Bethia Bridges

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 1663

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 2490
• Arrival: 1635; SHIP "JAMES"

Notes:

Edmund Bridges was born about 1612 in England. His parentage or birth location in England is not known. He came to colonial America on 13 July 1635 on the ship "James", which sailed from London, and he settled in Lynn, Massachusetts.

He may have been married first to Alice ______, but there is no confirmed record of this spouse. He married Elizabeth ________by 1636 (GM:1-390). Perhaps Elizabeth and Alice were the same person. His first known child was born 1637. He had 8 children with Elizabeth (or Elizabeth/Alice)

A marriage at St Johns in London, England between Edmund Bridges and Elizabeth Manwaring appears to be of different persons. A child was born 12 Aug 1640 of this couple in England. As this is 5 years after he arrived in America, this is obviously a different person. We see this information in some on-line trees.

Elizabeth died 31 Dec 1664. Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to1700 shows 1st wife of Alice ?Millinton (died after 1641+) with the question mark and with the notation that Alice and Elizabeth may be the same.

He married next to Mary Langton, widow of Richard Littlehale, on 6 April 1665 (GM:1-390) in Ipswich. He had one child with Mary.

Edmund Bridges was a blacksmith by trade. He settled first in Lynn. His name appears in records for Saugus, Rowley, Topsfield and Ipswich.

Although his will was proved in Ipswich, he may have died in Lynn, as that is where he lived at the time. His death date was 13 Jan 1684/85.

Edmund Bridges had connections to two accused witches in Salem. His son, Edmund, married Sarah Towne (Sarah's sister, Rebecca Towne Nurse was hanged for witchcraft) who was later accused of witchcraft. She spent less than one year in prison before being released. His son Josiah, married Ruth Greenslade, whose mother Ann Pudeator (Pudeator being the surname of Ann's second husband) was hanged in 1692 for witchcraft.

We cannot be sure if he married in New England or came over with his wife, but his first child was born in America. Obviously his wife was an immigrant also, but we have no details on when she arrived other than before 1636.

Copies of his will are on file.

Edmund married Elizabeth Unknown. Elizabeth was born after 1612; died on 31 Dec 1664 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 1856

Notes:

Birth:
based on spouse's birth date