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Captain Gamaliel Bradford III was born 4 November 1763 in Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States to Gamaliel Bradford (1731-1807) and Sarah Alden (1731-1788) and died 7 March 1824 Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of unspecified causes. He married Elizabeth Hickling (1767-1817) 5 August 1792 in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States.


Biography[]

Captain Gamaliel Bradford, privateersman, was born in Duxbury, Massachusetts., 4 November 1763.

He commanded the American private armed ship Mary in 1799, during the Quasi-War with France. In July 1800, in command of Industry, he routed four French privateers at Gibraltar. Captain Bradford died at Cambridge, Mass., 7 March 1824.

American Revolutionary War[]

1777 flag

Battle flag of 1777

14th Massachusetts Regiment was raised on September 16, 1776, under Colonel Gamaliel Bradford at Boston, Massachusetts. The regiment would see action in the American Revolutionary War at the Battle of Saratoga and the Battle of Monmouth. before encamping with the army for its final cantonment at New Windsor, New York. When the number of Massachusetts regiments was reduced in January 1781, the men of the 14th were folded into the 7th Massachusetts Regiment at which point the 14th was disbanded.

The younger Gamaliel, he enlisted in the 14th Massachusetts Regiment (commanded by his father, also named Gamaliel) as a private at the age of thirteen on May 28, 1776. He fought at the battles of Saratoga and Monmouth before encamping with the army for its final cantonment at New Windsor, New York. After Monmouth, he was promoted to Serjeant on June 28, 1778, followed by promotions to Ensign (8/8/1779) and Lieutenant (9/3/1780). When the number of Massachusetts regiments was reduced in 1781, Gamaliel and the other men of the 14th were folded into the 7th Massachusetts Regiment. He stayed on another year in the army before finally returning home in 1784.

Quasi-War if 1800[]

In 1798, he was offered command of the frigate Boston by President John Adams, but declined.

After the war, he commanded the American private armed ship Mary in 1799, during the Quasi-War with France. In July 1800, in command of Industry, he routed four French privateers at Gibraltar, though he sustained an injury that would cost him his leg. Captain Bradford died at Cambridge, Mass., 7 March 1824.

Bradford House[]

GamBradfordHouse

Gamaliel Bradford House in Duxbury MA.

In 1807, Capt Gamaliel Bradford built his home in Duxbury MA. The house is locally distinctive for its brick side walls and monitor section above the hip roof. The house was home to Rev. Josiah More later in the 19th century. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Marriage and Family[]

He married Elizabeth Parker Hickling on August 6, 1798. They would go on to have seven children.



Children


Offspring of Captain Gamaliel Bradford III and Elizabeth Hickling (1767-1817)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Sarah Alden Bradford (1790-1867)
Elizabeth Bradford (1794-1796)
Gamaliel Bradford (1795-1829)
Daniel Neil Bradford (1797-1821)
Martha Tilden Bradford (1799-1860)
John Brooks Bradford (1803-)
Margaret Stevenson Bradford (1805-1847)
George Partridge Bradford (1807-1890)
Hannah Rogers Bradford (1810-1880)



Siblings[]


Offspring of Gamaliel Bradford (1731-1807) and Sarah Alden (1731-1788)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Perez Bradford (1758-1802)
Sophia Bradford (1761-1855)
Gamaliel Bradford (1763-1824) 4 November 1763 Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States 7 March 1824 Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States Elizabeth Hickling (1767-1817)
Alden Bradford (1765-1843)
Sarah Bradford (1768-1840)
Jerusha Bradford (1770-1833) 3 January 1770 Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States 11 October 1833 Duxbury, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, United States Ezra Weston (1772-1842)
Daniel Bradford (1771-1838)
Gershom Bradford (1774-1844)


References[]

Namesake[]

In 1943, the destroyer USS Bradford (DD-545) was named in his honor.

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