Person:Robert Bradish (1)

Origins

Research conducted by the City of London for Juanita & Pat Curley in 1986 found that while John Bradische and Elizabeth Denham (m. 24 Jun 1576) christened a son Robert on 4 November 1593, this same child was buried on 8 January 1593/4 and also that the father John was buried 20 April 1594, disproving John and Elizabeth as parents of the emigrating Robert Bradish. [Described at http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bouley&id=I704]

Meanwhile, a search of church records at Bury St. Edmunds lists the children of one Roberti Bradish, baptizing at St. James Church. The fifth child was Robert, baptized 4 April 1596. [1]

Subsequent research conducted by Peter and Connie Bradish (bradish@attglobal.net) found additional records at Bury St. Edmunds including Robert Bradish's baptism, marriage, early children and complete absence starting just before 1635. The following information was compiled from church records in Bury St. Edmunds: Children of Roberti Brodish were:

1. Margaret Brodish, baptised 7 Jan 1587/8

2. Ann Brodish, baptised 31 Mar 1598

3. Richard Brodish, baptised 3 May 1590, died 27 Aug 1592

4. Ambrose Brodish, baptised 11 Jul 1591

5. Robert Brodish, baptised 4 Apr 1596

6. Edward Brodish, baptised 9 Oct 1597

After examining the church records it is possible Roberti's first wife died sometime between 1597, after the birth of their son Edward, and the beginning of 1599. The records would indicate Roberti may have then married Margaret (----------) and had another family.There is a burial record dated 1 Dec 1611 at St. Mary Church for Roberti and a Probate Record dated 1612 where he is referred to as Roberti Bradish. (A Genealogy and History of Robert Bradish in America p. xix)"

Robert Bradish married Maria Howes on 1 May 1620.

Peter & Connie Bradish do additional work that is recorded here: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mojopapa&id=I2739 including: "The records [in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England] and no where else as yet, chronicle a Robert Bradish, his baptism, marriage, early children and complete absence starting just before 1635 with the last parish record for him being dated 8 Jun 1634... The Baptism, Marriage and Burial records of those parishes lead us to postulate that our Robert was baptized on 4 Apr 1596 in St. James and married to Maria Howes on 1 May 1620 in the same parish, and that his father was named Robert (Roberti by a St. James' scribe) who was buried 1 Dec 1611 in St. Mary and probably married to Margaret... Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, is in the East Anglin region of England where a large number of Puritans lived. The Reverends Thomas Hooker and Thomas Shephard practiced their faith and recruited numbers of the Puritan church in the East Anglia region to come to the new world for religious freedom... Suffolk was the largest contributor of the immigrants to Massachusetts during the great migration. [Robert Bradish] purchased the properties of John Steele in Cambridge on 28 Aug 1635, and signed his name for the record. [This is the first date he appears in the New World. It also disproves the theory that he came over on the "Defense" with Tom Shepard on October 1635.]

Life in New England

While some claim he came over on the Defense with Thomas Shepherd on Oct 1635, a record as early as 28 August 1635 finds him already in Cambridge purchasing property from John Steele.

Occupation: Weaver, vendor of beer and bread

Residence: 1642, Cambridge, Mass. corner of Harvard and Holyoke St.

From Harlow Chandler (email to Jillaine Smith May 2005): NEHG Register 3:248 records of Boston, birth of Joseph, 3rd month (OS) no day, 1638--wife Mary (order of wives in Rootsweb file reversed) Mary died 7th month (OS) 138, Reg. 3:248

Legacy

From Harlow Chandler (email to Jillaine Smith May 2005): will Register 9:225, wife Vashti

NEHGR July 1855, p. 225. Abstracts of Early Wills

Robert Bradish.--Will. My wife executrix. To my wife, Vastie Bradish, my whole Estate, both in Boston & in Cambridge, or else where, so long as she liveth; to be ather disposing, both house & lands & waht is in them or upon them. After her decease, I give to my sonne, James Bradish, 20s. To my sonne, John Bradish, L40. & a bedsteed, & all ye bedding yt doth belong thereunto. I give my sonne in Law, Ezekiell Morrell, L10. & a bedsteed thereunto belonging; yt wch he hath now in possession. To my sonne Joseph, a flocke bed, & a trundel bed. To my dau. Mary Gibbs, a flocke bed. After my Goods are prized & Legacies payd, ye Remainder shall be equally devided amongst fower of my chidren, James, Joseph, Mary & Hannah. If any of these be decesed thentheire pt to go to theire children. If John Bradish dye, without heyres, his L40 to be equally devided between these fowre of my Children last mentioned; & ye bed to Ezekiell Morrell. If Ezekiell Morrell dye, without heyres, then his L10 & ye bed, to be equally devided between these fowre Children, or theire Chidren, if theire Parents is dead. My Loveing Brother, Isaac Morrell, to be my overseer, if he be alive at yt time. 12: 3 mo: 1657. Robert Bradish. in ye prnce of John Wiswall, Isaac Morrell, who deposted 29 Oct 1659.

Inventory of ye Goods & Chattells of Robert Bradish of Boston, deceased; taken by John Wiswall & Thomas Butolph 28: 7: 159. Amt L207. 02. 02. Vashty Bradish, Relict of Robert, deposed 29 Oct 1659.

Additional Sources

For an exact transcription of Robert's will, see: Curley, Juanita Bradish. Additions and Corrections 2000 - 2010 to A Genealogy and History of Robert Bradish in America, pp 3 - 7

Curley, Juanita Bradish. A Genealogy & History of Robert Bradish In America. Northville, Michigan: The Unicorn Press, 2000. can be ordered from:

Unicorn Press
7191 Angle Road
Northville, Michigan 48168-9413
The price is $56.00US ($50.00 + $6.00 s&h)
[hard copy viewed by Jillaine Smith at NEHGS 21 April 2007]
p. 10-11 includes a scanned copy of the original will and inventory housed at Suffolk County Judicial Court in Boston, Massachusetts, docket 219

Peter Bradish has transcribed Bury St. Edmunds records here: Bury St. Edmunds St. James Parish Registers... Suffolk Green Books No. XVII...: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bradish/BradishSite/BSESJBapt.html and here: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bradish/BradishSite/BSESJMarr.html and here: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bradish/BradishSite/BSESJBurial.html

and: Bury St. Edmunds St. Mary Church [Typewritten books, not published.] http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bradish/BradishSite/BSESMBapt.html and: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bradish/BradishSite/BSESMMarr.html and http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bradish/BradishSite/BSESMBurial.html

Occupation: Weaver, vendor of beer and bread Residence: 1642, Cambridge, Mass. corner of Harvard and Holyoke St.

This worldconnect db: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bouley&id=I704 is the only one that I've found so far to make a strong case about Robert's parentage. It includes an email from Peter & Connie Bradish (bradish@@attglobal.net) that reads: "The mystery of how John Bradish and Elizabeth Dunham were thought to be the parents of Robert Bradish has been solved by Juanita and Pat Curley. Back in 1986, the Curley's inquired of the City of London about John Bradish, Elizabeth Denham and their children. In summary, (the response is documented by the City of London) John Bradishe and Elizabeth Denham's marriage of 24 June 1576, and the christenings of 5 children, the last of which was Robert on 4 Nov 1593. The City also reported the burial of John Bradishe on 20 April 1594, AND, the burial of "Robert Bradishe, son of John Bradishe" on 8 Jan 1593/4. This means Robert lived about 2 months. The connection of Robert Bradish of Bury St. Edmunds to John and Elizabeth Bradish as his parents is [therefore] highly likely to be in error."

This worldconnect db: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mojopapa&id=I5604 claims that Robert Bradish's father was not John, but Roberti. It reads: "A search of the church records in Bury St. Edmunds does not show a marriage for Roberti; however, it does list his children. All were baptised at St. James Church in Bury St. Edmunds, with a son Robert as the fifth child. The following information was compiled from church records in Bury St. Edmunds: Children of Roberti Brodish were:

1. Margaret Brodish, baptised 7 Jan 1587/8

2. Ann Brodish, baptised 31 Mar 1598

3. Richard Brodish, baptised 3 May 1590, died 27 Aug 1592

4. Ambrose Brodish, baptised 11 Jul 1591

5. Robert Brodish, baptised 4 Apr 1596

6. Edward Brodish, baptised 9 Oct 1597

After examining the church records it is possible Roberti's first wife died sometime between 1597, after the birth of their son Edward, and the beginning of 1599. The records would indicate Roberti may have then married Margaret (----------) and had another family.There is a burial record dated 1 Dec 1611 at St. Mary Church for Roberti and a Probate Record dated 1612 where he is referred to as Roberti Bradish. (A Genealogy and History of Robert Bradish in America p. xix)"

Peter & Connie Bradish do additional work that is recorded here: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mojopapa&id=I2739 including: "The records [in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England] and no where else as yet, chronicle a Robert Bradish, his baptism, marriage, early children and complete absence starting just before 1635 with the last parish record for him being dated 8 Jun 1634... The Baptism, Marriage and Burial records of those parishes lead us to postulate that our Robert was baptized on 4 Apr 1596 in St. James and married to Maria Howes on 1 May 1620 in the same parish, and that his father was named Robert (Roberti by a St. James' scribe) who was buried 1 Dec 1611 in St. Mary and probably married to Margaret... Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, is in the East Anglin region of England where a large number of Puritans lived. The Reverends Thomas Hooker and Thomas Shephard practiced their faith and recruited numbers of the Puritan church in the East Anglia region to come to the new world for religious freedom... Suffolk was the largest contributor of the immigrants to Massachusetts during the great migration. [Robert Bradish] purchased the properties of John Steele in Cambridge on 28 Aug 1635, and signed his name for the record. [This is the first date he appears in the New World. It also disproves the theory that he came over on the "Defense" with Tom Shepard on October 1635.]

From Harlow Chandler (email to Jillaine Smith May 2005): will Register 9:225, wife Vashti Register 3:248 records of Boston, birth of Joseph, 3rd month (OS) no day, 1638--wife Mary (order of wives in Rootsweb file reversed) Mary died 7th month (OS) 138, Reg. 3:248

Look for this: Curley, Juanita Bradish. A Genealogy & History of Robert Bradish In America. Northville, Michigan: The Unicorn Press, 2000. [See below; found at NEHGS; transcribed sections below.] can be ordered from: Unicorn Press 7191 Angle Road Northville, Michigan 48168-9413

Regarding emigration: History of Cambridge, MA [on ancestry.com], p. 35: Besides those who are here named by Mr. Sheperd, another Mr. Cooke and William French came in the same ship (The Defence) with him; and the larger portion of those whose names first appear in 1635 and 1636 may safely be regarded as members of his company, to wit:

1635... Thomas Blodgett... Robert Bradish... Edmund Frost... 1636... Francis Griswold... Thomas Hayward...

A Genealogy & History of Robert Bradish in America by Juanita Bradish Curley Unicorn Press, Northville, MI, 2000 [hard copy viewed by Jillaine Smith at NEHGS 21 April 2007] p. 10-11 includes a scanned copy of the original will and inventory housed at Suffolk County Judicial Court in Boston, Massachusetts, docket 219

1. ↑ Curley, Juanita Bradish. A genealogy & history of Robert Bradish in America. (Northville, Michigan: Unicorn Press, 2000)
   p. xxi.