REV. THOMAS BRADLEY D.D 1643-1673

Thomos Bradley was born in 1596 or 1597, the place of his birth does not seem to be known.
In the first place he was Chaplin to the old Duke of Buckingham and went with him to the Isle of Rhea and the siege of Rochelle (France).

After his return in 1628 he was made Chaplain to Charles the 1st and between 1630 and 1643 the King made him a gift of the living of Castleford and Ackworth and a Prebendary of York. (revenue from the cathedral)

On the 5th march 1631 he married Frances the youngest daughter of the right Hon. John Lord Savile, Baron of Pontefract, by whom he had several children.

It is generally supposed that Dr Bradley attended Charles 1st to the scaffold 1649 and for his leaning towards the Crown he was sequestered of his living at Ackworth and Castelford.

The Ackworth living was taken over by Thomas Birkbeck, a stiff rump Presbyterian, and Castleford was usurped by Mr H.Moorhouse an army chaplain.

During the period of Commonwealth Dr Bradley suffered intensively, his house was plundered of all that he had, his wife and children turned out of doors to seek lodgings, the library which he had entrusted to one John Lake of Castleford was betrayed into the hands of his enemies.

In the Hearth Tax rolls for the year 1665 (end of Commonwealth 1660) we see that Dr Bradley is listed as having five hearths, so he must have been living back in the rectory.

When Dr Bradley became rector again in 1663 he set up a New Font which is just through the South Doorway.

From the Parish Register we see that the first baptism took place on the 24th November 1663, the child was his Grand Child Charles, son of Mr & Mrs Danyell Godfrey.

In the year 1666 he built two Alms houses off the Village Green for two poor widows.

Dr Bradley died on October 10th 1673 succeeded the year before by Jerimiah Bolton.
His monumental slab can be seen on the East wall of the Chancel. It states:-
Here resteth the Body of
Doctor Thomas Bradly. Rector of this Parish.
E.T.R.
His Almshouses built her, shows in part his Goodness, to the poor, his pious book.
And learned work in point, will tell you more, by which he being dead, yet speaketh Obuit.
October 10, An.D. 1673.

Heraldry on tablet.
Two shields A, held by an angel, a fez between. three round buckles, in center chief a crescent for difference - (Brabley) Imp. on a bent three owls (Savile).

JOHN WALKER'S SUFFERINGS OF THE CLERGY 1642-60

(Revision 1948 by Oxford Press)

THOMAS BRADLEY D.D OX (Attempt 85,212,)

Prebend of York 1660
Rector of Castelford 1630 and Ackworth 1643
Sequestered from Ackworth before 20th May 1646, when the House of Lords admitted T. Birkbeck (c,r), presented under the Great Seal.
Committee for Plundered Ministers 13th April 1647 granted fifths from both livings to his wife Frances.
One of the preachers to the Troops under Sir G.Wentworth at Pontefract during siege 1644.
Ascended at £300 by Calender of the proceedings of the committee for advance of money 1645.
Published (preface dated Oxford 1 Jan 1650( 1) two sermons, preached 25th Dec 1650 at Winchester, when visiting his two sons at College, dedicated to his wife Francis, daughter of John Lord Savile of Pontefract, he formerly was her chaplain.
States she suffered much by sequestration and plundering. His chief loss was his books which he entrusted to J. Lake of Casteford, ( later vicar of Rye Sussex and Rotherham ) who treacherously appropriated them, concealing them when Bradley's goods were sequestered through he was one of the values.

Restored 1660-73 died.

Interim add H.Moorhouse.
Calamy Revised A.G.Mathews 1934.
See:
Bodleian Library.
minute books of the committee for plundered ministers.
324.228.W.MS.C.8. 13.
Dictionary of National Biography 1908
where note his published proposal 1658 of full exactions of tithes and flrstfruits.