Thomas Little (ca 1608-1672) and his wife Anna Warren of Plymouth and Marshfield, Massachusetts

Thomas Little was born about 1608 in England (estimated from his marriage date), but his origins are unknown. He was at Plymouth before 25 March 1633 when he was taxed 18 shillings in Plymouth. [Records of New Plymouth Colony 1:11 (hereafter PCR)] He was taxed the same amount the following year. [PCR 1:28] His estate inventory indicates he was a farmer and a joiner, which was a skilled woodworker. Some descendants state he was a lawyer from Devon, but I have not seen a citation for this. 

Thomas Little married Anna (called Ann in marriage record) Warren on 19 April 1633 at Plymouth. [PCR 1:13; Mayflower Descendant 13:83 (hereafter MD)] 

Anna was born, possibly at Great Amwell, Hertfordshire, about 1612 in England, based on being “aged sixty yeares or thereabouts” in a 6 June 1672 deposition concerning the will of Ralph Chapman. [Wakefield] She was the daughter of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren and his wife Elizabeth Walker. She arrived Plymouth on the ship Anne in August 1623 with her mother and four sisters. 

Thomas and Anna are my 10th great-grandparents on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family. 

Anna and Thomas had nine children, likely born Plymouth, but only Ephraim’s birth was recorded. Boys are in order given in father’s will; girls are in order named in brother Thomas’ will. 

1. Abigail born say 1634; married by about 1656 Josiah Keane [Wakefield]; “my grandfather Josiah Keen married with Abigil Lettle.” [MD 28:5 citing Hezekiah Keen’s account book]
2. Ruth born say 1636; died apparently unmarried after 19 February 1675/6 when named in brother Thomas’ will [MD 4:164 citing Plymouth Colony Probate Records 3:1:165)
3. Hannah born say 1637; married Scituate, Massachusetts, 25 January 1661[/2] Stephen Tilden [PCR 8:29]; she died 13 May 1710 [Scituate VR 2:451]
4. Patience born about 1639 (based on age of 84 at death) [Lincoln]; married Weymouth, Massachusetts, 11 November 1657 Joseph Jones (Thomas Little bequeathed land to “grandson John Jones”) [NEHGR 12:350]; died Hingham, Massachusetts, 25 October 1723 [Hingham VR 1:73]
5. Mercy born say 1645; married Marshfield last of November 1666 John Sawyer [Marshfield VR p. 5 (hereafter MVR)]; she died before John married, second, on 23 [month blank] 1694 Rebecca (Barker) Snow, daughter of Robert Barker and widow of Josiah Snow [MVR p. 19]
6. Isaac born about 1646; died Marshfield 24 Nov 1699 aged about 53 years [MVR p. 388]; married by 1674 Bethia Thomas; died Marshfield 24 Nov 1699 [FindaGrave Memorial ID 25079058]
7. Ephraim born Plymouth 17 May 1650 [PCR 8:10]; married Scituate 22 November 1672 Mary Sturtevant, daughter of Samuel Sturtevant; died Scituate 24 November1717 [Wakefield]
8. Thomas born say 1654; died on 26 March 1676 [The American Genealogist 60:240]
9. Samuel born about 1656 (deposed 18 March 1689/90 aged “thirty three years or thereabouts;” [MD 2:248]; married Marshfield 18 May 1682 Sarah Gray daughter of Edward Gray [MVR 19]; died as Lieut. Samuel Little 16 January 1707 [Vital Records of RI, Bristol County, 6:1-145]

I descend from Patience. 

Thomas and Anna’s son Thomas died fighting in the Battle of Rehoboth during King Philip's War.  He wrote his will in February 1675 and mentions his brothers Isaac, Ephraim and Samuel (Samuel received most of the estate); sisters Ruth, Hannah, Patience, and Mercy; and his mother. [Plymouth Colony Wills 3:165] His sister Abigail had died by this time. 

Thomas purchased a shallop from John Barnes on 9 April 1633 in exchange for one pound of beaver [pelts?] and three ewe goats. [PCR 1:13]

Thomas was in the Plymouth section of the 1643 Plymouth Colony list of men able to bear arms. [Plymouth Colony Records 8:189] He was included in a list of those attending town meeting in Plymouth about 1646. [Plymouth Town Records 1:22 (hereafter PTR) On 26 October 1647 Thomas Little of “the Yele [Eel] River” acknowledged a £20 debt to the court and king. [PCR 2:120] He served on committees to set boundaries and measure allotments. [PCR 1:153 is one example] Thomas served on Plymouth grand jury beginning 8 June 1664. [PCR 4:61]

The family moved to Marshfield in Plymouth Colony before 3 June 1662 when Thomas was appointed constable there. [PCR 4:16]

Thomas was involved in multiple land transactions. 

• Sold his dwelling house and “misted” to Richard Higgins for 21 bushels of corn on 7 October 1633. [PCR 1:16] 
• He made a gift of land from the end of his lot beyond Eel River to his brother-in-law Robert Bartlett to build a house on 28 May 1635. [PCR 1:34] 
• At 7 March 1636/7 court established the land Elizabeth Warren had previously given her sons-in-laws Richard Church, Robert Bartlett and Thomas Little at their marriages to her daughters. [PCR 1:54]
• On 20 March 1636/7 Richard Church, Robert Bartlett and Thomas Little were granted the hay ground they had last year and to take “further supply where they can fynd yt, in place not graunted to others.” [PCR 1:56]
• He was granted 40 acres of land nearer to the end of Mannamett Pond where “he mowed grasse this yeare,” on 7 August 1638. [PCR 1:93]
• On 6 January 1639/40 Thomas Clark was to relinquish his grant of land at Whoop Place, Eel River, excepting eight acres reserved to Thomas Little. Forty acres formerly granted to Thomas Little were to be laid forth to Mr. Thomas Prence, Mr. John Jenney and Josuah Pratt. [PCR 1:138]
• On 6 May 1640 Richard Church, Robert Bartlett, Thomas Little and Mrs. Elizabeth Warren were granted enlargement at the head of their lots to the foot of the Pine Hills. Also Thomas was granted liberty to mow the grass growing about the ponds upon the highway to Sandwich. [PCR 1:152]
• On 4 March 1647 five acres of upland meadow in Plymouth “at a brook commonly called the Indian Brook” were granted to Thomas Little “so long as…himself or any of his posterity shall remain within the limits of the township of Plymouth.” [PTR 1:23-24, 38] On 25 December 1655 the town granted to Thomas Clark “five acres of meadow lying in the same meadow with Thomas Little. Tho[mas] Little’s being first laid out according to his grant in the town book.” [PTR 1:207] In 1664 Jonathan Morey expressed a desire “to have the meadow land granted to him that was sometimes Thomas Little’s being upon the Indian Brook beyond Monnomett Ponds.” [PTR 1:76]
• On 2 August 1652 “Thomas Little sometimes inhabitant of the town of Plymouth,” with the consent of his wife Ann, sold to Richard Foster of Plymouth, planter, “all that his house and land lying and being at the Eelriver in the township of Plymouth aforesaid whereon the said Thomas Little formerly lived.” [MD 1:98-9, citing Plymouth Colony Land Records 2:1:11] Thomas’ mother-in-law Elizabeth (Walker) Warren had deeded him land at Eel River in 1633.
• On 3 June 1662 Thomas Little’s rights to a farm he purchased in Marshfield, formerly belonging to Major William Holmes, were spelled out, noting improvements such as fencing. [PCR 4:16]
• On 3 October 1665 Thomas Little, by virtue of land “he surrendered at Manomett Ponds” and Josias Keane, by virtue of “his great necessity,” were allowed to look for land, and if they found it, the court would grant them one hundred acres each. [PCR 4:110] Perhaps they failed to find unclaimed land, for on 3 October 1665 Mrs. Rachel Davenport, as attorney to her husband Mr. Humphrey Davenport and in her own right as heir of Major William Holmes, sued Little and Keane for £600 for “detaining estate of lands and building on them.” ]PCR 7:126-7] On 6 February 1665/6 Mrs. Rachel Davenport and her arbitrator referred the case against Thomas Little to the determination of the court. [PCR 4:113] and the court replied 1 May 1666 that Little should pay Davenport £14. [PCR 4:119-20] 
• On 29 October 1668 the court registered the claim of “Experience Michell, Henery Sampson, Richard Church and Thomas Little” to a parcel of land at Namassakett Pond and declared that “none shall interpose or deprive them of it until the court purchases it and settles it on them.” [PCR 5:5]

A 7 July 1637 description of land boundaries mentions Mr. Hopkins house down to the fishing point, to Robert Bartlett’s house, east to to Thomas Little’s, east to Mrs. Warren’s, west to Richard Church’s house, west to the common ground. [PCR 1:60] This shows that the lots of land Elizabeth Warren gave to her daughters/sons-in-law were adjoining. I really admire how close-knit these early families were. 

He received the transfer of the indenture of William Taylor, son of carpenter William Taylor of County Cornwall, from Mr. John Atwood on 12 March 1638/9. [Stratton]

Thomas had some education as he served in the office of “Keeper of the Colony of New Plymouth books.” [Anderson, citing Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts No. 1960]

Thomas Little is not found in Plymouth Colony records from about 1652 to 1662. In his deed of 2 August 1652 he is no longer living in Plymouth but where he is living is not divulged. The Weymouth record of Patience Little’s 1657 marriage to Joseph Jones states she is the daughter of Thomas Little of Cambridge, but Thomas isn’t found in published Cambridge records. [Anderson]

Thomas had the ability to annoy neighbors to the point of being brought to court. On 7 February 1664/5 William Shurtliff sued Thomas Little for carrying off trees Shurtliff had cut down. Major Alden and Joseph Beddle were to settle the bounds and Little to return the trees, but final judgment to await the return of the bounds. [PCR 4:79] On 7 March 1664/5 sometime constable William Holmes successfully sued Thomas Little for £5 in damages for misleading Holmes into unjustly attaching the belongings of Nathaniel Winslow. [PCR 7:122-23]

On 9 June 1665 Thomas Little was fined £1 10s “for disclosing grand jury proceedings.” [PCR 4:101, 8:114, 116]

Thomas Little died at Marshfield in March 1671/72; he was buried there 12 March 1671/72. [MVR 1:427 appendix citing NEHGR 8:192] He was in his early- to mid-60s. Some of the original records transcribed in this NEHGR issue have since gone missing. It is believed Thomas was buried at Old Winslow Burying Ground where a cenotaph honors the town’s early settlers including “Thomas Little and his wife Ann.”.

Cenotaph Old Winslow Burying Ground/Thomas and Ann Little source:Findagrave.com

Thomas Little’s will is dated 12 May 1671. [Plymouth County Probate Records 3:1:46; transcribed in MD 4:161-164] He mentions his loving wife but not by name; two eldest sons Isaac and Ephraim, two younger sons Thomas and Samuel; his grandson John Jones; and his servant Sarah Bonney. [MD 4:161] He does not mention his daughters but does bequeath all his cattle to be divided equally among all his children after his wife’s death—presumably the daughters were included in that division. 

Thomas bequeathed housing, land both upland and meadow on both sides of the brook in Marshfield that includes an orchard; another parcel of Marshfield meadow purchased from Thomas Tilden and Morris Trewant; land purchased of John Waterman; land at Nemasket [Middleborough]; Nemasket land purchased from Jacob Mitchell. His grandson John Jones was to have 40 acres out of the land bequeathed to Thomas and Samuel, so Thomas must have owned  considerable acreage. Ephraim was to have the homestead after his mother’s death. He left the dispersal of household moveables to the discretion of his wife. Sarah Bonney [a servant] was to have convenient apparel and a cow at the time of her departure out of service. He signed his will which was witnessed by Anthony Snow and John Carver. 

The will was exhibited at Plymouth Court on 1 July 1672 upon the oaths of Anthony Snow and John Carver.

Inventory of Thomas Little’s estate was taken at Marshfield 4 April 1672 by Anthony Snow, Mark Eames, and Francis Crooker. It was untotaled and did not include real estate. It includes household items such as three featherbeds, table linen, brass, iron, pewter, earthenware, and a churn. There is cattle worth more than £28, a mare, sheep, swine, 30 bushels of corn, spinning wheels, and wool. An indication of his occupation is shown by “new joyners worke unfinnished” valued at £10 3s,  “tools in the shopp,”  and lumber.

Anna Little, widow of Thomas Little of Marshfield, was appointed administrator of his estate on 14 August 1672. [PCR 5:101]

Anna died after 19 February 1676 at Marshfield when she is mentioned in her son Thomas’ will. She is likely buried with her husband.

Sources:

Robert S. Wakefield, Mayflower Families Through Five Generations, Vol. 18, Richard Warren, 1999

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995

Susan Roser, Mayflower Increasings for Three Generations, 1989

Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony: Its History and People 1620-1691, 1986

George Ernest Bowman, The Mayflower Descendant, “Thomas Little’s Will and Inventory, and the Will of His Son Thomas,” 4:161

Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700 

Nathaniel Bradstreet Shurtleff & David Pulsifer, Records of the Colony of New Plymouth in New England, 1865-1861 (referred to in text as PCR with volume and page number)

George Lincoln et al, History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts, 2:387–8 (1893)

Robert Barrow (ca 1641-December 1707) and His Wives Ruth Bonham & Lydia Dunham of Plymouth, Mass.

Robert Barrow/Barrows was born about 1641, probably at Plymouth, the son of John Barrow whose wife’s name is unknown.  [NEHGR 166:125]  It is often claimed that he was born Salem, but genealogist Martin Hollick’s research indicates that was a different man. I haven’t found any indication of what Robert did for a living, so perhaps he was a farmer. That he signed documents with a mark indicates he was illiterate. 

On 28 November 1666 Robert Barrow married Ruth Bonham/Bonum at Plymouth. [Plymouth VR 1:665] Ruth was born about 1646 at Plymouth, the daughter of George and Sarah (Morton) Bonham. I wrote about George and Sarah here. Robert and Ruth are my 9th great-grandparents on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family. 

Children of Robert and Ruth, all presumably born Plymouth [Hollick]:

1. John born about 1667; m. 1st Hannah Briggs; m. 2nd Bethiah King; died 7 October 1720 Plympton

2. Eleazer born 15 September 1669; died 13 December 1669 

3. George born about 1671; m. 1st Patience Simmons; 2nd Anna (Waterman) Ransom; 3rd Hannah/Anna (Ransom) Jackson; died 23 March 1758 Carver

4. Samuel Barrows born about 1673; m. 1st Mercy Coombs and 2nd Joanna (Wood) Smith; died 30 Dec 1755 Middleborough

5. Mehitable born about 1675; m. 1st Adam Wright  [TAG 59:167] and 2nd Deacon John Washburn; died 1754 probably at Kingston

6. Ruth born about 1677; m. John Briggs

I descend from Ruth. 

Ruth (Bonham) Barrow died after 21 Feb 1679, when mentioned in a deed by her father, and before 1684, as Robert had a second wife by this time. [Hollick] She was in her 30s.

Robert married, second, Lydia Dunham, about 1684 [based on birth of first child]. She was born Plymouth about 1656, the daughter of John Dunham. [Williams]

Children of Robert and Lydia (Dunham) Barrow, born Plymouth [Hollick]:

7. Elijah born March 1684/5; died January 1689/90 Plymouth

8. Robert baptized Plymouth 7 April 1689 “Robert, son of Lydia Barrow,” [Plymouth First Church Records, p. 334]; m. Bethiah Ford 25 April 1711 at Plymouth [PVR 14:36]

9. Thankful born 8 December 1692, m. Isaac King

10. Elisha born 16 June 1695; m. 1st Thankful (——); 2nd Nellie Lumbard; died 9 Nov 1767 Rochester

11. Thomas born February 1697; m. Esther Hall 14 June 1721

12. Lydia born 19 March 1699; m. Thomas Branch

Robert also raised Martha Everson who was born about 1664: John Everson placed his daughter Martha with Robert Barrow “to be as his own child” on 29 July 1669. [Plymouth Town Records 1:112] She kept her birth name—Martha Everson married Hugh Briggs, son of John, on 1 March 1682/3. [PCR 8:84]

He is mentioned in his father’s 12 January 1691/2 will, who bequeathed land he bought from Francis Billington to his eldest son Robert. [The Genealogical Advertiser 3:26] “Robert Barrows Senr” made oath to his father’s will at Plymouth on 6 April 1692, signing by his mark. [MD 31:159]

George Bonum of Plymouth on 30 January 1679 deeded a Plymouth homestead and land to his son-in-law Robert Barrows and daughter Ruth Barrow his wife. The land is near the Great Street on the southerly side of town, from the Grist Mill to the north hill. It doesnt seem this transaction includes ownership of the grist mill but I’m unsure. [Plymouth Colony deeds 4:306] Second deed dated 21 February 1679 and mentions Robert and Ruth similarly, deeded them meadow land and a parcel of land at the New Field, bounds are mentioned as land of Mr. John Raynor, Andrew Ringe, widow Sarah Wood, and the Town Common. [Plymouth Colony 4:365] The handwriting in both of these deeds is challenging to decipher.

On 15 June 1695 Jonathan Sparrow of Eastham quitclaimed to George Bonum a house in Plymouth in the tenure of Robert Barrow of Plymouth and also one acre of land adjoining with two barns on it and also six acres of land in the new field. [MD 43:72] George is likely Ruth’s father.

Sometime between 1695 and 1701 Robert and Lydia removed to Falmouth on Cape Cod. It seems odd he would move after living his entire 60 or so years in Plymouth. I haven’t seen an indication of any of their children living there and there are no Barrow/Barrows in the Falmouth Vital Records to 1850.

On 19 September 1701 Robert Barrow deeded land to Joseph Sturtevant as "Robert Barrow, son of John Barrow, late of Plimoth deceased, now resident of Falmouth in ye county of Barnstable.” The sum was six and twenty pounds for his land at Plymouth including an orchard, bounded by land of John Sturtevant, the County Road, land of Nathaniel Southworth, and land of John Gray. Robert signed with his mark. [Plymouth County Deeds 4:68]

On 2 December 1723 John Bryant and James Bryant sold 30 acres of land [in Plympton?] they had purchased from Lydia Barrow and Robert Barrow. It was near the new meeting house by the road from Kingston to Bridgewater. [Plymouth Colony Deeds 17:213, 39:75]

Robert and Lydia were living again in Plymouth when Robert died in December 1707.

Robert died at Plymouth 9 and 29 December in 1707. He was about 66 years old. Robert wrote his will on 9 December 1707, added a codicil on 19 December, and the will was proved 29 December 1707. [PCPR 3:23, No. 1131]

He named Lydia executrix and left her his dwelling house and land, 2 cows, 18 sheep, a mare, gun, sword,  and all household goods. If she remarried or at her decease, all would go to his children. He bequeathed several lots of Plymouth land to his sons Robert and Thomas, signing by mark. 

An undated codicil, evidently added to the original, reads "whereas in my will above written I have made no mention of sundry of my children these may certify the reason (viz.) because my children by my first wife have already had their portions and as to my son Elisha and my daughters by my last wife I have given a considerable part of my estate to my said wife to be by her disposed to them as she shall so cause."

On 19 December 1707 Robert Barrow of Plymouth’s will was proved and Lidia Barrow was named Executrix.

Lydia “Barro” died “in ye winter of 1717/8” at Plymouth. [Plymouth First Church Records p. 286]

On 20 June 1717, two of Robert’s children by his first wife acknowledged they received their portion of the estate. George Barrow, Adam Wright & wife Mehitable, children of our honoured father Robert Barrow, have received of our mother in law Lydia Barrow, executrix to the last will & testament of our said father, all our part & portion of our said father’s estate. Witnesses: Thomas Croade, Joseph Thomas. [Susan E. Roser, Mayflower Deeds and Probates, 1994, p 161 and PCPR 4:12]

On 22 December 1725 the children and grandchild of Robert Barrow and wife Ruth of Plymouth both deceased, being George Barrow for himself and sister Mehitable, Samuel Barrow, Samuel Barrow, son of John Barrow deceased and Ruth Briggs, sold a house, lot and barn at Plymouth to Robert Barrow of Mansfield, Connecticut. [Hollick]

Findagrave, Memorial ID 532286854, Robert Barrow 164_ to 1707, is noted as buried in Goshen, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. It would make so sense for him to be buried so far from his death location of Plymouth. It is a later stone with many family member dates inscribed so must be a memorial stone erected by a descendant. It mistakenly states he was born in Salem. 

Sources:

Martin E. Hollick, NEHGS Register, “John Barrows of Plymouth,”  vol 166, April 2012

Alicia Crane Williams, Early New England Families, 1641-1700, vol 1

Mrs. John E. Barclay, The American Genealogist, “Notes on the Briggs Families of Taunton, Mass.,” 31:81 (1957)

The Genealogical Advertiser, “Abstracts from the First Book of Plymouth County Probate Records,” 3:26

Torrey’s New England Marriages to 1700, 1:97

Alice Carpenter ca 1590 to 1670 of England, Leiden, and Plymouth and Her Husbands Edward Southworth and William Bradford

Alice was born about 1590, likely at Wrington, Somersetshire, the daughter of Alexander Carpenter who was a Separatist at Leiden with the Pilgrims. [Anderson] Her mother’s name is not known.  

Alice is shown to be a daughter of Alexander from the 23 July 1612 Leiden marriage record of Julian Carpenter from Bath to George Morton, accompanied by her father Alexander Carpenter and her sister Alice Carpenter. [MD 11:193] Juliann/Juliana and George are also my direct ancestors; I wrote about them here.

About 1614 Alice Carpenter married Edward Southworth at Leiden. [MD 10:1] Alice and Edward are my 13th great-grandparents on my grandfather Arthur Washburn Ellis Davis’ side of the family.

Edward Southworth was likely the child of that name baptized 12 April 1585 at Clarborough, Nottinghamshire, England, son of Richard Southworth and Immyun Aston. [Allan] 

Edward was a member of the Pilgrim’s Separatist group that fled England to Leiden, where John Robinson was their religious leader. At some point, Alice and Edward returned to England as Edward received a letter there in 1620.

Alice and Edward had two sons: 

1. Constant born about 1615 probably at Leiden; married Elizabeth Collier; died Duxbury in Plymouth Colony 11 March 1678/79. He held a number of influential and high-ranking positions in government: Governor’s assistant, colony treasurer, deputy for Duxbury to the Plymouth court, and was also a frequent committee member. He owned a grist mill and was a large land owner. 
2. Thomas born about 1619 probably at Leiden; married Elizabeth Reynor; died 8 Dec 1669 at Plymouth. He held important positions: commissioner to the United Colonies, Governor’s assistant, deputy to the Plymouth Court, and selectman. He was lieutenant in 1648 and 1653 and captain of the military company of Plymouth in 1659 and 1661.

I descend from Constant; I wrote about him here.

Author Sue Allan sets forth in her book In Search of the Separatist Edward Southworth of Leiden circumstantial evidence that Edward was from Nottinghamshire, rather than Lancashire as some suggest. She found no evidence of a Lancashire connection and feels that theory should be dismissed. She suggests using Occam’s razor when determining Edward’s origins—the simplest explanation is usually the right one, and in Edward’s case that means a Clarborough birth. One bit of evidence is a Southworth Coat of Arms, which is said to have been embroidered by Alice, is much closer, except for a reversal of colors, to the Clarborough family arms than the Lancashire one. William Pontus was a known Separatist who fled to Holland where one of the groomsmen who witnessed his 1611 marriage to Wybra Hanson was Edward Southworth. An Ann Southworth married Richard Pontas/Pontus at Clarborough; perhaps Edward is related as Pontus is an unusual surname and knew Edward from their hometown. Clarborough was at the geographical center of a “Golden Triangle” of fervent Separatist activity.

Edward was living in London when he received a letter from Robert Cushman dated 17 August 1620. It is addressed to Edward Southworth, Heneage House, Duke’s Place, Aldgate Ward, London. Robert told his “loving friend” that he did not expect to see him again because of the dangers of the imminent journey and the “infirmity of body hath seized me.” [Allan] Robert, however, lived until 1625 while Edward was the one who would soon die. Robert Cushman is my 12th great-grandfather and was heavily involved in the business side of raising funds for the Pilgrims trip to America. 

Edward likely died at London between the writing of Cushman’s 1620 letter and the sailing of the ship Fortune the following year. He was about 34 years old. If he died at the address of the letter, he may have been buried at the nearest church—St. Mary’s of Whitechapel but no burial record for him there, but there are gaps in St. Mary’s registers for the years 1619-1621. [Allan]

In 1623 Alice Carpenter Southworth sailed on the Anne, arriving at Plymouth on July 10. On 14 August 1623 she married Governor William Bradford. [MD 30:4] Since the marriage took place so soon after the ship landed, it seems the marriage had already been arranged, perhaps by correspondence between them.

William Bradford was baptized Austerfield, Yorkshire, 19 March 1589/90, son of William and Alice (Hanson) Bradford. He married first Dorothy May on 10 December 1613 at Amsterdam. They had one child, John, born about 1617. Dorothy died by drowning when she fell from the Mayflower on 7 December 1620. [Anderson] When she fell from the ship or jumped is not known with certainty. 

The marriage of William Bradford and Alice Carpenter Southworth was noted in a September 1623 letter written by Emmanuel Altham to his brother Sir Edward Altham [James]:

"Upon the occasion of the Governor's marriage, since I came, Massasoit was sent for to the wedding, where came with him his wife, the queen, although he hath five wives. With him came four other kings and about six score men with their bows and arrows - where, when they came to our town, we saluted them with the shooting off of many muskets and training our men. And so all the bows and arrows was brought into the Governor's house, and he brought the Governor three or four bucks and a turkey. And so we had very good pastime in seeing them dance, which is in such manner, with such a noise that you would wonder...

"And now to say somewhat of the great cheer we had at the Governor's marriage. We had about twelve pasty venisons, besides others, pieces of roasted venison and other such good cheer in such quantity that I could wish you some of our share. For here we have the best grapes that ever you say - and the biggest, and divers sorts of plums and nuts which our business will not suffer us to look for."

Alice’s two sons Constant and Thomas Southworth came to Plymouth in 1628 with their Aunt Juliana Carpenter Morton, so perhaps they had been living with her. 

Also interesting is that Alice had four sisters: Juliann (spelled in a variety of ways including Julian, Julianna), Priscilla, Agnes, and Mary Carpenter. All the sisters eventually came to Plymouth except Agnes who married Samuel Fuller but she died before he sailed on the Mayflower in 1620. I am also descended from Juliana and her husband George Morton 

Alice had three children with William Bradford [Anderson]: 

1. William born 17 June 1624 [MD 30:4] ; m 1st Alice Richards; 2nd a woman whose name is unknown, 3rd Mary (Wood) Holmes
2. Mercy born by 1627; m. Benjamin Vermayes; perhaps died young as she is not mentioned in her father’s 1657 will or her 1670 mother’s will 
3. Joseph born about 1630; m. Jael Hobart 

William Bradford died 9 May 1657 at Plymouth. [Anderson] In his 9 May 1657 will, he named Alice executrix and for “her future maintenance my will is that my stock in the Kennebecke trade be reserved for her comfortable subsistence.” [PCPR 2:1:54-59]

Alice wrote her will 7 June 1670. She asked that her body be buried near her late husband Mr. William Bradford. She left bequests to her sister Mary Carpenter, her son Mr. Constant Southworth, son Mr. Joseph Bradford, son Captain William Bradford, friend Mr. Thomas Prence, grandchild Elizabeth Howland the daughter of Alice’s deceased son Captain Thomas Southworth, Elizabeth Howland’s son James Howland, and servant maid Mary Smith. [Will transcribed at PilgrimHall.org]

Alice Carpenter Southworth Bradford died Plymouth 26 March 1670. [MD 18:68] She was about 80 years old. "On the 26th day of March, 1670, Mistris Allice Bradford, Seni'r, changed this life for the better, haueing attained to fourscore years of age, or therabouts. Shee was a godly matron, and much loued while shee liued, and lamented, tho aged, when shee died, and was honorabley enterred on the 29th day of the month aforsaid, att New Plymouth.”

The  inventory of Alice Bradford late of Plymouth was taken June 1670 and totaled over £162. It did not include real estate. It is very lengthy and included livestock, a great deal of household items including valuable silver, a large collection of her late husband’s books, two guns, 

Alice led such an interesting, albeit hard, life. She was widowed when she was about 31. She left her two young sons behind to make the arduous voyage to Plymouth where she must have heard about the vast number of deaths. She married the most important man in the colony—Governor William Bradford. Her wedding was a large affair with Native Americans in attendance—imagine how eye popping that must have been for a newly arrived English woman. After about 7 years, she was reunited with her two sons, and she had three more children with Bradford. Her Southworth sons benefitted from Bradford being their stepfather as they grew up to be influential men themselves. She was the first lady of the colony, so was expected to set an example in all matters, especially religious ones. 

Sources:

Sue Allan, In Search of the Separatist Edward Southworth of Leiden, 2019

Eugene Stratton, Plymouth Colony Its History and People, 1986

Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins, 1995

Sidney V. James, Jr., editor, Three Visitors to Early Plymouth, 1963