BRADFORD, BAYLY - Lower Delmarva Bradfords

11. Bayly 3 Bradford (William 2 Nathaniel 1 )
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Contents
1. (11) Bayly 3 Bradford (Wm 2 Nath 1 ) 3
2. (58) Ezekiel 4 Bradford (Bayly 3 ) 6
3. (164) Kendall 5 Bradford (Zeke 4 Bayly 3 ) 7
4. (282) Abel 6 Bradford (Kendall 5 Zeke 5 Bayly 3 ) 8
5. (335) William 7 W. Bradford (Abel 6 Kendall 5 Zeke 5 Bayly 3 ) 9
6. (59) John 4 Bradford (Bayly 3 ) 11
7. Citations 13
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11. Bayly 3 Bradford (William 2 Nathaniel 1 )
Bailey/Bayly 3 Bradford (William 2 Nathaniel 1 ) (hereafter referred to only as Bayly) was born probably
before 1706 in Accomack County, VA, the son of William 2 Bradford (Nathaniel 1 ) and Bridget Fisher. 1 His
father granted him 400 acres of land in Matchapungo Neck by a deed of gift dated 27 July 1727 and
witnessed by Nathaniel Badger and Paul Wimbrah. 2 The land was entailed and was to pass to Bayly’s
brother John 3 in case Bayly died without heirs and to his brother Fisher 3 in case John 3 died without heirs.
Bayly’s wife is mentioned obliquely in the deed, not by name: “if my Son Bailey Bradford Have no
Children or Lawfull Heirs then my son Bailey Dyeing without Heirs then I Desire & give to my son Bailey
Bradfords Wife while shee keeps my son Bailey Bradfords Widdow the use of the said four hundred
Acres.” William also inserted an unusual clause enjoining Bayly not to “take other peoples Creatures to
pasture Dureing my Natural life and if He should take other peoples Creatures before I dye so I can make it
appear He shall forfeit and pay to me five thousand pounds of good Merchantable leaf Tobacco . . . for such
offence.” Bayly’s land was located north of his brother Nathaniel 3 ’s land and south of land given by
William 2 to Bayly’s siblings Sarah 3 and John 3 . 3 Since he had already provided for Bayly, William 2 left him
just 1 shilling in his will, dated 4 July 1735. 4
Before turning to the various land suits which constitute the primary evidence for Bayly’s life, it is worth
mentioning one other record in which he appears. On 31 November 1753, Richard Driskel brought suit
against Bayly Bradford in an “action of Covenant broken.” The matter was resolved in Driskel’s favor on
26 June 1754 by a jury which found that “the Plantiff hath Sustained Damages by occasion of the Breaking
of a Certain Covenant between the said Richard and Baley lately made to Fourteen Pounds three Shillings
and Six pence.” The nature of the covenant is not given in the court orders. 5
Bayly’s Land and Heirs
In a deed dated 24 June 1746 and witnessed by Mitchel Scarburgh, Robert Coleburn and John Riggs, Bayly
Bradford sold 100 acres to “Whittington Addison his Son in Law & his Daughter Joanna Mary.” 6 The land
was located in the north of Bayly’s tract, south of land William 2 had granted to his daughter Sarah 3 , as it
was described as “Beginning at Matchapungo Creekside at the Land of Jedidiah Bell [Sarah 3 Bradford’s
husband] thence along the same by a right Line to the Broad Water thence along the said Broad Water
including all the Fordable Marsh to extend so far along the same as by a Paralel line to include the
aforesaid One Hundred Acres.” Seven years later, in a deed dated 27 February 1753 and witnessed by
Edmund Scarburgh Junr, Major Rowles, Luke Luker and Willock Macky, “Whittingon Aderson and Joanna
Mary his wife” sold these 100 acres to Fisher 3 Bradford (Wm 2 Nath 1 ). 7
This transaction is described in Stratton Nottingham’s Accomack Land Causes, which also mentions that
Bayly had attempted to dock the entail on the land by a writ of ad quod damnun filed with the Virginia
government: 8
“That William Bradford being seized in fee simple of 400 acres of land, by deed dated 27 July
1727, conveyed 400 acres, of which the premises in the declaration mentioned are a part, to his
son Bayly Bradford, by virtue whereof the said Bayly Bradford entered into and became seized
thereof; that the said Bayly Bradford being so seized on the 8 July 1745 sued out of the
Secretary’s Office a writ in the nature of a writ of ad quod damnum directed to the Sheriff of
Accomack County, by virtue of which said writ the Inquisition was taken by the Sheriff of the said
County on the 16 Nov. 1745, and returned into the Secretary’s Office; that on the 24 June 1746 the
said Bayly Bradford by his deed conveyed 100 acres, part of the said 400 acres, and which are the
same lands in the declaration mentioned, to Whittington Addison and Joanna Mary, his wife, by
virtue whereof the said Addison & wife entered into the said lands and were possessed thereof;
that on the 27 Feb 1753, the said Whittington Addison & wife conveyed the said 100 acres to
Fisher Bradford; that the said Fisher Bradford entered into the said lands & was possessed thereof;
. . .”
In a further deed, dated 28 February 1755 and witnessed by Francis Savage, William Bradford [probably
Bayly’s nephew, son of Nathaniel 3 ], and Sarah Bradford [probably aforesaid William’s wife], Bayly
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Bradford sold 75 acres to Timothy Kelly. 9 The land is described as bounded “Northerly upon Fisher
Bradford’s land & Easterly upon the Place called thoroughfare and then along the thoroughfare.” “Fisher
Bradford’s land” probably refers to the 100 acres that Bayly’s daughter and son-in-law had deeded to
Fisher two years before.
In the continuation of the abstract from Accomack Land Causes, a further deed of Bayly’s land to Fisher is
mentioned:
“. . . that on the 1 Apr 1761 the said Bayly Bradford executed a deed to the said Fisher Bradford;
that the lands in the declaration mentioned are a part of the lands mentioned and described in the
last mentioned deed, and that the said Bayly Bradford at the time of the execution of the said last
mentioned deed was not in possession of the lands in the declaration mentioned, nor had been
possessed thereof at any time since the before mentioned conveyance to the said Whittington
Addison and Joanna Maria, his wife; . . .”
This 1761 deed to Fisher is referenced in Whitelaw’s account of the Bradford’s Neck land, in which he
mentions “the 300 acres bought [by Fisher Bradford] from his brother Bayly by a General Court deed.” 10
Bayly probably died after his deed to Fisher and before 27 June 1769, which is the date of a deed from
“Mary Bradford Widow and Devisee of Fisher Bradford of Accomack” to “Nathaniel Bradford Son of the
said Fisher and Mary.” 11 Mary granted her son “all her right Title Intrest Possession and Claim of in and
unto all the Land Devised unto her the said Mary by the Last Will and Testament of the afsd. Fisher
Bradford that is to say all that part Which the said Fisher purchased of his Brother Bayly Bradford by
Sundry Conveyances.”
The remainder of the abstract from Accomack Land Causes goes on to describe how Fisher’s son lost the
land to Bayly’s heirs.
“. . . that the lessor of the plaintiff is the heir at law to said Fisher Bradford; that the said Fisher
Bradford remained in possession of the said lands in the declaration mentioned from the time of
his entry until his death, and that upon the death Nathaniel Bradford, his son & heir at law entered
into and became possessed of the said land, and continued possessed until the ___ day of ___ 17__
when the same was recovered by an ejectment in the Court of Accomack County by the heirs of
the said Bayly Bradford under whom the defendant now claims. 15 Oct 1800 – p.447”
This “ejectment . . . by the heirs of . . . Bayly Bradford” may refer to the suit recorded in Accomack Court
on 27 June 1771 between a lessee of Ezekiel Bradford against Mary Bradford in ejectment of lands. 12 In
Adventures of Purse and Person, a further suit is mentioned: “On 29 July 1779 in a suit of Ezekiel
Bradford, lessee, vs Nathaniel Bradford in ejectment for lands (Accomack Co. Order Bk. 1777-80, p.405) a
verdict was entered for the plaintiff for all the lands except 120 acres, “the quantity contained in the first
two deeds.” 13 That Ezekiel Bradford or his heirs ended up living on Bayly’s land is confirmed by the
history of the tract as given in Whitelaw and by later deeds from Ezekiel’s son Kendall that show the land
bordered on the north by Jeodiah Bell. 14 Ezekiel had left a will in Accomack in 1777, giving “unto my
brother John Bradford my right of four hundred Acres of Land being And Lying In Bradfords neck In
Accomack County. . . I give one half of this said Four hundred acres of Land unto my Son Kendell
Bradford supposing my brother should Get it for Trying for it.” 15 The ejectment suit of Ezekiel and his
heirs against Mary and Nathaniel Bradford was presumably based on the premise that Bayly had no right to
alienate his 400 acres since the land was entailed.
According to Adventures of Purse & Person, this Ezekiel Bradford was the son of John 3 Bradford
(Wm 2 Nath 1 ). 16 The rationale given for this is that John was listed next in the line of inheritance for Bayly’s
tract as stipulated in the original grant from William 2 . The fact that John 3 Bradford did not include Ezekiel
in a series of deeds from 5 February 1782 gifting slaves to his children is supposed to be accounted for by
the fact that Ezekiel died before that date. 17 However, there also exists a 1761 grant of slaves from John 3
Bradford to his children, in which no Ezekiel Bradford is mentioned; 18 Ezekiel was certainly alive in 1761
and would doubtless not have been left out of the sale. Furthermore, Ezekiel is known from his will to
have had a brother named John Bradford and this John was not the same as John 4 Bradford
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(John 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ). [See chapter on John 3 Bradford for the evidence indicating that John 4 (of John 3 ) was a
different individual than the brother of Ezekiel.] Since Ezekiel and his brother John were not the sons of
John 3 Bradford, the entail on Bayly’s land would necessarily indicate that they were the descendants of
Bayly, and the most likely relationship is that of father-son. 19
In light of the confusion surrounding the possession of Bayly’s land, it is notable that Bayly is not listed on
the processioners return for the years 1747 and 1755. 20 However, he was probably a land owner in
Accomack during this time, since he does appear on Accomack poll lists that were likely taken during the
years from 1746 to 1750. 21 Bayly probably died sometime between 1761 and 1769.
Bayly 3 Bradford (Wm 2 Nath 1 ) had issue:
57. i. JOANNA MARY 4 BRADFORD. Married Whittington Addison, son of Arnold Addison 22
of Northampton County, before 24 June 1746. Whittington was a nephew of
Nathan Addison, who married Bayly’s sister Bridget 3 Bradford (Wm 2 Nath 1 ).
Whittington and Joanna Mary sold Whittington’s land inheritance in 1749 23 and
the inheritance from Bayly Bradford in 1753. After that, there is no further trace
of them, indicating that they may have moved out of the area.
+ 58*. ii. EZEKIEL 4 BRADFORD
+ 59*. iii. JOHN 4 BRADFORD
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58. Ezekiel 4 Bradford (Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 )
Ezekiel 4 Bradford (Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) was born before 1745 in Accomack County, Virginia. 24 Since he was
an heir of Bayly 3 Bradford and since he is not the son of either John 3 Bradford or Fisher 3 Bradford, he must
have been a descendant of Bayly, most likely a son. 25 Ezekiel Bradford first appears in the records of
Accomack on 31 July 1766 as the defendant in a petition brought by Owen Darby. 26 On 28 August 1766, it
was further noted that “a Copy of the Petition . . . being Left at the Usual place of his [i.e., Ezekiel’s]
Abode in Due Time, And Being Solemnly Called came not but made default.” 27 On 1 October 1766, it was
noted that the sheriff “had Taken the Body of the sd Deft and that afterwards he had made his Escape from
out of his the sd. Sherifs Custody.” However, a later order amended this “by Striking out the sd.
Defendant’s Escape.” 28
Ezekiel Bradford was on the pew list for St. George’s parish on 16 March 1767. Like Naomi 4 Bradford
(Nath 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ), he was not listed with the other Bradfords of Accomack. In fact, there are two mentions
of an Ezekiel Bradford on the pew list, and it is unclear whether they are the same individual: 29
Pew No. 31 Pew No. 39
Levin Teackle Willlm Garrison Robt Rogers Peter Willis
Caleb Upshur Saml Roach Jno Badger Junr James Dorman
Levin Howart Richd. Turner Nich Dalby Henry Davis
Spencer Bagwell Hillery Turner Ezekiel Bradford Litt. Lecatt
Thos Teackle Ezekiel Bradford Jno Badger Junr
Thos Teackle Junr Bese Watson
On 27 June 1771, Ezekiel Bradford began an ejectment suit against Mary Bradford, widow of Fisher 3
Bradford, for entailed land that his father Bayly 3 Bradford had sold to Fisher 3 Bradford. 30 Eventually either
Ezekiel or his heirs successfully claimed the land, as is detailed more fully above in the section on Bayly 3 .
Ezekiel died in Accomack sometime between the writing of his will on 13 March 1777 and its probate on
29 December 1778. He named no wife in his will, but did name a son Kendall and a brother John, whom
he instructed to teach Kendall “the Trade of a Saddle maker.”
In the name of God amen I Ezekiel Bradford Being in Perfect mind and memory thanks to
almighty God for it &c give my soul to almighty God that gave it me that I hope to Receive it
again when all things shall have an End Item I give unto my brother John Bradford my right of
four hundred Acres of Land being And Lying In Bradfords neck In Accomack County and
Collony of Virginia Being more or Less I give one half of this said Four hundred acres of Land
unto my Son Kendell Bradford supposing my brother should Get it for Trying for it And Likewise
I give my Brother John Bradford my Son Kendall Bradford For him the said John Bradford to
Learn him the Trade of a Saddle maker To have the said Kendall Bradford till he Comes to the age
of Twenty one Years In Testimony there of I have hereunto (I allow this my Last will and
Testament) set my hand & Fixed my seal this thirteenth Day of March Anno Domini one thousand
seven hundred & seventy seven
In presence of us
Rand Clerk } Ezekiel [X] Bradford
Richard Bull } Testes
Ruth Bull }
At a Court held for Accomack County the 29 th day of December 1778 This will was proved by the
Oaths Rand Clark & Richard Bull two of the Witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded David
Bowman Who was appointed Guardian to the Heir at Law to Contest the Proof the said will being
present & making no objection 31
Ezekiel 4 Bradford (Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) had issue:
+ 164*. i. KENDALL 5 BRADFORD
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164. Kendall 5 Bradford (Ezekiel 4 Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 )
Kendall 5 Bradford (Ezekiel 4 Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) was named in his father’s will and was given one half of the
400 acres to which Ezekiel had a right, “supposing my brother should Get it for Trying for it.” Ezekiel also
instructed that Kendall be placed with his brother John Bradford “to Learn him the Trade of a Saddle
maker.” 32
Kendall appears on the processioners return for his inherited land on 14 February 1792. 33 The following
year, in an instrument dated 1 February 1793, John Lewden of New Castle County, Delaware, quit claim to
Kendall Bradford for his interest in a 100-acre tract to which he had some right “by virtue of a Mortgage
given me under the hand and Seal of a certain John Bradford late of Accomack County aforesaid
deceased.” 34 The quitclaim was witnessed by William Gibb and Tully Snead. The John Bradford referred
to was Kendall’s uncle; John had executed a mortgage to Lewden in 1784, in which the 100 acres “devised
the said John Bradford by his brother Ezekiel Bradford” was used as collateral for a loan of £200 from
Lewden. 35
In a deed dated 27 May 1793 and witnessed by William Gibb, John Smith and Archibald Garrison, Kendall
Bradford sold to Peggy Stockley 100 acres bounded “On the North by the land of Jedidiah Bell on the
South by a line of marked trees dividing the same from other Lands belonging to the said Kendal Bradford
on the West by Matchapungo creek and on the East by the Broadwater and head of the Thorowfare.” 36
Given the border with Jedidiah 5 Bell (William 4 Sarah Bradford 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ), this was likely the same 100
acres that Bayly 3 had gifted to his daughter Joanna Mary (and which she subsequently tried to sell to
Fisher 3 ), which bordered on land William 2 had given to his daughter Sarah and her husband Jeodiah Bell,
grandparents of the Jedidiah mentioned in Kendall’s deed.
Kendall Bradford appeared on the processioners return for 5 January 1796 37 and must have passed away
within a year from that date, since his will was written on 14 September 1796 and presented for probate on
30 January 1797.
In the Name of God Amen I Kendal Bradford of Accomack County being Sick & pore State of
Health but in sound sence and memory thanks be to god for the same do make & ordain this my
last Will and Testament in manner and form as followeth Item, my Will and desire is that my
Loving wife Elizabeth Bradford shall have the use of my land & plantation and also all my
Personal Estate during her natural life or Widowhoow Item I give and Bequeath unto my son Abel
Bradford at the death or marage of my loving Wife all my land & plantation that I now live on
unto him and his Heirs for Ever/Item I give & bequeath unto my daughter Nancy Bradford at the
death or marage of my loving wife the whole Remainder part of my Estate not before given unto
her & her heirs for Ever also I do appoint John Phillips son of Wm my sole and sole Executor of
this my last Will and Testament dated the 14 th day of Septr. 1796 / Signed Seald in presents of
Francis Savage Kendall X Bradford
Custis Willis
At a Court held in Accomack County January 30 th 1797 The foregoing last will and Testament of
Kendall Bradford decd was proved by the Oaths of Custis Willis & Francis Savage witnesses
thereto & ordered to be recorded and on the motion of John Phillips taking oath and giving Custis
Willis for security who entered into and acknowledged a bond for that purpose Certificate is
granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form 38
In the settlement of Kendall Bradford’s estate cash was paid to Benjamin Bradford (relationship unknown)
and Thomas Bradford [probably Thomas 5 Bradford (Edmd 4 Thos 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 )]. Littleton Bradford [probably
Littleton 5 Bradford (Edmd 4 Thos 3 )] was paid for making the coffin. 39
Kendall 5 Bradford (Ezekiel 4 Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) married Elizabeth _____. They had issue:
+ 282*. i. ABEL 6 BRADFORD
283. ii. NANCY 6 BRADFORD
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282. Abel 6 Bradford (Kendall 5 Ezekiel 4 Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 )
Abel 6 Bradford (Kendall 5 Ezekiel 4 Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) was named in his father’s will of 14 September 1796:
“I give and Bequeath unto my son Abel Bradford at the death or marage of my loving Wife all my land &
plantation.” 40 He may have been only an infant when his father died. On the processioners return up
through 1812, the entry is in the name of “Kendall Bradford’s heirs” rather than the names of the heirs
themselves. 41 If he was a minor in 1812, that would put his birth in the years 1791 to 1796.
Abel married Nancy West (of Abel) in Accomack (bond 26 December 1815, James Walker security). 42
Sometime afterwards, they moved to Northampton County. In a deed dated 14 December 1822 and
witnessed by John B. Walker, John W. Custis, and Wm. Parramore Jr., “Abel Bradford of Kendal and
Nancy his wife of Northampton County Virginia” sold 100 acres to George Floyd. The tract is described as
“the same land devised to the said Abel Bradford by his father Kendall Bradford.” 43 After the death of
Abel 6 , Nancy (West) Bradford married Newton Harrison in Northampton County on 27 April 1837
(Nathaniel J. Winder security). 44
Abel 6 Bradford (Kendall 5 Ezekiel 4 ?Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) had issue:
+ 335. i. WILLIAM W. 6 BRADFORD
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335. William W. 7 Bradford (Abel 6 Kendall 5 Ezekiel 4 ?Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 )
William W. 7 Bradford (Abel 6 Kendall 5 Ezekiel 4 Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) was born 29 October 1816 and died 16
December 1873 in Northampton County, Virginia. 45 He married first on 15 June 1837 Mary (Gilmer)
Williams, widow of John Williams; 46 she was born 19 January 1815 and died 12 January 1872. 47 William
married second, around 1872 (bond issued October 1872), Angela Elizabeth Johnson, daughter of Johannes
and Elizabeth Johnson, 48 who died age 70 on 27 July 1900. 49
William is listed with his family on the censuses of 1850, 1860 and 1870 in Northampton County:
1850 Census 50
1860 Census 51
1870 Census 52
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William 7 Bradford (Abel 6 Kendall 5 Ezekiel 4 Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) had issue: 53
345. i. JOHN 8 BRADFORD. Listed in 1850 census in household of William and Mary in
Northampton, age 16. Since he was born before 1837, he was probably the son
of William by an earlier wife.
+ 346. ii. WILLIAM THOMAS 8 BRADFORD. Born around 1838 or 1839 and died age 48 on 27
March 1887. 54 Married around 1864 (bond issued 14 December 1864) Lavinia
E. Stott, daughter of Abel and Margaret Stott, 55 who was born 25 March 1845
and died 20 November 1933. 56
358. i. MATTIE J. 9 BRADFORD. Born around 1866. Married (bond 31
December 1889) Abel L. Hornsby, son of James and Elizabeth
Hornsby. 57
359. ii. ABEL STOTT 9 BRADFORD. Born 22 October 1869 and died 3 April
1961. 58 Married on 22 December 1909 Margaret Wyatt
(daughter of Rewbok and Mary Wyatt) 59 who was born 6
March 1879 and died 19 November 1964. 60
360. iii. MARY GILMER 9 BRADFORD. Born 7 May 1873 and died 7 June 1906. 61
361. iv. SEVERN R. 9 BRADFORD. Born 13 June 1876 and died 26 September
1944. 62 Married on 17 February 1904 Lillie Wyatt, daughter of
Reinbrake and Mary Wyatt, 63 who was born 10 April 1884
and died 19 April 1945. 64
347. iii. ELIZABETH A. 8 BRADFORD. Born around 1841. Married around 1863 (bond issued 10
December 1863) Isaac T. Dalby, son of Thomas and Delitha Dalby. 65
+ 348. iv. GEORGE W. 8 BRADFORD. Born 25 January 1844 and died 27 May 1929. 66 Married
around 1866 (bond issued 22 February 1866) Joanna Stott, daughter of Abel and
Margaret H. Stott, 67 who was born 22 July 1846 and died 19 October 1876. 68
362. i. MARGARET WISE 9 BRADFORD. Born 22 December 1866 and died 13
December 1947. 69
363. ii. ANNIE 9 BRADFORD. Born 27 October 1871 and died 17 December 1876. 70
364. iii. GEORGE W. 9 BRADFORD. Born 1874 and died 1948. 71 Married
(bond 6 January 1897) Florence S. Brickhouse (daughter of
Thomas S. and Florence E. Brickhouse), 72 who was born 1875
and died 1948. 73
349. v. HIRAM P. 8 BRADFORD. Born 15 January 1847, died 29 October 1936. 74
+ 350. vi. ABEL WEST 8 BRADFORD. Born 9 March 1849 and died 26 July 1933. 75 Married around
1878 (bond issued 6 February 1878) Catherine May Stott (daughter of Abel and
Margaret H. Stott), 76 who was born 19 June 1849 and died 6 July 1886. 77
365. i. LEONARD N. 9 BRADFORD. Born 25 December 1878 and died 19
February 1940. 78
366. ii. CHARLES WISE 9 BRADFORD. Born 1880 and died 1950. 79 Married on
20 February 1912 Isabel M. Wagner (daughter of John E. Wagner), 80
who was born 14 May 1878 and died 14 February 1921. 81
367. iii. LILLIAN MAY 9 BRADFORD. Born 30 May 1882 and died 18 January 1968. 82
351. vii. CHARLES F. 8 BRADFORD. Born 21 December 1852, died 9 February 1912. 83
352. viii. MARY SUE 8 BRADFORD. Born 19 April 1855, died 24 September 1939. 84
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59. John 4 Bradford (Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 )
John 4 Bradford was mentioned in the will of his brother Ezekiel (13 March 1777 – 29 December 1778): “I
give unto my brother John Bradford my right of four hundred Acres of Land being And Lying In Bradfords
neck In Accomack County . . . Likewise I give my Brother John Bradford my Son Kendall Bradford For
him the said John Bradford to Learn him the Trade of a Saddle maker.” 85 The fact that Ezekiel refers to his
brother as a saddle maker allows us to distinguish this John from both John 3 Bradford (Wm 2 Nath 1 ) and
John 4 Bradford (John 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) in the records of Accomack.
In a deed dated 27 April 1774, George Parker and John Poulson sold to “John Bradford of the county of
Accomack sadler” several lots in the town of Onancock in Accomack County. 86 In a deed dated 1 February
1775 and witnessed by John Teackle, Smith Snead Jun, and Ja. Taylor, John Bradford “and Sarah his wife”
sold some of these lots to Isaac Smith and Thorowgood Smith. 87 In an indenture dated 29 September 1777,
the Smiths sold the land back to John for 125 pds; apparently this was due to a mistake in the previous
deed, which was intended only to be a mortgage rather than a transfer. 88 In a deed dated 6 June 1780 and
witnessed by William Gibb, Garret Topping, and William Leatherbury, John sold “all his houses & lots in
Onancock town” to John Hannaford. 89
In an indenture dated 5 January 1775 and witnessed by Arthur and Levin Teackle, “John Bradford of
Accomack County sadler” sold Bowdoin Eyre Smith “the several Goods Wares and Merchandizes
following (to wit) one black Horse called Dowel, one Cow and yearling Eighteen Sides of Leather, three
dozen of sheep skins, two feather Beds with Bedsteds Matts and Cords, sheets Blankets and Rugs, all his
Sadlers Tools, all his Saddlery Consisting of Buckles, Chair-Harness Ornaments Bridle Bitts, mohair fringe
five dozen of saddle Trees Seven hundred pounds of Pork together with all and singular his other goods and
Chattels by them of what kind of nature soever.” 90
In an indenture dated 28 April 1783 and witnessed by William Gibb, William Snead and George Snead,
John Bradford “of the Town of port Scarburgh alias Onancock” took out a loan from Edmond Custis, Levin
Joynes and Garret Topping. As collateral he put up several lots in Onancock as well as “four Negroes
namely Joan Sarah with her child unnamed and Agness five head of Horses all his horned cattle sheep &
hogs six feather beds and furniture twelve best chairs three tables one press one safe all his pewter plates
and dishes one writing desk two plows two harrows four hoes two axes one wagon and gears two pot casks
with all his other goods and Chattels of what kind soever.” 91 The indenture declared that “John Bradford
Stands indebted unto the said Edmond Custis a sum of money on a Book Account to the said Levin Joynes
and his late partner Thomas Snead on a Bond the sum of one hundred and five pounds & nine pence on
Interest from the Eleventh of April Instant and to the said Garret Topping on bond the sum of one hundred
and forty three pounds nine Shillings & 7½ pence Interest from the Seventh day of January last.” By the
terms of the indenture, John was supposed to pay all of his debts by December 1783 or forfeit the town lots,
slaves, livestock and goods to Custis, Joynes and Topping.
In a deed dated 25 October 1784 and witnessed by Levin Joynes, Anne Joynes and John Lyon Clk., John
Bradford “saddler of the Town of Onancock” mortgaged “the 100 acres devised the said John Bradford by
his brother Ezekiel Bradford” to a certain John Lewden “Tanner of Christianna Bridge County of New
Castle and State of Delaware.” This mortgage was executed to put up the 100 acres as collateral for a loan
of £120. 92
In a deed of gift dated 27 October 1784, the four men who had loaned John money in 1783 (Levin Joynes,
Thomas Snead, Edmund Custis and Garret Topping) executed a deed of gift to “Sally Black Bunting
Bradford infant,” described as “youngest daughter of John Bradford of Onancock.” Perhaps John had been
unable to repay his debt to the men, necessitating their possession of what seems to have been a great deal
of his land and possessions. Accordingly, in this deed Joynes, Snead, Custis and Topping gave to Sally
Bradford “one Tea pot one Sugar dish five cups and Saucers queens China one queens china dish one bowl
one meal tub, three beds and furniture Compleat one dutch oven one small iron Kettle two frying pans two
tubs one Cart body one weeding hoe one press six chairs one tea kettle three tin mugs and one kettle.” If
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Sally died without heirs, then the above articles were to go to Nancy and Peggy Bradford, who are
presumed to be other daughters of John 4 and Sarah Bradford. 93
John Bradford moved to Norfolk, Virginia, sometime after 1784. He died before 28 September 1791, when
“Sarah Bradford relict of John of the Borough of Norfolk” relinquished to Tully Snead “all her right, title
and Intrest in her Dower of the houses and Lots in Onancock Town . . . held in right of her deceased
Husband John Bradford” in an instrument witnessed by John Shepherd Sen, John Rayfield and John Gray. 94
John 4 Bradford (Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) and his wife Sarah ____ had issue:
165. i. ?NANCY 5 BRADFORD
166. ii. ?PEGGY 5 BRADFORD
167. iii. SALLY BLACK BUNTING 5 BRADFORD
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Citations for Bayly 3 Bradford (William 2 Nathaniel 1 ) and Descendants
1.A likely birth for Bayly before 1706 is arrived at by assuming he was 21 at the time his father gifted
him land. At the time of the gift, he was already married.
2.Accomack County Deeds, Wills, etc. 1715-1729, part 1, FHL microfilm 30025, p.148. [typescript copy]
3.For tract location see Ralph T. Whitelaw, Virginia’s Eastern Shore (Maine: Picton Press, 2001), 770.
The deed to Bayly mentions a line “unto the Land of Jeodiah Bell.” William 2 ’s deed to son John is
“beginning at Bayly Bradford’s Line” [Accomack County Deeds, Wills, etc. 1715-1729, part 1, FHL
microfilm 30025, p.232. (typescript copy)]. It is also born out by the processioners returns beginning with
the return of 1731, which mentions “ye Line between Jeodiah Bell and Bayly Bradford” and “ye Line
between Bayly Bradford and Nathaniel Bradford . . . ” [Gail M. Walczyk, transcriber, Accomack County
Processioners Returns 1723-1792, (Coram, NY: Peter’s Row, 2003), 10.]
4.Accomack County Deeds & Wills 1729-1737, FHL microfilm 3002, folio 229-230.
5.Accomack County Virginia Orders 1753-1763, FHL microfilm 30114, folios 26 and 52.
6.Accomack County Virginia Deeds, etc. 1737-1746, FHL microfilm 30003, folios 509-510.
7.Accomack County Virginia Deeds, etc. 1746-1757, FHL microfilm 30152, folios 417-418.
8.Stratton Nottingham, compiler, Accomack Land Causes, 1728-1825 (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books,
1990), 67-68.
9.Accomack County Virginia Deeds, etc. 1746-1757, FHL microfilm 30152, folios 577-578.
10.Whitelaw, 775.
11.Accomack Deed Record, no. 3: 1757-1770, FHL microfilm 30006, Item 3 [Photostat copy] folios
636-637.
12.Accomack County Orders 1770-1773, FHL microfilm 30083, folio 200.
13.John Frederick Dorman, compiler and editor, Adventures of Purse and Person Virginia 1607-
1624/5, Volume 3 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2007, 4 th Edition), 202.
14.See Whitelaw, 776-777, and deed from Kendal Bradford to Peggy Stockley in Accomack County
Deeds 8 1793-1797, FHL microfilm 30049, folio 106
15.Accomack County Wills &C 1777-1784, FHL microfilm 30027, folio 217.
16.Dorman, 202.
17.Series of deeds in Accomack County Virginia Deeds, 1777-1783, FHL microfilm 30007, folios
289-294 and 306.
18.Accomack Deed Records, no.3: 1757-1770, part 1, FHL microfilm 30006, folios 155-156.
19.Ezekiel first appears in the records of Accomack as an adult in 1766, so must have been born prior
to 1745. It seems clear that he is a descendant of Bayly. For him to have inherited Bayly’s land through
John 3 (whose descendants were next in line of inheritance after Bayly’s), it would have to be through one
of John’s sons, since it is clear from his 1761 deeds to his children that John had no son Ezekiel. Ezekiel is
almost certainly not the son of James 4 , since James’ orphans were underage in 1800. [See Gail M.
Walczyk, Accomack County Processioners Returns 1796-1816, (Coram, NY: Peter’s Row, 2004), 48.] It is
possible that Ezekiel might have been a grandson of Bayly, but if that is the case his father is unknown.
Given the approximate age of other grandchildren of William 2 , it seems probable that Ezekiel was Bayly’s
son.
20.Walczyk, Processioners Returns 1723-1792,, 71 and 85.
21.Accomack County Virginia Deeds 1746-1757, FHL microfilm 30003, folio 131 (given dates of
surrounding deeds and the existence of a poll from 1744, it is probably a poll from 1746 or 1748) and folio
144 (given dates of surrounding deeds and the existence of a poll from 1752, it is probably a poll from 1748
or 1750).
22.Whitelaw, 477. See chapter on Bridget 3 Bradford for more on the Addisons.
23.ibid
24.See note 19.
25.Ezekiel’s brother John can be distinguished from John 4 Bradford (John 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) (see chapter on
John 3 Bradford for further details). At Fisher’s death in 1761 his eldest son was Nathaniel 4 Bradford, who
eventually lost Bayly’s land to Ezekiel and his heirs.
26.Accomack County Virginia Orders 1765-1767, FHL microfilm 30115, folio 159.
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27.ibid, folio 213.
28.ibid, folios 247 and 286.
29.Gail M. Walczyk, transcriber, St. George’s Parish Accomack County Vestry Book 1763-1787,
(Coram, NY: Peter’s Row, 1998), 19.
30.See note 12.
31.See note 15.
32.ibid
33.Walczyk, Processioners Returns 1723-1792, 172.
34.Accomack County Deeds 8 1793-1797, FHL microfilm 30049, folio 73.
35.Accomack County Deeds 6 1783-1788, FHL microfilm 30047, folio 180.
36.Accomack County Deeds 8 1793-1797, FHL microfilm 30049, folio 106.
37. Processioners Returns 1796-1816, 6.
38.Accomack County Wills &C 1794-1796, FHL microfilm 30030, folios 102-103.
39.Barry W. Miles and Moody K. Miles III, compilers, Abstracts of the Wills & Administrations of
Accomack County, 1800-1860 (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 2000), 88.
40.See note 38.
41.Walczyk, Processioners Returns 1796-1816, 49, 63, 116, & 156.
42.Nora Miller Turman, Marriage Records of Accomack County, Virginia 1776-1854 (Bowie, MD:
Heritage Books, 1994), 38.
43.Accomack County Deeds No. 20 1822-4, FHL microfilm 30059, folios 399-400.
44.Jean Merritt Mihalyka, abstracter and compiler, Marriages, Northampton County, Virginia 1660/1-
1854 (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1991), 51.
45.Jean Merritt Mihalyka, compiler, Gravestone inscriptions in Northampton County, Virginia
(Richmond, VA: Virginia State Library, 1980), 45.
46.Mihalyka, Marriages, Northampton County, 13.
47.Mihalyka, Gravestone inscriptions, 11.
48.D. A. Buck, abstracter and compiler, Northampton County, Virginia Marriages 1853-1922 (Bowie,
MD: Heritage Books, 1994), 85.
49.Mihalyka, Gravestone inscriptions, 10.
50.William Bradford on 1850 US Federal Census, Northampton Co, VA; roll M432_965, page 285,
image 27. Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The
Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Seventh
Census of the United States, 1850. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration,
1850. M432, 1,009 rolls.
51.William Bradford in 1860 US Federal Census, Northampton Co., VA; roll M653_1367, page 734,
image 39. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The
Generations Network, Inc., 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Eighth
Census of the United States, 1860. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration,
1860. M653, 1,438 rolls.
52.Wm. Bradford on 1870 US Federal Census, Eastville, Northampton Co., VA; roll M593_1668, page
649, image 63. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The
Generations Network, Inc., 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Eighth
Census of the United States, 1860. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration,
1860. M653, 1,438 rolls.
53.William 7 Bradford married Mary Gilmer in 1837. Assuming the John Bradford who appears in
William’s household in 1850 is his son, and assuming his age is correct, then he would have been born
around 1834, before the marriage of William and Mary. All other children listed are the children of
William and Mary.
54.Mihalyka, Gravestone inscriptions, 11.
55.Buck, 85.
56.Mihalyka, Gravestone inscriptions, 11.
57.Buck, 324.
58.Mihalyka, Gravestone inscriptions, 10.
59.Buck, 83.
60.Mihalyka, Gravestone inscriptions, 11.
61.ibid, 11.
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62.ibid, 11.
63.Buck, 84.
64.Mihalyka, Gravestone inscriptions, 11.
65.Buck, 176.
66.Mihalyka, Gravestone inscriptions, 10.
67.Buck, 84.
68.Mihalyka, Gravestone inscriptions, 10.
69.ibid, 11.
70.ibid, 10.
71.ibid, 10.
72.Buck, 84.
73.Mihalyka, Gravestone inscriptions, 10.
74.ibid, 10.
75.ibid, 10.
76.Buck, 83.
77.Mihalyka, Gravestone inscriptions, 10.
78.ibid, 11.
79.ibid, 10.
80.Buck, 83.
81.Mihalyka, Gravestone inscriptions, 10.
82.ibid, 11.
83.ibid, 10.
84.ibid, 11.
85.See note 15.
86.Accomack County Virginia Deeds Etc. 1770-1777, FHL microfilm 30007, folios 307-308.
87.ibid, folio 407.
88.Accomack County Virginia Deeds 1777-1783, FHL microfilm 30007, folio 98.
89.Accomack County Virginia Deeds Etc. 1770-1777, FHL microfilm 30007, folio 536.
90.ibid, folios 434-435.
91.Accomack County Deeds 6 1783-1788, FHL microfilm 30047, folio 8.
92.ibid, folio 180.
93.ibid, folio 181.
94.Accomack County Deeds 8 1793-1797, FHL microfilm 30049, folio 73.
Page 15 of 15 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford