General Stephen Row Bradley from Walpole As It Was and As It Is (1880) Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by MLM, Volunteer 0000130. For the current email address, please go to http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00001.html#0000130 Copyright. All rights reserved. ************************************************************************ Full copyright notice - http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm USGenWeb Archives - http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ Surname: BRADLEY Source: Walpole As It Was and As It Is by George Aldrich, The Claremont Manufacturing Co., Claremont, N.H., 1880, page 214-216 BRADLEY, GEN'L STEPHEN ROW, came to Walpole in 1818 and lived in town till the time of his death, which occurred Dec. 9th, 1830. He was born in Wallingford, Conn., Feb. 20, 1754 and was the son of Moses Bradley of Cheshire, Conn., and Mary, daughter and heiress of Daniel Row of Hamden, Conn. He was a descendant of Stephen Bradley, one of seven brothers who came to America from England in 1650 and settled in North Haven, Conn. Stephen Row graduated at Yale College in the class of 1775 and during his senior year he prepared and published an almanac for that year and at this time he spelt his middle name Row instead of Rowe. In 1776 he joined the Revolutionary forces as Captain, and soon rose to the rank of Colonel, but was principally engaged in the commissary department. In 1778 he was engaged in teaching school and at the same time pursuing the study of law under the direction of Tappan Reeve, who afterwards established the law school at Litchfield, Conn. He made his first appearance in Westminster, Vt. in 1779 and the same year was licensed to practice law in that state. From that time he rose rapidly in the estimation of the sons of Vermont, till he reached the Senate chamber at Washington, D.C. He was very active during the Vermont and New Hampshire boundary troubles, and his counsels had great weight. His papers written at the time are sufficient evidence of sound statesmanship and good judgment. Of the offices that Mr. Bradley held, the following is but a partial list. In 1782 he was one of the selectmen and town clerk of Westminster and also received the appointment of Register of Probate, an office he held ten years. In 1783 he was appointed County Judge, for Windham Co. In 1783 he received the appointment of side Judge in the Superior Court of that State. In 1793 he was admitted to practice in the Circuit Courts of the U. S. He represented the town of Westminster in the state Assembly seven years and was speaker of the House in 1785, and was also a member of the Council in 1798. He was one of the first Senators from Vermont in 1791, drawing the four year term. In 1801 he was again elected to the U. S. Senate for six years during which time he was president pro tempore two years. When his term expired in 1807 he was returned for six years longer. Mr. Bradley is represented to have been a lawyer of distinguished abilities, a good orator, a man of cheerful companionship, ready wit, full of anecdote, of large acquaintance with mankind, and also as possessing an extensive range of historical knowledge. When he came to Walpole he purchased the mansion built by Francis Gardner, (who was for many years a lawyer of some repute in town,) and spent his decling years. He was thrice married. 1st to Mirib Atwater, by whom he had one son, William Czar, who became one of Vermont's distinguished sons and was widely known as a ripe scholar and a talented lawyer. He married 2d Thankful-and by her had 1st Stella Czarina, who married Josiah Bellows of this town. 2d. Adeline, who married S G. Goodrich, (Peter Parley,) and had one child. 3d Stephen Rowe jr., who was drowned at New Haven, while at school there. His third wife was Melinda Willard, of Westminster, Vt. By whom he had one daughter, Mary, who married henry S. Tudor, and had five sons and two daughters, all born in Walpole. In his last years, when he had given up the cares and turmoils of public life, he was wont to amuse himself in various eccentric ways. The following anecdote of him is to the point. At one time, while living in Walpole, he chanced to meet one of his poor Westminster neighbors, when he asked him how he got along with his large family. "Poorly enough," was the reply. "Well," said Mr. B., "the next time you come over, bring a bag and get some corn." It was not long before the poor man was at Mr. B.'s with his bag. "What do you want in that bag?" said Mr. B. "I came after the corn you promised me," was the reply. "Corn! I never promised you any corn," said Mr. B. "Well," said the man, "my neighbors told me, before I started, that you would not give me any." "Go to my bin and fill your bag!" said Mr. B., "and when you get home, tell your neighbors they are all a pack of ---- liars."