Alvah J. Bradstreet

Governor Simon Bradstreet of the early Massachusetts Bay Colony was born in Horbling, Lincolnshire, England, in March 1603.  He was the son of the Rev. Simon Bradstreet, Rector of the local church.  Simon graduated from Emmanuel College and was secured by the local Dudleys to help with the management of the Dudley Estates nearby.  Here he met Anne Dudley, daughter of Thomas Dudley.  She afterward became his wife and was noted as the first poetess of the New World.  Thomas Dudley decided to emigrate to America.  The young folks were married and they remained behind.  Very soon, Thomas Dudley was elected Governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony.  

Soon afterward, having business with the Mother Country, Thomas dispatched John Winthrop to England to attend to it, and asked him to do all in his power to induce the young folks to come back with him to America. Winthrop was successful and they all came back with him in the good ship "Arbella" in 1630.  

Governor Dudley at once took Simon Bradstreet into his office at the State House, in Boston, as clerk and advisor.  This position he held with the succeeding Governors for some forty years.  

Then Simon Bradstreet was elected Governor for a seven-year term.  At the close of three years, however, Sir Edmund Andros arrived here, having been dispatched to take the governorship.  He was high-handed and, after a few months, the Colonists bundled him on board a ship and sent him back to England, and Simon Bradstreet again took the Governor's chair.

Governor Bradstreet had a great flair for real estate, coming, no doubt, from his experience with the Dudley Estates in England.  Hearing of the grant given John Endicott, Simon Bradstreet asked for a similar grant. This was given him, starting at the Endicott grant.  It contained 500 acres running toward Topsfield and ending at Bradstreet Hill.  

Of this grant he made no use but, later on, gave it to his son John, who married the Topsfield minister's daughter.  John built the first house on Bradstreet Hill, and it was the home of John's family for several generations. Simon Bradstreet, with his associates, bought from the Indians a large tract of land in the upper part of the County, for ten dollars, an old coat and some small trinkets.  

Simon took this North Andover section and soon built himself a permanent home, moving in when the first son was one year old.  Here the seven other children were born.  Anne, his wife, died in 1672 and Simon moved to Salem and, after four years, married the daughter of Emmanuel Downing, - a niece of Governor Winthrop.  

In Massachusetts some very desirable property was opened just north of Northampton, selling for five dollars per acre.  Simon bought 500 acres but, about that time, the Hartford Connecticut Colony made a split and a large contingent came up the River and took a fancy to the Bradstreet property. They offered Simon what he paid for the land, plus a gift of the next five hundred acres, and the deal went through.  So Simon had acquired a good portion of the town of Hatfield in which the Bradstreet Post office was located for many years.

Simon Bradstreet was a mild-mannered, efficient diplomat, always counseling moderation between the Colonies and the Mother Country. However, he put himself with determination at the head of the revolt against Andros.  He was the first to sign a proclamation which was the first declaration of independence against England.

This act of Bradstreet's brought him great public honor.  He shares with George Washington the unique distinction of deposing and sending overseas a royally appointed Governor of the Colonies.  Cotton Mather referred to him as the "Nestor" Governor of New England.  While Governor, he opposed the witchcraft delusion in Salem.  He saved the life of one Mrs. Morse, who was sentenced to be hung as a witch, by not allowing the sentence to be carried out.  

Soon after his retirement to private life in Salem, trouble again broke out with the Indians at Fort Royal in Canada.  The Ex-Governor, although ninety year of age, enlisted some troops and marched with them to the Fort and captured it.  

After this, he spent four years in retirement at his Salem home, the present site of Essex Institute.  He died in 1697 in his ninety-fourth year.  His tomb, in the Charles St. Cemetery, at Salem, was provided by the General Court, and the following Latin inscription may still be read: - Translated "Gentleman and soldier, senator in the Colony of Massachusetts from 1630 to 1673.  Then until 1679 Deputy Governor, and finally, until 1686 Governor of the Colony by the united and unchanging vote of the people.  In judgment he was farsighted as Lyceus. Wealth and honor had for him no allurement.  He kept an even balance between the authority of the King and the liberty of the people. Of temperate judgment in religion, of blameless life, he overcame the world and left it March 27, 1697 in the third year of King William the Ninth, and the ninety-fourth year of his age."

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