BRADFORD-L Archives

From: John Paul Bradford <>
Subject: A breakthrough!
Date: Sat, 08 Jan 2000 13:17:10 -0600

Just thought I would share a breakthrough on my Bradford line. My family
came to Ontario with my grandfather in 1912 so it was easy to find our
place of origin in England. This was Islington in the north of London
(kind of central now). We traced ourselves back through two generations
there and then found through the censuses that my gg grandfather was
born in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire. My father always figured
Yorkshire because of the concentration of Bradford there or else in the
west country (from family stories which turned out correct but were not
the Bradfords but another line). I found two more generations in
Sawbridgeworth but then the line ran dry. I was back as far as Thomas
Bradford who appears in a marriage there in 1782. Recently I found him
on a militia list and that gave us a better estimate of his age. This
info led us a parish over, called Little Hadham, where I am proud as
punch to report that I am back two more generations - and then
everything runs dry again! I am now back to a Thomas Bradford and
Susanna Granger who were married in the 1730's in Little Hadham. The
Grangers are there for two more generations back finally getting me into
the 1600's! Unfortunately, the Bradford line is stuck again. Still, how
exciting.
On another note, this observation is interesting. It appears that the
following pattern is common in the family: We moved to Little Hadham
from heaven knows where and stayed there 2 generations. Then off to
Sawbridgeworth for two generations. Then to Islington, 2 generations,
then Belleville, Ontario, 2 generations and my children are all being
born in Barrie, Ontario... the first of two generations?

God Bless

John Paul Bradford

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• A breakthrough! by John Paul Bradford <>