The Bradley Family

Contributed by Jean Brock
and Sue E Barney
© 2000

John BRADLEY born around 1695, died before 1755. His wife was Mary WOOD born around 1698. They appear to be Quakers from Kendal, Yorkshire, England.

Known child of John Bradley and Mary

  1. Richard born around 1711.
There are records of Richard in the Settle Monthly Meeting (Quakers) in Yorkshire, and a certificate to move to the Chester (Pennsylvania) Meeting 25 Feb 1752

Richard married Elizabeth Ann SHARPLESS (also sometimes written SHARPLES). Elizabeth Ann was born about 25 June 1734, in Ridley Twp, PA. Richard and Elizabeth were married at Chester Meeting, 15 July 1755 (There is some discrepancy related to the strange dates the Quakers were using - it might be May 1755) The Sharpless family is fairly well-known in Quaker documentation - they are also related to the COPES, and were one of the families that traveled with William Penn to settle Pennsylvania.

They received a Certificate to move to Cane Creek NC 24 June 1758 (Guilford County) and then moved to Wilmington, New Hanover County, NC. It appears Elizabeth died around 1802.

Known children of Richard Bradley and Elizabeth are:
  1. John Bradley born abt 1758 in Wilmington, New Hanover NC, died 1811, Sumner Co, TN. He married Mary Simpson in Sumner Co.
  2. Richard Bradley born abt 1769 in Wilmington, New Hanover NC, died 1835. I believe he married Rebecca Green 13 Jan 1799 in New Hanover, and may have married Eliza C. Yonge.
  3. Mary Bradley born 24 Feb 1767, died 27 Mar 1815 in Wilmington, NC. Married William Green born 19 Feb 1757, died 23 May 1803 in 1784 in Wilmington.
  4. Susan Bradley born 1771, died 1842 in Wilmington NC. Married Joshua G. Wright, 2 June 1791 in Wilmington.
  5. Lucy Bradley born 1756, died 1843.
  6. Elizabeth Bradley born 1763, died 1843.
  7. Anne Bradley born 1773, died 1787.

John Bradley (son of Richard Bradley and Elizabeth Ann) married Mary SIMPSON. There is some dispute as to whether all these children are John Bradley and Mary Simpson's, and I haven't researched them in detail. They are all supposed to have been born in Sumner County:

Possible children of John Bradley and Mary Simpson are:

  1. Joshua (1780)
  2. Simpson (1782)
  3. Richard (1786)
  4. John Bradley born abt 1784 in NC, married Elizabeth Betsy Goostree.
  5. Polly
  6. Jesse
  7. Nancy
  8. David

John Bradley (son of John Bradley and Mary Simpson) was born abt. 1784 in NC. He married on 17 Jan 1816 in Sumner Co. TN to Elizabeth GOOSTREE daughter of Absalom Benjamin GOOSTREE and Mary "Polly" GRANGER.

Known children of John Bradley and Elizabeth Goostree are:

  1. Absalom Bradley born 10 Nov 1816 Sumner Co. TN, died 20 Sep 1896 in Carrollton, Greene County, IL. He married 1st to Mary "Polly " Mayberry/Maberry. Married 2nd to Marilda (or Matilda - family can't agree!) Walker Barnett Mayberry/Maberry.
  2. Reuben C. (R. C.) Bradley
  3. Elizabeth Bradley
  4. Luther Bradley
  5. Alex Bradley

I am told by family that RC and Alex were children born to another wife, but no one in the family has any information, and I have not found any.

Absalom Bradley (son of John Bradley and Elizabeth Goostree) was born 10 Nov 1816 Sumner Co. TN, died 20 Sep 1896 in Carrollton, Greene County, IL. He married 1st to Mary "Polly " MAYBERRY/MABERRY abt. 1837. He married 2nd to Marilda (or Matilda - family can't agree!) Walker Barnett MAYBERRY/MABERRY on 19 Oct 1846, probably in Pike County, MO. Marilda was born 16 Dec 1830, died 20 Oct 1916. Her parents were Sander MAYBERRY/MABERRY and Margaret BARNETT.

Children of Absalom Bradley and 1st wife Mary "Polly" Mayberry/Maberry are:

  1. Reuben Bradley born 1838 IL.
  2. Jonathan Bradley born 1841 IL.
  3. Mary Bradley

Children of Absalom Bradley and 2nd wife Marilda Mayberry/Maberry are:

  1. Zachary Taylor Bradley born 23 Nov 1848 Carrollton, Greene Co. IL. He married on 20 Oct 1864 to Mary Ann Lakin, they divorced. He married on 30 Apr 1880 to Mary E. Raines.
  2. Laura Ann Bradley born 1852 IL.
  3. Alice C. Bradley born 1857 IL. Married Paul Woods.
  4. Dora E. Bradley born Oct. 1861 IL. Married Charles Black.
  5. Eliza Frances Bradley born 17 Sept 1865, died 6 Feb 1840 in IL. Married Joseph Bradley.
  6. Margaret "Maggie" E. Bradley born 1867 IL.
  7. Robert E. Bradley born 1871 IL.

Zachary Taylor Bradley (son of Absalom Bradley and 2nd wife Marilda Mayberry/Maberry) was born 23 Nov 1848 Carrollton, Greene Co. IL. He married on 20 Oct 1864 to Mary Ann LAKIN, the daughter of Jordan Albert LAKIN and Eliza Ann MYERS. Zachary and Mary Ann later divorced. He married 2nd on 30 Apr 1880 to Mary E. RAINES.

Children of Zachary Taylor Bradley and 1st wife Mary Ann Lakin are:

  1. Lillian Bell Bradley born 10 Aug 1869.
  2. Geoge Harvey Bradley born 14 May 1872.
  3. Annie Eliza Bradley born 3 Oct. 1874, d. 19 Oct 1949. She married Andrew ROYAL MD born 12 Oct 1897, died 25 March 1928. Their children are: Ruby, Norma, Victor and Donald.

Children of Zachary Taylor Bradley and 2nd wife Mary E. Raines are:

  1. Felicia P. Bradley born Feb 1881.
  2. Beulah E. Bradley born Nov 1882.
  3. Jesse Bradley born Nov 1885.
  4. G. C. Bradley born July 1888.

Eliza Frances Bradley (daughter of Absalom Bradley and 2nd wife Marilda Mayberry/Maberry) was born 17 Sep 1865. She died 6 Feb 1940 in Carrollton, Greene Co, IL. She married Joseph Abraham BRADLEY 9 Jan 1887 in Portland, Sumner County, according to family records.

Joseph Abraham Bradley was born 1 Feb 1860 in Portland, Sumner County, TN. He died 1 Apr 1937 in Greene County, IL. His parents were Richard W. (maybe "M") Bradley and Mary J. JOHNSON. Richard's parents were Abram (or Abraham) BRADLEY and Zilpha DORRIS.

Eliza Bradley and Joseph Bradley had the following children:

  1. Gertrude Bradley
  2. Robert Luther Bradley born 1 Oct 1887, in Portland, Sumner Co. TN. He married Sophia Anna Carolina GERLT in Staunton, Macoupin Co, IL.
  3. Eula May Bradley
  4. Charles Richard Bradley
  5. Dudley Bradley
  6. Harold Bruce Bradley
  7. Adda Beth Bradley


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