William Bradford (1729-1808)
Encyclopedia
William Bradford was a physician, lawyer, and United States
Senator
from Rhode Island
. He was born at Plympton, Massachusetts
to Lt. Samuel Bradford and Sarah Gray, and was the great-great-grandson of the William Bradford
who had been Governor of the Plymouth Colony
. He first studied medicine at Hingham, Massachusetts
and then practiced at Warren, Rhode Island
.
William moved to Mount Hope Farm
in Bristol, Rhode Island
, and was elected to the colonial assembly in 1761 . (He would be elected to additional terms at various times up until 1803, and served as Speaker of the Assembly in several terms.) He expanded his abilities with the study of law, was admitted to the bar in 1767, and established a practice at Bristol
. He served as deputy to the Governor from 1775 to 1778 . He was elected to the Continental Congress
in 1776, but did not attend.
Bradford served on the Committee of Safety of Bristol County, Rhode Island
and from 1773 to 1776 on the Committee of Correspondence for the Rhode Island colony. When the British Navy
bombarded Bristol on October 7, 1775 his home was among the buildings destroyed. He afterwards went aboard ship to negotiate a cease fire.
After the United States
government was established, Bradford was elected to the United States Senate and took office on March 4, 1793. He was the President pro tempore
of the Senate from July 6, 1797 until he resigned from the Senate in October of that year. He returned to his home in Bristol and died there in 1808 . Originally buried in Bristol's East Burying Ground, his grave was later moved to the Juniper Hill Cemetery
.
In 1790, his daughter Nancy Ann married future U.S. Senator James DeWolf. He was the great-great-grandfather of artist and publisher Charles Dana Gibson
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. He was born at Plympton, Massachusetts
Plympton, Massachusetts
Plympton is a town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 2,820 at the 2010 census. The United States senator William Bradford was born here.- History :Plympton was first settled in 1662 as the western parish of Plymouth...
to Lt. Samuel Bradford and Sarah Gray, and was the great-great-grandson of the William Bradford
William Bradford (1590-1657)
William Bradford was an English leader of the settlers of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts, and served as governor for over 30 years after John Carver died. His journal was published as Of Plymouth Plantation...
who had been Governor of the Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony
Plymouth Colony was an English colonial venture in North America from 1620 to 1691. The first settlement of the Plymouth Colony was at New Plymouth, a location previously surveyed and named by Captain John Smith. The settlement, which served as the capital of the colony, is today the modern town...
. He first studied medicine at Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham, Massachusetts
Hingham is a town in northern Plymouth County on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts and suburb in Greater Boston. The United States Census Bureau 2008 estimated population was 22,561...
and then practiced at Warren, Rhode Island
Warren, Rhode Island
Warren is a town in Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 10,611 at the 2010 census.-History:Warren was the site of the Indian village of Sowams on the peninsula called Pokanoket , and was first explored by Europeans in 1621, by Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins...
.
William moved to Mount Hope Farm
Mount Hope Farm
Mount Hope Farm is an historic estate on Metacom Avenue in Bristol, Rhode Island, USA.The farm is located near the Mount Hope Bridge in Bristol, Rhode Island, and the grounds have been farmed since the 1680s...
in Bristol, Rhode Island
Bristol, Rhode Island
Bristol is a town in and the historic county seat of Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,954 at the 2010 census. Bristol, a deepwater seaport, is named after Bristol, England....
, and was elected to the colonial assembly in 1761 . (He would be elected to additional terms at various times up until 1803, and served as Speaker of the Assembly in several terms.) He expanded his abilities with the study of law, was admitted to the bar in 1767, and established a practice at Bristol
Bristol, Rhode Island
Bristol is a town in and the historic county seat of Bristol County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 22,954 at the 2010 census. Bristol, a deepwater seaport, is named after Bristol, England....
. He served as deputy to the Governor from 1775 to 1778 . He was elected to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in 1776, but did not attend.
Bradford served on the Committee of Safety of Bristol County, Rhode Island
Bristol County, Rhode Island
The border with Bristol County, Massachusetts is rather unusual since the counties both share the same name. The only other instances in which two neighboring counties with the same name share a state border are Sabine County, Texas and Sabine Parish, Louisiana, Union Parish, Louisiana and Union...
and from 1773 to 1776 on the Committee of Correspondence for the Rhode Island colony. When the British Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
bombarded Bristol on October 7, 1775 his home was among the buildings destroyed. He afterwards went aboard ship to negotiate a cease fire.
After the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
government was established, Bradford was elected to the United States Senate and took office on March 4, 1793. He was the President pro tempore
President pro tempore of the United States Senate
The President pro tempore is the second-highest-ranking official of the United States Senate. The United States Constitution states that the Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate and the highest-ranking official of the Senate despite not being a member of the body...
of the Senate from July 6, 1797 until he resigned from the Senate in October of that year. He returned to his home in Bristol and died there in 1808 . Originally buried in Bristol's East Burying Ground, his grave was later moved to the Juniper Hill Cemetery
Juniper Hill Cemetery
Juniper Hill Cemetery is a historic cemetery at 24 Sherry Avenue in Bristol, Rhode Island.The original were purchased from Levi DeWolf. The cemetery was added in 1998 as site #98000632 to the National Register of Historic Places.-Notable burials:...
.
In 1790, his daughter Nancy Ann married future U.S. Senator James DeWolf. He was the great-great-grandfather of artist and publisher Charles Dana Gibson
Charles Dana Gibson
Charles Dana Gibson was an American graphic artist, best known for his creation of the Gibson Girl, an iconic representation of the beautiful and independent American woman at the turn of the 20th century....
.