ALICE CARPENTER SOUTHWORTH
BRADFORD
IN 17TH CENTURY RECORDS |
Alice Bradford in the Dutch Records |
Alice Carpenter and her first husband Edward Southworth were members of the Separatist
community in Leiden. Her name appears in the records on several occasions :
"Carpenter, Agnys of Wrenten in England, acc. by Agnys Weyt (Agnes White)
and Els Carpenter (Alice Carpenter) her sister, betr. 15 March 1613, mar. 23 April 1613,
to Samuel Fuller of London in England, widr. of Els Glaescoock (Alice Glascock), acc. by
Alexander Carpenter, Willem Hoyt (William White) his brother-in-law. and Eduwaert Saetwoot
(Edward Southworth) his acq.
"Carpenter, Els of England, acc. by Anna Ras and Elysabeth Gennings her acq. betr. 4
May 1613, mar. 25 May 1613 to Edwuart Sodwaert (Edward Southworth) of England, acc. by
Tomas Sodtwaert his brother, Samuel Fuller his brother-in-law and Rogier Wilsom (Roger
Wilson) his acq.
"Carpenter Julynen (Juliana Carpenter) of Den Baert (Batts Hatch) acc. by Alexander
Carpenter her father and Elsgen Carpenter (Alice Carpenter) her sister and Ann Robbissen
her acq. betr. 6 July 1612, mar. 22 July 1612, to Joris Morthen (George Morton) of York in
England, Merchant, acc. by Thomas Morthen his brother and Rogier Wiltzoen (Roger Wilson)
his acq. ...
"Fuller, Samuel of London, widr. of Els Glaescoock (Alice Glasscock) acc. by
Alexander Carpenter, William Hoyt (William White) his brother-in-law, Rogier Wiltsum and
Eduart Saetwood (Edward Southworth) his acq. betr. 15 March 1613, mar. 24 April 1612 to
Agnys Carpenter of Wrenten in England, acc. by Agnyr Weijt (Ann White) and Els Carpenter
(Alice Carpenter) her sister. ...
"Morthen, Joris (George Morton) of York in England, Merchant, acc. by Thomas Morthon
his brother and Rogier Wiltsoen his acq. betr. 6 July 1612, mar. 22 July 1612 to Julynen
Carpenter (Juliana Carpenter) of Den Baert, acc. by Alexander Carpenter her father and
Elsgen Carpenter (Alice Carpenter) and Ann Robbissen her acq. ...
"Pyckerijn, Eduwaert (Edward Pickering) of London, Merchant, acc. by Rogier Wilson,
Joris Morton (George Morton), Reijndolf Tijkijns (Randall or Ralph Tickens) and Henrick
Marsael (Henry Marshall) his acq. betr. 24 Nov. 1612, mar. 15 Dec. 1612 to Maycken Stubbs
(Mary Stubbs) of Stomse (Strumpshaw) in England, acc. by Els Carpenter (Alice Carpenter)
and Annes Carpenter her acq. ...
"Sodtwaert, Eduwaert (Edward Southworth) of England, Sayworker, acc. by Tomas
Sodwaert his brother, Samuel Fuller his brother-in-law and Rogier Wilsom betr. 4 May 1613,
mar. 27 May 1613 to Els Carpenter (Alice Carpenter) of England, acc. by Anna Ras and
Elysabeth Gennings her acq.
Johanna W. Tammel, The Pilgrims and other people from the
British Isles in Leiden (Isle of Man : Mansk-Svenska Publishing Co.,
Ltd., 1989), p. 66, 95, 195, 211, 248. |
Alice Carpenter Southworth Bradford in the Records of
Plymouth |
The widowed Alice Carpenter Southworth arrived on the Anne in 1623 and soon
thereafter married William Bradford :
"August 14 [1623]. The fourth marriage is of Gov. Bradford to Mrs. Alice Southworth,
widow."
Thomas Prince's New England Chronology as reprinted in :
Nathaniel Morton, New England's Memorial (Boston : Congregational Board
of Publication, 1855), p. 308.
"The fales of their grounds which came ouer in the shipe called the Anne according as
their were cast. 1623... this goeth in w'th a corner by ye ponde. Alice Bradford."
Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 12, p. 5-6.
The marriage of William Bradford and Alice Carpenter Southworth was noted in a letter
written by Emmanuel Altham to his brother Sir Edward Altham in September, 1623 :
"Upon the occasion of the Governor's marriage, since I came, Massasoit was sent for
to the wedding, where came with him his wife, the queen, although he hath five wives. With
him came four other kings and about six score men with their bows and arrows - where, when
they came to our town, we saluted them with the shooting off of many muskets and training
our men. And so all the bows and arrows was brought into the Governor's house, and he
brought the Governor three or four bucks and a turkey. And so we had very good pastime in
seeing them dance, which is in such manner, with such a noise that you would wonder...
"And now to say somewhat of the great cheer we had at the Governor's marriage. We had
about twelve pasty venisons, besides others, pieces of roasted venison and other such good
cheer in such quantity that I could wish you some of our share. For here we have the best
grapes that ever you say - and the biggest, and divers sorts of plums and nuts which our
business will not suffer us to look for."
Sidney V. James, Jr., editor, Three Visitors to Early Plymouth
(Plymouth, Mass. : Plimoth Plantation, 1963), p. 29-30.
"June 17 [1624]. Born at Plymouth to Governor Bradford, his son William, who
afterwards becomes deputy governor of the colony."
Thomas Prince's New England Chronology as reprinted in :
Nathaniel Morton, New England's Memorial (Boston : Congregational Board
of Publication, 1855), p. 310.
Alice Bradford's name, usually linked with that of her husband, is occasionally found in
legal documents. After William Bradford's death in 1657, Alice Bradford does not disappear
from history. Her name is regularly found in the legal records of Plymouth.
In 1633, Samuel Fuller made a bequest to his sister-in-law Alice Carpenter Southworth
Bradford in his will :
"Item I give to my sister Alice Bradford twelve shillings to buy her a paire of
gloves."
March 1651 : "The Names of those that have Interest and proprieties in the Townes
land att Punckateesett over against Road Iland ... Mr William Bradford [with a line drawn
through it], Mistris Allice Bradford"
Records of the Town of Plymouth, Vol. 1, p. 36.
18 August 1655 : "the will of M'is Sarah Jeney Deceased ... In witnesse wherof I have
put to my hand the Day and Yeare above written and I give unto Leiftenant Southworth one
ewe lamb. In the presence of William Bradford, Alice Bradford her marke. Sarah Jeney her
marke...
"Att the generall Court held att Plymouth the fift of March 1655 Mr Willam Bradford
Seni'r : and m's Alice Bradford Did Testify upon their oathes that this next before
written was the last will and Testament of M'is Sarah Jeney Deceased"
Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 8, p. 172.
20 May 1658 : "That M's Allice Bradford seni'r of the Towne of Plymouth in the
Jurisdiction of New Plymouth in New England in America Doth acknowlidg that for and in
Consideration of a valluable sume alreddy payed by Mr Samuell Newman of the Towne of
Rehoboth in the Jurisdiction aforsaid ; unto Mr Willam Bradford seni'r: Deceased Shee hath freely and absolutely (as the
Exequitrix of the said Willam Bradford) bargained allianated enfeofed and Confeirmed...
all that the said Willam Bradford his pte or portion of land which as Purchaser hee hath
att Sowamsett Mattapoisett and places adjacent...
"This was sold by Mr Bradford in his lifetime but not recorded untill Now"
Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 12, p. 135.
1 April 1659 : "That mr John Done of the Towne of Eastham in the Jurisdiction of
Plymouth in New England in america yeoman Doth acknowlidge that for and in consideration
of a valluable sume to him alreddy payed ; hee hath freely and absolutely with the consent
of his wife mistris Lydia Done ; bargained and sold allianted enfeofed and confeirmed ;
and by these prsents Doth bargaine allianate sell enfeofe and confeirme unto Mistris Allis
Bradford senir: of Plymouth widdow ; all that his tract of land lying and being att
Joneses River in the Township of Plymouth aforsaid ...
"The abovesaid sales of land and meddow were sold by mr John Done unto mr Willam
Bradford senir: in his life time but not confeirmed untill the Day and yeare above written
; unto the said Allis Bradford as exequitrice of the said Willam Bradford Deceased"
Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 13, p. 232-233.
3 October 1659 : "Wheras by order of Court bearing date the seauenth of June, 1659,
it was recomended to the seuerall townshipes to send theire deputies impowered to acte in
the ordering and settleing of the trad att Kennebecke, which was much interupted by reason
of some troubles amongst the Indians, to the great discurragment of the psent farmers
therof ; -
"In psuance of which said order the deputies sent from the seuerall townshipes, vpon
theire serious consideration of the matter betrusted with them, haue, this sixt of
October, 1659, couenanted and agreed together with the farmers of the said trad, viz, Mr
Thomas Prence, Mistris Allice Bradford, Seni'r, Captaine Thomas Willett, and Major Josias
Winslow, in manor and forme as followeth, viz :
"That the rent of the said trad for the yeare one thousand six hundred fifty and
nine, fully compleat on the first of Nouember next ensuing, bee wholly remitted by the
country to the aforsaid farmer, and that ten pounds in money bee payed vnto the countrey
by the aforsaid farmers for the yeare next ensuing, during which time the farmers engage
to carry on the trad as formerly, and att the end of the said tearme, viz, on the first of
Nouember, one thousand six hudnred and sixty, the said farmers to leaue the said Kennebeck
trade free ... In witness wherof they haue heervnto sett theire hands enterchangably the
day and date abouesaid.
"Thomas Prence, The marke of Mistris Allice Bradford, [et al.]..."
Plymouth Court Records, Vol. 3, p. 170-171.
1660 : "Know yea that I the said Christopher Winter ffor and In Consideration of the
sume of forty pounds sterling to mee in hand payed by Mistris Allice Bradford seni'r: of
the towne of Plymouth aforsaid in the Jurisdiction aforsaid Widdow ; Together with a tract
of land in the Township of Barnstable in the Jurisdiction aforsaid to mee made over and
assured by the said Allice Bradford ; which said tract of land is Comonly Called and
knowne by the name of the Gov'rnors ffarme ; wherwith I Doe acknowlidge my selfe
sufficiently Satisfyed and fully payed ; and of the said fforty pounds Doe exonarte
acquitt and Discharge the said Allice Bradford shee her heires Exequitors Adminnestrators
and assignes for ever ; by these prsents, have ffreely and absolutely Bargained Allianted
and sold enfeofed and Confeirmed ; and by these prsents Doe bargaine Allianate sell
enfeofe and Confeirme from mee the said Christopher Winter and my heires unto her the said
Allice Bradford and her heires and assignes for ever all that my Tract or pcell of land
lying and being att Joanses River in the Township of Plymouth aforsaid...
"Bee it Knowne unto all men by these prsents that I Allice Bradford seni'r: of the
towne of Plymouth in the Jurisdiction of New Plymouth widdow Doe by these prsents Make
over unto my sonne Mr Josepth Bradford the Deed above entered with all my Right title and
Interest of and into the same and all and every the prticulares therin expressed with all
the buildings and buildings erected on the said ffarme since the Date of the aforsaid Deed
with all other appurtenances To have and to hold to him the said Joseph Bradford to him
and his heires for ever Reserving libertie (if I shall see Cause) or any for mee to
Improve three or four acrees of the land expressed in the said Deed ; and likewise to keep
three or four Cowes on the said lands if I shall see Cause During my life In Witnesse
wherof I the said Allice Bradford have heerunto sett my hand this 30th of August 1660:
Witnesse heerunto
Thomas Southworth
Nathaneel Morton ;
The marke of Allice Bradford
"The 30th of August 1660 :
"Memorandum That I the abovesaid Allice Bradford Doe by these prsents alsoe give
graunt and make over unto my said sonne Josepth Bradford ; The Tract or pcell of upland
ground bought by my Deceased husband Mr Willam Bradford ; of Mr John Done lying att
Joanses River with the one halfe of the Meddow Ground formerly layed out to my said
husband Att Winnatuxett... Witnes my hand ;
The marke of Allice Bradford"
Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 14, p. 236-239.
22 March 1663 : "The severall lotes on Puncateesett Necke are as followeth... Mistris
Bradford, Mistris Attwood... [#]30 ... lott is on the north side of the 29th lott and att
the west end is bounded with a white oake tree a smale distance of from the bank and a
Ride oake bush on the line on the north side of this lott it extends from the waterside
east southerly 14 degrees eighty six pole to a walnut stake that stand by the
highway"
Records of the Town of Plymouth, Vol. 1, p. 62-68.
15 October 1663 : "To all people to whom these prsents shall Come ; mistris Allis
Bradford seni'r: of the Towne of Plymouth in the Jurisdiction of Plymouth in New England
in America sendeth greet &c
"Know yea that I the said Allis Bradford for and in consideration of the full and
Just sume of twenty pounds sterling to mee in hand payed by Ralph Allin of the Towne of
Sandwich in the Jurisdiction aforsaid wheelwright ; wherwith I Doe acknowlidge my selfe
satisfyed contented and full payed
"In witnes wherof I the said Allice Bradford have heerunto sett my hand and Affixed
my seale this Fifteenth Day of the month Called october Anno: Dom: one Thousand six
hundred sixty and three 1663"
Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 18, p. 176-177.
23 November 1664 [Plymouth Colony Records of Deeds records a land sale by] : "I Allis
Bradford the widdow of Willam Bradford late of Plymouth in America Esqr: Deceased...
"Richard Sares of the Towne of Yarmouth ... two allotments of land ... the lott of
the aforsaid Willam Bradford Deceased"
Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 34, p. 23.
This deed was later referred to by Major William Bradford, son of William and Alice
Bradford :
"Wheras my honored mother Alice Bradford did in her life time under the name of Alice
Bradford the widdow of William Bradford late of New Plimoth in America Esq'r deceased...
given under ye hand & seale of ye said Alice Bradford... "
Mayflower Descendant, Vol. 25, p. 50-51.
26 March 1670 : "On the 26th day of March, 1670, Mistris Allice Bradford, Seni'r,
changed this life for the better, haueing attained to fourscore years of age, or
therabouts. Shee was a godly matron, and much loued while shee liued, and lamented, tho
aged, when shee died, and was honorabley enterred on the 29th day of the month aforsaid,
att New Plymouth."
Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. 8, p. 33. |
For Alice Bradford's will and for the inventory of her
estate at the time of her death, click HERE. |
|
| www.pilgrimhall.org |
|
