The First Bradshaws of Virginia

 

 

 

 The First Bradshaws of Virginia

 Colonial VIRGINIA and Early Immigrants

 The London Company, established by Henry Wriothelsey, [3rd Earl of Southampton -Shakespeare’s patron], sent out three ships: the  Susan Constant, the Discovery, and the Goodspeed.  The passenger list was made up of 143 families of people from all walks of life: “Reprobates of good families “ (William Byrd - an 18th Century Virginia writer). The ships landed on 26 April, 1607. The new land was called “Virginia”, in honor of Queen Elizabeth., the “virgin queen”.  The colony, established on 14 May, 1607, was named Jamestown for King James, who had recently come to the thrown since the death of Queen Elizabeth. 

   Virginia claimed all the land from the coastal boundaries along the Atlantic Coast, inland to the Mississippi River.  Founded by Englishmen, the colony reflected the English way of life, creating a House of Burgesses in 1619,  to handle local problems, but still under the direct rule of the English Sovereignty. Slave trade was established to help cultivate the virgin soil and the colony became prosperous with the cultivation of tobacco, which was all the rave in England. King James thought tobacco should be outlawed, stating that it was a “filthy habit” and very ungodly. But it soon became a money crop for the crown, and he was persuaded to end his “preaching” against it.  Cotton also became a money crop and the land barons acquired more slaves to cultivate their crops, growing more and more wealthy, but becoming more and more dependent upon their slave-labor. It was, by the early part of the 19th century, the status quo for the wealthy southern agricultural states, but also existed in the northern states as well.

In the book "Early Virginia Immigrants, 1623-1666",  George Greer lists eight BRADSHAW immigrants. Of the eight men listed,  we find Richard BRADSHAWHenry BRADSHAW,  William BRADSHAW, & John BRADSHAW who are the most likely candidates to be our ancestor.

The earliest known BRADSHAW to come to America was a Richard BRADSHAW, age 20 (or age 21years by another account), born ca. 1601, Ireland. He came to the Virginia Colony on 16 February, 1621, on the ship 'Temperance' with  Victor HARVEY and his son. * (Ref. Orig. List of Emigrants 1600-1700, by Hotten in Virginia 16 Feb., 1623). 

 On March 8th, 1650, Richard BRADSHAW went (or returned) to England, and brought back 7 persons and received 345 acres in Northumberland co, Virginia. Northumberland was the 9th of the Original "Shires" or counties and took the northern section that prior to 1648 was recorded as York & James City counties. (REF: Patent Book No. 3, page 270). ]

 * I found these two records particularly intriguing because in the Bible belonging to my Great- Great-Grandmother, Ann BRADSHAW-VAUGHN, she had written that an early BRADSHAW ancestor of ours came to this country with a man named "Victor Harvey", who came "with 7 sons and no wife".


"Cavaliers and Pioneers" by Nell M. Nugent says that Theodore MOSES transported 40 people to the new colony and a 'Henry BRADSHAW' was one of them. MOSES received 2000 acres of land in James City County on May 23, 1637, in payment for transporting them to the Colonies.

In 1654, Ed WALSH (or WELSH) received 900 acres (50 acres per person) for bringing 18 people to Virginia. There was among them, a John BRADSHAW, born ca. 1600 and RICHARD BRADSHAW. [were these two men brothers? - ]

Lewis BURWELL and Thomas VAUSE were given 2300 acres April 18, 1648 for bringing 46 people. One of them was a 'William BRADSHAW'.

Some claim this William BRADSHAW is our earliest ancestor in the Virginia Colonies, and possibly the father or a brother of John BRADSHAW, but I have found no records to back this up. I feel there is likely a connection to the above mentioned Richard BRADSHAW, but it is curious that I have found nothing about Richard Bradshaw after this time period. .

Also, some of the family names have definite Irish origin, and are so unique that I cannot help but speculate that this too is a clue to our origin. Two examples being  "SKELTON" & " LARNER".  

  Our earliest known ancestor - John BRADSHAW

John Bradshaw is perhaps our earliest known Bradshaw in the Virginia Colonies.
He was born in England (or Ireland) in 1644, and was married to Elizabeth HARPER.

Children of John (1) & Elizabeth BRADSHAW were:

i.   John Bradshaw (2) - our direct line, 
born Bef. 1690. 
died in Amelia County, Virginia

ii.  William Bradshaw,
born Abt 1690, Henrico County, Virginia
died in 1740 in Goochland or Cumberland County, Virginia

iii. Larner Bradshaw,
born Abt 1692, Henrico county, Virginia
died 18 Dec., 1758, Goochland County, Virginia
Larner married: (1) Hannah
He married: (2) Elizabeth A.

iv.  Benjamin Bradshaw

Notes on Benjamin Bradshaw  [ from the records of Ann Bradshaw-Musser]  
Benjamin was probably apprenticed to William BALLEW after his father's death. Benjamin's mother, Elizabeth, then the wife of Arthur MARCUM, complained in court about Benjamin's treatment by BALLEW. (Henrico Co., Va. Court Minutes Records reel 1, pg. 66)

Henrico County, Virginia Court Orders 1710-1714, pg. 80:
July, 1711 Arthur MARCUM and wife Elizabeth vs. Jane BAYLEY for illegally detaining son of Elizabeth as a servant. (son not named)

Henrico County, Virginia Court Orders 1710-1714, pg. 89:
July 1711 Arthur and Elizabeth MARCUM vs. Jane BAYLEY for indenture of Elizabeth's son to be lodged with clerks office. Dismissed.

Henrico County, Virginia Court Orders 1710-1714, pg. 248:
August 3, 1713 Elizabeth MARCUM, mother of Benjamin BRADSHAW vs. his master William BALLEW. Complained BALLEW was giving Benjamin inadequate care. Benjamin was to receive sufficient meat, lodging, clothing. Case continued through November.

No further record of Benjamin was found. It is not known if he died young or left the state of Virginia to live somewhere else.

   More on John Bradshaw (1)

Henrico Co., Va. Court Orders 1678-1693, pg. 362:

1 April 1690 - There is due to Mr. Richard KENNON, 8000 acres for importation of: .....John BRADSHAW.... The list includes 89 whites and 70 negroes.

Ages as given by DEPOSITION in COUNTY RECORDS, 1688-1697 Book, Henrico Co., VA.:

12 October 1688, pg. 10,  John BRADSHAW, (age) 24

This puts John Bradshaw's birth year at 1664.

 

HERE is are two Court ENTRIES WORTHY to be POSTED:

Was this our John Bradshaw or another?

Henrico County, Virginia Book 5, 1677-1735, pg. 10:

Court Case Entry 1.
October 12, 1688, John BREIDSHEW (sic), aged 24 or thereabouts, etc...he the deponent being servant to John GRANGER did (sometime last spring on a Sunday morning) see Mary the wife of the said John GRANGER say that John WOMACK had six fletches of bacon in his house beside middling and other small meat and had killed but one hogg out of his own stock that year.

Court Case Entry 2.
John BRADSHAW aged 24 years or thereabouts examined and sworn saith that about two days before John GRANGER'S tobacco house wherein was Sam'l FOWLERS tobacco was burned. Lain FOWLER did say that he had to have John GRANGER'S barn...and that he would bring more damage on him, the said GRANGER, than he was aware of...day before the house was burned. FOWLER said to deponent that he dreamt Mary the wife of John GRANGER had fired the tobacco house and burnt all his tobacco.

October Court, 1688, pg. 286:

John BRADSHAW having attended two days as evidence for John WOMACK against Jno GRANGER has order granted his against Agent ye sd. WOMACK for 80 pounds of tobacco.

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Henrico County Records 1677-1739, pg. 327:

Richard KENNON patents 8000 acres, headrights include...John BRADSHAW

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Henrico County Records 1677-1739, Book 3:

June 1, 1696, John BRADSHAW having attended two days as evidence against Will ARRINGTON on behalfe of ffra{Francis} REEVE judgment is awarded against him the said REEVE for 80 pounds tobacco according to the law with costs

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It is yet to be found for sure when and how our John BRADSHAW arrived in the United States.
One account has John BRADSHAW arriving in America in 1687 on the ship "Endeavor". Another account of his arrival has him coming from Ireland transported by Richard KENNON in 1683. This account is somewhat backed up by court records in Henrico County, Virginia which show this transportation. KENNON did not put in his claim for land until April 1, 1690, at which time he put in a claim for 8,000 acres.

 

There is a great forum for discussing Bradshaw genealogy at Bradshaw Family Genealogy Forum.  You might also want to subscribe to the BRADSHAW Mailing-List where you can discuss and get help from others with your Bradshaw Family history research.  To subscribe to the mailing list, just send a note to [email protected] with the word "subscribe" in the body of your note, and no additional text.

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Primary Sources:

  • "Early Virginia Immigrants, 1623-1666", by George Greer
     

  • "Original List of Immigrants, 1600-1700" by Hotten
     

  • "Cavaliers and Pioneers" by Nell M. Nugent
     

  • Early Court Records for Henrico County, Virginia 
     

  • Bradshaw family history data, extracted from LDS films - The Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
     

  • Early BRADSHAW Records of Anne Wickliffe Bradshaw Musser 
     

Much Thanks to my friend, Anne Wickliffe Bradshaw-Musser, who was my early mentor in searching for my Bradshaw Families in Virginia, and who so graciously and freely shared all her years of hard work with me regarding these early Bradshaws. She has encouraged me and pointed me towards records or places to look for them. Many people have her to thank and should.

COPYRIGHTS on All Original Works: The information posted on this site are the conclusions & views of  this webmaster, based upon the little known historical data, so should not be seen as necessarily true or accurate, and is my original work.

" I know not how the truth may be.
I tell the tale as 'twas told to me."

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