| Notes |
- From FindaGrave:
William H. Bradford was the fifth generation great grandson of Governor William Bradford, of Mayflower aclaim. He was born June 17, 1776 in Connecticut. He was the son of William (April 13, 1734) and Sarah Rich, (January 30, 1737).
He married Concurence Bonfoey (June 3, 1783) daughter of Benanuel and Concurrence Smith Bonfoey, born June 3, 1783, in Haddam, Connecticut on November 13, 1800.
They had thirteen children: David Bonfoey, December 15, 1800; Syrena, October 27, 1802; William R. May 1804; Robert M. April 4, 1806; Concurance (daughter), February 28,1808; Amos, April 20, 1810; Benanuell, March 16, 1812; Sarah, September 11, 1814; Henrietta, July 11, 1816; Hannah, October 6, 1819; Daniel M., March 20, 1822; Matilda, June 7, 1824; Lucinda, June 9, 1828.
William was a lineal descendant of Governor William Bradford, of Plymouth Colony, who came over in the "Mayflower."
His father and several brothers were prominent in the Revolutionary army, and served under General Washington. He taught school in Connecticut at the age of sixteen and for ten years after.
At the age of twenty-one, on November 13, 1800, he was married to Concurance (Charlotte) Bonfoey who was aged twenty. She was a woman of good education and an estimable family. The fruit of this marriage was the above listed thirteen children, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, married and reared families of from one to eight children each. In 1808 the family moved to Schoharie County, New York.
He volunteered in the war in 1812,, and carried a musket in the recapture of Detroit at the battle of the Thames. After the war, in 1815, he settled in Steuben County, and engaged in lumbering. From this place he came to Michigan in 1832, and from Detroit came to Jackson County in 1835 and settled in the town of Spring Arbor, Michigan. He died in 1837, and his wife, Concurence, in 1839.
He was a church member and was a man foremost in every good cause, a strong anti-slavery man, a strenuous advocate of temperance, and educated his children to the same beliefs and practices. Of his family, eight have been school teachers, two ministers, two supervisors, three justices of the peace, two school inspectors and one postmaster of the town where they lived.
Martin (Charles) Bradford carried the first United States mail between Jackson and Grand Rapids, in 1836. The route was by Eastern Rapids, Vermontville, Portland and on south of the river to the Rapids. Beyond Vermontville there was no road, only a "blazed" trail, and only two settlers between Portland and Grand Rapids. Quite a number of the Bradford family still live in Jackson County.
(Reference in part, Jackson County Michigan Families Reference Book, pages 357-358 and Mr. Francis C. Bradford (1898-1982) (son Benanual Bradford #27551485)
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1776 - 1837 (61 years)
