Bradlaugh

The BRADLAUGH Family

of Brandeston Suffolk

Although the earliest BRADLAUGH that I have proven is John , whose Last Will and Testament was proved in 1700, thanks to connections that I have made through "publishing " my research on the Internet an earlier generation has been added and now the earliest known ancestor is Henry BRADLAUGH, who was born Circa 1585. In addition these connections have also added other information and so that this section now has 511 individuals.

The BRADLAUGH family line is probably the most interesting one that I have researched. This is because BRADLAUGH is an uncommon name and my research has shown the name appears to be localised in Suffolk and in particular in the Brandeston area, which is in the southern part of Suffolk and to the east of Ipswich. Henry Bradlaugh is known to have had land in Brandeston 1612 and descendants were still in the same late into the 19th Century. Inside the church at Brandeston is a "Peal Board", dated 1749/50 which commemorates a bell ringing feat and shows that a father and son, both Thomas Bradlaugh, were amongst the bell ringers.

Although not all BRADLAUGH's have been traced they are probably all from the same source. So far the most famous person of this line is Charles BRADLAUGH MP. Charles BRADLAUGH was Member of Parliament for Northampton in the 1880's and the link gives a brief overview of his life and further links to some sites of related interest. A Web search on his name will also list other sites where more information can be found about him and his beliefs.

In the 19C it is known that some branches the family name changed from BRADLAUGH to became BRADLEY, either by design or by accident.

HOME PAGE

SUFFOLK NAMES