Leiden from 1612
Mayflower 1620: William & Dorothy
Son John followed later

William Bradford & Dorothy May

A house deed, a citizenship entry and two marriage records place William and Dorothy inside Leiden's civic life.

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William BradfordOpen storyClose story7 records · translated

The story in the records

A house, a trade and a place in the city

The Leiden records first catch William Bradford in the housing market. On 2 March 1612 he bought a newly built house on the Achtergracht for 2,100 guilders. Four weeks later he entered Leiden's citizenship register.

Marriage and citizenship records describe him first as a fustian weaver and later as a serge weaver. He appeared for other English residents at banns and stood surety when Samuel Lee became a citizen.

In 1619 William sold the Achtergracht house to Jan des Obrys. A final Leiden authorisation from July 1620 concerns the first mortgage instalment still owed to him.

Names in the recordsWilliam Bradford · Willem Bradtfort · William Kadfort
Recorded asEnglishman · citizen · fustian weaver · serge weaver · owner
Places in LeidenAchtergracht · Marendorp · Paradijssteeg · Bouwenlouwensteeg
Record span2 March 1612–24 July 1620
Purchase of a new house on the Achtergracht1 scanOpen document and translationClose document
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Complete English translation

We, Andries Jaspersz van Vesanevelt and Master Clemens van Baersdorp, aldermen of Leiden, certify that William Bradford, Englishman, appeared before us and declared that he had bought from Laurys van Dale, mason, a newly built house and yard in this city on the north side of the Achtergracht behind Marendorp, between the Paradijssteeg and Bouwenlouwensteeg. It was bounded on the east by Frans Joostensz, tawer, on the west by the seller himself, and extended from the Achtergracht to the property of Frans Joostensz.

Besides an annual ground rent of seven stuivers, with or without holding charge, left for Bradford to pay, he acknowledged owing Laurys van Dale 2,100 guilders of forty groten each. Bradford and Roger Wilson, an English baker who appeared as surety and principal debtor after waiving the legal benefits of order and execution, promised to pay 600 guilders on 1 May 1612 and thereafter 150 guilders each year, beginning on 1 May 1613, until the remaining 1,500 guilders had been paid in full.

They promised on their honour, in place of an oath, to make every payment in full without deduction for taxes, assessments or contributions, present or future, and expressly waived any benefit of measures allowing such deductions. Bradford specially pledged the house and yard; both men generally pledged all their present and future movable and immovable goods. Bradford promised to release Roger Wilson from the suretyship and keep him free from loss.

Done in good faith and confirmed with our seals on 2 March 1612. Signed J. Swanenburch and sealed. In the margin: this deed was cancelled at the secretary's office after William Bradford showed that it had been paid; the registration was therefore struck through on 1 April 1620.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

Read the original Dutch transcription

Wij Andries Jaspers zoon van Vesanenvelt ende meester Clemens van Baersdorp schepenen in Leyden, oirconden dat voor ons gecomen ende verscheenen es Willem Bradford Engelsman, verclarende gecoft te hebben jegens Laurys van Dale metselaer, een nieuwt gebout huys ende erve staende ende geleegen binnen deser stede aen de noortsijde van de achtergrafte die lopende es achter Marendorp tusschen de Paradijs ende Bouwenlouwe stege, belent ende belegen hebbende aen d’een sijde ten oosten Frans Joostenszoon zeemtouwer ende aen d’ander sijde ten westen der vercoper voornoemt zelfs streckende voor van de achtergrafte voorseyd tot achter aen Frans Joostenszoon voornoemt, ende bekende hij comparant uyt zaecke der zelver cope boven den opstal van zeven stuvers ‘t sjaers pacht met off zonder houde (op ’t voorseyde huys ende erve t’ zijnen comparants laste gelaeten) de voornoemde Laurys van Daele schuldich te wesen een somme van twee duysent een hondert gulden van XL grooten ’t stuck de welcke hij comparant, mitsgaders Rogier Wiltson backer mede Engelsman (die als penninghborge ende principael onder vertichtinge van ’t beneficie ordinis et excussionis, daer van hij hem ten vollen hielt onderrecht, mede voor ons schepenen voorseyd compareerde, gelovende te betaelen in deser vougen te weeten met zeshondert der voorseyde guldens op meijedage eerstcomende deses jaers XVIc twaelff gereedt, ende voorts met hondert ende vijftich gelijcke guldens ’t sjaers meijedage anno XVIc derthien ‘t eerst geduyrende sulcx van jaere te jaere ter volre betalinge toe van de voorseyde Ic gulden. Belovende sij comparanten voorts bij eere ende vronicheyt in plaetse van eede, alle de voorseyde penningen te sullen betaelen vrijs gelts sonder enige deductie off afbreck ‘t zij van beeden, subventien, schattingen van verpondingen ofte andere contributien van Ce, Le, XXe, Xe meerder off minder penningen hoe die oock soude mogen werden genomt ende bij wie die alreede innegestelt ende ommegeslagen sijn off sullen werden, alwaer ’t oock sulcx dat placcate off andersins verclaert werde dat men op dese ende gelijcke cooppenningen cortinge ende afslach soude mogen doen ende moeten lijden van alle voordeel ende proffijt van dien sij comparanten wel uytdruckelijcken renunchieerden ende afstant dede mitsdesen hier onder verbindende eerst de voornoemde Willem Bradford specialijcken ‘t voorseyde huys ende erve. Ende voorts sij beyde comparanten generalijcken alle heurlieder respective goederen roerende, onroerende, jegenwoordige ende toecomende egeen van dien uytgesondert, des zoo belooffde de voorseyde Willem Bradtford sijnen voornoemde borgen ter zaecke van de voorgeroerde borchtochte t’ ontheffen ende schadeloos te houden onder gelijck verbandt als voren. Ende dit alles ter goeder trouwen ende zonder argelist. In oirconden desen met onsen zegelen bevesticht opten tweden martij anno XVIc ende twaelff. Was ondertekend J. Swanenburch ende besegelt etcetera. In de marge: Desen brieff is ter secretarie gecasseert ende voldaen verthoont bij Willem Bradtford ende dienvolgens ’t geregestreerde alhier geroijeert ende doorgedaen opten Ie aprilis 1620

Source: View this record · record group 0508 · call no. 69L · folio 40v

Genealogical reading

What this record establishes

Established
  • William Bradford bought a newly built Leiden house for 2,100 guilders; Roger Wilson stood surety.
Not established alone
  • The deed does not state that Dorothy lived in the house.
William becomes a citizen of Leiden1 scanOpen document and translationClose document
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William Bradford, Englishman. Roger Wilson and William Lisle stood surety. Entered as a citizen on 30 March 1612.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

Read the original Dutch transcription

Willem Bradtfort Engelsman, es op de getuychnisse en borchtochte van Rogier Wiltzon ende Willem Lisle aengenomen op den XXXen marty anno 1612 voor Vesanevelt ende Baersdorp schepenen. In de marge: ontfangen III libra en IIII schellingen.

Source: View this record · record group 0501A · call no. 1267 · folio 61

Genealogical reading

What this record establishes

Established
  • William Bradford was entered as an English citizen of Leiden with Roger Wilson and William Lisle as sureties.
Not established alone
  • Citizenship registration does not give William a birth date.
Witness at the Collins–Pettinger marriage banns1 scanOpen document and translationClose document
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Entered on 1 November 1613. Henry Collins, cotton weaver from England and widower of Margaret Grimsdike, accompanied by Edward Southworth and William Bradford, his acquaintances; with Dorothy Pettinger, spinster from Morton in England, accompanied by Elizabeth Pettinger, her sister, and Ann Ross, her acquaintance.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

Read the original Dutch transcription

Aengeteykent den Ien Novembris 1613 ‘t Ie den 2.11.1613 ‘t IIe den 9.11.1613 ‘t IIIe den 16.11.1613 zyn getrout voor Andries Jaspersz van Vesanevelt ende Mr Johan Goes schepenen dezen XXsten November XVIc ende derthien. Henrick Crallens, bombasynwercker uyt Engelandt wonende tot Amsterdam weduenaer van Margriete Grimsdeyts, vergeselschapt met Eduwaert Sudwaert ende Willem Bredfort zyn bekenden met Dorethea Pettinger, jongedochter van Moortel in Engelant vergeselschapt met Elysabeth Pettinger haer zuster ende Anna Ras haer bekende.

Source: View this record · record group 1004 · call no. 198 · folio 24v

Genealogical reading

What this record establishes

Established
  • William Bradford accompanied Henry Collins as an acquaintance of the groom.
Not established alone
  • The record does not state a family relationship with the couple.
Witness at the Fletcher–Denby marriage banns1 scanOpen document and translationClose document
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Entered on the last day of November 1613. Moses Fletcher, blacksmith from England and widower of Mary Evans, accompanied by William Lisle and William Bradford, his acquaintances; with Sarah Denby, widow of William Denby and also from England, accompanied by Sarah Priest and Margaret Savory, her acquaintances.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

Read the original Dutch transcription

Aengeteyckent den XXXen Novembris 1613 ‘t Ie den 7.12.1613 ‘t IIe den 14.12.1613 ‘t IIIe den 21.12.1613 zyn getrout voor Andries Jaspersz van Vesanevelt ende Mr Johan Goes schepenen desen XXIen decembris 1613. Moyses Fletsjaer, smith, uyt Engelant, weduenaer van Maria Evyns, vergeselschapt met Willem Lysle ende Willem Bredtfort zyn bekende met Sara Dinbay, mede uyt Engelant, wedue van Willem Dinbay, vergeselschapt met Sara Prist ende Margriete Savry, haer bekenden.

Source: View this record · record group 1004 · call no. 198 · folio 25

Genealogical reading

What this record establishes

Established
  • William Bradford and William Lisle accompanied Moses Fletcher.
Not established alone
  • The banns do not define William Bradford's relationship with the groom.
Surety for Samuel Lee's citizenship1 scanOpen document and translationClose document
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Samuel Lee, English hatter. Roger Wilson and William Bradford, both serge weavers, stood surety. Entered as a citizen on 19 October 1615.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

Read the original Dutch transcription

Samuel Lee hoedemaecker uyt Engelant es opte getuychnisse ende borchticht van Rogier Wiltson saeywercker ende Willem Braetfort mede saeywercker als poorter aengenomen opten XIXen Octobris 1615 voor Thorenvliet ende Codijck schepenen In de marge: Ontfangen III gulden IIII stuyvers

Source: View this record · record group 0501A · call no. 1267 · folio 90v

Genealogical reading

What this record establishes

Established
  • William Bradford is described as a serge weaver and stood surety for Samuel Lee.
Not established alone
  • The entry does not say that Bradford and Lee worked together.
Sale of the Achtergracht house2 scansOpen document and translationClose document
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We, Jacob Willemsz Verboom and Doctor Gerrit van Lantschot, aldermen of Leiden, certify that William Bradford, serge weaver, appeared before us. For himself and his heirs he acknowledged that he had sold and conveyed to Jan des Obrys, skinner, a house and yard on the north side of the Achtergracht between the Paradijssteeg and Bouwenlouwensteeg.

On the east it adjoined Frans Joostensz, tawer, with a shared side wall for the length of the house and then Bradford's own wall. On the west it adjoined Jan Weyns, cloth worker, with a shared side wall and shared lead gutter. The property extended from the Achtergracht to Frans Joostensz and was conveyed as built, used and occupied.

The property was charged with seven stuivers annual ground rent, part of a rent of twenty-eight stuivers benefiting Leiden's poor, and with an annuity of twenty-five guilders a year payable to Jan van Griecken the elder, goldsmith. These charges passed to the buyer from 1 May 1619. The whole property remained specially liable for the full ground rent.

The well on the boundary between this house and Jan Weyns's house was to remain common and be used and maintained jointly. The drain beneath Weyns's house running to the Achtergracht, used for privy and waste water, was likewise common and had to be repaired and cleaned by both owners and their successors at equal cost. The further conditions of the earlier deed attached to this instrument remained in force.

Bradford and William Jepson, carpenter, who appeared as surety and principal debtor after waiving the legal benefits of order and execution, promised to warrant the property against every further charge placed on it during Bradford's ownership. They pledged all their present and future movable and immovable goods, and Bradford promised to keep Jepson free from loss.

Bradford acknowledged full satisfaction for the sale by a mortgage deed for 1,120 guilders, besides the stated charges: 100 guilders payable immediately, then 100 guilders each year, with twenty guilders in the final year, beginning in May 1620. Confirmed with our seals on 19 April 1619. Signed J. Swanenburch and sealed.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

Read the original Dutch transcription

Wij, Jacob Willemsz. Verboom ende doctor Gerrit van Lantschot, schepenen in Leyden, oirconden dat voor ons gecomen ende verschenen es Willem Bradtfort, saeywercker. Ende bekende voor hem ende zijnen erven vercoft te hebben ende opdrouch dienvolgende mitsdesen aen ende ten behouve van Jan des Obrys, velleploter, een huys ende erve, staende ende gelegen binnen dezer stede aen de noortzijde van de Achtergrafte, tusschen de Paradijs- ende Bouwenlouwenstegen, belegen hebbende aen d’een zijde ten oosten Frans Joostensz., zeemtouwer, met een gemeene zijtmuyr, zo verre deze huysinge strect, ende daeraen met een eygen muyr, voorts deurgaende, ende aen d’ander zijde ten westen Jan Weyns, laeckenwercker, deurgaende met een gemeene zijtmuyr ende een gemeene loden goote daerop gelegen, streckende voor van de strate van de Achtergrafte voors. tot achter aen de voorn. Frans Joostensz., al ende zulcx ‘t voors. huys jegenwoordich getimmert ende gemaect staet, mitsgaders gebruyct ende bewoont wert, mitte belastinge eerst van een pacht met off zonder houde van zeven stuvers tsjaers, wezende een gedeelte van een pacht van achtendetwintich stuvers tsjaers, aencomende de Huysarmen dezer stede. Ende noch van een rente van vijffentwintich guldens van 40 grooten ‘t stuck tsjaers, toecomende Jan van Griecken d’oude, goutsmith, welcke pachte ende rente respective tot laste van den coper zullen beginnen te lopen Meyedage anno 1600endenegentien ende voorts vrij, zonder eenige lasten meer. Dan zal de coper moeten gedogen dat ‘t voors. huys ende erve voor de voors. geheele pachte specialicken zal blijven verbonden. Vorder mitte naervolgende condiciën als eerst dat de bornputte tusschen ende op ‘t scheyt van de erven van dit vercofte huys ende van ‘t huys van de voorn. Jan Weyns, staende tusschen desen coper ende dezelve Jan Weyns, gemeen wezen ende voor zulcx gebruyckt ende onderhouden werden zal. Ten tweeden dat tusschen dezen coper ende de voorn. Jan Weyns mede gemeen zijn zal de goote, leggende onder de huysinge van de voorn. Jan Weyns ende lopende off losende tot in de Achtergrafte, omme bij hen gebruyckt te werden ten dienste van hun respective secreet- ende waterlosingen, mits dat dezelve goote bij hen ende hunne naecommers ten eewigen dagen bij verstoppinge, vervuylinge off anderssins tot gemeene costen halff ende halff in behoorlicke reparatie zal moeten werden onderhouden. Ende ten derden met alzulcke vordere condiciën, voorwaerden ende waringe als begrepen staen in de oude waerbrieve, daerop deze jegenwoordige getransfixeert ende deursteecken es, die hij comparant den coper mitsdesen overgaff met alle ‘t recht ende aenseggen vandien ende hij comparant, mitsgaders Willem Jepsen, timmerman, die als waerborge ende mede als principael voor ons, schepenen voors., compareerde onder de vertichtinge van ‘t beneficie ordinis et excussionis, daervan hij hem ten vollen hielt onderrecht, geloveden daerbeneffens ende zulcx met ende onder de voors. lasten ende voorwaerden ‘t voors. huys ende erve te vrijen ende waren van allen vorder commer ende opstal, daermede ‘tzelve bij de voorn. Willem Bradtfort geduyrende den tijt zijns eygendoms belast ofte beswaert zoude mogen zijn, onder verbant generalicken van alle heurlieder respective goeden, roerende, onroerende, jegenwoordige ende toecomende, egeen uytgesondert, des zo belooffde de voorn. Willem Bradtfort zijnen voors. borge in dezen ter zaecke van de voors. borchtochte t’ontheffen ende schadeloos te houden, onder gelijck verbant als boven. Voorts zo bekende dezelve Willem Bratfort hem ter zaecke van de voors. vercopinge ende opdrachte al, wel ende ten vollen vernoucht, voldaen ende betaelt te zijn, den lesten penning mitten eersten, ende dat met een custingbrieff, innehoudende boven d’indemnité der voors. lasten, een somme van elffhondertendetwintich guldens, munte voors., ende te betalen staende vrijs gelts met hondert der vers. guldens gereet ende voorts met gelijcke hondert guldens tsjaers, uytbescheyden ‘t leste jaer twintich guldens, Meye 1600endetwintich ‘t eerste. In oirconden dezen met onsen zegelen bevesticht opten negentienden aprilis des jaers sestienhondertendenegentien. Ende was geteyckent: J. Swanenburch, besegelt etc.

Source: View this record · record group 0508 · call no. 67VV · folio 195

Genealogical reading

What this record establishes

Established
  • William sold the same Achtergracht property to Jan des Obrys and financed most of the price by mortgage.
Not established alone
  • The deed does not state why William sold the house.
Collection of the first mortgage instalment1 scanOpen document and translationClose document
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On 24 July 1620 William Bradford, serge weaver in Leiden, appeared before the notary and witnesses named below. He specially appointed and authorised William Jepson, carpenter, and John Keble, wool comber, jointly and each separately, to demand and receive in his name from Jan des Obrys, skinner, one hundred Carolus guilders. This sum, due on the preceding 1 May, belonged to Bradford as one year's mortgage instalment.

They were authorised to give a receipt, to do everything Bradford could have done in person, and, in default of payment, to use legal remedies and appoint one or more attorneys with power of substitution. Done on 24 July 1620 in the presence of Andries Hendriksz van Brevelt, serge merchant, and Adriaan Adriaansz Schaeck, the notary's clerk. Signed William Bradford, A. A. Schaeck, Andries Hendriksz van Brevelt and P. C. van Rhijn, notary public.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

Read the original Dutch transcription

24e july 1620. Compareerde voor mij notaris ende getuygen onder genomineert, Willem Braedtfort, saywercker binnen deser stede, ende heeft specialijcken geconstitueert ende machtich gemaeckt, gelijck hij doet bij desen, Willem Jepson, timmerman, ende Jan Keebell, wollecammer, gevende henluyden ende elcx bijsonder volcomen last, macht ende bevel omme in den naeme ende vanwegen hem comparant t’ innen, maenen, beuren ende ontfangen van Jan des Obrys, vellebloter, de somme van hondert Carolusguldens, verschenen Meydaege voorleden, hem comparant competerende over een jaer custings, van heuren ontfanck quitantie te geven ende voorts generalijcken in desen alles te doene dat hij comparant, present zijnde, zelffs zoude cunnen ende mogen doen, oock mede bij faulte van betalinge met middelen van justitie te behelpen, tot dien eynde een off meer procureurs ad lites te volmachtigen in omnibus cum potestate substituendi in communi forma. Belovende hij comparant etc. Behoudens etc. Aldus gedaen up den 24e july anno 1620 ter presentie van Andries Henricxz. van Brevelt, saytrapier, ende Arien Ariensz. Schaeck, mijn clerck, als getuygen etc. William Bradford A. Arensz. Schaeck 1620 Andryes Heyndryckx van Brevelt Mij jegenwoordich P.C. van Rhijn notaris publicus subscripsit 1620

Source: View this record · record group 0506 · call no. 206 · folio 142

Genealogical reading

What this record establishes

Established
  • William authorised William Jepson and John Keble to collect 100 guilders due from Jan des Obrys.
Not established alone
  • The authorisation does not record whether the money was collected.
Dorothy Bradford (née May)Open storyClose story2 records · translated

The story in the records

Two precise appearances in the marriage register

Dorothy May enters the Leiden record on 15 November 1613, when her banns with William Bradford were registered. The clerk gave Wisbech as her English place of origin and noted that the couple did not appear in person; an attestation was submitted on her behalf.

In May 1616 she appears again as Dorothy Bradford, née May. This time she accompanied Elizabeth Nicolas at the bride's marriage banns. These two entries establish her name and social presence without supplying an age or Leiden address.

Names in the recordsDorothy May · Dorethea May · Dorothy Bradford
Recorded asSpinster · bride · acquaintance of the bride
Places in LeidenLeiden; Wisbech named as English origin
Record span15 November 1613–13 May 1616
Marriage banns of William Bradford and Dorothy May1 scanOpen document and translationClose document
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Complete English translation

Entered on 15 November 1613. The first proclamation was on 16 November, the second on 23 November and the third on 30 November, after which an attestation was issued. William Bradford, fustian weaver and bachelor from Austerfield in England, with Dorothy May, spinster from Wisbech in England. They did not appear in person, but an attestation was submitted on her behalf.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

Read the original Dutch transcription

Aengeteyckent den 15en Novembris 1613 ‘t Ie den 16.11.1613 ‘t IIe den 23.11.1613 ‘t IIIe den 30.11.1613 heeft attestatie gelicht. William Kadfort, fusteynwercker jongman van Oosterfeldt in Engelandt met Dorethea May van Witzbuts in Engelandt, jongedochter, zyn zelfs niet gecompareert, maer is van haeren wege attestatie overgelevert.

Source: View this record · record group 1004 · call no. 198 · folio 25

Genealogical reading

What this record establishes

Established
  • The entry names William, his trade and Austerfield origin, and names Dorothy with Wisbech as her origin.
Not established alone
  • The record does not explain why the couple did not appear in person.
Dorothy witnesses the Wilson–Nicolas marriage banns1 scanOpen document and translationClose document
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Complete English translation

Entered on 13 May 1616. Henry Wilson, pump maker and bachelor from Yarmouth in England, accompanied by William Jepson and John Carver, his acquaintances; with Elizabeth Nicolas, spinster, also from Yarmouth, accompanied by Sarah Minter and Dorothy Bradford, her acquaintances.

Translation by Radicae, The Leiden Connection, from the Dutch transcription supplied by Erfgoed Leiden.

Read the original Dutch transcription

Aengeteyckent den XIIIen May 1616 ‘t Ie den 14.5.1616 ‘t IIe den 21.5.1616 ‘t IIIe den 28.5.1616 zyn getrout voor Andries Jaspersz van Vesanevelt ende Frans Adriaensz van Lewen schepenen desen XXVIIIen May 1616. Henrick Wilson, pompmaecker jongman [van] Jermuye in Engelant vergeselschapt met Willem Jepson ende Jan Kerver zyn bekenden, met Lysbeth Claes jongedochter mede van Jermuye in Engelant vergeselschapt met Sara Minther ende Derreke Bretfort haer bekenden.

Source: View this record · record group 1004 · call no. 198 · folio 51

Genealogical reading

What this record establishes

Established
  • Dorothy Bradford, née May, accompanied Elizabeth Nicolas as an acquaintance of the bride.
Not established alone
  • The entry gives neither Dorothy's age nor her address.

Bradford family timeline

Bradford family timeline

  1. William Bradford: A house on the Achtergracht

    William buys a newly built house and yard for 2,100 guilders.

  2. William Bradford: Citizen of Leiden

    Roger Wilson and William Lisle stand surety for his registration.

  3. William & Dorothy: Their marriage banns

    The register names Austerfield and Wisbech as their English places of origin.

  4. Dorothy Bradford: Acquaintance of a bride

    Dorothy accompanies Elizabeth Nicolas at her marriage banns.

  5. William Bradford: The house is sold

    William conveys the Achtergracht property to Jan des Obrys.

  6. William Bradford: A final Leiden authorisation

    He appoints William Jepson and John Keble to collect a mortgage instalment.

Before and after Leiden

Family history beyond the Leiden deeds

Two failed escapes, and a notebook of Hebrew

Bradford was baptised at Austerfield in Yorkshire in March 1589/90. He lost his parents young and was raised by relatives. [Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation]

He also left the fullest account of how the congregation got out of England, and it is his own testimony rather than an official record. In 1607 the group hired a ship at Boston in Lincolnshire; the captain betrayed them, and they were searched, robbed and held in the Guildhall, most being released after about a month. A second attempt near Grimsby in 1608 collapsed when soldiers appeared and the men were separated from the women and children. It explains why the congregation reached Amsterdam in fragments rather than as a body. [Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation]

His will and inventory of 1657 survive in the Plymouth Colony Wills. They list Hebrew books among his possessions; he had taught himself the language late in life, and the notebook in which he practised still exists. [Records of the Colony of New Plymouth]

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