William Bradford was born in Yorkshire, England in 1590 into a wealthy yeoman household, (farm owners/noblemen). Orphaned by the age of seven, Bradford was often shuttled around a pool of relatives, never staying long anywhere. His constant traveling eventually led to health problems, however, in his bedridden state Bradford preoccupied himself by reading, thus familiarizing himself with the Bible. During the time, England fell under the rule of the Anglican Church. Bradford’s readings left him questioning the righteousness of the Anglican religion, prompting him to join the local separatist church at the age of seventeen. In order to avoid persecution the congregation immigrated to the Netherlands. There they practiced freely until their fears of assimilation into Dutch culture compelled them to board The Mayflower in 1620. Sadly, aboard the ship Bradford’s wife Dorothy May disappeared, rumored to have been swept overboard or to have jumped to her death, leaving him to raise their son John alone.

Several months later the ship arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Upon disembarkment Bradford co-wrote and signed The Mayflower Compact, which instated that the settlers would ensure a fair government ruled by the majority. Bradford later remarried to widow Alice Carpenter and had three more children. As one of the Plymouth founders and separatist leaders, Bradford was elected governor five times and served a total of thirty-one years. Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation is categorized as colonial literature as it covers the Puritan movement from 1620 to 1647. It addresses the struggles the Puritans faced in coming to the New World such as religious oppression and disease while also intending to educate and inspire younger generations to create what he believed could be a morally upstanding nation. Bradford died on May 9, 1657 and is often regarded for his wisdom and fairness to all. Although it wasn’t until 1856 that his journal was published, it is still considered one of the most important early chronicles of the New England settlement.

Staloff, Darren Marcus. “William Bradford.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 11 January 2014.
<http://www.history.com/topics/william-bradford>

Kelso, Dorothy Honiss. “Pilgrim Hall Museum – Beyond the Pilgrim Story – William  Bradford.” Pilgrim Hall Museum –
Beyond the Pilgrim Story – William Bradford. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 January 2014.
                <http://www.pilgrimhallmuseum.org/william_bradford.htm>

“PAL:William Bradford (1590-1657).” Perspectives in American Literature:William Bradford (1590-1657). N.p., n.d. Web.
11 January 2014. <http://web.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap1/bradford.html>