- Thomas Bradbury was one of the most distinguished settlers of early New England. He appears in the parish register as baptized at Wicken Bonhunt the last day of February 1610/1611. He is a descendant of King Edward I of England. He first appears in the records of New England in 1634 in Maine as the agent of Sir Ferdinando Gorges. He removed to settle in Salisbury, Massachusetts, where he lived for more than fifty years in numerous town offices. He was made freeman in 1640, and served as schoolmaster as well as town clerk, associate judge, captain of a military company, town clerk, etc. He came to the defense of his wife when she was accused of witchcraft, stating "Concerning my beloved wife Mary Bradbury: this is that I have to say: wee have been married fifty-five yeare: and shee hath been a loveing & faithfull wife to mee, unto this day shee hate been wonderfull laborious dilligent & Industyous in her place and imployment, about the bringing up o'r family (w'ch have bin eleven children of o'r owne, & fower grand-children: shee was both prudent, & provident : of a cheerful Spiritt liberall Charitable: Shee being now very aged & weake, & greived under her afflication may not bee able to speake much for herselfe, not being so free of Speach as some others may bee: I hope her life and conversation hath been such amongst her neighbors, as gives a better & more reall Testimony of her then can bee exprest by words."
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Sources:
-Birth Source: "Magna Charta Surities", Weis. Baptism Register, NEHGR Jan 2007
-Marriage Source:
-Death Source:
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