Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1841, by HARPER & BROTHERS,

In the Clerk's Office of the Southern District of New-York.

AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY.

XIX. WILLIAM BRADFORD.

WILLIAM BRADFORD was born in 1588, at Ansterfield, an obscure village in the north of England. His parents dying when he was young, he was educated, first by his grand-parents, and afterward by his uncles, in the practice of agriculture. His paternal inheritance was considerable, but he had no other learning than such as generally falls to the share of the children of husbandmen.

At twelve years of age his mind became seriously impressed by Divine truth in reading the Scriptures, and, as he increased in years, a native firmness enabled him to vindicate his opinions against opposition. Being stigmatized as a Separatist, he was obliged to bear the frowns of his relatives and the scoff of his neighbours; but nothing could divert or intimidate him from attending on the ministry of Mr. Richard Clifton, and connect* Magnalia, ii., 3.

ing himself with the church over which he and Mr. Robinson presided.

When he was eighteen years old he joined in their attempt to go over to Holland, and was one of the seven who were imprisoned at Boston, in Lincolnshire, as has already been related in the Life of Robinson; but he was soon liberated on account of his youth. He was also one of those who the next year fled from Grimsby Common, when part of the company went to sea and part were taken by the pursuivants.*

After some time he went over to Zealand, through various difficulties, and was no sooner set on shore than a malicious passenger in the same vessel accused him before the Dutch magistrates as a fugitive from England. But, when they understood the cause of his emigration, they gave him protection, and permission to join his brethren at Amsterdam.

It being impossible for him to prosecute agriculture in Holland, he was obliged to betake himself to some other business; and, being then under age, he put himself as an

* [See Hutchinson's History of Massachusetts, ii., Appendix. Hazard, i., 350, &c. Bradford's own narration, which we have only in fragments, yet of great interest and value, is the source of all the information we have of these events.-H.]