BRADFORD, BAYLY - Lower Delmarva Bradfords

11. Bayly 3 Bradford (William 2 Nathaniel 1 ) 

Page 1 of 15 Copyright 2008 Adam M. Bradford

Contents 

1. (11) Bayly 3 Bradford (Wm 2 Nath 1 ) 3 

2. (58) Ezekiel 4 Bradford (Bayly 3 ) 6 

3. (164) Kendall 5 Bradford (Zeke 4 Bayly 3 ) 7 

4. (282) Abel 6 Bradford (Kendall 5 Zeke 5 Bayly 3 ) 8 

5. (335) William 7 W. Bradford (Abel 6 Kendall 5 Zeke 5 Bayly 3 ) 9 

6. (59) John 4 Bradford (Bayly 3 ) 11 

7. Citations 13 


11. Bayly 3 Bradford (William 2 Nathaniel 1 ) 

Bailey/Bayly 3 Bradford (William 2 Nathaniel 1 ) (hereafter referred to only as Bayly) was born probably 

before 1706 in Accomack County, VA, the son of William 2 Bradford (Nathaniel 1 ) and Bridget Fisher. 1 His 

father granted him 400 acres of land in Matchapungo Neck by a deed of gift dated 27 July 1727 and 

witnessed by Nathaniel Badger and Paul Wimbrah. 2 The land was entailed and was to pass to Bayly’s 

brother John 3 in case Bayly died without heirs and to his brother Fisher 3 in case John 3 died without heirs. 

Bayly’s wife is mentioned obliquely in the deed, not by name: “if my Son Bailey Bradford Have no 

Children or Lawfull Heirs then my son Bailey Dyeing without Heirs then I Desire & give to my son Bailey 

Bradfords Wife while shee keeps my son Bailey Bradfords Widdow the use of the said four hundred 

Acres.” William also inserted an unusual clause enjoining Bayly not to “take other peoples Creatures to 

pasture Dureing my Natural life and if He should take other peoples Creatures before I dye so I can make it 

appear He shall forfeit and pay to me five thousand pounds of good Merchantable leaf Tobacco . . . for such 

offence.” Bayly’s land was located north of his brother Nathaniel 3 ’s land and south of land given by 

William 2 to Bayly’s siblings Sarah 3 and John 3 . 3 Since he had already provided for Bayly, William 2 left him 

just 1 shilling in his will, dated 4 July 1735. 4 

Before turning to the various land suits which constitute the primary evidence for Bayly’s life, it is worth 

mentioning one other record in which he appears. On 31 November 1753, Richard Driskel brought suit 

against Bayly Bradford in an “action of Covenant broken.” The matter was resolved in Driskel’s favor on 

26 June 1754 by a jury which found that “the Plantiff hath Sustained Damages by occasion of the Breaking 

of a Certain Covenant between the said Richard and Baley lately made to Fourteen Pounds three Shillings 

and Six pence.” The nature of the covenant is not given in the court orders. 5 

Bayly’s Land and Heirs 

In a deed dated 24 June 1746 and witnessed by Mitchel Scarburgh, Robert Coleburn and John Riggs, Bayly 

Bradford sold 100 acres to “Whittington Addison his Son in Law & his Daughter Joanna Mary.” 6 The land 

was located in the north of Bayly’s tract, south of land William 2 had granted to his daughter Sarah 3 , as it 

was described as “Beginning at Matchapungo Creekside at the Land of Jedidiah Bell [Sarah 3 Bradford’s 

husband] thence along the same by a right Line to the Broad Water thence along the said Broad Water 

including all the Fordable Marsh to extend so far along the same as by a Paralel line to include the 

aforesaid One Hundred Acres.” Seven years later, in a deed dated 27 February 1753 and witnessed by 

Edmund Scarburgh Junr, Major Rowles, Luke Luker and Willock Macky, “Whittingon Aderson and Joanna 

Mary his wife” sold these 100 acres to Fisher 3 Bradford (Wm 2 Nath 1 ). 7 

This transaction is described in Stratton Nottingham’s Accomack Land Causes, which also mentions that 

Bayly had attempted to dock the entail on the land by a writ of ad quod damnun filed with the Virginia 

government: 8 

“That William Bradford being seized in fee simple of 400 acres of land, by deed dated 27 July 

1727, conveyed 400 acres, of which the premises in the declaration mentioned are a part, to his 

son Bayly Bradford, by virtue whereof the said Bayly Bradford entered into and became seized 

thereof; that the said Bayly Bradford being so seized on the 8 July 1745 sued out of the 

Secretary’s Office a writ in the nature of a writ of ad quod damnum directed to the Sheriff of 

Accomack County, by virtue of which said writ the Inquisition was taken by the Sheriff of the said 

County on the 16 Nov. 1745, and returned into the Secretary’s Office; that on the 24 June 1746 the 

said Bayly Bradford by his deed conveyed 100 acres, part of the said 400 acres, and which are the 

same lands in the declaration mentioned, to Whittington Addison and Joanna Mary, his wife, by 

virtue whereof the said Addison & wife entered into the said lands and were possessed thereof; 

that on the 27 Feb 1753, the said Whittington Addison & wife conveyed the said 100 acres to 

Fisher Bradford; that the said Fisher Bradford entered into the said lands & was possessed thereof; 

. . .” 

In a further deed, dated 28 February 1755 and witnessed by Francis Savage, William Bradford [probably 

Bayly’s nephew, son of Nathaniel 3 ], and Sarah Bradford [probably aforesaid William’s wife], Bayly 


Bradford sold 75 acres to Timothy Kelly. 9 The land is described as bounded “Northerly upon Fisher 

Bradford’s land & Easterly upon the Place called thoroughfare and then along the thoroughfare.” “Fisher 

Bradford’s land” probably refers to the 100 acres that Bayly’s daughter and son-in-law had deeded to 

Fisher two years before. 

In the continuation of the abstract from Accomack Land Causes, a further deed of Bayly’s land to Fisher is 

mentioned: 

“. . . that on the 1 Apr 1761 the said Bayly Bradford executed a deed to the said Fisher Bradford; 

that the lands in the declaration mentioned are a part of the lands mentioned and described in the 

last mentioned deed, and that the said Bayly Bradford at the time of the execution of the said last 

mentioned deed was not in possession of the lands in the declaration mentioned, nor had been 

possessed thereof at any time since the before mentioned conveyance to the said Whittington 

Addison and Joanna Maria, his wife; . . .” 

This 1761 deed to Fisher is referenced in Whitelaw’s account of the Bradford’s Neck land, in which he 

mentions “the 300 acres bought [by Fisher Bradford] from his brother Bayly by a General Court deed.” 10 

Bayly probably died after his deed to Fisher and before 27 June 1769, which is the date of a deed from 

“Mary Bradford Widow and Devisee of Fisher Bradford of Accomack” to “Nathaniel Bradford Son of the 

said Fisher and Mary.” 11 Mary granted her son “all her right Title Intrest Possession and Claim of in and 

unto all the Land Devised unto her the said Mary by the Last Will and Testament of the afsd. Fisher 

Bradford that is to say all that part Which the said Fisher purchased of his Brother Bayly Bradford by 

Sundry Conveyances.” 

The remainder of the abstract from Accomack Land Causes goes on to describe how Fisher’s son lost the 

land to Bayly’s heirs. 

“. . . that the lessor of the plaintiff is the heir at law to said Fisher Bradford; that the said Fisher 

Bradford remained in possession of the said lands in the declaration mentioned from the time of 

his entry until his death, and that upon the death Nathaniel Bradford, his son & heir at law entered 

into and became possessed of the said land, and continued possessed until the ___ day of ___ 17__ 

when the same was recovered by an ejectment in the Court of Accomack County by the heirs of 

the said Bayly Bradford under whom the defendant now claims. 15 Oct 1800 – p.447” 

This “ejectment . . . by the heirs of . . . Bayly Bradford” may refer to the suit recorded in Accomack Court 

on 27 June 1771 between a lessee of Ezekiel Bradford against Mary Bradford in ejectment of lands. 12 In 

Adventures of Purse and Person, a further suit is mentioned: “On 29 July 1779 in a suit of Ezekiel 

Bradford, lessee, vs Nathaniel Bradford in ejectment for lands (Accomack Co. Order Bk. 1777-80, p.405) a 

verdict was entered for the plaintiff for all the lands except 120 acres, “the quantity contained in the first 

two deeds.” 13 That Ezekiel Bradford or his heirs ended up living on Bayly’s land is confirmed by the 

history of the tract as given in Whitelaw and by later deeds from Ezekiel’s son Kendall that show the land 

bordered on the north by Jeodiah Bell. 14 Ezekiel had left a will in Accomack in 1777, giving “unto my 

brother John Bradford my right of four hundred Acres of Land being And Lying In Bradfords neck In 

Accomack County. . . I give one half of this said Four hundred acres of Land unto my Son Kendell 

Bradford supposing my brother should Get it for Trying for it.” 15 The ejectment suit of Ezekiel and his 

heirs against Mary and Nathaniel Bradford was presumably based on the premise that Bayly had no right to 

alienate his 400 acres since the land was entailed. 

According to Adventures of Purse & Person, this Ezekiel Bradford was the son of John 3 Bradford 

(Wm 2 Nath 1 ). 16 The rationale given for this is that John was listed next in the line of inheritance for Bayly’s 

tract as stipulated in the original grant from William 2 . The fact that John 3 Bradford did not include Ezekiel 

in a series of deeds from 5 February 1782 gifting slaves to his children is supposed to be accounted for by 

the fact that Ezekiel died before that date. 17 However, there also exists a 1761 grant of slaves from John 3 

Bradford to his children, in which no Ezekiel Bradford is mentioned; 18 Ezekiel was certainly alive in 1761 

and would doubtless not have been left out of the sale. Furthermore, Ezekiel is known from his will to 

have had a brother named John Bradford and this John was not the same as John 4 Bradford 


(John 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ). [See chapter on John 3 Bradford for the evidence indicating that John 4 (of John 3 ) was a 

different individual than the brother of Ezekiel.] Since Ezekiel and his brother John were not the sons of 

John 3 Bradford, the entail on Bayly’s land would necessarily indicate that they were the descendants of 

Bayly, and the most likely relationship is that of father-son. 19 

In light of the confusion surrounding the possession of Bayly’s land, it is notable that Bayly is not listed on 

the processioners return for the years 1747 and 1755. 20 However, he was probably a land owner in 

Accomack during this time, since he does appear on Accomack poll lists that were likely taken during the 

years from 1746 to 1750. 21 Bayly probably died sometime between 1761 and 1769. 

Bayly 3 Bradford (Wm 2 Nath 1 ) had issue: 

57. i. JOANNA MARY 4 BRADFORD. Married Whittington Addison, son of Arnold Addison 22 

of Northampton County, before 24 June 1746. Whittington was a nephew of 

Nathan Addison, who married Bayly’s sister Bridget 3 Bradford (Wm 2 Nath 1 ). 

Whittington and Joanna Mary sold Whittington’s land inheritance in 1749 23 and 

the inheritance from Bayly Bradford in 1753. After that, there is no further trace 

of them, indicating that they may have moved out of the area. 

+ 58*. ii. EZEKIEL 4 BRADFORD 

+ 59*. iii. JOHN 4 BRADFORD 


58. Ezekiel 4 Bradford (Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) 

Ezekiel 4 Bradford (Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) was born before 1745 in Accomack County, Virginia. 24 Since he was 

an heir of Bayly 3 Bradford and since he is not the son of either John 3 Bradford or Fisher 3 Bradford, he must 

have been a descendant of Bayly, most likely a son. 25 Ezekiel Bradford first appears in the records of 

Accomack on 31 July 1766 as the defendant in a petition brought by Owen Darby. 26 On 28 August 1766, it 

was further noted that “a Copy of the Petition . . . being Left at the Usual place of his [i.e., Ezekiel’s] 

Abode in Due Time, And Being Solemnly Called came not but made default.” 27 On 1 October 1766, it was 

noted that the sheriff “had Taken the Body of the sd Deft and that afterwards he had made his Escape from 

out of his the sd. Sherifs Custody.” However, a later order amended this “by Striking out the sd. 

Defendant’s Escape.” 28 

Ezekiel Bradford was on the pew list for St. George’s parish on 16 March 1767. Like Naomi 4 Bradford 

(Nath 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ), he was not listed with the other Bradfords of Accomack. In fact, there are two mentions 

of an Ezekiel Bradford on the pew list, and it is unclear whether they are the same individual: 29 

Pew No. 31 Pew No. 39 

Levin Teackle Willlm Garrison Robt Rogers Peter Willis 

Caleb Upshur Saml Roach Jno Badger Junr James Dorman 

Levin Howart Richd. Turner Nich Dalby Henry Davis 

Spencer Bagwell Hillery Turner Ezekiel Bradford Litt. Lecatt 

Thos Teackle Ezekiel Bradford Jno Badger Junr 

Thos Teackle Junr Bese Watson 

On 27 June 1771, Ezekiel Bradford began an ejectment suit against Mary Bradford, widow of Fisher 3 

Bradford, for entailed land that his father Bayly 3 Bradford had sold to Fisher 3 Bradford. 30 Eventually either 

Ezekiel or his heirs successfully claimed the land, as is detailed more fully above in the section on Bayly 3 . 

Ezekiel died in Accomack sometime between the writing of his will on 13 March 1777 and its probate on 

29 December 1778. He named no wife in his will, but did name a son Kendall and a brother John, whom 

he instructed to teach Kendall “the Trade of a Saddle maker.” 

In the name of God amen I Ezekiel Bradford Being in Perfect mind and memory thanks to 

almighty God for it &c give my soul to almighty God that gave it me that I hope to Receive it 

again when all things shall have an End Item I give unto my brother John Bradford my right of 

four hundred Acres of Land being And Lying In Bradfords neck In Accomack County and 

Collony of Virginia Being more or Less I give one half of this said Four hundred acres of Land 

unto my Son Kendell Bradford supposing my brother should Get it for Trying for it And Likewise 

I give my Brother John Bradford my Son Kendall Bradford For him the said John Bradford to 

Learn him the Trade of a Saddle maker To have the said Kendall Bradford till he Comes to the age 

of Twenty one Years In Testimony there of I have hereunto (I allow this my Last will and 

Testament) set my hand & Fixed my seal this thirteenth Day of March Anno Domini one thousand 

seven hundred & seventy seven 

In presence of us 

Rand Clerk } Ezekiel [X] Bradford 

Richard Bull } Testes 

Ruth Bull } 

At a Court held for Accomack County the 29 th day of December 1778 This will was proved by the 

Oaths Rand Clark & Richard Bull two of the Witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded David 

Bowman Who was appointed Guardian to the Heir at Law to Contest the Proof the said will being 

present & making no objection 31 

Ezekiel 4 Bradford (Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) had issue: 

+ 164*. i. KENDALL 5 BRADFORD 


164. Kendall 5 Bradford (Ezekiel 4 Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) 

Kendall 5 Bradford (Ezekiel 4 Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) was named in his father’s will and was given one half of the 

400 acres to which Ezekiel had a right, “supposing my brother should Get it for Trying for it.” Ezekiel also 

instructed that Kendall be placed with his brother John Bradford “to Learn him the Trade of a Saddle 

maker.” 32 

Kendall appears on the processioners return for his inherited land on 14 February 1792. 33 The following 

year, in an instrument dated 1 February 1793, John Lewden of New Castle County, Delaware, quit claim to 

Kendall Bradford for his interest in a 100-acre tract to which he had some right “by virtue of a Mortgage 

given me under the hand and Seal of a certain John Bradford late of Accomack County aforesaid 

deceased.” 34 The quitclaim was witnessed by William Gibb and Tully Snead. The John Bradford referred 

to was Kendall’s uncle; John had executed a mortgage to Lewden in 1784, in which the 100 acres “devised 

the said John Bradford by his brother Ezekiel Bradford” was used as collateral for a loan of £200 from 

Lewden. 35 

In a deed dated 27 May 1793 and witnessed by William Gibb, John Smith and Archibald Garrison, Kendall 

Bradford sold to Peggy Stockley 100 acres bounded “On the North by the land of Jedidiah Bell on the 

South by a line of marked trees dividing the same from other Lands belonging to the said Kendal Bradford 

on the West by Matchapungo creek and on the East by the Broadwater and head of the Thorowfare.” 36 

Given the border with Jedidiah 5 Bell (William 4 Sarah Bradford 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ), this was likely the same 100 

acres that Bayly 3 had gifted to his daughter Joanna Mary (and which she subsequently tried to sell to 

Fisher 3 ), which bordered on land William 2 had given to his daughter Sarah and her husband Jeodiah Bell, 

grandparents of the Jedidiah mentioned in Kendall’s deed. 

Kendall Bradford appeared on the processioners return for 5 January 1796 37 and must have passed away 

within a year from that date, since his will was written on 14 September 1796 and presented for probate on 

30 January 1797. 

In the Name of God Amen I Kendal Bradford of Accomack County being Sick & pore State of 

Health but in sound sence and memory thanks be to god for the same do make & ordain this my 

last Will and Testament in manner and form as followeth Item, my Will and desire is that my 

Loving wife Elizabeth Bradford shall have the use of my land & plantation and also all my 

Personal Estate during her natural life or Widowhoow Item I give and Bequeath unto my son Abel 

Bradford at the death or marage of my loving Wife all my land & plantation that I now live on 

unto him and his Heirs for Ever/Item I give & bequeath unto my daughter Nancy Bradford at the 

death or marage of my loving wife the whole Remainder part of my Estate not before given unto 

her & her heirs for Ever also I do appoint John Phillips son of Wm my sole and sole Executor of 

this my last Will and Testament dated the 14 th day of Septr. 1796 / Signed Seald in presents of 

Francis Savage Kendall X Bradford 

Custis Willis 

At a Court held in Accomack County January 30 th 1797 The foregoing last will and Testament of 

Kendall Bradford decd was proved by the Oaths of Custis Willis & Francis Savage witnesses 

thereto & ordered to be recorded and on the motion of John Phillips taking oath and giving Custis 

Willis for security who entered into and acknowledged a bond for that purpose Certificate is 

granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form 38 

In the settlement of Kendall Bradford’s estate cash was paid to Benjamin Bradford (relationship unknown) 

and Thomas Bradford [probably Thomas 5 Bradford (Edmd 4 Thos 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 )]. Littleton Bradford [probably 

Littleton 5 Bradford (Edmd 4 Thos 3 )] was paid for making the coffin. 39 

Kendall 5 Bradford (Ezekiel 4 Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) married Elizabeth _____. They had issue: 

+ 282*. i. ABEL 6 BRADFORD 

283. ii. NANCY 6 BRADFORD 


282. Abel 6 Bradford (Kendall 5 Ezekiel 4 Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) 

Abel 6 Bradford (Kendall 5 Ezekiel 4 Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) was named in his father’s will of 14 September 1796: 

“I give and Bequeath unto my son Abel Bradford at the death or marage of my loving Wife all my land & 

plantation.” 40 He may have been only an infant when his father died. On the processioners return up 

through 1812, the entry is in the name of “Kendall Bradford’s heirs” rather than the names of the heirs 

themselves. 41 If he was a minor in 1812, that would put his birth in the years 1791 to 1796. 

Abel married Nancy West (of Abel) in Accomack (bond 26 December 1815, James Walker security). 42 

Sometime afterwards, they moved to Northampton County. In a deed dated 14 December 1822 and 

witnessed by John B. Walker, John W. Custis, and Wm. Parramore Jr., “Abel Bradford of Kendal and 

Nancy his wife of Northampton County Virginia” sold 100 acres to George Floyd. The tract is described as 

“the same land devised to the said Abel Bradford by his father Kendall Bradford.” 43 After the death of 

Abel 6 , Nancy (West) Bradford married Newton Harrison in Northampton County on 27 April 1837 

(Nathaniel J. Winder security). 44 

Abel 6 Bradford (Kendall 5 Ezekiel 4 ?Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) had issue: 

+ 335. i. WILLIAM W. 6 BRADFORD 


335. William W. 7 Bradford (Abel 6 Kendall 5 Ezekiel 4 ?Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) 

William W. 7 Bradford (Abel 6 Kendall 5 Ezekiel 4 Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) was born 29 October 1816 and died 16 

December 1873 in Northampton County, Virginia. 45 He married first on 15 June 1837 Mary (Gilmer) 

Williams, widow of John Williams; 46 she was born 19 January 1815 and died 12 January 1872. 47 William 

married second, around 1872 (bond issued October 1872), Angela Elizabeth Johnson, daughter of Johannes 

and Elizabeth Johnson, 48 who died age 70 on 27 July 1900. 49 

William is listed with his family on the censuses of 1850, 1860 and 1870 in Northampton County: 

1850 Census 50 




William 7 Bradford (Abel 6 Kendall 5 Ezekiel 4 Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) had issue: 53 

345. i. JOHN 8 BRADFORD. Listed in 1850 census in household of William and Mary in 

Northampton, age 16. Since he was born before 1837, he was probably the son 

of William by an earlier wife. 

+ 346. ii. WILLIAM THOMAS 8 BRADFORD. Born around 1838 or 1839 and died age 48 on 27 

March 1887. 54 Married around 1864 (bond issued 14 December 1864) Lavinia 

E. Stott, daughter of Abel and Margaret Stott, 55 who was born 25 March 1845 

and died 20 November 1933. 56 

358. i. MATTIE J. 9 BRADFORD. Born around 1866. Married (bond 31 

December 1889) Abel L. Hornsby, son of James and Elizabeth 

Hornsby. 57 

359. ii. ABEL STOTT 9 BRADFORD. Born 22 October 1869 and died 3 April 

1961. 58 Married on 22 December 1909 Margaret Wyatt 

(daughter of Rewbok and Mary Wyatt) 59 who was born 6 

March 1879 and died 19 November 1964. 60 

360. iii. MARY GILMER 9 BRADFORD. Born 7 May 1873 and died 7 June 1906. 61 

361. iv. SEVERN R. 9 BRADFORD. Born 13 June 1876 and died 26 September 

1944. 62 Married on 17 February 1904 Lillie Wyatt, daughter of 

Reinbrake and Mary Wyatt, 63 who was born 10 April 1884 

and died 19 April 1945. 64 

347. iii. ELIZABETH A. 8 BRADFORD. Born around 1841. Married around 1863 (bond issued 10 

December 1863) Isaac T. Dalby, son of Thomas and Delitha Dalby. 65 

+ 348. iv. GEORGE W. 8 BRADFORD. Born 25 January 1844 and died 27 May 1929. 66 Married 

around 1866 (bond issued 22 February 1866) Joanna Stott, daughter of Abel and 

Margaret H. Stott, 67 who was born 22 July 1846 and died 19 October 1876. 68 

362. i. MARGARET WISE 9 BRADFORD. Born 22 December 1866 and died 13 

December 1947. 69 

363. ii. ANNIE 9 BRADFORD. Born 27 October 1871 and died 17 December 1876. 70 

364. iii. GEORGE W. 9 BRADFORD. Born 1874 and died 1948. 71 Married 

(bond 6 January 1897) Florence S. Brickhouse (daughter of 

Thomas S. and Florence E. Brickhouse), 72 who was born 1875 

and died 1948. 73 

349. v. HIRAM P. 8 BRADFORD. Born 15 January 1847, died 29 October 1936. 74 

+ 350. vi. ABEL WEST 8 BRADFORD. Born 9 March 1849 and died 26 July 1933. 75 Married around 

1878 (bond issued 6 February 1878) Catherine May Stott (daughter of Abel and 

Margaret H. Stott), 76 who was born 19 June 1849 and died 6 July 1886. 77 

365. i. LEONARD N. 9 BRADFORD. Born 25 December 1878 and died 19 

February 1940. 78 

366. ii. CHARLES WISE 9 BRADFORD. Born 1880 and died 1950. 79 Married on 

20 February 1912 Isabel M. Wagner (daughter of John E. Wagner), 80 

who was born 14 May 1878 and died 14 February 1921. 81 

367. iii. LILLIAN MAY 9 BRADFORD. Born 30 May 1882 and died 18 January 1968. 82 

351. vii. CHARLES F. 8 BRADFORD. Born 21 December 1852, died 9 February 1912. 83 

352. viii. MARY SUE 8 BRADFORD. Born 19 April 1855, died 24 September 1939. 84 


59. John 4 Bradford (Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) 

John 4 Bradford was mentioned in the will of his brother Ezekiel (13 March 1777 – 29 December 1778): “I 

give unto my brother John Bradford my right of four hundred Acres of Land being And Lying In Bradfords 

neck In Accomack County . . . Likewise I give my Brother John Bradford my Son Kendall Bradford For 

him the said John Bradford to Learn him the Trade of a Saddle maker.” 85 The fact that Ezekiel refers to his 

brother as a saddle maker allows us to distinguish this John from both John 3 Bradford (Wm 2 Nath 1 ) and 

John 4 Bradford (John 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) in the records of Accomack. 

In a deed dated 27 April 1774, George Parker and John Poulson sold to “John Bradford of the county of 

Accomack sadler” several lots in the town of Onancock in Accomack County. 86 In a deed dated 1 February 

1775 and witnessed by John Teackle, Smith Snead Jun, and Ja. Taylor, John Bradford “and Sarah his wife” 

sold some of these lots to Isaac Smith and Thorowgood Smith. 87 In an indenture dated 29 September 1777, 

the Smiths sold the land back to John for 125 pds; apparently this was due to a mistake in the previous 

deed, which was intended only to be a mortgage rather than a transfer. 88 In a deed dated 6 June 1780 and 

witnessed by William Gibb, Garret Topping, and William Leatherbury, John sold “all his houses & lots in 

Onancock town” to John Hannaford. 89 

In an indenture dated 5 January 1775 and witnessed by Arthur and Levin Teackle, “John Bradford of 

Accomack County sadler” sold Bowdoin Eyre Smith “the several Goods Wares and Merchandizes 

following (to wit) one black Horse called Dowel, one Cow and yearling Eighteen Sides of Leather, three 

dozen of sheep skins, two feather Beds with Bedsteds Matts and Cords, sheets Blankets and Rugs, all his 

Sadlers Tools, all his Saddlery Consisting of Buckles, Chair-Harness Ornaments Bridle Bitts, mohair fringe 

five dozen of saddle Trees Seven hundred pounds of Pork together with all and singular his other goods and 

Chattels by them of what kind of nature soever.” 90 

In an indenture dated 28 April 1783 and witnessed by William Gibb, William Snead and George Snead, 

John Bradford “of the Town of port Scarburgh alias Onancock” took out a loan from Edmond Custis, Levin 

Joynes and Garret Topping. As collateral he put up several lots in Onancock as well as “four Negroes 

namely Joan Sarah with her child unnamed and Agness five head of Horses all his horned cattle sheep & 

hogs six feather beds and furniture twelve best chairs three tables one press one safe all his pewter plates 

and dishes one writing desk two plows two harrows four hoes two axes one wagon and gears two pot casks 

with all his other goods and Chattels of what kind soever.” 91 The indenture declared that “John Bradford 

Stands indebted unto the said Edmond Custis a sum of money on a Book Account to the said Levin Joynes 

and his late partner Thomas Snead on a Bond the sum of one hundred and five pounds & nine pence on 

Interest from the Eleventh of April Instant and to the said Garret Topping on bond the sum of one hundred 

and forty three pounds nine Shillings & 7½ pence Interest from the Seventh day of January last.” By the 

terms of the indenture, John was supposed to pay all of his debts by December 1783 or forfeit the town lots, 

slaves, livestock and goods to Custis, Joynes and Topping. 

In a deed dated 25 October 1784 and witnessed by Levin Joynes, Anne Joynes and John Lyon Clk., John 

Bradford “saddler of the Town of Onancock” mortgaged “the 100 acres devised the said John Bradford by 

his brother Ezekiel Bradford” to a certain John Lewden “Tanner of Christianna Bridge County of New 

Castle and State of Delaware.” This mortgage was executed to put up the 100 acres as collateral for a loan 

of £120. 92 

In a deed of gift dated 27 October 1784, the four men who had loaned John money in 1783 (Levin Joynes, 

Thomas Snead, Edmund Custis and Garret Topping) executed a deed of gift to “Sally Black Bunting 

Bradford infant,” described as “youngest daughter of John Bradford of Onancock.” Perhaps John had been 

unable to repay his debt to the men, necessitating their possession of what seems to have been a great deal 

of his land and possessions. Accordingly, in this deed Joynes, Snead, Custis and Topping gave to Sally 

Bradford “one Tea pot one Sugar dish five cups and Saucers queens China one queens china dish one bowl 

one meal tub, three beds and furniture Compleat one dutch oven one small iron Kettle two frying pans two 

tubs one Cart body one weeding hoe one press six chairs one tea kettle three tin mugs and one kettle.” If 


Sally died without heirs, then the above articles were to go to Nancy and Peggy Bradford, who are 

presumed to be other daughters of John 4 and Sarah Bradford. 93 

John Bradford moved to Norfolk, Virginia, sometime after 1784. He died before 28 September 1791, when 

“Sarah Bradford relict of John of the Borough of Norfolk” relinquished to Tully Snead “all her right, title 

and Intrest in her Dower of the houses and Lots in Onancock Town . . . held in right of her deceased 

Husband John Bradford” in an instrument witnessed by John Shepherd Sen, John Rayfield and John Gray. 94 

John 4 Bradford (Bayly 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) and his wife Sarah ____ had issue: 

165. i. ?NANCY 5 BRADFORD 

166. ii. ?PEGGY 5 BRADFORD 

167. iii. SALLY BLACK BUNTING 5 BRADFORD 


Citations for Bayly 3 Bradford (William 2 Nathaniel 1 ) and Descendants 

1.A likely birth for Bayly before 1706 is arrived at by assuming he was 21 at the time his father gifted 

him land. At the time of the gift, he was already married. 

2.Accomack County Deeds, Wills, etc. 1715-1729, part 1, FHL microfilm 30025, p.148. [typescript copy] 

3.For tract location see Ralph T. Whitelaw, Virginia’s Eastern Shore (Maine: Picton Press, 2001), 770. 

The deed to Bayly mentions a line “unto the Land of Jeodiah Bell.” William 2 ’s deed to son John is 

“beginning at Bayly Bradford’s Line” [Accomack County Deeds, Wills, etc. 1715-1729, part 1, FHL 

microfilm 30025, p.232. (typescript copy)]. It is also born out by the processioners returns beginning with 

the return of 1731, which mentions “ye Line between Jeodiah Bell and Bayly Bradford” and “ye Line 

between Bayly Bradford and Nathaniel Bradford . . . ” [Gail M. Walczyk, transcriber, Accomack County 

Processioners Returns 1723-1792, (Coram, NY: Peter’s Row, 2003), 10.] 

4.Accomack County Deeds & Wills 1729-1737, FHL microfilm 3002, folio 229-230. 

5.Accomack County Virginia Orders 1753-1763, FHL microfilm 30114, folios 26 and 52. 

6.Accomack County Virginia Deeds, etc. 1737-1746, FHL microfilm 30003, folios 509-510. 


8.Stratton Nottingham, compiler, Accomack Land Causes, 1728-1825 (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 

1990), 67-68. 


10.Whitelaw, 775. 

11.Accomack Deed Record, no. 3: 1757-1770, FHL microfilm 30006, Item 3 [Photostat copy] folios 

636-637. 

12.Accomack County Orders 1770-1773, FHL microfilm 30083, folio 200. 

13.John Frederick Dorman, compiler and editor, Adventures of Purse and Person Virginia 1607- 

1624/5, Volume 3 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2007, 4 th Edition), 202. 

14.See Whitelaw, 776-777, and deed from Kendal Bradford to Peggy Stockley in Accomack County 

Deeds 8 1793-1797, FHL microfilm 30049, folio 106 

15.Accomack County Wills &C 1777-1784, FHL microfilm 30027, folio 217. 

16.Dorman, 202. 

17.Series of deeds in Accomack County Virginia Deeds, 1777-1783, FHL microfilm 30007, folios 

289-294 and 306. 

18.Accomack Deed Records, no.3: 1757-1770, part 1, FHL microfilm 30006, folios 155-156. 

19.Ezekiel first appears in the records of Accomack as an adult in 1766, so must have been born prior 

to 1745. It seems clear that he is a descendant of Bayly. For him to have inherited Bayly’s land through 

John 3 (whose descendants were next in line of inheritance after Bayly’s), it would have to be through one 

of John’s sons, since it is clear from his 1761 deeds to his children that John had no son Ezekiel. Ezekiel is 

almost certainly not the son of James 4 , since James’ orphans were underage in 1800. [See Gail M. 

Walczyk, Accomack County Processioners Returns 1796-1816, (Coram, NY: Peter’s Row, 2004), 48.] It is 

possible that Ezekiel might have been a grandson of Bayly, but if that is the case his father is unknown. 

Given the approximate age of other grandchildren of William 2 , it seems probable that Ezekiel was Bayly’s 

son. 

20.Walczyk, Processioners Returns 1723-1792,, 71 and 85. 

21.Accomack County Virginia Deeds 1746-1757, FHL microfilm 30003, folio 131 (given dates of 

surrounding deeds and the existence of a poll from 1744, it is probably a poll from 1746 or 1748) and folio 

144 (given dates of surrounding deeds and the existence of a poll from 1752, it is probably a poll from 1748 

or 1750). 

22.Whitelaw, 477. See chapter on Bridget 3 Bradford for more on the Addisons. 

23.ibid 

24.See note 19. 

25.Ezekiel’s brother John can be distinguished from John 4 Bradford (John 3 Wm 2 Nath 1 ) (see chapter on 

John 3 Bradford for further details). At Fisher’s death in 1761 his eldest son was Nathaniel 4 Bradford, who 

eventually lost Bayly’s land to Ezekiel and his heirs. 

26.Accomack County Virginia Orders 1765-1767, FHL microfilm 30115, folio 159. 


27.ibid, folio 213. 

28.ibid, folios 247 and 286. 

29.Gail M. Walczyk, transcriber, St. George’s Parish Accomack County Vestry Book 1763-1787, 

(Coram, NY: Peter’s Row, 1998), 19. 



32.ibid 

33.Walczyk, Processioners Returns 1723-1792, 172. 

34.Accomack County Deeds 8 1793-1797, FHL microfilm 30049, folio 73. 



37. Processioners Returns 1796-1816, 6. 

38.Accomack County Wills &C 1794-1796, FHL microfilm 30030, folios 102-103. 

39.Barry W. Miles and Moody K. Miles III, compilers, Abstracts of the Wills & Administrations of 

Accomack County, 1800-1860 (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 2000), 88. 


41.Walczyk, Processioners Returns 1796-1816, 49, 63, 116, & 156. 

42.Nora Miller Turman, Marriage Records of Accomack County, Virginia 1776-1854 (Bowie, MD: 

Heritage Books, 1994), 38. 

43.Accomack County Deeds No. 20 1822-4, FHL microfilm 30059, folios 399-400. 

44.Jean Merritt Mihalyka, abstracter and compiler, Marriages, Northampton County, Virginia 1660/1- 

1854 (Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1991), 51. 

45.Jean Merritt Mihalyka, compiler, Gravestone inscriptions in Northampton County, Virginia 

(Richmond, VA: Virginia State Library, 1980), 45. 

46.Mihalyka, Marriages, Northampton County, 13. 

47.Mihalyka, Gravestone inscriptions, 11. 

48.D. A. Buck, abstracter and compiler, Northampton County, Virginia Marriages 1853-1922 (Bowie, 

MD: Heritage Books, 1994), 85. 


50.William Bradford on 1850 US Federal Census, Northampton Co, VA; roll M432_965, page 285, 

image 27. Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The 

Generations Network, Inc., 2005. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Seventh 

Census of the United States, 1850. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 

1850. M432, 1,009 rolls. 

51.William Bradford in 1860 US Federal Census, Northampton Co., VA; roll M653_1367, page 734, 

image 39. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The 

Generations Network, Inc., 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Eighth 


1860. M653, 1,438 rolls. 

52.Wm. Bradford on 1870 US Federal Census, Eastville, Northampton Co., VA; roll M593_1668, page 

649, image 63. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The 

Generations Network, Inc., 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Eighth 


1860. M653, 1,438 rolls. 

53.William 7 Bradford married Mary Gilmer in 1837. Assuming the John Bradford who appears in 

William’s household in 1850 is his son, and assuming his age is correct, then he would have been born 

around 1834, before the marriage of William and Mary. All other children listed are the children of 

William and Mary. 


55.Buck, 85. 


57.Buck, 324. 


59.Buck, 83. 


61.ibid, 11. 


62.ibid, 11. 

63.Buck, 84. 


65.Buck, 176. 


67.Buck, 84. 


69.ibid, 11. 

70.ibid, 10. 

71.ibid, 10. 

72.Buck, 84. 


74.ibid, 10. 

75.ibid, 10. 

76.Buck, 83. 


78.ibid, 11. 

79.ibid, 10. 

80.Buck, 83. 


82.ibid, 11. 

83.ibid, 10. 

84.ibid, 11. 


86.Accomack County Virginia Deeds Etc. 1770-1777, FHL microfilm 30007, folios 307-308. 


88.Accomack County Virginia Deeds 1777-1783, FHL microfilm 30007, folio 98. 

89.Accomack County Virginia Deeds Etc. 1770-1777, FHL microfilm 30007, folio 536. 

90.ibid, folios 434-435.

BRADFORD, BAYLY - Lower Delmarva Bradfords

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