The Children of Adam and Eve

Bradford, William (1590-1657), one of the pilgrim fathers and American colonial governor and historian, born in AusterField, Yorkshire, England. In 1606 he joined the Brownists, a dissident Protestant sect, and three years later, in search offReedom of worship, went with them to Holland, where he became an apprentice to a silk manufacturer. He sailed on the Mayflower in 1620, and after his arrival in the new world he helped found Plymouth Colony. In April 1621 he succeeded GovernorJohn Carver as chief executive of Plymouth Colony. Except for five years, Bradford served as governor almost continuously from 1621 through 1656, having been reelected 30 times. In 1621 he negotiated a treaty with Massasoit, the chief of theWampanoag Indians. under the treaty, which was vital to the maintenance and growth of the colony, Massasoit disavowed indian claims to the Plymouth area and pledged peace with the colonists. Bradford was a delegate on four occasions to the NewEngland Confederation, of which he was twice elected president. His History of Plimouth Plantation (1856) is the primary source of information about the pilgrims.