651.

John Remington deposed that last haytime twelve month, being with the late deceased Goodman Cross, I had much discourse with him about John Bradstreet, and he gave John good commendation, saying that he bore great love towards him in so much that he could willingly have bestowed his daughter on him to wife if he carried himself well; their farms lay together; also, he commended him for minding good things and loved him well until he heard a report raised by Joseph Muzie against him, concerning himself and others, which did exceedingly incense Goodman Cross against said John, and altered his mind towards him, etc. Sworn to in Ipswich court 25-1-1651.

Hannah Crosse, daughter of John Crosse, testified:
I heard Joseph Muzzy say that John Bradstreet

was the leereingest hang doge that waf in the world and that he had three or fouer tones at Rode eyland,

and that he intended to go thither once in a while and then he should see them, and he was confident he should know them, and said that he used to set maids on their heads when he did dwell at Rode Eyland; and that Joseph Muzzy said that John Bradstreet inticed him to combine with him to knock Goodman Cross off his horse when he was upon Muddy river bridge, etc.
Sworn to in Ipswich court 26-1-1650, before Samuel Symonds.

Thomas Scott deposed that being at Goodman Cross’ house, that the latter said he believed Joseph Muzzy to be a lying fellow, etc. Sworn to in Ipswich court 25-1-1651.

Ezekiel Northene and Thomas Abbott testified that Joseph Muzzy said, beginning of March, 1651, that John Bradstreet had dealings with the maids at Road Island, set them on their heads, took them by the gingoes, etc. Sworn to in Ipswich court 25-1-1651.

Elizabeth How deposed that she heard Joseph Muzzy say that John Bradstreet had three or four bastards at Rhode Island, and that he was going there and hoped to see them. Sworn to 26-10-1650, before Samuel Symonds.

William Smith deposed that he heard Joseph Mussy say in Master Appleton’s barn that John Bradstreet desired him to combine with him and to lie in wait at Muddy river to knock Goodman Cross off his horse and to knock him on the head, and said John would run away with his horse; and that said John had bastards at Rhode Island, and he should go there ere long and should know them by their Bangell ears, just like himself. Sworn to in Ipswich court 25 : 1 : 1651.
John Bradstreet, Joseph Fowlar, Tho: Scott and Richard Betts, upon their presentments, discharged.

Thomas Scott, Joseph ffowler, John Broadstreet and Richard Bettes presented 26-1-1651. Witnesses: Nathaniel Stow and Thomas Nor—. Mark Symonds, informant.
Presentments signed by William Bartholmew for the grand jury.

John died, childless, in 1660 when he was only 29 years old. Shortly after his death, his widow Hannah married William Waters on June 4, 1660.

3. Martha Bradstreet

Martha’s first husband Thomas Rowlandson was fined 10s for marrying without being published three times; divorced about March 1651 when

“Thomas Rolinson, proven impotent, on complaint of his wife, was to take counsel of physicians forthwith, follow their advice, and report to court.”

Per the Great Migration, Thomas Rowlandson subsequently married again and had nine children recorded at Salisbury.

I found two Thomas Rowlandsons, father and son who could have been Martha’s first husband .

Thomas Rowlandson Sr. was born about 1597 in England. He married 1622 to Bridget Kerley. Thomas died 17 Nov 1657 in Lancaster, Worchester, Massachusetts

By the way, Thomas Sr. son, Thomas Jr’s brother, Reverend Joseph Rowlandson maried Mary White in 1656.  Mary (White) Rowlandson (1637 – 1711) was a colonial American woman who was captured by Native Americans during King Philip’s War and held for 11 weeks before being ransomed. Years after her release, she wrote a book about her experience, The Sovereignty and Goodness of God: Being a Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, which is considered a seminal American work in the literary genre of captivity narratives. It went through four printings in a short amount of time and garnered widespread readership, making it in effect the first American “bestseller.”.

Thomas Rowlandson Jr. was born about 1625, Salisbury, Essex, Massachusetts. He married 17 May 1653 in Salisbury, Mass to Dorothy Portland (d. abt. 1694, Salisbury, Essex, Mass.) Thomas died 7 Jul 1682, Salisbury, Essex, Mass.

“A Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers of New England, Before 1692 Volume #3” by James Savage)

Thomas Rowlandson; Salisbury, son of the preceeding born in England. married 17 May 1653 or 4, as the record says, Dorothy Portland, although where this name was found, is quite a mystery. had Elizabeth born 7 June 1654, died next year Thomas, 5 July 1656; Sarah, 5 Aug. 1658; Elizabeth again, 26 Feb. 1661; Joseph, 18 Feb. 1664; Mary, 24 Aug. 1665; Martha, 24 Aug. 1666; John, 20 Mar. 1668; and Ann, 16 Mar. 1669. His will of 7 July 1682, just before his death names son Joseph and four daughters Sarah married 5 Dec. 1684, Nicholas Bond..

WILL dated July 7, 1682, proved September 21, 1682. Mentions wife Dorothy; son Joseph; 4 unnamed daughters..

The annulment was to cause the Beals considerable difficulty as some of their neighbors disapproved of the annulment and considered them to be living in adultery. One Elizabeth Hollingworth was fined by the court and required to apologize in the meeting house for calling Martha “adultress” and “jade” and for saying that she “made the church a cover for her roguery”.   Martha was only 43 when she died, and had borne twelve children in twenty years.

Else L. Hambleton describes Martha’s first marriage and consequences in detail in Daughters of Eve: Pregnant Brides and Unwed Mothers in Seventeenth-century Massachusetts.

Secret marriages were prohibited; banns had to be posted for three weeks prior to the marriage ceremony. Thomas Rowlandson was fined 10 shilings in 1648 for “marrying without being published three times” and his marriage to sixteen-year old Martha Bradstreet was annulled. There was however, resistance to the Puritan assertion of control over marriage formation.

Seven years after Bradstreet’s marriage to Rowlandson was annulled, Bradstreet married William Beale. Twenty-two years later a neighbor, the wife of Mr. William Hollingsworth, was forced ot pay a £ fine for defeaming Beale by calling her an adulterer.That the wive of a gentleman was prosecuted in the first place emphasizes the seriousness with which the court regarded her accusation because as they said in their judgement, her claim reflected on “civil justice and the church.”. . . Later that year, William Beale was threated by men engaged in a traditional charivari who stood before his house and shoulted: come out, you cuckoldly cut: we are come to beat thee. Thou livest in adultery.

While these actions occurred within the context of an extended neighborhood dispute, more than two decades had elapsed since the annulment. When neighborhood tempers were aroused the circumstances surrounding the Beale marriage could be resurrected and used against them. Fortunately for the Beals, questioning their marriage also meant questioning the right tof the civil authorities to make or break marriages, so the court was willing to intervene on their behalf.”.

Martha’s second husband William Beale was born 1628 in Marblehead, Essex, Mass. His parents were John Beale and Margaret [__?__]. After Martha’s death, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Jackson the widow of Edmund Jackson on December 16, 1676. William died 1694 in Marblehead, Essex, Mass.

4. Mary BRADSTREET (See John KIMBALL‘s page)

5. Sarah Bradstreet

In 1655 she received 30 pounds from her father’s will.

Sarah’s husband Nicholas Wallis was born 1633 in Ipswich, Essex, Mass.   His parents were James Wallis and Rebecca [__?__]. After Sarah died, he married widow Rebekah Somerby of Newburyport on April 28, 1691.  Nicholas died 1 Feb 1711 in Ipswich, Essex, Mass.

A little lower down, where the stream narrows in the beautiful gorge between the hills, a bridge, probably of logs, was built by the farmers, whose land abutted on the river on both sides, about 1667. In that year John Adams, Nathaniel Adams, Samuel Adams, Joseph Saiford, Nicholas Wallis and Thomas Staco were “freed from working in the common highway for 7 years to come,” “upon consideration of there building a bridge over the river at there own expense.” In 1697 Nicholas Wallis received, but did not exercise permission to build a mill. Ipswich in the Massachusetts Bay Colony by Thomas Franklin Waters, Sarah Goodhue, John Wise, Ipswich Historical Society.

Nicholas Wallis, whose farm is now owned by the Brooks heirs, received permission in March, 1686-7 “to improve tho water by damming in the river against his own land not exceeding three foot for the building a fulling mill or mills, provided he do it within a year and a half.” Sergeant Wallis did not improve his privilege and in March. 1696-7, John Adams, Sen., his son John, Jim. and Michael Farley Jun. petitioned the Town for permission to build a dam, and operate a grist mill and a fulling mill. After a little delay, they received the desired liberty, and built the dam, with a fulling mill on the north side and the grist mill on the south, in the year 1697.

In 1701 Nicholas and his two sons were granted liberty

to build a shed for their horses next to one to be built by Corn’t Matthew Whipple and others, of forty feet in length and not exceeding ten foot wide, about twenty feet from ye Watch House, southerly towards ye old Meeting-house. (the Hammatt Papers, p, 390).

6. Rebecca Bradstreet

In 1655 she received 40 pounds from her father’s will. She was 16 years old and chose Joseph Jewett as her guardian. Her mother was not made her guardian because in 17th century colonial America women did not have full civil rights.

Rebecca’s husband George Bonfield was born 1638 in Marblehead, Essex, Mass.  He was a fisherman.  George died 1709 in Marblehead, Essex, Mass

In 1666 Sarah inherited a black serge petticoat, shawl? (baring chulh), a pewter dish, and the two best iron pots from her mother.

In 1673 George and Rebecca were sued by for slander by her sister, Martha, and her husband.

Court Held At Salem, September 9, 1673, Judges: Mr. Samll. Simonds, Deputy Govr., Major Daniell Denison and Major Wm. Hathorne. Wm. Beale and Martha, his wife v. George Bonfeild and Rebecka, his wife, in behalf of themselves and children. Slander. Withdrawn.

Writ: William Beale, and wife Martha v. George Bonfield, and wife Rebecka; slander, for themselves and their children maliciously raising and commonly reporting several pernicious and false slanders on him and Martha, his wife, on set purpose to provoke them; dated 17-9-1673; signed by Hilliard Veren’t for the court; and served by Henry Skerry, marshal of Salem, by attachment of house and land of defendant..

Rebecca was buried on the Old Burial Hill in Marblehead, Massachusetts with her son George.

7. Moses Bradstreet

Moses’ first wife Elizabeth Harris was born 14 Nov 1644 in Ipswich, Essex, Mass. Her parents were John Harris and Bridget Angier. She first married 1 Jan 1674 in Rowley, Essex, Mass to Samuel Prime (b. 14 Jun 1649 in Rowley, – d. 18 Mar 1684 in Rowley). Elizabeth died 1684 in Rowley, probably in childbirth.

Moses’ second wife Sarah Platt was born 16 Aug 1654 in Rowley, Essex, Mass. Her parents were Samuel Platts and Sarah [__?__].   Sarah died in 1697 in Rowley, Essex, Mass (Widow of Samuel Prime)

A letter dated June 28, 1689, in which the company petitioned the Governor to appoint Moses Captain.  “The foot company being called together by order, the militia in the said town being desired to  bring in their votes for a nomination of a meet person for a Captain, to supply the place of  Captain Johnson, deceased, the said Company have unanimously chosen Corporal Moses  Bradstreet, to be their Captain, if the Honored Counsell please to establish him in said office, a man whom we judge in good measure qualified and fitted for such place; and the said company being so fully satisfied with the said nomination, wee think wee need not say further  in way of commendation…”

The following month, Gage notes Moses’ role in the Indian hostilities of 1689:

“July 22. Captain Moses Bradstreet, and Lieutenant John Trumble, petitioned the Governor and Council for leave to withdraw some of the Rowley men from the guard at Haverhill, one in a week, or two in a fortnight, supplying their places with other men. This they ask for on account of the busy season of the year. They also petitioned to have the Rowley men, who went out with Major Appleton (of Ipswich), and who are now stationed in the several garrisons  at Cocheco, (Dover,) and other places in that vicinity, sent home. They represent Rowley as  being more hardly dealt with than Newbury or Ipswich, as their men have all been permitted to  return home before haying.”.

Moses died the following summer on 17 August, 1690. He is buried in the Old Burying
Ground, his gravestone the oldest in the cemetery. It reads:
HEAR LYS WHAT WAS
MORTAL OF Ye WORTHY
CAP MOSES BRADSTREET
DESEASED AUGUST Ye
17th 1690 & IN Ye 47th
YEAR OF HIS AGE
FRIENDS & RELATIONS
YOU MIGHT BEHOLD A LAMB OF GOD
FLtt FOR Ye FOLD
An extract of Moses’ will is found in the Historical Collections of the Essex Institute, Vol. 5, and  reads:

“Will of Moses Bradstreet, dated 16th of August 1690, mentions his wife’s children by her  former husband; son, John Bradstreet, to him one half of the farm ‘yt was my Father  Broadstreets,’ sons, Humphrey, Nathaniel, Moses and Jonathan. Daughters, Bridget and  Hannah. Appoints John and Moses exrs. Witnesses, Edward Payson, Nicholas Wallis and  Nehemiah Jewett, probate Sept. 30, 1690. Inventory of above estate, taken 26th of Sept.,  1690, by Samuel Platts and Nehemiah Jewett, amounting to £1257 2s., debts against the  estate £31 12 s. 5d. Returned Sept. 30, 1690.”.

Sources:

http://www.theharmons.us/harmon_t/names10.htm#BRADSTREET

http://www.genealogyofnewengland.com/b_b.htm

http://www.anamericanfamilyhistory.com/Bradstreet%20Family/BradstreetHumphreyBridgetHarris.html

http://trees.ancestry.com/owt/person.aspx?pid=9694910

http://stanwoodfamily.com/histories/BRADSTREET_Martha_Ancestor.pdf

http://www.newburyportnews.com/local/x845825905/Rowley-shows-off-prized-Bradstreet-Farm-to-public/print

http://www.stinsonauctions.com/auctions/2007-09-16/auction_2007_09-16.html

A sketch of the history of Newbury, Newburyport, and West Newbury, from 1635 to 1845 (1845) By Coffin, Joshua, 1792-1864; Bartlett, Joseph, 1686-1754