Humphrey Bradstreet

Humphrey Bradstreet, born about 1594, emigrated from Ipswich, England, to Massachusetts Bay in 1634 with his wife, Bridget, and their young children. He settled at Ipswich, served as a freeman and representative in 1635, and held land near what later became Rowley. He died in 1655.

Humphrey Bradstreet was born about 1594. In late April 1634, he came from Ipswich, England, to New England aboard the Elizabeth, commanded by William Andrews. The passenger information cited for the voyage gives his age as 40 and that of his wife, Bridget, as 30. They traveled with their children Hannah, age nine; John, age three; Martha, age two; and Mary, age one.

The family settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Humphrey received a considerable grant of land on the north side of the Egypt River. According to the cited account, it was the northernmost grant made by the town of Ipswich. Its northern boundary later became the southern boundary of Rowley, which was settled in 1639. In 1784, the farm was transferred from Ipswich to Rowley for the convenience of its occupants.

Because of the location of the farm after the settlement of Rowley, the Bradstreet family was associated largely with Rowley. The cited account states that family members belonged to the Rowley church, buried their dead in the Rowley cemetery, and trained with the Rowley military company.

Humphrey Bradstreet was made a freeman on May 6, 1635. In that same year, he served as a representative for Ipswich to the General Court.

He made his will on July 21, 1655. It directed that his son Moses should receive the home farm after the death of Moses's mother, Bridget, and that his son John should receive the farm at Muddy River. The cited account says that Humphrey died in the summer of 1655; his will was proved on September 25, 1655.

Humphrey's wife, Bridget Bradstreet, died in November 1665. Her will was dated October 16, 1665. Their children were Hannah, John, Martha, Mary, Sarah, Rebecca, and Moses.

Historical context

Humphrey Bradstreet's land lay in Ipswich when granted, but its location near the later town boundary connected the family closely with Rowley. The later 1784 transfer of the farm from Ipswich to Rowley occurred after Humphrey's lifetime.

Sources & research

Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine, Volume 1, by Henry Sweetser Burrage and Albert Roscoe Stubbs.