Matthew Bradford c1765-1849.

[coombs]

Hi

This is not so much a request just a story on my 5xgreat grandfather Matthew Bradford.

He married Susannah Watty in 1798 in Southchurch, Essex. I descend from his son Matthew Jnr born 1801 in Southchurch.

Matthew is on the 1841 census in Southchurch aged 75 born about 1766. Thing is he gives "no" a whether he was born in the county. So he was born outside of Essex. He died in July 1849 aged 85 so born about 1764. Pity he didn't wait two more years so I could get direct proof of his birthplace.

Now there seem to be a few Matthew Bradford's born in the Cambridgeshire area. I think one died as a child. There was one born in Suffolk in 1762 but he died as an infant.

There was a Matthew Bradford born in Westley Waterless, Cambridgeshire in 1764 son of Thomas and Sarah Bradford. I cannot find a burial of anyone as a child in that parish. I cannot find a marriage in the parish later unless he married elsewhere. Even though I do need more evidence before I add him to my tree I have a hunch.

There do seem to be many Matthew Bradford's born in Cambridgeshire 1700-1800.

Ben

[Ermintrude46]

Have you seen the original Southchurch parish records for the 1798 marriage and does it say "of this parish" for Matthew Bradford?  Did they marry by banns or licence? I've got a couple of chaps like this in my line, just turn up somewhere, marry a local lass and die before the 1851 census can reveal where they came from, frustrating isn't it 
Ermy

[coombs]

Hi

I think the register says he was of that parish. He had two sons Matthew in 1801 and Thomas in 1804. Thomas was the father of the Matthew Bradford born in Westley, Cambs in 1765 so it is likely.

It might be a good idea to check if he left a will in 1849 or the parents of the 1765 one left a will or his siblings.

[coombs]

Right rather than start a new thread I thought I'd update this one. I am still on the lookout for Matthew Bradford.

I think I can rule out the Matthew Bradford born in Westley Waterless. A Matthew Bradford died in 1841 in Waltham Holy Cross aged 76 so born c1765. He left a will mentioning a brother William Bradford. The Westley Waterless one had a brother William born 1773.

3 other possibles:

Matthew Bradford born Great Bradley, Suffolk baptised June 1762 son of John and Ann Bradford. Had a younger brother Simon and older sisters Mary and Ann.

Matthew Bradford born 1767 Hinxton, Cambs son of John and Ruth Bradford. He had a sister Edy who wed locally and a brother Stephen who wed in 1777 and stayed locally. A Richard was born in 1774 to John and Ruth Bradford.

Matthew Bradford born 1770 Little Thurlow, Suffolk son of Thomas and Anne Bradford. He had a brother William Bradford, Patrick Bradford and John Bradford.

My Matthew was aged 85 when he died in 1849 so bornc1764 but the old saying is many people may not have known exactly how old they were. In 1841 he was 75 if age rounded down to the nearest 5.

When my Matthew wed in 1798 the two witnesses was Peter Gray and William Smith. Peter was a regular witness. Matthew had 3 children Matthew 1801, Thomas 1805 and Isaac 1812.

I wonder if a fresh pair of eyes may help?

Thanks

Ben

[coombs]

Just looked at the death cert for 1849 and it says he was 83 not 85.

And I think I can rule out the Great Bradley one as a Matthew Bradford wed in Carlton next to G Bradley in the 1790s and I found a Matthew Bradford of the right age buried in the parish later on.

It is now a toss up between the Hinxton and Thurlow one. The Hinxton one seems likelier as he is slightly closer to age. Baptised 28 June 1767. The Thurlow one was son of Thomas and Ann and my Matthew named his second son Thomas but the Hinxton one had a brother Thomas born 1750.

[coombs]

Update.

In my quest to find the baptism of Matthew Bradford I have done some more research into the Thomas and Ann Bradford who appeared to have a son Matthew in 1770 in Thurlow, Suffolk.

A Thomas Bradford wed Ann Symonds in January 1752 in Dullingham, which is only a few miles from Thurlow. They had a son Henry in 1752, Thomas in 1754, and a Robert in 1756. And a William Bradford born 1767 in Thurlow to a Thomas and Ann Bradford.

My Matthew Bradford wed in Southchurch, Essex in 1798 and died there in 1849 and said he was not born in Essex in 1841 as I know. A Henry Bradford was buried in nearby Barling, Essex in 1828 aged 76, so born c1752.

He wed in 1780 in Great Wakering, Essex to Mary Callaway. He had a son Thomas born in 1797 in Barling. My Matthew had a son Thomas born in 1805.

That Henry could be the same Henry Bradford born in 1752 in Dullingham and a possible brother of Matthew. I can find not trace so far of the 1752 Dullingham one marrying or dying locally in Cambs or Suffolk. I could be onto something now.

Ben

[pinefamily]

Have you checked for a will for your Matthew? This could name family members or property, and help pinpoint his origins.

Darren

[coombs]

Hi Darren

Not yet but it might be worth trying. Will have to check the main courts in Essex, and I can check for a Henry.

The witnesses to the 1780 Henry Bradford marriage dont ring a bell as one had the same surname as the bride. He had 3 known children, Elizabeth 1787, Thomas, 1797 and Sarah 1799. If he is the same man who was born in Dullingham in 1752 then that will strengthen my thesis on Matthew Bradford. My Matthew had 3 sons Matthew, Thomas and Isaac. No other known children.

Henry may have moved down to south Essex and Matthew may have later joined him. Barling is not far from Southchurch.

Ben

[pinefamily]

Another option to explore, if you haven't already done so, is to check other church records for the parish of Southchurch; eg vestry minutes, etc.
You don't mention whether the couple married by banns or licence. Either church banns records, or licence records might give a clue to Matthew's origins.