Bradford Family
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The Bradford family unites with the Man family with the marriage of Mary Bradford to George Octavious Man in 1869. Mary was the daughter of Major General Evelyn Bradford.  A Bradford family genealogy can be found here in pdf.

Evelyn Bradford (EB) was born 8 February 1823 in West Bengal India. He was the son of Edward Bradford and his mother was a local Indian lady whose name is unknown. He married a number of times: first to a lady whose first name was Ellen and they had the following issue:

  1. 1847 Margaret Ellen born in India (see Henry Kerr Nesbitt below)
  2. 1850 Mary born in Staines and who married George Octavious Man.

Ellen the first wife died and in 1859 EB married a lady by the name of Margaret Clementine Fell in India.  At some point she too died and in 1867 EB married Alice Rosamund also in India. At some time before 1881 he married his fourth wife Emma Bennett. One of the sons of this marriage was Ernest Evelyn Bradford (see obituary below). (All these marriages have yet to be properly sorted out and there may be some confusion)

On the 1881 census EB appears as a widower with two young sons aged 6 and 5.  On 20 January 1908 EB dies at Holbein House, Sloane-square, London and his daughter Mary Man registers his death.


The Times Jan 23 1908

The Bradford family of three generations were closely connected with Empire building in India during the last century as the following obituary notice shows:

Major General Evelyn Bradford: The East Indian warriors who served John Company may be counted upon the fingers. On Friday last the grave closed over Major General Evelyn Bradford, who first saw service in the old 14th Native Bengal Infantry about the time when Pollack, "the avenger", was retrieving the Elphinstone fiasco. He served at one time as aide-de-camp to Lord Harding and saw fighting on the North-West frontier in the first Sikh War; he had a look in at Goojerant in the second [Sikh War] and had two years of campaigning in the Mutiny.  On transference to the service of the Crown, like the rest of his conferees of John Company, he completed his time in India and retired in 1885. He was born 1823; his father was Lieutenant Edward Bradford E.I.C., elder brother of the Lieut. General Sir John Fowler Bradford K.C.B. who subsequently commanded the Murset Division during and after the Mutiny. [A letter to the Times that mentions the action of General Bradford in India can be read here in pdf --->  Letter to the Times.]

Other marriages made by the Bradford family include that of Harriet Bradford (Mary (Bradford) Man's great great aunt) to Kenneth Callander and the subsequent marriage of Kenneth and Harriet's two daughters, Emily and Caroline, to two members of the Hardinge family.  In February 1824 John Fowler Bradford (Mary Man's great uncle) married Eliza Martha Maria Ouseley.  Also, Mary Man's great aunt, Maria Bradford, married Henry Arthur Woodgate.

A short obituary of Sir John Fowler Bradford appeared in the Times (see below).  His notes and diaries on Indian life can be found at the British Library (Ms Eur D.1057 1842-49, 1854-56). 

A law case involving Edward Chapman Bradford's estate can be read here (<--- 6 page pdf).

General Sir John Fowler Bradford was born in London on 28 February 1805, a son to the late Captain Edward Chapman Bradford of the Honourable East India Company.

On 5 May 1821, Bradford was posted as a Cornet to the 1st Light Cavalry. He arrived in India in September of that year, following which he served as Instructor and Quarter Master (6 October 1825-13 March 1832). After a furlough from 26 January 1837-10 May 1840, Bradford returned to India, where he fought in several engagements in the First Afghan War (October 1842-October 1843) leading to the re-occupation of Kabul. He also served in the Gwalior Campaign at the battle of Maharajpoor (December 1843).

At the battle of Aliwal, during the First Sikh War (18 December 1845-22 February 1846), Bradford commanded the 1st Light Cavalry in the famous charge with the 16th Lancers. The cavalry broke directly through an enemy square and routed the Sikh army, but at a high price. Bradford’s regiment lost 9 men and some 23 horses. For “the manner they contended for the glorious prize of victory,” the 1st Light Cavalry under the command of Major Bradford received an honourable mention in the Dispatch of Major-General Sir Harry Smith, the Commander-in-Chief. In the Second Sikh War (7 September 1848-14 March 1849) Bradford again distinguished himself in the battles of Chilianwala and Goojerat. He was mentioned “with great approbation” in the Dispatch of Major-General Sir Joseph Thackwell, Commander-in-Chief of the Cavalry Division.

For his gallant service in the Sikh Wars, Bradford was appointed a Companion of the Bath on 9 June 1849. On 20 May 1871 he was promoted to Knight Commander of the Bath. He retired from active service on 31 December 1877 with the rank of General.

General Sir John Fowler Bradford died peacefully at home, at 40 Norfolk Square, London, on 11 April 1889.

   Obituary of Sir John Bradford In the Times April 15 1889.

 

Located on the internet the following snippet:

HENRY KERR NESBITT b. (Ireland ?) 1833 (son of Arthur Kerr Nesbitt and father of Henry Edward Nesbitt, Frederick William Nesbitt, Henry Alfred John Kerr Nesbitt, Emily Isabella Nesbitt, Alice Mary Nesbitt, Florence Nesbitt, Bradford Nesbitt, Herbert Nesbitt and Lilian Nesbitt) went to India 1852, d. Southampton England 1878 m.1 1853 Selina Lawlor, b. 1836, d. in childbirth 1854, m.2 Kiddapore 1862 Jane Hannah Outwaite, b. 1845, d. 1870, with issue known 3s 3d m.3 Jounpore 1874 Margaret Helen Bradford, dau of General Evelyn Bradford, with further issue 2s 1d.

Perhaps this Nesbit family is connected with EE Nesbitt's family who rented the Man family home Halstead Hall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above are the medals conferred on JFB.

Knight Commander of the Bath (K.C.B.) breast star, circa 1871, hand embroidered in gold bullion and silk;

First Afghan War Campaign Medal, October 1842-October 1843, with reverse for Cabul 1842 (Captain Bradford 1st Light Cavalry);

Gwalior Campaign Star, December 1843, for Maharajpoor, with ornate silver clasp on the ribbon inscribed Maharajpoor 29 Dec. 1843 (Captain J.F. Bradford 1st Regt. Light Cavalry) (note that Henry Garnet Man was also involved in the battle of Maharajpoor / Maharajapore);

Sutlej Campaign Medal, 18 December 1845-22 February 1846, with reverse exergue for Aliwal 1846 (Lieut. Col. Bradford 1st Light Cavalry);

Punjab Campaign Medal, 7 September 1848-14 March 1849, with bars “Goojerat,” and “Chilianwala” (Bt. Lieut. Col. J.F. Bradford, 1st Bengal Cavy.).
 


Death notice for William James son of John Fowler Bradford