3. John Bradford of Somerset County, Maryland (Nathaniel ) - Lower ...

3. John 2 Bradford of Somerset County, Maryland (Nathaniel 1 )
(1677-c.1753)
Page 1 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

Contents
1. John Bradford in Accomack: 1677-1710 3
2. John Bradford in Somerset: 1710-1753 7
3. Citations 13
4. Bibliography 15
5. Appendix A: Timeline 16
6. Appendix B: Probate Record Transcriptions 17
Page 2 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

John 2 Bradford was born probably around 1677 in Accomack County, Virginia, the son of Nathaniel 1 Bradford of Accomack
by his last wife Joan (Franklin) Bradford. John married first Tabitha Lecatt, the daughter of John and Thomasin Lecatt of
Accomack; by 1740 he was married to Margaret [____]. In 1710 he moved from Accomack to Somerset County, Maryland,
where he died between the writing of his final will on 3 September 1742 and its recording on 5 October 1753. John Bradford
was the father of eleven children: viz, his 3 sons Nathaniel, William and John, as well as 8 daughters, Tabitha, Susanah,
Comfort, Frances, Rachell, Mary, Rebecca, and Martha.
John Bradford in Accomack: 1677-1710
John Bradford’s Youth
When Nathaniel 1 Bradford of Accomack died in 1690, his son John was left an orphan in the care of his mother Joan
(Franklin) Bradford, who remarried to Thomas Budd between 19 March and 16 June 1691. 1 She and young John (then aged
about 14) moved with Budd to settle on land he had recently purchased in northern Accomack. 2 Early the following year, on
16 February 1691/2, John 2 appeared in court and chose his step-father as his guardian. 3
On 10 June 1698, John 2 Bradford quit claim to his brother William 2 from all interest in the estate of their father.
“Know all men by these presents That I John Bradford of Accomk. County youngest son of Nathaniel Bradford late
of ye aforesaid County deceased have Remised Released and for ever quit claimed . . . unto my Brother William
Bradford son & heir of the said Nathaniel Bradford . . . . from all manner of actions suits debts Bonds & all other
demands wtsoever in relation to ye administracon granted joyntly by ye Court to his Mother Joan Bradford & ye
said Wm Bradford upon ye said Nathaniel Bradfords Estate as to his third pte due to ye sd John Bradford by Law as
witness my hand & seale this 10 th day of June anno Dom 1698. Sealed & delivrd in presence of Jno Washbourne,
Susanna [O] Washbourne. Signed John Bradford. 4
Since John Bradford quit claim to his father’s estate on 10 June 1698, it may be assumed that he had reached his majority by
this date, which points to a birth date for John before 10 June 1677. Further interpretation of the records from John’s early
years reinforces a birth in 1677. Since John chose his own guardian on 16 February 1691/2, he must have been at least 14 at
the time, which would put his birth date before 16 February 1678 – basically in line with the estimate obtained from his quit
claim. Depending on how much weight one attaches to it, another record from 1698 may allow a further narrowing of John’s
birth date. The following abstract comes from the 7 April 1698 court of Accomack County:
“John Read had been bound over to this court at the suit of Capt.
Thomas Welburne (a justice of the peace) at the complaint of John
Bradford, who suspected Read of “causing proclamation to be made
for the said John Bradford’s appearance, being bound over by
recognizance to prosecute, as also the said John Read being likewise
bound over to answer.” In open court proclamation was made for all
persons that could to give evidence; since no one appeared to prove
the information, John Read was acquitted with Bradford paying
court costs.” 5
It is notable that John’s suit was brought by Capt. Thomas Welburne rather than himself. This might indicate that John was
not yet 21 at the time, since minors were not allowed to bring suit in their own name. If this interpretation is correct it
establishes John 2 Bradford’s date of birth as being some time between 7 April and 10 June 1677. Even if this specific
estimate is off, 1677 still stands as the most probable year of John’s birth. Whether one extrapolates John’s age from the date
on which he chose his guardian or the date on which he quit claim, both point to around 1677 as the last possible year of his
birth. This consistency probably indicates that he was taking advantage of his rights at precisely the times he acquired them
by law.
Page 3 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

John Receives Grant of Land
Four months after signing the release of rights to his brother, on 4 October 1698 John 2 ’s step-father Thomas Budd granted
John 364 acres of his own property on Assawoman Creek, and Joan (Franklin) Bradford Budd released her dower interest in
the land. The deed was a grant, since no money was involved. It wasn’t unusual for a step-father to grant land to his step-son,
but perhaps one of the “divers considerations” Thomas Budd had in mind was the extremely open-ended quit claim John
gave him the same day: 6
“I John Bradford . . . for ever quit claime unto Thomas Budd . . . for all manner of actions Suites Quarrels Debts
Duties Bonds Bills writings Obligatory Recknings accompts and Demands whatsoever wch against the said Thomas
Budd ever I had now have, or which I my Heires Executors or admrators or any of us at any tyme hereafter shall or
may have for or by Reason or meanes of any matter Cause or thing whatsoever from the beginning of the world until
the day of ye date of these presents.”
Though John’s release to his brother was dated 10 June, it wasn’t acknowledged in open court until 4 October, the same date
as his release to Thomas Budd as well as Budd’s land grant and Joan Budd’s release of dower. All three latter instruments
were witnessed by Wm. White Junr. and John Lecat Junr. 7
John’s Instruments Recorded
Sidebar: Origins of Thomas Budd
Thomas Budd seems to have first moved to Accomack around the time of his purchase of land from John
Stockley, as it is only at this time that he first appears in the records of the county. 8 He does not appear to
be the same Thomas Budd who in 1656 appeared with John 2 Bradford’s father and others as a subscriber to
the petition to reinstate the Reverend Thomas Teackle. 9 Before Thomas Budd’s appearance in 1691 as the
husband of Joan (Franklin) Bradford, the last mention of a Thomas Budd in the records of the eastern shore
was on 1 May 1660, in Northampton County court:
“Upon ye humble peticon of Mr Hugh Yeo concerning Thomas Budd, who is at present in a
distracted Condition, desireing ye Court would provide for him, The Court takeing ye prmises into
Consideration Order yt Mr Hodgkins high Sherr shall provide for him that hee neither do hurt to
himselfe or other, And yt ye sd Mr Hodgkins bee paid out of ye publique.” 10
The record is vague on specifics but hints that this earlier Budd may have been suffering from some form
of mental illness. The later Thomas Budd may be this man’s son, but there is no record of a relationship. It
is also not known if either of these Thomas Budds were related to Capt. Richard Budd of Northumberland
County, Virginia, who died around 1659. 11 The existence of a Budd in Northumberland County is notable
because Joan’s brother Henry Franklin lived in that county and because the younger Thomas Budd appears
to have lived outside Accomack before 1691.
* * * * *
Differing Fates of John and William Bradford
In the 1704 quit rent roll of Accomack County, John 2 was listed with the 364 acres granted him by Thomas Budd. 12 Unlike
his brother William 2 , whose 3500 acres placed him among the top ten landholders in the county, John’s holdings placed him
in the median range of landholdings. Out of 388 entities paying quit rents on property in Accomack, John ranked 188 th . It’s
worth considering how different John 2 Bradford’s fate might have been had his father left a will. When he died, Nathaniel 1
Bradford was possessed of 2400 acres in Matchipungo Neck, 500 acres on Pungoteague and 1600 acres in Sussex County,
Delaware, at that time part of Pennsylvania. During the entire time his eldest son Nathaniel 2 Jr. was alive, Nathaniel 1 Sr.
Page 4 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

etained him in Accomack while his next eldest son, William 2 , managed the plantation in Sussex. After the death of
Nathaniel 2 Jr., William 2 returned to Accomack, but Nathaniel 1 Sr. kept the Sussex plantation in his ownership. All this time
John 2 was still a minor. It’s tempting to believe that if Nathaniel 1 Sr. had lived until John 2 came of age, he might have sent
him to look after the Sussex plantation and perhaps reserved it for him as his inheritance. Instead, John’s brother sold the
plantation a year or so after their father’s death. Even if Nathaniel 1 ’s intention was to sell his Sussex land and to reserve his
entire home plantation for his eldest son, at the very least one would expect John to have received the 500 acres at
Pungoteague – yet due to his father’s intestate death John received nothing.
It’s not clear how close the two half-brothers were to each other. John’s release to William is the only record in which the
two of them appear together. Since William spent most of the 1680s in Sussex County, it’s safe to say that he was not around
for much of John’s childhood. William went to Sussex in 1683, when John was 6, and returned in 1688. From the ages of 11
to 13, John lived in the same house with William, but after his father’s death he moved in with his step-father. For over a
decade after John came of age, he and William both lived in Accomack, but John’s home was in another section of the
county, about 25 to 30 miles north of William.
* * * * *
Marriage to Tabitha Lecatt
It was probably around the time of Budd’s grant of land to him that John married Tabitha Lecatt, the daughter of John Lecatt
of Accomack. It was common for parents or step-parents to deed land to their children when they set out to start a family of
their own, and this may have been the case with John. The fact that Tabitha’s brother, John Lecatt Jr., witnessed the grant
from Thomas Budd further supports this theory. Tabitha and John had at least two children by the time her father wrote his
will on 1 December 1702, which would make a marriage date around 1698 quite plausible.
LECATT, JOHN – 1 Dec 1702 – 2 March 1702/3 – To dau Tabitha & to her dau Susanna & her son Nathaniel
Bradford. To son John. To grandson Augustin Lecatt. Wife Tomasin. To dau Elizabeth. To the children of my dau
Mary that she had by John Taylor. Wife Exec. Witt: Robert Hutchinson, Richard Rogers, Joseph Milby 13
Sidebar: John and Thomasin Lecatt
Tabitha’s father John Lecatt was born around 1642, whether in Virginia or elsewhere is unknown. His first
appearance in the records of Accomack comes on 16 July 1663, when he gave a deposition stating his age
and the fact that he was the servant of “my Dame Milby.” 14 John may have been French, as the signature on
his deposition reads “Jean Le Cat”.
“Dame Milby” was Thomasin Milby, the wife of John Milby of Accomack, who fell ill from the flux (i.e.,
dysentary) and died in March or April 1672. 15 Thomasin was not mentioned by name in her husband’s will,
though John Milby did write that she “hath been a very cruel wife unto me and hath been in court once
about it already, and since that time hath used me very barbarously, and hath had a child by another man,
which was born 22 October last.” John Milby left it for the court to decide whether his wife should have an
inheritance and whether the child would be his heir. Within a month after John Milby’s death, Thomasin
had remarried to former servant John Lecatt, doubtless also the father of the child born 22 October 1671
and referred to by John Milby in his will. 16 (It is unknown whether this child is Tabitha.) Thomasin Milby
Lecatt’s maiden name is unknown. She was born around 1633, making her nearly a decade older than John
Lecatt. 17
John Lecatt was a constable of Accomack county from 1677 to 1681, but was removed from office in the
latter year for delinquency in carrying out his duties. 18 He was appointed a constable again in 1692, but
petitioned to be discharged in 1696. 19 He served on the grand juries held in Accomack County in the years
1669, 1673, 1674, 1683 and 1696, 20 and on a handful of regular juries in Accomack. In addition to their
daughter Tabitha who married John Bradford, John and Thomasin Lecatt had four other children: Phillip
Alexander Lecatt 21 and John Lecatt, who married Mary and Patience, respectively, the daughters of
Rowland Savage; 22 also two other daughters, Mary and Elizabeth Lecatt, the former of whom married John
Taylor. John Lecatt, Sr. died in the winter of 1702-1703, sometime between 1 December and 2 March. 23
Thomasin Lecatt died some time before 2 May 1711, when her son-in-law Richard Savage was granted
administration on her estate. 24
Page 5 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

Other Records of John Bradford in Accomack County
Probate Records
John Bradford appeared in a few other records in Accomack before he moved from the county. On 17 June 1697 he was a
witness to the will of Elizabeth Stratton, the widow of John Stratton, whom she had remarried after the death of her first
husband John Stockley. 25 John Bradford also proved Elizabeth’s will in court on 6 August 1707. 26 The Strattons and
Stockleys were neighbors of John Bradford.
John Bradford witnessed and proved two other wills in Accomack County. On 5 June 1705 John proved the will of Hendrick
Johnson, which he had witnessed on 27 February of the same year; 27 and on 2 August 1709 he proved the will of Thomas
Taylor, which he had witnessed on 25 October 1707. 28 One other probate record from Accomack county involved John
Bradford. On 2 February 1708/9 he and William Welk were security for Catherine Price’s administration of the estate of her
deceased husband Richard Price. 29
Witness
John Bradford was twice paid for serving as a witness in other mens’ suits before the court. In the first suit, brought on 2 June
1703, John attended seven days as a witness for Charles Venetson in an action brought by Capt. Bennet Scarburgh and his
wife Temperance “for words,” probably a defamation suit. 30 No doubt the Scarburghs felt they had been disparaged by
Vanetson, who felt that John Bradford would be able to speak in his favor. John Bradford was also ordered to be paid by John
Blake for serving as a witness in a suit of debt he brought against Charles Taylor on 4 August 1708. 31
Servant William Brian
On 6 March 1704/5 John Bradford’s servant William Brian petitioned that John was detaining him past the expiration of his
indenture. 32 A month later, on 4 April, John answered the court’s summons and produced Brian’s indenture, which proved
the complaint false. William Brian was not only ordered to return to John’s service, but to serve him longer than his original
indenture as recompense. 33
Jury Service
John Bradford served on two grand juries sworn for Accomack county, in the years 1700 and 1706. 34
John Bradford’s Grand Jury service from 1706
John Bradford also served once as a regular juror in a trial that is interesting for the details it reveals about the lives of
servants in this period. 35 On 4 April 1705 Lt. Col. Tully Robinson brought suit against William Scott, accusing him of “trade
& truck” with Robinson’s servant woman Sarah Fitchpatrick. By a law enacted 23 March 1662 harsh penalties were laid
down for those who would “buy, sell, trade or truck with any servant for any commodity.” Those found guilty of this offense
were harshly penalized. Not only did they receive an automatic sentence of a month’s imprisonment without bail, but they
also had to post a bond for their good behavior and pay the servant’s master four times the value of the thing they had
bargained for. Robinson was now in court demanding Scott’s imprisonment plus 2000 lbs tobacco, “being four times ye value
of 500 lbs tobacco.” The jury heard evidence which included the servant Sarah Fitchpatrick’s deposition, plus a bill signed by
William Scott for 500 lbs tobacco to Sarah. It took John and the other jurors all day to reach their verdict, which was in favor
of Robinson.
Page 6 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

John Bradford in Somserset: 1710-1753
Move from Accomack to Somerset
On 1 October 1706, in a deed witnessed by Henry Towles Junr and Charles Leatherbury, John Bradford sold John Murraign
64 acres of the land he had been granted by Thomas Budd. 36 The deed was for “diverse good Causes & Consideracons” but
no sum was mentioned, so it’s unclear what John received in return. His wife Tabitha released her dower interest in the land
on the same day in an instrument witnessed by Henry Towles Junr and Charles Trelfoo. 37 On the same day Charles Trelfoo,
the witness to Tabitha’s dower release, purchased land from Thomas Budd. 38 The deed from Budd to Trelfoo contains proof
that Joan (Franklin) Bradford Budd had passed away before the date it was signed, since Budd’s second wife Ann Donella
relinquished her dower to his land. Ann Donella was the daughter of Thomas Middleton of Accomack. 39
Four years after his sale of 64 acres to Murraigne, in a deed dated 7 February 1710, John Bradford sold the remainder of his
holdings in Accomack to Thomas Nock in a deed witnessed by Wm. Nock Junr. and John Johnson. 40 He received 15,000 lbs
of tobacco and a mare for his land. Later in the same year, no doubt using the money raised from this sale, John purchased
land in Somerset County, Maryland. By a deed dated 8 November 1710, he acquired the 300-acre tract Saint Martins Desert
from William Townsend for 5,500 lbs tobacco. 41
In 1716, John received other land in Somerset on assignment from John Caldwell Jr. - a 50-acre tract called John’s Lot
located next to St. Martin’s Desert. 42
Sidebar: When Did Tabitha (Lecatt) Bradford Die?
There is no mention of the given name of John Bradford’s wife between Tabitha’s release of dower to John
Murraigne in 1706 and John’s naming of his wife Margaret in his will of 1740. Sometime within this 34year
time span Tabitha must have died and John must have remarried to Margaret, but it is unclear when
either of these events might have happened. It may be significant that Tabitha did not appear in 1710 to
release her dower interest to John Nock in her husband’s deed to him. This may indicate that she had died
Page 7 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

y that year, since she did release her dower interest in the previous deed to John Murraine. If she did die
before 1710, it is still unclear whether John was later wed only to Margaret or whether he had another wife
or wives intervening. If Tabitha died between 1706 and 1710, it might go a long way towards explaining
John’s move out of the county. His mother had also died sometime before 1706. If his relations with his
half-brother were distant, there would be little keeping him in Accomack and perhaps much incentive to
seek out a fresh start in a new place.
* * * * *
Depositions in Northumberland County
It is thanks to two depositions recorded in Northumberland County, Virginia, that we know the maiden name of John
Bradford’s mother. These depositions were recorded in relation to the estate of Henry Franklin, who is identified as a natural
brother to Joan Bradford. John Bradford apparently had some basis to lay claim to his uncle Henry’s land in Northumberland
County, as evidenced by several items recorded in that county during the year 1713. Henry Franklin’s widow Hannah had
remarried to Richard Russell after Henry’s death in 1700 or 1701. 43 Russell himself died within a decade and Hannah
remarried again to a certain Thomas Smith before 19 July 1711, the date on which Smith re-recorded Henry Franklin’s will in
Northumberland court. 44 Since this is just a year after John Bradford’s liquidation of his Accomack property and his
relocation to Somesert, it’s tempting to think that Thomas Smith re-recorded the will to bolster his case against a claim laid to
Henry Franklin’s property by John Bradford.
The matter was resolved in 1713 with John Bradford’s release to Thomas Smith of his rights to Henry Franklin’s 400-acre
estate “in the parish of Saint Stephens” for 7,000 lbs tobacco. 45 It can’t be said for certain on what date John signed his
release since the date on the release itself is unreadable, but it was recorded in the summer of 1713 and definitely written in
the period from 1710 to 1713, since John is described as being from Somerset County, Maryland. That same summer,
Thomas Smith presented in Northumberland Court two depositions relating to Henry Franklin and his estate. The intent of
the depositions seems twofold: to prove whether or not Joan (Franklin) Bradford was in fact Henry Franklin’s natural sister,
and also to clarify what Henry’s intentions were regarding his land and whether it should be conveyed to his sister’s son. In
his will, Henry bequeathed his estate to his wife Hannah for life, since he had no lineal heirs of his own, and after her death to
Richard and Henry White, the sons of Joseph White of Newmans Neck. 46 However, apparently at some point before he died
Henry had expressed an intention to convey his land to his nephew, John Bradford.
In Hannah Smith’s deposition, she relates how Nathaniel 1 Bradford came to Henry Franklin’s house and invited him to come
see his sister Joan, now Nathaniel’s wife. Henry accepted the invitation, and he and Hannah crossed the bay and landed at
Charles Scarburgh’s plantation, then proceeded to one of Nathaniel’s plantations (probably the plantation at Pungoteague)
where they lingered for a time while Nathaniel sent horses for them. When they finally arrived that evening at Nathaniel’s
house at Matchipungo, Joan came out and she and Henry recognized each other as siblings. In her deposition, Hannah stated
that before Henry’s death he asked Nicholas Seaburn to write his sister asking her to send her son to him and that “he would
leave him all his estate when he died, but had no return and therefore the said Frankling said he thought they slighted his
kindness and therefore he would devise his estate otherwise.” 47
The other deposition, from James White, is worth quoting in full:
“The Deposition of White [sic] Aged Fifty three years or thereabout Sworn & Examined Said That he was Very well
acquainted with Henry Frankling decd late Inhabitant of this County on the head of Great Wicocomoco River [and
did] formerly hear the said Henry Frankling Say that he had a Sister in Colony And afterwards One Nathaniel
Bradford an Inhabitant of Accomack County Coming into this County the said Nathaniel & Henry had [unreadable
word] Conferrance and whereupon the Said Nathaniel after Such discourse Concerning that he the said Bradfords
wife was Sister to the said Henry) wanted him and [unreadable] to his house in Accomack aforesaid and accordingly
the said Hen: with his wife went with the said Bradfor & as they Informed this Deponant were at his house there
And this Depon being Since at the Said Bradfords house did See the said Bradfords wife & heard her Say that the
said Henry Frankling & his wife were there & the Said Henry was her Naturall Brother and that they acknowledged
Such lawfully kindred to Each other and this Depont. also hath often heard the said Henry Say Since his Return from
thence that His said Nathaniel Bradfords wife was his Naturall & lawfull Sister And further this Deponant Saith that
hearing the said Henry discourse of [devising?] his Estate he Said he had a kinsman Named Jno. Bradford his said
Sisters Sone as aforesaid to whome he was Inclinable to give his Estate But the said Jno not behaving himself
Suitable to his desire has [grown?] to be distasted therefore & left him Nothing in his will and further this Deponant
Saith that he heard the said Henry Frankling Say his Said Sisters Name was Jone . . .Augt 17 1713” 48
Page 8 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

Sidebar: Henry and Joan Franklin
There is no record of Henry Franklin’s transportation to Virginia in the patent books, 49 but a Joane
Frankling is listed as a headright of John Robins of Northampton County in a patent granted him on 1674. 50
It is possible this Joan Franklin was the same woman as the sister of Henry Franklin and wife of Nathaniel
Bradford. In James White’s deposition, the facts seem to imply that Joan had come to Virginia separately
from Henry, and that the two had not seen each other in a long time. If she was John Robins’ headright
from 1674, then she would have been transported probably around 1671 or before. 51 If she came into
Virginia in 1671 without indenture she would have served Robins or his assignee for five years, the custom
of the country, becoming a free woman around 1676 – a date consistent with a marriage to Nathaniel
Bradford around 1677.
* * * * *
A fair amount of evidence has survived relating to John Bradford’s time in Accomack, mainly thanks to the survival of the
Accomack court order books, which a variety of actions were recorded, many of them filled with interesting details.
However, from John’s life in Somerset County almost the only pertinent surviving records are the will books and the deed
books. The one exception to this paucity is the series of Somerset County tax lists.
Somerset County Tax Lists 52
The tax lists of Somerset County, Maryland have survived for the years 1723 to 1759, although the occasional year is missing
and a few of the lists are incomplete. In 1742, Worcester County was created from Somerset County, and John Bradford’s
land was located in the new county. Thus he only appears on the tax lists through the year 1740 (the lists for 1741 and 1742
are missing). These lists are vital for determining the birth order of John’s three sons and also the probable years of their
birth, based on the fact that free white males were only taxed after the age of fifteen.
The tax lists of Somerset County were taken in
the summer by the constables for each district,
in this case the hundred. As administrative units
hundreds had been around in England since the
middle ages, and their use was carried over into
certain of the American colonies, including
Maryland. (The hundreds of Somerset County
are depicted at left in a map created by John C.
Lyon and posted on the USGenWeb website for
Somerset County.) Each hundred had a
constable and an overseer of the roads (the
counterpart of the Virginian surveyor of the
highways) assigned to it. In the years his family
appears on the tax lists, John Bradford was
always listed in Bogerternorton Hundred, where
St. Martin’s Desert was located; his sons
Nathaniel and William variously appeared in
either Bogerternorton or Baltimore hundreds.
Page 9 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

Chart Indicating John Bradford Family on Somerset County Tax Lists
Year Details
1723-1725 John in Bogerternorton w/ dependent Nathaniel
1727 John in B’norton w/dep. William; Nathaniel dep. of Warren Hadder
1728 B’norton tax list does not survive
1729 John and William not on tax list; Nathaniel dep. of Warren Hadder, B’norton
1730 John in B’norton w/dep. William; Nathaniel head of household, B’norton
1731 John in B’norton; Nathaniel not listed; William head of household, Baltimore hundred
1733 John in B’norton; William head of household, B’norton; Nathaniel head, Baltimore
1734-1739 John in B’norton; William and Nathaniel heads of household, Baltimore hundred
1740 John in B’norton w/dep. John; William head, Baltimore; Nathaniel head, B’norton
Sidebar: Adam Bradford
Other than John and his sons Nathaniel, William, and John, just one other “Bradford” appears on the
Somerset County Tax Lists. A man named Adam is enumerated in several of the years, with his surname
variously written as Bredfoott, Brawfoot, Bradford, and Braford. He is undoubtedly the Adam Brawford
whose estate was inventoried in Somerset and recorded on 16 August 1742. 53 At that time, it was noted that
none of his kinsmen were in the county. From that, and the fact that he is not mentioned in John Bradford’s
1740 will, we may conclude that he was not related.
* * * * *
John’s Neighborhood
John C. Lyon was able to determine the rough location of St. Martins Desert within Worcester County. It was located west
of Berlin and just east of Pocomoke River, in the area of present-day Libertytown. 54
Approximate location of St. Martin’s Desert and John’s Lot
Page 10 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

John’s Wills
On 5 October 1753 John 2 Bradford’s will was recorded for probate in
Worcester County. 55 He divided his land into 3 portions for his three sons
Nathaniel 3 , William 3 , and John 3 . Nathaniel 3 was to have that part of St. Martins
Desert south of “Joseph Jones Road” (probably the present-day Purnells
Crossing road which runs through Libertytown) and William 3 received a
portion of what was left of St. Martins Desert north of the road. John 3 was also
to receive 50 acres of St. Martins Desert out of the section north of the road
plus the 50 acre-tract John’s Lot. Each son also received a pewter dish. John 2
bequeathed the rest of his “moveables” to his wife Margaret and instructed that
his “goods and chattels” were to be divided equally between his 8 daughters,
none of whom he named. Three depositions relating to John 2 ’s will were
recorded along with it in Worcester County. Two of them, from Joseph Jones
and John Holloway, had to do with settling the divisional line between
Nathaniel 3 ’s and William 3 ’s portions of St. Martins Desert. The third
deposition was from Rebecca 3 Smith, a daughter of John 2 Bradford; she
testified to the fact that Robert Rathbone and George Jarman had witnessed
John 2 ’s will on 3 September 1742, since the two had died between then and
1753. 56
The names of John 2 Bradford’s daughters are revealed in a will he had written two years before the one recorded in
Worcester County. This earlier will was dated 4 February 1739/40 and was recorded in Somerset County. 57
When John 2 wrote this earlier will Worcester County had not yet been created out of Somerset County so it was recorded in
the latter county, and an original copy survives at the Maryland Archives. John names all eight of his daughters: Tabitha,
Susanah, Comfort, Francis, Rachell, Mary, Rebeca & Martha. He also notes that Rebeca and Martha are his two youngest
daughters. Since they are listed last in the John’s enumeration of his daughters, it seems probable that John listed his
daughters in order of birth, just as he listed his sons in order of birth when disposing of his land to them in both wills. 58
All the probate records relating to John 2 Bradford, including the inventory and distribution of his estate, are transcribed in
Appendix B.
* * * * *
John 2 Bradford was born around 1677 in Accomack County, Virginia and died in Worcester County, Maryland, between the
writing of his will on 3 September 1742 and it’s presentment to the court on 5 October 1753.
John 2 wed first Tabitha Lecatt, probably around 1698, and they were parents of the following children:
+ 16*. i. NATHANIEL 3 BRADFORD
17. ii. TABITHA 3 BRADFORD. Married ____ Alford. 59
+ 18. iii. SUSANAH 3 BRADFORD. Married Aaron Timmons. 60
81. i. EDY 4 TIMMONS
82. ii. DRITER 4 TIMMONS
83. iii. RODAY 4 TIMMONS
84. iv. WILLIAM 4 TIMMONS
85. v. ELIZABETH 4 TIMMONS
The mother of the rest of John’s children can not be determined with certainty, and may be Tabitha, Margaret, or possibly
some intervening wife whose existence is unknown:
+ 19*. iv. WILLIAM 3 BRADFORD
+ 20*. v. JOHN 3 BRADFORD
Page 11 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

21. vi. COMFORT 3 BRADFORD. Married possibly George Davis or Warren Hadder. 61
+ 22. vii. FRANCES 3 BRADFORD. Married John Holloway, 27 January 17__. 62
89. i. ESTHER 4 HOLLOWAY. Born 13 March 173_.
90. ii. JOHN 4 HOLLOWAY. Born 8 August 173_.
91. iii. MARY 4 HOLLOWAY. Born 12 January 1739/40.
92. iv. WILLIAM 4 HOLLOWAY. Born 13 March 1742.
93. v. SOLOMON 4 HOLLOWAY. Born 30 March 1744.
94. vi. REBECAH 4 HOLLOWAY. Born 1 January 1747.
95. vii. BARSHEBA 4 HOLLOWAY. Born 13 January 1749.
96. viii. LEDA 4 HOLLOWAY. Born 3 December 1751.
97. ix. ELIJAH 4 HOLLOWAY. Born 11 March 1754.
23. viii. RACHELL 3 BRADFORD. Married possibly George Davis or Warren Hadder. 63
+ 24. ix. MARY 3 BRADFORD. Married Nehemiah Truitt (died before 2 July 1773). 64
98. i. WILLIAM 4 TRUITT
99. ii. NEHEMIAH 4 TRUITT. Born 13 February 175?.
100. iii. _____ 4 TRUITT
101. iv. _____ 4 TRUITT
102. v. _____ 4 TRUITT
25. x. REBECCA 3 BRADFORD. Married ____ Smith. 65
26. xi. MARTHA 3 BRADFORD. Married possibly George Davis or Warren Hadder. 66
Page 12 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

Source Citations
1.JoAnn Riley McKey, Accomack County, Virginia Court Order Abstracts, Electronic Edition (Bowie, Maryland:
Heritage Books, Inc., 2001); 8: 31 & 35.
2.Ralph T. Whitelaw, Virginia’s Eastern Shore (Maine: Picton Press,2001), 1227.
3.McKey, 8: 66.
4.Accomack County Wills & Deeds, 1692-1715 Part 1, FHL microfilm 30010, ps.350 [typescript copy]
5.McKey, 9: 24.
6.Accomack County Wills & Deeds, 1692-1715 Part 1, FHL microfilm 30010, ps.349-350. [typescript copy]. These pages
contain John Bradford’s releases to his brother and to Budd, as well as Budd’s sale of land to John and Joan’s release of dower.
7.The image is from Accomack County Order Books 1676-1678, 1690-1709, FHL microfilm 30111. Abstract may be
found in McKey, 9: 38.
8.Search for evidence of Thomas Budd on the eastern shore was carried on mainly in the court order books of Accomack
and Northampton Counties. Prior to his purchase of land, he is not mentioned in any of the major secondary sources for the
shore.
9.Dr. Howard Mackey and Marlene Alma Hinkley Groves, CG, editors, Northampton County Virginia Record Book
Orders, Deeds, Wills &c. Volume 5, 1654-1655 (Rockport, Maine: Picton Press, 1999), 199.
10.Dr. Howard Mackey and Marlene Alma Hinkley Groves, CG, editors, Northampton County Virginia Record Book
Orders, Deeds, Wills &c. Volume 8, 1657-1664 (Rockport, Maine: Picton Press, 2002), 112.
11.Beverly Fleet, editor, Virginia Colonial Abstracts Vol. XIX, Northumbria collectanea (Baltimore: Genealogical
Publishing Company, 1971), 17; also Carolyn H. Jett, Records of Northumberland County, Virginia (Bowie, Md: Heritage
Books, 1994), 159.
12.1704 quit rent roll for Accomack was found on the Accomack County genweb site:
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/va/accomack/census/1704rent.txt.
13.Stratton Nottingham, Wills and Administrations of Accomack County, Virginia 1663-1800 (Baltimore: Genealogical
Publishing Company, 1999), 33.
14.McKey, 1: 20.
15.McKey, 3: 63.
16.McKey, 3: 57, 112. John Milby’s sons – John, Joseph, and Samuel – were under 18 when he died. (Nottingham, 5)
They were probably brought up in the Lecatt household and were close with their half-siblings. Depositions from a 1682 suit
in Accomack court (McKey, 6: 214) describes John Lecatt Jr., Philip Lecatt, and Joseph Milby together in a field looking
after their mother’s horse.
17.McKey, 7: 76.
18.McKey, 5: 37; 6: 189 & 193.
19.McKey, 8: 96 & 199.
20.McKey, 2: 127; 3, 127; 4, 6; 7: 19; 8: 215.
21.Nottingham, 32. Phillip Alexander Lecatt predeceased his father. That he was John’s son seems clear by his frequent
association in Accomack court records with the Milby children of Thomasin Milby Lecatt, with John Lecatt Jr., and several
other associated individuals.
22.Nottingham, 57. In his 1709 will, Rowland Savage names a daughter Patience Lecatt, wife of John Lecatt. He also
names a Mary Roads, wife of John Roads. For Mary Roads being Philip Lecatt’s widow see McKey, 11: 84: “John Roads . . .
and his wife Mary (who had been Philip Lecat’s widow).”
23.Nottingham, 33.
24.McKey, 11: 35.
25.Whitelaw, 1234.
26.Nottingham, 37.
27.Nottingham, 37.
28.Nottingham, 46.
29.McKey, 10: 186. The Prices were neighbors (see Whitelaw, 1228).
30.McKey, 10: 5.
31.McKey, 1: 172.
32.McKey, 10: 54.
33.McKey, 10: 60.
34.McKey, 9: 77 and 10: 109
35.McKey, 10: 58.
36.Accomack County Wills & Deeds, 1692-1715 Part 2, FHL microfilm 30011, p.206 [typescript copy]
37.Accomack County Wills & Deeds, 1692-1715 Part 2, FHL microfilm 30011, p.207 [typescript copy]
38.McKey, 10: 109.
39.Whitelaw, 38.
40.Accomack County Wills & Deeds, 1692-1715 Part 2, FHL microfilm 30011, p.446 [typescript copy]
Page 13 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

41.Somerset County Land Records, Liber CD, folio 585. MD State Archives microfilm CR 31,806,. 42.Patent Records,
1716-1722. Liber FF7, folio 135. MD State Archives microfilm SR 7460.
43.Fleet, 52.
44.Fleet, 52.
45.Northumberland County, Virginia Record Book 1710-1713: Deeds Wills Inventories Etc. FHL microfilm 32639. folio
327.
46.Fleet, 52.
47.Northumberland County, Virginia Record Book 1710-1713: Deeds Wills Inventories Etc. FHL microfilm 32639. folio
335.
48.Northumberland County, Virginia Record Book 1710-1713: Deeds Wills Inventories Etc. FHL microfilm 32639. folio
336.
49.Based on search of Nell Marion Nugent, Cavaliers and Pioneers (Richmond, Virginia: The Library of Virginia,
2004), volumes 1 through 3.
50.Nugent, 2: 158.
51.Legally one could not claim a headright unless the individual transported had either died or remained in the colony for a
period of 3 years; though it is unclear how strictly this residency stipulation was enforced.
52.Transcriptions of the Somserset County tax lists may be found at the website of the Maryland State Archives. Search
Guide to Government Records, County Records on Microfilm.
53.Worcester County Md, Wills, 1688-1742, Liber JW 15, folio 201. MD State Archives microfilm CR 46,717.
54.Tract location was pinpointed by John C. Lyon, based on his excellent work on Worcester County land records.
55.Worcester County Md, Wills, 1742-1758, Liber JW 2, folio 113. MD State Archives microfilm CR 43,744.
56.Worcester County, Md. Wills, 1742-1758, Liber JW 2, folio 114. MD State Archives microfilm CR 43,744.
57.An original copy of John Bradford’s will may be found at the Maryland State Archives. It is listed in the Prerogative
Court index for Maryland probate records.
58.One difficulty with this is that Susannah Bradford (but not Tabitha) was listed as a child of John and Tabitha in the will
of John Lecatt, and from this we might presume that she was the eldest. Yet she is listed second among John’s daughters in his
1740 will, after Tabitha.
59.Nathaniel and Susannah were certainly the children of Tabitha (Lecatt) Bradford, since they were named in John
Lecatt’s will. Tabitha 3 Bradford (John 2 Nath 1 ) was presumably named after her mother. For Tabitha’s marriage to ____ Alford,
see estate account of John 3 Bradford in Maryland Prerogative Court Accounts 1759-1760, Liber 44, folios 206-207, MD State
Archives microfilm 56-1.
60.For marriage to Aaron Timmons see estate account for John 3 Bradford as in note 59. For children see will of Arean
(Aaron) Timmans, Mddelgenealogy.com. From Neil and Leslie Keddie, Worcester County Wills 1759-1769, page 2.
61.See John 3 Bradford estate account in Maryland Prerogative Court Accounts 1759-1760, Liber 44, folios 206-207, MD
State Archives microfilm 56-1. George Davis and Warren Hadder both married daughters of John 3 Bradford, but their identity
is unknown. Comfort 4 Bradford, Rachel 4 Bradford, and Martha 4 Bradford are the only three daughters for whom marital
information is unknown.
62.See John 3 Bradford estate account in Maryland Prerogative Court Accounts 1759-1760, Liber 44, folios 206-207, MD
State Archives microfilm 56-1: “Money pd John Holloway who married a Daughter of the deced.” For the date of the
marriage and list of children, see Register of St. Martin’s Church Worcester Parish Worcester Co., MD. 1722-1839 (San
Francisco: DAR, San Francisco Chapter, 1952), 105.
63.See note 61.
64.See John 3 Bradford estate account in Maryland Prerogative Court Accounts 1759-1760, Liber 44, folios 206-207, MD
State Archives microfilm 56-1: “Money pd Nehemiah Truitt who married a Daughter of the deced.” For the list of children
see Register of St. Martin’s Church Worcester Parish Worcester Co., MD. 1722-1839 (San Francisco: DAR, San Francisco
Chapter, 1952), 6; also will of Nehemiah Truitt, Mddelgenealogy.com. From Neil and Leslie Keddie, Worcester County Wills
1769-1774, page 11.
65.See deposition of Rebecka Smith in Worcester County Md. Wills 1742-1758, Liber JW 2, folio 114. MD State Archives
microfilm CR 43,744-2: “She this deponent was at her father John Bradford’s.”
66.See note 61.
Page 14 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

Bibliography
Fleet, Beverly, editor. Virginia Colonial Abstracts Vol. XIX, Northumbria collectanea. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing
Company, 1971.
Jett, Carolyn H. Records of Northumberland County, Virginia. Bowie, Md: Heritage Books, 1994.
Mackey, Howard and Groves, Marlene Alma Hinkley, CG, editors. Northampton County Virginia Record Book Orders,
Deeds, Wills &c. Volume 5, 1654-1655. Rockport, Maine: Picton Press, 1999.
Mackey, Howard and Groves, Marlene Alma Hinkley, CG, editors. Northampton County Virginia Record Book Orders,
Deeds, Wills &c. Volume 8, 1657-1664. Rockport, Maine: Picton Press, 2002.
McKey, JoAnn Riley. Accomack County, Virginia Court Order Abstracts, Electronic Edition. 10 volumes. Bowie, Maryland:
Heritage Books, Inc., 2001.
McKey, JoAnn Riley. Accomack County Virginia Court Order Abstracts 1714-1719 Vols. 12 & 13 Bowie, Maryland:
Heritage Books, Inc., 2000.
Nottingham, Stratton. Wills and Administrations of Accomack County, Virginia 1663-1800 Baltimore: Genealogical
Publishing Company, 1999.
Nugent, Nell Marion. Cavaliers and Pioneers Richmond, Virginia: The Library of Virginia, 2004, Vols. 1-3.
Whitelaw, Ralph T. Virginia’s Eastern Shore Rockport, Maine: Picton Press,2001.
Page 15 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

Appendix A: Timeline of Events in John Bradford’s Life
YEAR AGE EVENT
1677 (Apr 7? -Jun 10?) born around or before this date
1690 19 Nov 13 brother William petitions with Joane for administration of Nathaniel’s estate
1692 Feb 16 15 petitions to choose Thomas Budd guardian
1697 17 Jun 20 witness to Elizabeth Stratton’s will
1698 7 Apr 21 complaint of John against John Read dismissed
10 Jun John’s release to brother William from father’s estate
4 Oct deed of 364 acres from Thomas Budd to John (A140)
4 Oct Joan Budd relinquishes dower to son John
4 Oct John’s release to Thomas Budd and brother William acknowledged in court
1699 7 Nov 22 on grand jury
1702 1 Dec 25 John Lecatt’s will: daughter Tabitha with children Susanna and Nathaniel Bradford
1703 2 Jun 26 petitions to be paid for serving as witness for Charles Ventetson against Capt. Bennt. Scarburgh
1705 6 Mar 28 John’s servant William Brian petitions for his freedom
4 Apr on jury
4 Apr William Brian ordered to return to John’s service
5 Jun with Nathaniel Williams, proves will of Hendrick Johnson
1706 1 Oct 29 on grand jury
1 Oct deed of 64 acres to John Murraine (A140)
1 Oct Tabitha’s releases dower on 64 acres to John Murraign
1707 6 Aug 30 with Mary Sample, proves will of Elizabeth Stratton
1708 4 Aug 31 asks to be paid for serving as witness for John Blake against Charles Taylor
1709 2 Feb 32 John and William Belk security for Richard Price’s estate
2 Aug with John Watts & Andrew Crawford, proves will of Thomas Taylor
1710 7 Feb 33 sale of 300 acres to Thomas Nock (A140)
8 Nov purchases St. Martins Desert from William Townsend
1713 Jul? 36 John quits claim on Henry Franklings land in St. Stephen’s Parish, N’umberland to Thomas Smith
Aug 17 mentioned in deposition of Hannah Smith & James White of N’umberland
1716 Aug 2 39 assigned Johns Lot by John Caldwell Jr.
1723 46 SoCo tax list, B’norton; dep Nathaniel
1724 47 SoCo tax list, B’norton; dep Nathaniel
1725 48 SoCo tax list, B’norton; dep Nathaniel
1727 50 SoCo tax list, B’norton; dep William; Nathaniel dep of Warren Hadder ‘next door’
1728 51 not on tax list (B’norton lost)
1729 52 not on tax list; Nath dep of Warren Hadder
1730 53 SoCo tax list, B’norton; dep William; Nathaniel HH; Adam dep of Sam Hopkins in Bmo
1731 54 SoCo tax list, B’norton; no Nath; William HH Bmo; Adam dep Hopkins Bmo
1733 56 SoCo tax list, B’norton; William HH next door; Nath HH Bmo; Adam dep Hopkins Bmo
1734 57 SoCo tax list, B’norton; Wm HH Bmo; Nath HH Bmo; Adam dep Ed Round B’norton nextdoor
1735 58 SoCo tax list, B’norton; Wm HH Bmo; Nath HH Bmo; Adam HH B’norton
1736 59 SoCo tax list, B’norton; Wm HH Bmo; Nath HH Bmo; Adam HH B’norton
1737 60 SoCo tax list, B’norton; Wm HH Bmo; Nath HH Bmo; no Adam
1738 61 SoCo tax list, B’norton; Wm HH Bmo; Nath HH Bmo; no Adam
1739 62 SoCo tax list, B’norton; Wm HH Bmo; Nath HH Bmo; Adam HH B’norton
1740 63 SoCo tax list, B’norton, Jno dep; Wm HH Bmo; Nath HH B’Norton; Adam HH B’norton
4 Feb will written, recorded in Somerset County, mentions all daughters by name
1742 3 Sep 65 will written
1753 5 Oct 76 will proven; wife Margaret; sons Nathaniel, William, John; 8 daughters incl Rebecca
1754 6 Apr inventory of his estate
1760 4 Feb account of his estate
Page 16 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

Appendix B: Transcripts of John Bradford Probate Records
Will of John Bradford – 3 September 1742 – 5 October 1753
[Worcester County Md, Wills, 1742-1758, Liber JW 2, folio 113. MD State Archives microfilm CR 43,744.]
In the Name of God amen the third day of September Anno quie domine one thousand seven hundred and
forty two I John Bradford of Worcester County being in perfect health of Body and of mind and memory thanks be to
God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die
do make and ordaine this my last Will and Testament that is to say princiably and first of all I give and recom=
mend my Soul unto the hand of God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a
Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the genarell resurrection
to receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such Worldy Estate herewith it hath pleas=
ed God to bless me with in this life I give device and dispose of the same in the following manner and form ---
Imprimis I give to my dearly beloved wife Margrett all my Movables except three puter dishes and likewise the
(114)
Exetor and my son William Exetor of all movables – Item I give to my son Nathaniel a certain Quantity of Land called
Saint Martins Disarts lying and being on the South side of Joseph Jones Road the devition being at marked white oak
as the road runs and to come now further and likewise one puter dish to him and his heirs and Asignes forever ----
Itim I give to my Son William a certain Quantity of land called Saint Martaines disart liing and being on the North side
of Joseph Jounses Road beginning at a certain white Oak marked and standing next to the said Joanses and the devision between
my son William and my son John Shall be the branch and likewise one great puter dish to him and his heirs and
Assigns forever --- Itim I give to my son John one hundred acres of Land part of the said hundred acres is the Plantation
whereon I live and fifty acres called Johns Lot and one puter dish to him his heirs and Assigns forever – Item I give all my
goods and chattles to be equally divided among my eight Daughters at my wife’s decease to them their heirs and Assigns
forever And do hereby utterly revoke disallow revoke and disallow all and every other former Testements
and Executors by me in every ways before this time Willed and bequed being and confirming this and no other to be my
last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and Seal the day and year above written . . . .
Signed Sealed Published and recommended and delivered by the said John } Robert Rathbone John Bradford
Bradford Seonear his last Will and Testamant in the presence of us the Subescribers } George [D] Jaroman
N.B. the Subscribing Witnesses departed this life before the Testator - - - - - - - - - B. Harris Depty. Comry
October y e 5 th 1753 Came William Bradford and made Oath on the holy Avengalis of Almighty God that he verily believes the
above will to be the last Will and Testament of John Bradford late of Worcester County deceased and that he never knew or heard
of any other later Will or Testament by the said John made after the above
Sworn before Benton Harris Depty. Comry. of Worcester Coty
* * * * *
Page 17 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

Depositions Relating to Will of John Bradford – 3 September 1742 – 5 October 1753
[Worcester County, Md. Wills, 1742-1758, Liber JW 2, folio 114. MD State Archives microfilm CR 43,744.]
Worcester fs. Joseph Jones being of full age and being sworn on the holy Avengalis of Almighty God deposeth and saith that upwards
of twelve years past he this deponant had an Order to clear a Road from Pocomoke River to Buckinham and some time after red=
ing the s d . Road this deponant saw a White oak mark’d with three notches on a Side on four sides which look to be but just marked
and some small time afterwards this deponant was riding the same road with John Bradford and asked him what that
Tree was mark’d for the said Jn o Bradford Answered that from that tree up the road towards Buckingham was the division
between (his sons) Nathaniel Bradford and William Bradford and that part to the Southward of the said road was to be Nathan
iels; and on the Northward was to be William’s and that he the said John then Told this deponant that he had likewise
made a division between his son William and his son John and further this deponant saith not. Joseph [I I] Jones
Taken before Benton Harris Depty. Comry. of Worcester County
Rebeckah Smith of full age and being sworn on the holy Evengalis of Almighty God deposeth and Saith that
about nine or ten years ago she this deponant was at her father John Bradford’s and the said John went abroad
and when he came home Robert Rathbone came with him as she understood to write his the said John’s Will and the said
Robert set down to write and that the said John desired her this deponant to go for George Jarman to be a Witness to the
said Will and when he came y e . said Robert desired John Bradford to come and acknowledge the will which he accord
ingly did and sealed it and was at that time to the best of this deponants Judgment in perfect health and sound memo
ry and desired the said George and Robert to sign as Witnesses to ye Same which this deponant saw they according
ly did in her sight and further this deponant saith not ------------------------------------------------Rebeckah [O] Smith
Taken before Benton Harris Depty. Comry. of Worcester Coty
John Holloway Junr. being of full age and sworn on the holoy Avangalis of Almighty God deposeth and Saith that
about Ten years agoe he this deponant went to John Bradfords and Robert Rathbone was writing the said John’s Will
(115)
he this deponant Stay’d till the Will was finished and heard the said John make the division of his land in the said
Will between his sons in the following manner. The road that leads from Joseph Jones to Buckingham beginning at at a
marked white Oak standing on the Northermost side of the raod to be the division between Nathaniel and William
the land on the south side of the said Road to be Nathaniel’s and on the North side to be William’s from the said
Road to a branch next to the Plantation whereon the said John Bradford lived, and the remaining part of his
Land to his son John and further this deponant saith that he saw John Bradford seal the said Will & heard
him publish the same to be his last Will and further this deponant sath that at the time of his so doing he
the said John was in perfect health and of sound memory to the best of hyis apprehension and also that he was (desired) by
John Bradford to sign the said Will as an Evidence with Geo. Jerman and Robert Rathbone but William Bradford
was present said that he this deponant was too near of him to be a Witness and further saith not. John Holloway Junr.
Taken before Benton Harris Depty. Comry. of Worcester Coty
* * * * *
Page 18 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

John Bradford Will – 4 February 1739/40
[Maryland Hall of Records, Loose Files]
In the Name of God Amen I John Bradford Senr. of the County of Somerset
& Province of Maryland being in health of body & Sound & perfect Memory (Prayse
be to God for y e Same) and knowing y e Shortness of this Life and being Desirous
to Settle things In order doe Make this My Last Will and Testament In Manner
following that is To Say first & Principally I Commend my Soul to Almighty
God my Creator [??] following that I shall Receive Last Pardon and free
Remission of all my Sins & be Saved by ye Death & Meritts of my Saviour – and
Redeemer Christ [??] & my Body to the Earth from Whence it was taken to be
Decently Buried as to my Executor & Executrix hereafter Named shall think fitt and
Convenient & as Touching my Worldly Estate my Will & Meaning is y t y e Same be [??]
as by me hereafter Expressed and [??] I doe Revoke Renounce [??] and Make
Voide all Wills by me formerly Made & Publish & Declare & Doe appoint this to be my
Last Will & Testament
Item I Give and Bequeath unto My Son Nathaniel Bradford and to his heirs and assigns Part
of a Tract of Land Called Saint Martins Desart begining at Marked Tree by y e Roade from
Joseph Jones To Buckingham & from thence to y e end of the Ridge towards William [Rounds?]
Containing one hundred acres more or Less and one Larg Puter Dish
Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Son William Bradford and to his heirs and assigns
Part of a Tract of Land Called Saint Martins Desert being the Place Whereon my Son Nathaniel
Now Liveth & [??] [??] to y e Roade abovesd Containing one hundred Acres ore or less
and one Large Puter Dish
Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Son John Bradford and to his heirs and assigns Part of
the Tract aforesaid Contange one hundred acres to Witt my Plantation Whereon I now Live
& all houses orchard fencing and Appurtenances thereunto Belonging and also fifty acres
of Land Called Johns Lott & one Large Puter Dish
Item I Lett unto my Loveing Wife Margrett Bradford y e Whole of my Plantation & Personal
Estate During her Widowhood and after her Marage or Death I give ye Same as follows
That is to say I Devise & itt is My Will that the Same be Equally Divided amongst my
Daughters Tabitha Susanah Comfort Francis Rachell Mary Rebeca & Martha to be
Divided by the [??] of my Estate Except a three year old heiffer to Each of my youngest
Daughters Rebeca & Martha to be Declared at the Apraisement
Lastly I Doe Appoint my Well Beloved Wife Margrett Bradford & my Son William
Bradford Whole & Sole Executrix & Executor of this my Last Will & Testament and doe
Acknowledge This to be my Last Will & Testament In Confirmation of Which
I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale thy forth day of febr. one Thousand
Seven hundred & thirty Nine forty
Signed Sealed & Acknowledged
In Presence of us
George [his mark] Jarman John Bradford
Mary [W] Jarman
* * * * *
Page 19 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

Inventory of John Bradford, 6 April 1754
[Maryland Hall of Records, Microfilm Roll SR 4350-2, Lib. 57, f. 428 (Prerogative Court Inventories 1753-1754)]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Worcester County April ye 6 Day 1754
An Inventory of the goods & Chattles Rites
and Prodits[?] of John Bradford Late of thes County
Decest Appaised in Curt on A Money by us the
under Subscribers Vizt ---
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
John Evans
Ebenezer Evans
To 1 Cow & Calf @ 45/To 1 Ditto @ 35/ 4, 0, 0
To 1 Barion[?] Cow @ 35/To 2 Earlinge @ 30/ 3, 5, 0
To 4 Sheep & a Lam 28/6 To 1 pare of Shallerou[?] 6. 1, 14, 6
To 2 Old Books 3/To 1 Iron 1/To 17 of Puter 17/ 1, 1, 0
To 1 Puter Dish a legese to Nath. 13/6 0, 13, 6
To 1 Ditto to W m . 13/6 To 1 Ditto to John 6/ 0, 19, 6
To 1 Pan @ 2/6 To 1 Hamlo 2/6 To 1 C of foams 1/ 0, 6, 0
To 4 Old Chairs @6/ To 1 pare of Old weges 4/ 0, 10, 0
To a Parcell of Shoomakers Ints[?] 10/ To 1 } 0, 11, 0
Kerefo 1 }
To 2 old Chests 7/6 to 1 Box 3/ to 1 table Cloth 7/6 0, 10, 0
To 2 Buckets & 1 Tub 2/ To 1 Woollon Whool ffe 0, 9, 6
To 2 Small whools 7/6 To 2 old hose 2/ } 0, 13, 6
To 1 Plows 4/ }
To 3 Harrow Toath @ 8/To 1 Pot and } 0, 10, 0
Ketteel 10/ }
To 1 Small Pot 7/6 To 1 Ditto 9/ To 2 sene } 0, 19, 6
of Pot Hooks – 3/ }
(429)
To 1 Old saddle 5/ To some old Leather 4/ 0, 9, 0
To a Parel of Old Casks 14/ 6 To 1 gug 1/6 0, 17, 0
To 1 Old frow 2/ To a pair of Trucks 4/ 0, 6, 0
To 1 Beed and furniture a 76 Wori Dito 90 7,6,0
To 1 Carthen P 4 1/ 3,3,0
To 1 Small Heide 3/6 To 1 Beelmettel Pott 0,4,0
To 2 Hogsth / TO 8 sholes of To 2 half pint Bottles 1,1,0
To Elaing a barrel 1,7,6
31,13,0
To 1 pare of Yearhackls 00,2,0
the Nearest of ken John Bradford
Rebeck [V] Bradford
The Greates Creditors Elizabeth [E] Murry
Nath Ramsay
June ye 15 th 1754 Then John Bradford swore on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God that this is a Just and perfect Inventory
of all and singular the good and Chattles which were of the Deced That came to his hands at the time of the makeing thereof and that what
hath since or shall hereafter come to his hands or Possession he will turn in an Additional Inventory and that he knows of no
Concealmentof any Part or Parcel thereof of any Person whatsoever and that if he shall Discover any Concealment of Very port any to be,
he will acquaint the Commysarry General for the time being or his Deputy with [??] Discovery or Confess of Suppition that it may be
Enquired into and that he will well and truly give an Account of all and Every Part of the Deceased Personal Estate that shall hereafter
come to his Hands Possession or Knowledge which Oath was taken the Day and year first above Written Before me
Jno. Scarbrough
Page 20 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

Account of John Bradford, 4 February 1760
[Maryland Hall of Records, Micofilm Roll 56-1, Liber 44, folios 206-207]
Worcester fs. The account of William Bradford Executor of the
Testament & last Will of John Bradford late of Worcester County
Deceased
This accountant chargeth himself with an Inventory of the deceds
Estate Exhibited into the prerogative office in to the sum of L. 31.15.1
And humbly prays allowance for the following Payments and
Disbursements viz.
Of money pd Isaac Murray on account of the Deced Note of
Hand due of this amount unto [?] Knowedge by him pd } 2.10
receipt appears . . .
Of money paid Joshua Morss p peed[?] acct & receipt _.5.6
Of money pd William Smith p paid amt & receipt apprs _5.6
Of money pd Nathl. Bradford for his amt. paid (the amount }
being or then left or mislaid) p receipt appears } _,6,10
Of Money pd Joseph Jones p paid amt. & receipt appears _,5,
Of 313 Nott Tob a . pd for County fees p au. a 18/ppt 2.6.11
(207)
Of 150 Toba. pd Deputy Commy fees on Granting S.l 40s Tob ?? 18.7
Of or Legacy left by the sd Deced to his Son Nathaniel Inventory’d
after his Death at the delivered to said Nathaniel after the
William made as the deced cary on his Death Bed by his 0.9.0
Order therefore this amount and Craves all warre for A being
or pewter dish weighing & appraised at 6066
Of a Legacy of a pewter dish left by the Deced to this accountant
wt. 9 at 1/pll stanned in his own Hands 0.9.0
Of a Legacy left by the deced to his Son John of a pewter
Dish wt 9 appraised out of pee paid by this accountant to
sd. John p receipt 0.9.9
Of 74 Toba paid for stating & performing this account a 18/6 p C 0.9.3
Of this accountant Commissions on payment of the
above Debts amounting to the sum of 7.6.8. S 10 pct 0.14.7
Of money paid Tabitha Alford Daughter of the Deced for
her Dividable part of his Estate as p receipt apps 3.4.7 & ¾
Of Money pd Warren Hadder who married a Daughter to
the deced for her full Divideable part of his Estate p receipt
in full appears 3.4.7 ¾
Of money pd Aaron Timmons who married a Daughter to
the Deced for her full part of her Estate p receipt in full 3.4.7 ¾
Of Money pd Rebecca Bradford Daughter of the deced for her
Divideable part of his Estate in full p receipt appears 3.4.7 ¾
Of Money paid Nehemiah Truitt who married a Daughter
of the deced for her full part of his Estate pr receipt in full 3.4.7 ¾
Of Monehy pd George Davis who married a Daughter of the
Deced for her full part of his Estate as p rect. in full appears 3.4.7 ¾
Of Money pd John Holloway who married a Daughter of
the deced for her divideable part of the Deceds Estate in full 3.4.7 ¾
L 31.15.1 ¼
February 4 th [?] 1760 came William Bradford the above accountant & made oath
on the Hly Evanels of Almighty God that the above account as it stands
stated is just & true which after due haimm[?] when thereon first had is passt by
Page 21 of 21 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford