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Bradford, Massachusetts, USA* - Bradford, Mass., Bradford Academy.  Bradford College operated in the part of Haverhill, Massachusetts that was once the town of Bradford. Founded i

Bradford, Essex, MA

Bradford was originally part of the town of Rowley, and was called "Rowley on the Merrimack", "Rowley Village by the Merrimack", "Merrimac Lands", or just "Merrimack" before the name was changed to Bradford at a town meeting held January 7, 1672. It was named in memory of Bradford in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England, from which some of the settlers had emigrated, and first paid colonial tax on October 13, 1675. The east parish of Bradford (established in 1726) separated in 1850 and was incorporated as the town of Groveland on March 8, 1850. The remaining west part of Bradford was annexed to the city of Haverhill in 1897. wikipedia



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Bradford Nostalgia: Vintage Photos, Ads, and Postcards


Bradford, Massachusetts, USA*

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Bradford, Mass., Bradford Academy.

"Bradford College operated in the part of Haverhill, Massachusetts that was once the town of Bradford. Founded in 1803, Bradford College began as Bradford Academy, one of New England's earliest coeducational institutions. In 1836 Bradford chose to devote itself exclusively to the education of women. By 1932, the school had grown from a secondary school and became Bradford Junior College. In 1971 Bradford was authorized to grant bachelor's degrees. The new Bradford College began admitting men again that same year. Bradford College focused on the creative arts and social sciences with one of the oldest alumni associations in the country...

After 197 years, Bradford College was closed in 2000..." wikipedia

Bradford, Massachusetts, USA*

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People's Methodist Church, Chadwick St., Bradford, Mass.

Bradford, Massachusetts, USA*

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Twin Islands Lake Tupelo Academy Grove, Bradford, Mass.

Discover Bradford: History, News, Travel, and Stories

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  • 1675 - Bradford is incorporated

  • 1839 - Bradford
    Bradford, Massachusetts
    Essex county. This is a very pleasant town on the south side of Merrimack river, and united to Haverhill by a bridge of 650 feet in length. The surface of the town is uneven and the soil various, but much of the land is of a superior quality. Several of the hills exhibit beautiful scenery. Bradford is celebrated for its excellent schools and seminaries of learning. Here are several ponds, good fishing, and a pleasant stream of water. Some bricks are made here, and considerable leather tanned; but the principal manufacture of the place is of boots and shoes, of which, during the year ending April 1, 1837, the value of $381,748 was made. Total amount of manufactures that year, $394,448. Hands employed, 1,096. Incorporated, 1675. Population, 1837, 2275. This town lies 28 miles N. from Boston, 10 W.S.W. from Newburyport, 18 N. by W. from Salem, and about 18 miles N.E. from Lowell. A branch of the Boston and Lowell rail-road passes through Bradford to Haverhill.
    The New England Gazetteer containing descriptions of all the states, counties and towns in New England: also descriptions of the principal mountains, rivers lakes, capes, bays, harbors, islands and fashionable resorts within that territory. Alphabetically arranged. By John Hayward, author of the Columbian Traveller, Religious Creeds, &c. &c. Boston: John Hayward. Boyd & White, Concord, N.H. 1839
  • 1845 - BRADFORD. [Pop. 2,222. Inc. 1675.]
    This place was at first called Merrimack, then Rowley Village, and after its separation from Rowley, in 1673, it was called Bradford after the second governor of Plymouth colony.

    It lies on the south bank of the Merrimack, opposite Haverhill,, with which it is connected by an excellent bridge.

    Shoes are the chief article of manufacture.

    Distance from Salem, 18 miles; from Boston, 30.
    An Elementary Geography for Massachusetts Children by William Bentley Fowle and Asa Fitz, 1845
  • 1854 - Bradford
    Bradford, a post-township of Essex co., Massachusetts, on the S. side of Merrimack river, and on the Boston and Maine railroad, 132 miles N. of Boston. It contains two celebrated academies, one for males, and one for females. Population, 1328.

    Bradford, a village in the above township, opposite to Haverhill, and on the Boston and Maine railroad, where it crosses the Merrimack river.
    A New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States: Giving a Full and Comprehensive Review of the Present Condition, Industry, and Resources of the American Confederacy ... Thomas Baldwin (of Philadelphia.) Joseph Thomas January 1, 1854 Philadelphia : Lippincott, Grambo & Company 1854.
  • News  1870 - At a recent celebration of the Lord's Supper, in Bradford, Mass., the silver goblets used by the church in 1730, 140 years ago, were made use of.

    St Joseph Herald
    Saint Joseph, Michigan
    February 26, 1870
  • News  1883 - BROKEN LEG - Accident at the Paper Mill, Bradford.
    On Thursday afternoon, T. M. Smith of So. Boston, while adjusting an iron crane at the paper mill, Bradford, fell a distance of several feet, breaking his left leg below the knee. The bone was set by Dr. Clark of this city, and the unfortunate man made as comfortable as possible. He was sent home on the 4 o'clock train, accommodations being provided in a parlor car. Mr. Smith was sent up by the Boston Machine Co. to set up some machinery and the accident was due to his won carelessness and not to any fault or omission of the paper mill company. Mr. Smith has a wife at So. Boston.
    Daily Evening Bulletin
    Haverhill, Massachusetts
    October 5, 1883
  • Bradford Massachusetts, 1890
    Bradford is beautifully situated on the right bank of the Merrimack River, in the northwesterly part of Essex County. Its bounds are Haverhill on the north (separated by the river), Groveland on the east, Boxford on the south, and Methuen on the east. Its assessed area is 4,546 acres, including 578 acres of woodland. It is about thirty miles north by northwest of Boston on the Boston and Maine Railroad, which has a branch on both the east and west sides, with Ward Hill and Bradford as stations. Little Pond, in the southerly part of the town, sends a small tributary to the Merrimack. The land is handsomely diversified by hill and valley. The soil is generally productive, and the climate healthful. The 122 farms, in 1885, yielded products to the value of $108,204. There were twenty-five manufactories of different kinds,— boots and shoes, hats and other straw goods, leather, paper goods, food preparations and others, the aggregate value of these being $472,947. The valuation, in 1888,... Read MORE...

  • 1895 - Bradford
    Bradford, a post-village of £ township, Essex co, Mass, on the right bank of the Merrimac River, opposite Haverhill, and on the Boston & Maine Railroad, 32 miles N. of Boston, at the junction of the Haverhill Branch of the Newburyport & Danvers Railroad. A railroad bridge across the river connects it with Haverhill City. It contains the Bradford Academy, a high school, and a church. Pop of the township in 1890, 3720.
    Lippincott's Gazetteer of the World: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World Containing Notices of Over One Hundred and Twenty-five Thousand Places ... Joseph Thomas January 1, 1895 J.B. Lippincott
  • 1897 - Bradford becomes part of Haverhill
    On January 1, 1897, Bradford joined the City of Haverhill.
    wikipedia.org
  • 1916
    Bradford, Essex oo., Mass. See Haverhill.

    Haverhill, a city of Essex co., Mass., situated on the left or N". bank of the Merrimac River, about 18 miles below Lowell. It is 33 miles N. of Boston by the Boston and Maine R. The city is united with Bradford by bridge. Haverhill contains a number of public buildings, and has extensive manufactures of boots and shoes, hats, caps, bricks, and flannel. The manufacture of boots and shoes is the principal business of the place, and employs nearly 10,000 men and women. The river is navigable to this town, which is nearly 18 miles from the ocean. Pop. in 1890, 27,415 ; in 1900, 37,174. The poet Whittier was born near here in 1807, and was a student at the Haverhill Academy.
    Lippincotts New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns, Resorts, Islands, Rivers, Mountains, Seas, Lakes, Etc., in Every Portion of the Globe, Part 1 Angelo Heilprin Louis Heilprin - January 1, 1916 J.B. Lippincott - Publisher

Discover Your Roots: Bradford Ancestry

Ancestors Who Were Born or Died in Bradford, Massachusetts, USA*

We currently have information about ancestors who were born or died in Bradford.

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male ancestorThomas HARDY (1605, , England (United Kingdom) - 4 January 1678, Bradford, Massachusetts, USA*)
male ancestorRobert HAZELTINE (HASELTINE) (2 January 1609, Biddeford, Devon, England - 27 August 1674, Bradford, Massachusetts, USA*)
female ancestorLydia UNKNOWN (1613, , England (United Kingdom) - 1 May 1689, Bradford, Massachusetts, USA*)
female ancestorAnn WOOD (2 January 1618, London, England - 26 July 1684, Bradford, Massachusetts, USA*)
female ancestorElizabeth NORTHEND (1618, , England (United Kingdom) - 17 November 1694, Bradford, Massachusetts, USA*)
male ancestorPhilip ATWOOD (1620, , England (United Kingdom) - 1 February 1700, Bradford, Massachusetts, USA*)
female ancestorElizabeth SCOTT (18 November 1623, Rattlesden, Suffolk, England - 7 May 1696, Bradford, Massachusetts, USA*)
female ancestorMary SAWYER (1628, Bradford, Massachusetts, USA* - 13 December 1704, Bradford, Massachusetts, USA*)
male ancestorThomas KIMBALL (1633, Rattlesden, Suffolk, England - 3 May 1676, Bradford, Massachusetts, USA*)

Ancestors Who Were Married in Bradford, Massachusetts, USA*

We currently have information about ancestors who were married in Bradford.

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male ancestorDavid HAZELTINE (HASELTINE) (20 December 1645 - 31 August 1717) and female ancestorMary JEWETT (18 December 1646 - 1728) married 26 September 1668
male ancestorEdmund JAMES (7 March 1647 - 14 September 1682) and female ancestorMary MITCHELL (31 August 1649 - 1673) married 23 June 1669
male ancestorJohn JACKSON III (June 3, 1660 - 1746) and female ancestorSarah PALLMER (1670 - 1759) married 1688
male ancestorSamuel HUNT (4 February 1679 - 13 October 1738) and female ancestorAnn HAZELTINE (4 October 1677 - 16 July 1757) married 31 March 1709
male ancestorMoses DAY (19 March 1706 - 17 March 1753) and female ancestorRuth HASELTINE (5 February 1710 - 9 March 1753) married 11 April 1731
male ancestorJonathan MOULTON (16 February 1717 - 1771) and female ancestorSarah BURBANK (7 August 1722 - 22 February 1807) married 21 May 1741
male ancestorSolomon KIMBALL (19 January 1727 - 1766) and female ancestorMartha GRAVES (1731 - 1754) married 8 November 1750
male ancestorThomas PERKINS (2 April 1758 - 24 November 1830) and female ancestorMary BALCH (1757 - ) married 29 March 1786
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