William Bradford

Paper Summary:

This paper gives a brief biographical account of Plymouth settler, William Bradford, and then analyzes his historical account of life at Plymouth in "Of Plymouth Plantation". The paper also explains the influence that Bradford's religious philosophy had on his writings.

From the Paper:

"William Bradford was born in Yorkshire, England in 1590. An understanding of his early years is important in assessing his later religious development. He experienced some misfortune early in life, which prepared him for the puritan ethos and made him receptive to religious ideas and thought. He was orphaned at the age of seven and lived with his uncles where he learnt to be a farmer. He was a fragile youth and his ill health allowed him time to study the Bible. The sermons of Richard Clyfton, a non-conformist minister, had a profound influence on the young Bradford when he was twelve years of age. He later became a member of a Separatists organization in 1606, which had formed their own congregation under the direction of Clyfton in the village of Scrooby."

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