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An American Family History

Bridget Harris Bradstreet

The ship “Elizabeth” sailed from Ipswich England in April, 1634 with William Andrews, Master. On board were Richard and Ursula Kimball and their children, Ursula’s mother Martha Whatlock Scott and her brothers Roger and Thomas Scott. Humphrey and Bridget Bradstreet sailed on the same ship. They arrived in July at Boston.
Children of Humphrey Bradstreet
and Bridget Harris
  • Hannah Bradstreet Rolfe Holt
  • John Bradstreet
  • Martha Bradstreet Beale
  • Mary Bradstreet Kimball
  • Captain Moses Bradstreet
  • Sarah Bradstreet Wallis
  • Rebecca Bradstreet Bonfield

    • A Puritan woman's clothing consisted of underpants, stockings, linen, shift, petticoat, chemise (underblouse), bolster (a padded roll tied around the hips under the skirt), bodice, skirt, apron, coif (cap), outer gown and shoes. A woman might wear a ruff or bow and an apron. Cloaks were worn instead of coats. Women carried a small cloth draw-string bag or reticule and perhaps wore a chatelaine.

    Bridget Harris Bradstreet was born in 1604 in England.

    She married Humphrey Bradstreet in 1622 when she was about 18 years old. Their children and life together are described in detail in the section on Humphrey and Bridget Bradstreet.

    She became a widow in 1655. Humphrey provided for her in his will since she was not able to own property while she was married.

    my farme on which I now dwell, with halfe the commons belonging to me from Ipswich, and all the commons to me from Rowley, shall be my beloved wifes, for the terme of her life, in case she doe not marry . . .[and] unto my wife Bridget one brown cow, one ew sheepe, one horse colt.

    She died on November 16, 1665 in Ipwich, Essex County, Massachusetts. Her will was probated in September, 1666. John Kimball was appointed one of the executors of her will which was proved March 28, 1666. She left her most of her worldly goods to her daughters since her sons had inherited from their father.

    Moses inherited her barn, musket (a long gunintended to be fired from the shoulder), large chest, chair, a kettle, a "bern" vessel, two "kelers", and a churn in addition to the 40 pounds he had already received.

    Martha Kimball (Beale?) inherited the land that she already had, a green hood, a pewter dish, a book by John Norton, one sheet and one "pelober."

    Mary Kemball inherited her old Bible, a cloth waistcoat (vest), a small reticule? (peticutes), a bolster, one pillow, one pewter dish, and one brass candlestick.

    She gave Mary and Sarah Wallace her "fteny." They were to both use them. They also received her beehive and they were to give the first swarm to their other two sisters.

    Sarah received a book by Thomas Cobbet, a serge (strong twilled fabric) gown and cloak, a pewter dish, a skillet, her mother's bed, a bolster and pillow, and pillow form, a white rug, one iron pot, and one pintado? (chintz) petticoat.

    Rebecca Bonfield received a black serge petticoat, shawl? (baring chulh), a pewter dish, and the two best iron pots.

    Hannah's daughter Hannah Rolfe received her hat, wearing linen, a chest, one pair of sheets, a two year old cow, and a serge waistcoat.

     
    Lady Day Before 1752 the year began on March 25th. Dates between January 1st and March 24th were at the end of the year, not the beginning.
    The town of Ipswich was established on August 5, 1634, from common land called Agawam. On October 18, 1648, that portion called the "Village" at the New Meadows was set off as Topsfield. The boundary line between Ipswich and Topsfield was established, February 28, 1694.

    During the 17th and 18th centuries an adult unmarried woman was considered to have the legal status of feme sole, while a married woman had the status of feme covert. A feme sole could own property and sign contracts. A feme covert was not recognized as having legal rights and obligations distinct from those of her husband and could not own any property. When a woman became a widow she became a feme sole again.

     

    The will of Mrs. Bridget Bradstreet of Ipswich was proved in the court held at Ipswich March 28, 1666. The following is a copy of the original instrument on file in the probate office at Salem.

    The fextenth day of Ocktober in the yer of our lord 1665 I Bregit Brodftret of Ipfwipch in New England being of whole mind and of good and perfect memory doe make and ordaine this my Laft will and testiment in maner and forme following:

    Inprimes bejng now very weake I Commend my Spirit in to the hands of my Lord and fauiour Jefus Chrift and my body to the grond with an Liuly hope of my Refure un to Life at the coming of my Lord and fauior Jefus Chrift

    Itum I will that all debts and duties as I ough to any one be well and truuly paid by mine Executor here after named

    Itum After all my funerall Expences difcharged: I will that my fon Mofes fhall haue my Barne: and my mufket: ad my great Cheft: and Chaire: I all foe giue unto him the kettle: the Bern veffell: ad my touw kelers: and my churne together with what I haue all Redy giuen to my fon mofes: which as I confeue doth amount to aboue forty pounds.

    2ly vnto my Eldeft daughter martha Kimball: I giue the ground of mine that fhe haue in Pofetion and my grene hood: a peuter difh: and Mr Nortons Bocke: and on fheat and on Pelober

    3ly I giue unto my daughter Mary Kemball my ould bibell: my cloth wefkot: my fmell peticutes an boulfter on yelow: on peuter difh: and on brafen candill ftick

    I giue unto my daughter Kemball and my daughter walles my fteny the Eufe of them both and after the defes of ether of them the Longeft Liuer of them and all foe I giue to them my fkey of Befe: and my defier is that they giue tham furft fworme to ther other too Sifters:

    4th I giue unto my daughter wailes Mr. Cobbets Bock: my ferg gound: ad cloke; on peuter difh and on fkilit: the Bed that I now Ly upon; on boulfter ad yellow and yellow Born: or whight Ruge: on Iron Pote: and on Penifton Peticote.

    5ly I giue vnto my daughter Rebecka bondfeld I giue vnto hur my blacke ferg peticote: and my baring chulh: on Peuter difh and my touw beft IRon pots

    6ly vnto my grad child hanah Roph I giue my hate: my waring liny and my cheft: and on Pair of fheat : and I giue vnto hur on ho * cow toow yer ould in the fpring and I giue on Serg wefket

    7ly my will is that the Reft of my goods: Chattels: and debts be Equally diuided among my fouer dafters aboue Ritten

    and I will and nominate and doth her by difier my Louing frend Samuell plats: to be mine Execkter of this my will and I doe defier him to fee this my will full feled and in witnes her of I haue her unto fet to my hand the day and and yer of our Lord aboue mentioned

    I do will defier and nominate my louing frinds Samuell Appleton and Jofeph Whipple to be my ouer fers of this my will

    The mark of B B Breget Brad

    In the Prefents of us
    Samuell Appleton,
    Jofeth Whipple

    		  

     

         

    ©Roberta Tuller 2012
    tuller.roberta@gmail.com