Bradford Chair. Material : Fraxinus nigra (Black ash). Made in Plymouth Colony, 1630-1670. Descended in the Bradford and Hedge families. The list of Governor Bradford’s possessions made at the time of his death in 1657 lists two "great wooden chairs" in the parlor, worth a total of 8 shillings. "Wooden" referred to the seat material so it is very possible that this is one of the two chairs mentioned in the inventory.  The chair descended in the Bradford family to the Hedge family, who donated it to the museum in 1953. The chair was referred to as William Bradford’s chair as early as 1769, when it was used at ceremonies of the Old Colony Club, a social club of Plymouth men.

President Harding sat in the chair at the 1921 Tercentenary Pageant celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ Landing, investing himself with historical significance.  The chair is still used to validate historic occasions. In 1995, Supreme Court Justice David Souter sat in Pilgrim Hall’s reproduction of the chair at the 375th anniversary celebration in which 175 new American citizens were naturalized.

The chair has been restored and has lost about three inches in height. The hand grips are missing. The top crest rail and board seat have been replaced, and several spindles are not original. While the chair has been coated with brown varnish, faint traces of black paint can be seen under the seat rails.

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Updated 14 July, 1998