Arthur Bragdon

#780, (circa 1597 - 1678)
Father*Thomas Bragdon (1543 - )
Mother*Alice _____ (1547 - 1615)

Family

Mary Came b. c 1615
Children 1.Thomas Bragdon+ (1640 - b 1690)
 2.Arthur Bragdon Jr+15 (1640 - b 1690)
 3.Samuel Bragdon Sr+16 (1647 - 1712)
Birth*circa 1597He was born circa 1597 at Stratford-on-Avon, England; Little has 1598; Savage has ca. 1597; Pope has ca. 1597.1,2,3 
Marriage*He married Mary Came (surname speculative); surname not sourced.4 
before 1637He migrated to York Co., MaineG, before 1637.5
11 June 1637Arthur Bragdon acquired real estate at Bass Cove, Maine, on 11 June 1637 100 acres.6 
1640He was a constable in 1640.7 
1652He was admitted as a Freeman in 1652.8 
25 May 1678 An unknown person sold real estate to Thomas Bragdon at York Co., MaineG, on 25 May 1678; by deed conveyance all of his father's estate.9,10
Death*1678He died in 1678 at York Co., MaineG.11 
Inventory*2 October 1678His estate was inventoried by Arthur Bragdon on 2 October 1678; The homestead at Bass Cove apparently remained in possession of his youngest son Samuel and his branch, and the usual family litigation regarding the title based upon the blanket deed of 1678 came into court in 1727, nearly fifty years later. A new administration on the estate was granted that year and a new appraisal valued the property at £504 16s. (Banks).12,13 
Inventory1727His estate was inventoried by Arthur Bragdon in 1727 at York Co., MaineG; (nearly fifty years later, due to a family dispute.)14 
"The surname Bragdon or Bragden has been in use for several centuries in England, and a lineage of the family appears in a Visitation of London as early as 1568. The coat-of-arms of the Bragdon Family is: Argent, a lion passent azure between three fleurs de lis gules. Crest: A boar issuant out of a rock proper.
"Arthur Bragdon, immigrant ancestor, was born in England in 1598, and died in York about 1678. He settled in York as early as 1642 and was a citizen of prominence, having large grants of land and holding much property on the south side of the York River. All of this name are his descendants, unless possibly some families of recent immigration. The Bragdons were leading spirits in some of the coast towns of Maine for many generations, filling various positions of trust and honor. Arthur Bragdon and George Puddington deposed 3 Jul 1647, to the effect that Richard Vines made a grant of land to John Wadlon and Edmund Littlefield in Wells, York County, by deed dated 20 Nov 1645, in behalf of Sir Ferdinando Georges, patentee of Maine Province (See York Deeds) in a deposition made in York in 1665 his age is stated as "about 67 years." He filled many offices and served on important committees in the old town of York. Just before his death he deeded to his son Thomas, 20 May 1678, all his estate on condition that Thomas 'provide all necessary things as long as he and his wife live.' His administrator filed an inventory 3 Oct 1678 (Part I, fol. 36, vol V, York Deeds). Among the articles mentioned was 'One hatt 5S, too ould coats and one peyre of briches, 30S.' Evidently the wardrobe of the progenitor was simple enough. The spelling is that of the conveyance, not of Bragdon, because he signed his deed with a large capital 'A,' the ends of the cross-bar and the terminals of each leg of the letter being divided like a forked stick. His son Thomas signed with a mark -- plain capital letters, 'T.B.' We do not find the name of Arthur's wife. Children: 1) Arthur, 2) Thomas, perhaps daughters."1 
"Arthur Bragdon, of York 1636, constable 1648, freeman 1652, was born as he testified about 1597. In 1680, Samuel & Thomas, probably his sons, lived there, and he took oath of allegiance 13 Oct 1703. The wife and 5 children of Arthur, probably ??? were killed by Indians in Penhallow's Indian Wars. Pike says wife and 2 children were killed and eldest daughter carried away. Niles gives name as Brandon.
"Immigrant ancestor born in England in 1597, and died in York, ME about 1678. He settled in York as early as 1642, & was a citizen of prominence, having large grants of land & holding much property on the south side of the York River.
Arthur Bragdon on the Jury of Life & Death: The Jury doeth find Robert Collins guiltie of the acke of incontinence, not guiltie of the forsement. Captains Grant & Bragdon are instructed to march to Narridgewock after the enemy, 'Taking care that no Hostility be acted by you anywhere eastward of the Kennebeck River, but at Narridgewock, and that nothing be done on that side of the river contrary to the Cessation agreed on with the Penobscot Tribe. You may be very exact in your journal in noting down everything that is worthy of your observation, & send an account of your proceedings.' (Letters of Col. Thomas Westbrook).
Arthur had a land grant of 100 acres in York, ME (Massachusetts Colony). Arthur, born 1597; York 1637; Constable 1640, 1648, 1657; Alderman 1641; Provost Marshall, LT 1652, 1658; Nine years grand jury 1649-1669; Selectman 1653, 1655; Deed to son Thomas for life support of self & wife is dated 20 May 1678. Other men came here directly from England & founded families which continued the original names in town for 300 years. Arthur Bragdon, a planter at Bass Cove, presumably furnished food to the fishing fleet.
"Beginning with the house of Edward Godfrey, the 'first bylt there' (1630), which stood close to shore at high tide on the south side of Meeting House Creek, the earliest houses were built by the shore of the Creek. Col. Walter Norton's, alongside of Godfrey's, occupied till 1640 by Gov. Hooke; Edward Johnson's to the west of Godfrey's; Rowland Young's, Henry Simpson's and Ralph Blaisdell's, farther down near the Market Place; Henry Donnell's near Stage Island; Arthur Bragdon's on the river bank near Bass Cove.
"He (Sir Ferdinando Georges) appointed Thomas Georges to be the first mayor 1641 of Georgeana (Agamenticus) as well as the first deputy governor of the province of Maine, and for the first eight aldermen he named 'Edward Godfrey, gentleman; Roger Garde, George Puddington, Bartholomew Barnett, Edward Johnson, Arthur Braginton (Bragdon), Henry Simpson, & John Rogers.8'' " 

Citations

  1. [S161] George Thomas Little, editor, Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing, 1909), four volumes, II:732.
  2. [S165] James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England, four volumes (Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1860-1862), I:236, citing his testimony.
  3. [S350] Charles Henry Pope, The Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire 1623 to 1660 (Boston, Mass.: Charles H. Pope, 1908), 24, "He deposed 5 June, 1665, ae. about 67 years; deposed again 6 July, 1671, aged about 74 years."
  4. [S350] Charles Henry Pope, Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 24, "His wife Mary witnessed a deed with him in 1661."
  5. [S172] Charles Edward Banks, History of York, Maine: Successively known as Bristol (1632), Agamenticus (1641), Gorgeana (1642), and York (1652) (Boston: Calkins Press, 1931–1935), "Arthur is first of record here in 1636 as witness to the sale of property. This land was situated on Bass Cove. This grant was contested by Godfrey as to the extent of its bounds, & arbitrators Richard Vines & Henry Josselyn awarded the case in favor of Bragdon which was confirmed by Godfrey 21 Jan 1643, making the limits of his land on the NE to the path leading from the Plantation of Christian Point."
  6. [S172] Charles Edward Banks, History of York Maine (Banks), pp. 106-107: "Arthur Bradgon is first of record here in 1636; as witness to the sale of property (Deed i, 119; viii, 210) and on June 11, 1637 he had a grant of one hundred acres of land from Samuel Maverick and William Jeffery, two of the patentees of Agamenticus (Deeds xxvi, 83). This land was situated on Bass Cove. This grant was contested by Godfrey as to the extent of its bounds, and arbitrators Richard Vines and Henry Josselyn awarded the case in favor of Bragdon which was confirmed by Godfrey January 21, 1643, making the limits of his land on the northeast to the path leading from the Plantation to Christian Point (Deeds x, 173). He was constable of Agamenticus in 1640, and alderman in 1641 under the first charter. In his later years he resided with his son Thomas who lived just north of Bass Creek in Scotland, and on May 20, 1678 he transferred all his property to Thomas on condition this his son "provide for mee & my wife all necessary things that either of us shall stand in need of so long as wee do live" (Deed v, 26). He died in six months. An administration of his estate was granted to his son Thomas October 2, 1678. Inventory of the property was returned at a valuation of L64-06-0. In a deposition Arthur Bragdon stated his age which places his birth in 1597 and he was therefore eighty-one years old when he died. His wife's name was Mary, but there is nothing to suggest her family name of connection. The homestead at Bass Cove apparently remained in possession of his youngest son Samuel and his branch, and the usual family litigation regarding the title based upon the blanket deed of 1678 came into court in 1727, nearly fifty years later. A new administration on the estate was granted that year and a new appraisal valued the property at L504-16-0. The case resulted in favor of the occupants. Arthur Bragdon left issue three sons. No daughters are known."
    Source: http://helenesgenes.com/Bragdon.html
  7. [S350] Charles Henry Pope, Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, 23.
  8. [S165] James Savage, First Settlers of New England, I:236.
  9. [S837] Early Maine Deeds and Wills, online www.americanancestors.org, V:57: "Know all men whome It may Concerne that I Arthur Bragdon Senior do give my whoole Estate, house, & Land & marsh, & Cattle unto my sonn Thomas Bragdon, so long as I & my wife do live, vpon this Condition that my sonn Thos Bragdon do provide for mee & my wife, all Necessary things yt either of us shall stand in neede of, so long as Wee do live / Dated this five & Twenteth day May 1678".
    "A true Coppy of this writeing transcribed & Compared with the originall, this 18th of Decembr 1678 / p Edw: Rishworth Re: Cor:"
    "An Inventory of Arthur Bragdon Senior his Estate/ Nathall Maisterson/Arther Caime his Marke [mark]."
  10. [S161] George Thomas Little, Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine, vol. 2, p. 732: "Just before his death he deeded to his son Thomas, May 20 [actually 25], 1678, all his estate on condition that Thomas "provide all necessary things as long as he and his wife live"."
  11. [S350] Charles Henry Pope, Pioneers of Maine and New Hampshire, p. 24: "Made deed of gift to son Thomas 25 May, 1678, conditioned on life maintenance for himself and wife. [York De. v.] He died during the year. Inventory of his estate was filed 2 Oct., 1678."
  12. [S161] George Thomas Little, Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine, 2:732: "His administrator filed an inventory October 2, 1678 (Part I, fol. 36, vol. V, York Deeds). Among the articles mentioned was : 'One hatt 5s, too ould coats & one peyre of briches, 30s.'" The inventory was signed by Nathaniel Masterson and Arthur Came, attested to by Thomas Bragdon.
  13. [S172] Charles Edward Banks, History of York Maine (Banks), I:106–107. "The homestead at Bass Cove apparently remained in possession of his youngest son Samuel and his branch, and the usual family litigation regarding the title based upon the blanket deed of 1678 came into court in 1727, nearly fifty years later. A new administration on the estate was granted that year and a new appraisal valued the property at £504 16s."
  14. [S1061] Arthur Bragdon, Probate and Estate Files of Arthur Bragdon File Nos. 1767 and 1768, York County Courthouse, Alfred, Maine, File No. 1767. Petition to include additional inventory to the estate of his grandfather, Arthur Bragdon. Arthur Bragdon, Jr., posted a bond of £2,000 on 3 Apr 1727, together with Caleb Preble, of York, and Benjamin Lord, of Berwick, both yeomen of the county of York. On 11 May 1727, Capt. Bragdon, as administrator of the estate (succeeding Thomas Bragdon, his deceased uncle) filed an inventory that included "30 acres of upland where he lived," valued at £300; "five acres of marsh" (£60); and "45 acres of land on ye fourth ____ ____ of York River" (£210). In October, an order was isssued to divide the estate equally among the heirs, or their representatives. On 7 Jan 1727/8, the committee formed to divide the estate (Johnson Harmon, Joseph Moody, Richard Milberry, Thomas Card and Caleb Preble) reported that they had visited the land listed in the inventory, and found the "homestead of the deceased in the possession of Joseph Bragdon, who would not suffer us to enter" and the 45 acres of land "in possesson of Samuel Bragdon and Samuel Bragdon Junr. and were also forewarned from making any division by the wife of the said Samuel Bragdon in her husband's name and by said Samuel Bragdon Junr."
    Samuel Bragdon, Sr., had died in 1712. In that will he appointed "my Dear Cousin, Decon Bragdon the sole executor." He also appointed "Mr. Moody our Pastor and Richard Milberry to be overseers."
  15. [S185] Our Family Histories, online www.ourfamilyhistories.org.
  16. [S185] Our Family Histories, online www.ourfamilyhistories.org, without citation. Other sources conclude that only Thomas and Arthur Jr. are probable sons. In his last will, Samuel Sr. does "appoint my dear Cousin, Decon Bragdon the sole Executor."