“Thomas Bradbury, second son of Wymond and Elizabeth (Gill nee Whitgift) Bradbury, was baptized at Wicken-Bonant, Essex County, England, on the last day of February, 1610-11, as appears by the parish register. Early in 1634 he appeared at Agamenticus, now York, Me., as the agent or steward of Sir Ferdinando Gorges, the proprietor of the Province of Maine. He was one of the original proprietors of the ancient town of Salisbury, Mass., one of the earliest settlers there, and was one of the foremost citizens there for a period of more than half a century. He was made a freeman in 1640, held at various times the offices of schoolmaster of the town, town clerk, justice of the peace, deputy to the general court, county recorder, associate judge and captain of the military company, and always filled these important positions with credit to himself and satisfaction to the public. For a recording officer he was peculiarly fitted by his tastes and acquirements. He wrote an easy, graceful and legible hand, and had a clear and concise style of expression. His chirography may still be seen in numerous official documents on file in the archives of Essex County, Mass., and also at Exeter, N. H. In 1636, Mr. Bradbury became a grantee of Salisbury, and that year married Mary, daughter of John and Judith Perkins, of Ipswich. In the days of the witchcraft delusion, she was tried as a witch and convicted, but escaped punishment. Mr. Bradbury died March 16. 1695, and his widow died Dec. 20, 1700.”2816

THOMAS BRADBURY'S WILL.2816

“In the name of God, amen. The fourteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and ninety-four. Thomas Bradbury of the town of Salisbury in the Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, aged, weak in body, but of good and perfect memory, thanks be to God Almighty for the same, do make, ordain, constitute and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following: revoking and annulling by these presents, all and every testament or testaments, will or wills heretofore by me made and declared either by word or by writing, and this to be taken only for my last will and testament and none other: And being penitent for my sins, I give and commit my soul unto Almighty God my Saviour and my redeemer in whom by the merits of Jesus Christ I trust and believe it assuredly to be saved; and my body to be buried in such place where it shall please my executors to appoint: And tor the settling of my temporal estate, such goods, chattels and debts as it hath pleased God far above my deserts to bestow upon me, I do order, give and dispose the same in manner and form following, that is to say:

“First, I will that all those debts and duties that I owe in right and conscience to any manner of person or persons in favor, shall be well and truly contented and paid or ordained to be paid within convenient time after my decease. So by my executor or executrixes hereafter named,

“Item. I give and bequeath unto my grandchildren, Thomas Bradbury and Jacob Bradbury, all my housing and lands which I have now situate, lying and being within the bounds of Salisbury aforenamed and which arable lands and meadow marsh, pasture and swamp lands, or of what sort soever they be, with all rights privileges and commonages thereunto belonging or any ways appertaining; unto them my said grandchildren and the heirs of their body lawfully begotten; the given and bequeathed and demised to be equally divided between my said grandchildren Thomas and Jacob, and not to be disposed by selling, letting or any other ways improved, but each to other, and my said grand-children shall pay unto their Aunt True fourteen pounds, each of them in good pay within one year after they come to the age of one and twenty years. As also my said grandchildren shall acquit and discharge their brother, William Bradbury from all orders of court concerning the division of their father's estate; also my will is that my said grandchildren Thomas and Jacob shall pay unto their grandmother, twenty bushels of corn yearly, such as she shall have need of during her natural life and to find her sufficient wood, winter and summer cut and tit; as also winter and summer meat for two cows, all during her natural life or widowhood: and my will is that my wife what part of my house she thinks meet to require unto the half of it, shall have during her widowhood or natural life, unto her own particular use if she thinks good to require the same.

“Item. I give and bequeath unto my grandchild Thomas Bradbury all my implements of husbandry and also my young colt.

“Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Stanyan twenty shillings she having had her portion upon her marriage. Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Jane True ten pounds to be made in good pay within one year after my decease.

“Item. I give to my grandchild Elizabeth Buss five pounds in good pay. Also my will is that five pounds he delivered to the selectmen in good pay, then in being of said town of Salisbury by them to he disposed to such of the poor as they judge to have most need of it. And lastly, I do ordain and appoint my dearly and well beloved wife, Mary Bradbury and my dearly and well beloved daughter Judith Moody my executors or executrixes to this my last will and testament.

“In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above named.

“Signed sealed and declared to be the last will and testament of Mr. Thomas Bradbury in ye presence of

William Buswell,
Isaac Buswell,

William Buswell, Jn.”

The case that Thomas Bradbury of Agamenticus ME is the same person as the Thomas Bradbury, son of Wymond Bradbury of
wicken-Bonant Co, Essex, has been made by John Bradbury, Exq., of Boston MA in an 1869 article in the New England historical and genealogical register.3075

“Mary Perkins was the daughter of John Perkins, the elder, of Ipswich, who was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1590

“In the days of the witchcraft delusion, she was tried as a witch and convicted, but escaped punishment. Mr. Bradbury died March 16. 1695. and his widow died Dec. 20, 1700.

“The Salem witchcraft craze was one the most remarkable delusions on record. It affected all classes of the community, and was a sad commentary on the intelligence of the period as well as a plague spot upon the ermine of the judiciary. It broke out in the year 1692, and within the space of about three months nineteen persons, including Rev. George Burroughs, formerly minister at Casco Bay, and later of Salem Village, were tried, convicted on the most ridiculous testimony, and executed on "Gallows Hill," in Salem. The principal charge against Mr. Burroughs was his great physical strength. The great Cotton Mather was present on horseback and consented to his death, and while he was suspended in mid-air, the great divine harrangued the people and congratulated them on the good work accomplished. It was pre-eminently a reign of terror. No one felt safe. The most eminent citizens of Essex County, noted for intelligence and lifelong piety, were arrested and dragged to prison, tried and condemned on the most unreliable evidence, and executed in the most brutal manner. Finally the imprisonments, torturings and executions rose to such a height as to be no longer endurable, and a sudden revulsion of feeling put a stop to the whole infamous business. There was no execution after September 22, and a general jail delivery of all the accused took place the May following. It seems strange that Gov. Phips should permit the persecution to proceed as far as it did. He alone had the power to nip the miserable business in the bud, but he showed no disposition to interfere to stay the judicial slaughter of innocents, until the bubble burst by its own tension.”2816