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| Marriage |
16 May 1706, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts51,36,88 |
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| Spouse |
Susanna FOLSOM |
| Marriage |
20 Jun 1759, Kingston, Rockingham, New Hampshire |
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| 5 F |
Abigail BRADLEY |
| Birth |
20 May 1714, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts51,81,88 |
| Death |
1804, Hillsdale, Columbia, New York |
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| Spouse |
Isaac FOSTER |
| Marriage |
intent Nov 1737, Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire |
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| 6 F |
Elizabeth BRADLEY |
| Birth |
17 Jan 1716/17, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts51,81,88 |
| Death |
bef 1755, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts |
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| 7 M |
Isaac BRADLEY |
| Birth |
10 Jan 1718/19, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts51,81,88 |
| Death |
14 Jan 1802, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts51 |
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| 8 M |
Nathaniel BRADLEY |
| Birth |
10 Feb 1720/21, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts51,81,88 |
| Death |
4 Oct 1737, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts51,81,88 |
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| 9 M |
Moses BRADLEY (Twin) |
| Birth |
18 Jan 1723/24, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts51,81,88 |
| Death |
29 Mar 1724, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts51,81,88 |
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| 10 F |
Merriam BRADLEY (Twin) |
| Birth |
18 Jan 1723/24, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts51,81,88 |
| Death |
3 Apr 1724, Haverhill, Essex, Massachusetts51,81,88 |
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| Notes for Isaac BRADLEY |
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ISAAC, b. Feb. 25, 1680[Hv]; m. May 16, 1706[Hv], ELIZABETH4 CLEMENT. He was taken captive by Indians in 1695. 10 chil.[Hv rec], b. 1707-24. [ref 36:884]
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ISAAC3 BRADLEY, b. Haverhill 25 Feb., 1680; m. Haverhill, 6* May, 1706, Elizabeth Clement (John3 and Elizabeth Ayer), b. Haverhill 9 Apr., 1694*; d. 1740 or later. When Isaac3 Bradley was but fifteen years of age, on 4 Sep., 1695, he and a young friend, Joseph Whittaker, aged eleven, were "surprised and made prisoners" by the Indians, near Mr. Joseph Bradley's house (Isaac's brother). After six months' captivity, the boys made a marvelous escape, wandering for eight days "through the trackless wood, from Winnepeseaugee Pond to Fort Sako, without any guide but sun and stars, or rather a kind and wonderful Providence." Isaac's father had assisted in building the first rude meeting house in Haverhill in 1648; he, himself assisted in building the second, after much discussion, in 1699, on the little Common, and his son Isaac helped build the third in the same parish in 1766. He conveyed his house, barn and land to his son Isaac in 1740. Children born in Haverhill: Lydia, John, Mehitable, Ruth, Abigail, Elizabeth, Isaac, Nathaniel, Moses, Merriam. [ref 81:38]
*errors
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Isaak Bradly and Elizabeth Clement, May 16, 1706. [ref 51]
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from "The Boy Captives" by John Greenleaf Whittier: In 1695 the township [Haverhill] was many times molested by Indians, and several persons were killed and wounded. Early in the fall a small party made their appearance in the northerly part of the town, where, finding two boys at work in an open field, they managed to surprise and capture them, and, without committing further violence, retreated through the woods to their homes on the shore of Lake Winnipiseogee. Isaac Bradley, aged fifteen, was a small but active and vigorous boy; his companion in captivity, Joseph Whittaker, was only eleven, yet quite as large in size, and heavier in his movements. After a hard and painful journey they arrived at the lake, and were placed in an Indian family, consisting of a man and squaw and two or three children. Here they soon acquired a sufficient knowledge of the Indian tongue to enable them to learn from the conversation carried on in their presence that it was designed to take them to Canada in the spring. This discovery was a painful one. Canada, the land of Papist priests and bloody Indians, was the especial terror of the New England settlers, and the anathema maranatha* of Puritan pulpits. Thither the Indians usually hurried their captives, where they compelled them to work in their villages or sold them to the French planters. Escape from thence through a deep wilderness, and across lakes, and mountains, and almost impassable rivers, without food or guide, is regarded as an impossibility. The poor boys, terrified by the prospect of being carried still farther from their home and friends, began to dream of escaping from their masters before they started for Canada. It was now winter; it would have been little short of madness to have chosen for flight that season of bitter cold and deep snows. Owing to exposure and want of proper food and clothing, Isaac, the eldest of the boys, was seized with a violent fever, from which he slowly recovered in the course of the winter. His Indian mistress was as kind to him as her circumstances permitted, - procuring medicinal herbs and roots for her patient, and tenderly watching over him in the long winter nights. Spring came at length; the snows melted; and the ice was broken up on the lake. The Indians began to make preparations for journeying to Canada; and Isaac, who had during his sickness devised a plan of escape, saw that the time of putting it in execution had come. On the evening before he was to make the attempt he for the first time informed his younger companion of his design, and told him, if he intended to accompany him, he must be awake at the time appointed. The boys lay down as usual in the wigwam in the midst of the family. Joseph soon fell asleep; but Isaac, fully sensible of the danger and difficulty of the enterprise before him, lay awake, watchful for his opportunity. About midnight he rose, cautiously stepping over the sleeping forms of the family, and securing, as he went, his Indian master's flint, steel, and tinder, and a small quantity of dry moose-meat and corn-bread. He then carefully awakened his companion, who, starting up, forgetful of the cause of his disturbance, asked aloud, "What do you want?" The savages began to stir; and Isaac, trembling with fear of detection, lay down again and pretended to be asleep. After waiting a while he again rose, satisfied, from the heavy breathing of the Indians, that they were all sleeping; and fearing to awaken Joseph a second time, lest he should again hazard all by his thoughtlessness, he crept softly out of the wigwam. He had proceeded but a few rods when he heard footsteps behind him; and, supposing himself pursued, he hurried into the woods, casting a glance backward. What was his joy to see his young companion running after him! They hastened on in a southerly direction as nearly as they could determine, hoping to reach their distant home. When daylight appeared they found a large hollow log, into which they crept for concealment, wisely judging that they would be hotly pursued by their Indian captors.
Their sagacity was by no means at fault. The Indians, missing their prisoners in the morning, started off in pursuit with their dogs. As the young boys lay in the log they could hear the whistle of the Indians and the barking of dogs upon their track. It was a trying moment; and even the stout heart of the elder boy sank within him as the dogs came up to the log and set up a loud bark of discovery. But his presence of mind saved him. He spoke in a low tone to the dogs, who, recognizing his familiar voice, wagged their tails with delight, and ceased barking. He then threw to them the morsel of moose-meat he had taken from the wigwam. While the dogs were thus diverted, the Indians made their appearance. The boys heard the light, stealthy sound of their moccasins on the leaves. They passed close to the log; and the dogs, having devoured their moose- meat, trotted after their masters. Through a crevice in the log the boys looked after them, and saw them disappear in the thick woods. They remained in their covert until night, when they started again on their long journey, taking a new route to avoid the Indians. At daybreak they again concealed themselves, but travelled the next night and day without resting. By this time they had consumed all the bread which they had taken, and were fainting from hunger and weariness. Just at the close of the third day they were providentially enabled to kill a pigeon and a small tortoise, a part of which they ate raw, not daring to make a fire, which might attract the watchful eyes of savages. On the sixth day they struck upon an old Indian path, and, following it until night, came suddenly upon a camp of the enemy. Deep in the heart of the forest, under the shelter of a ridge of land heavily timbered, a great fire of logs and brushwood was burning; and around it the Indians sat, eating their moose-meat and smoking their pipes.
The poor fugitives, starving, weary, and chilled by the cold spring blasts, gazed down upon the ample fire, and the savory meats which the squaws were cooking by it, but felt no temptation to purchase warmth and food by surrendering themselves to captivity. Death in the forest seemed preferable. They turned and fled back upon their track, expecting every moment to hear the yells of pursuers. The morning found them seated on the bank of a small stream, their feet torn and bleeding, and their bodies emaciated. The elder, as a last effort, made search for roots, and fortunately discovered a few ground-nuts (glycine apios), which served to refresh in some degree himself and his still weaker companion. As they stood together by the stream, hesitating and almost despairing, it occurred to Isaac that the rivulet might lead to a larger stream of water, and that to the sea and the white settlements near it; and he resolved to follow it. They again began their painful march; the day passed, and the night once more overtook them. When the eighth morning dawned, the younger of the boys found himself unable to rise from his bed of leaves. Isaac endeavored to encourage him, dug roots, and procured water for him; but the poor lad was utterly exhausted. He had no longer heart or hope. The elder boy laid him on leaves and dry grass at the foot of a tree, and with a heavy heart bade him farewell. Alone he slowly and painfully proceeded down the stream, now greatly increased in size by tributary rivulets. On the top of a hill he climbed with difficulty into a tree, and saw in the distance what seemed to be a clearing and a newly-raised frame building. Hopeful and rejoicing, he turned back to his young companion, told him what he had seen, and, after chafing his limbs awhile, got him upon his feet. Sometimes supporting him, and at others carrying him on his back, the heroic boy staggered towards the clearing. On reaching it he found it deserted, and was obliged to continue his journey. Towards night signs of civilization began to appear, - the heavy, continuous roar of water was heard; and, presently emerging from the forest, he saw a great river dashing in white foam down precipitous rocks, and on its bank the gray walls of a huge stone building, with flankers, palisades, and moat, over which the British flag was flying. This was the famous Saco Fort, built by Governor Phips, two years before, just below the falls of the Saco River. The soldiers of the garrison gave the poor fellows a kindly welcome. Joseph, who was scarcely alive, lay for a long time sick in the fort; but Isaac soon regained his strength, and set out for his home in Haverhill, which he had the good fortune to arrive at in safety.
* "Anathema maranatha" occurs at the close of St. Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians, and in the English version is made to appear as a composite phrase. It has so passed into common use, "maranatha" being taken as intensifying the curse contained in "anathema." The words are properly to be divided, "maranatha" signifying "The Lord cometh."
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| Notes for Elizabeth CLEMENTS |
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Elizabeth Clement, d. John and Elizabeth (Ayers), Apr. 9, 1684. [ref 51]
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ELIZABETH4 CLEMENTS (John3, Robert2, Robert1) and Elizabeth Ayer; born in Haverhill, Mass., 9 Apr. 1684, died about 1740. She married in Haverhill, 16 May 1706, Isaac Bradley, born in Haverhill, 25 Feb. 1680, death unknown, son of Daniel and Mary (Williams) Bradley. Children born Haverhill: Lydia, John, Mehetabel, Ruth, Abigail, Elizabeth, Isaac, Nathaniel, Miriam, Moses. [ref 88:113]
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A severe epidemic of diphtheria [throat distemper] swept over Haverhill in the autumn of 1737. Elizabeth (Clements) Bradley lost, besides son, Nathaniel, a number of grandchildren. In the family of her daughter, Lydia (Bradley) Heath, four children, all that there were, died within a few weeks of one another.
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