The Minor Family of Somerset

Name Prefix:<NPFX> Governor
Cotton Mather wrote:- He was indeed a person of awell-tempere
d spirit, or else it had been scarce possible for him to have ke
pt the affairs of Plymouth in so good a temper for thirty-seve
n years together...The leader of a people in a wilderness had ne
ed be a Moses; and if a Moses had not led the people of Plymout
h Colony, when this worthy person was their governour, the peopl
e had never with so much unanimity and importunity still calle
d him to lead them....
He was a person for study as well as action;and hence, notwiths
tnding the difficulties through which he had passed in hisyouth
, he attained unto a notable skill in languages...He was also we
ll skilled in History, in Antiquity, and in Philosophy; and fo
r Theology he becameso versed in it, that he was an irrefgragea
ble disputant against the errors,especially those of Ababaptism
, which with trouble he saw rising in his colony...But the crow
n of all was his holy,prayerful,, watchful and fruitful walkwit
h God, wherein he was very exemplary.
Will of William Bradford senir: Deceased May the Ninth 1657 an
d exhibited to the court held att Plymouth June 3d 1657
Mr. William Bradford senir; being weake in body but in prfect m
emoryhaveing Defered the forming of his Will in hopes of havein
g the healp of Mr.Thomas Prence therin; feeling himselfe very w
eake and drawing on to the conclusion of his mortall life spak
e as followeth; I could have Desired abler then myselfe in th
e Desposing of that I have; how my estate is none knowes bette
r then youerselfe, said hee to Liefteneant Southworth; I have De
sposed toJohn and William alreddy theire proportions of land wh
ich they are possessedof;
My Will is that my son Josepth bee made in some sort equall to h
is brethern out of my estate;
My further Will is that my Deare and Loveing wife AlliceBradfor
d shalbee the sole Exequitrix of my estate; and for her future m
aintainance my Will is that my Stocke in the KenneBecke Trad b
e reserved for herComfortable Subsistence as farr as it will ex
tend and soe further in any such way as may bee Judged best fo
r her;
I further equest and appoint my welbeloved Christian ffrinds Mr
. Thomas Prence Captaine Thomas Willett and Lieftenant Thomas So
uithworth to be the Suppervissors for the Desposing of my estat
e according to the prmises Confiding much in theire faithfulnes.
I comend untoyouer Wisdome and Descretions some smale bookes wr
itten by my owne hand to bee Improved as you shall see meet; I
n speciall I Comend to you a little bookewith a blacke cover wh
erin there is a word to Plymouth a word to Boston anda word t
o New England with sundry usefull verses;
These pticulars were expressed by thye said William Bradford Gov
r the 9th May 1657 in the prsence of usThomas Cushman Thomas So
uthworth Nathaniell Morton; whoe were Deposed beforethe court h
eld att Plymouth the 3d of June 1657 to the truth of the abovesa
id Will that it is the last Will and Testament of the abovesai
d Mr. WilliamBradford senir.