![]() ![]() They had a son, John, who was born in 1617, before selling their home two years later - presumably to fund their voyage to America. ![]() There, Bradford continued to live with the Brewster family and in 1613 married Dorothy May, the daughter of a well-off English couple from Cambridgeshire who were living in Amsterdam. The following year, they succeeded in fleeing the country via another route and arrived in Amsterdam in August 1608, before relocating to Leiden. When their meetings came to the attention of the authorities, however, a number of the group - including Bradford - were imprisoned for 30 days in the cells at the Boston Guildhall, after attempting to flee to Holland. Some years later, when the group faced prosecution, they started meeting secretly at Brewster's house, Scrooby Manor. The congregation there also included fellow Mayflower passengers William Brewster and John Robinson. St Helena's Church in Austerfield William Bradford's role in the Pilgrims' storyĪs a teenager, Bradford drawn to the local Separatist church, All Saints' Church in Babworth, Nottinghamshire, where he regularly listened to Richard Clyfton. He is thought to have been brought up in Austerfield Manor House by his grandfather and uncles, after being orphaned at the age of seven.Ī subsequent long illness meant that Bradford was too ill or weak to work on the family farm so, instead, he concentrated on reading and and studies - especially the Scriptures. William Bradford was born in the village of Austerfield, Doncaster, in 1589 to William Bradford and Alice Briggs, and was baptised at St Helena's Church.ĭespite being born into a wealthy family, Bradford was to endure a tough childhood. The Manor House, Austerfield Who was William Bradford? Regarded as the most authoritative account of the Pilgrims and the early years in Plymouth Colony, it details the Mayflower voyage and what happened when the passengers and crew arrived in America. He served as Governor for many years, gaining re-election time and time again, and played a huge part in gaining the trust of the Native Americans - which led to what became the first Thanksgiving in 1623.īradford documented his experiences in an historic book titled 'Bradford's History of Plymouth Plantation, 1606-1646'. Then, while grieving the sudden death of his wife - who passed away while the ship was anchored off Cape Cod - Bradford was chosen to lead the group after first-elected Governor John Carver collapsed and died less than six months after the Mayflower landed. He may not have been first choice for the role of Governor of Plymouth Colony, but William Bradford became the man who would lead the Pilgrims during their formative years in America.ĭespite being a long-standing member of the Separatist group and playing a huge part in their plans to sail across the Atlantic, Bradford was yet to assume any leadership role for the Pilgrims - but that was to change very quickly.Īgainst all the odds, he overcame the terrible sickness that swept through the Mayflower during the first winter and accounted for more than half the lives of the people on board. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |