From memorandum in Account book, went to Mr Leonards School July 1812 at 25 Guineas per annum. This may be Newington Green Academy for which there is Edmund’s copy book in archive. This was also known as Morton’s Academy, and was a well known nonconformist school, attended at an earlier date by Daniel Defoe. Rev Samuel Palmer was a teacher at the school, who was well known in Hackney ministering at Mare St Hackney. (Information from Eve McLaughlin)
Marriage 25th December 1828, St John at Hackney, Edmund Bradley the younger, bachelor, of St Pancras in the County of Middlesex married Margaret Ann Haswell, spinster by licence with consent of Sarah Elizabeth Haswell, widow, natural lawful mother of the said Minor, in the presence of Thomas Shaw and Sarah Elizabeth Haswell.
35(Sarah Elizabeth Haswell, marries Edmund Bradley senior on same day and place)
Notice of dissolution of partnership on 24 December 1837 with Ebenezer Child (brother in law), business at 4 High Street Hereford, music sellers and piano forte dealers, in London Gazette, 1838
An advertisement by Edmund Bradley from the Herefordshire Times, Saturday 28th December 1839
New Year's Gifts. Edmund Bradley of Widemarsh Street. Cabinet-maker and Dealer in Piano Fortes, Harps, etc.
Begs to draw the attention of his Friends to a very Extensive and New Sock of Ladies and Gentlemen's Writing Desks, Work Tables, and Boxes, Cabinets, Tea-chests and Caddies, Book and Pamphlet Trays, Dressing, Envelope and Letter Cases, Ne Plus Ultra's, Looking Glasses, Reading Desks, Music Stools, Cases and Folios, Canterburys, Jardiniers, &c. and with an unlimited variety of Mahogany and Rosewood Furniture.
Likewise to a very Superior and New Article, viz. - the ANGOLA HEARTH-RUGS, DRAWING AND DRESSING MATS.
E.B. has also a Large Selection of various Pattern, Plain, Painted and Stained, Cane and Rush-seated Chairs, manufactured of well-seasoned wood, under his own inspection, which, with the above will be offered at prices that cannot fail of giving satisfaction to the purchaser.
N.B. All kinds of Musical Instruments and Furniture lent on hire.
In 1841 census in Widemarsh St. in Hereford, All Saints (LDS film 288824)
103 HO 107/433/1 19 p 22
Edmund BRADLEY 35 Cabinet maker born in this county? no
Marg Ann BRADLEY 25 born in this county? no
George BRADLEY 10 born in this county? no
Alfred BRADLEY 4 born in this county? yes
Margaret BRADLEY 20m born in this county? yes
Percy BRADLEY 6m born in this county? yes
Also at this address are Caroline RICE age 20 teacher, Maria 14, Elizabeth 13 and Fanny JAMES 10; and Catherine 14 & Elizabeth BIDEWELL 13, and two female servants.
1844 Pigot directory at Widemarsh St under Cabinet maker and uphosteres, and music and musical instrument sellers
1851 Census Commercial Square Hereford HO 107/1978/267 page 97
Edmund BRADLEY head 48 Tuner and Music Dealer b Midx London
Margaret wife 50 Teacher of Music b Midx London
Alfred son 13 scholar b Hereford
Margaret daur 11 b Hereford
Charles Percy son 10 b Hereford
Francis son 8 b Hereford
Florence H. daur 4 b Hereford
Emma H. daur 2 b Hereford
Edmund T.A. son 1 b Hereford
Anne JONES servant age 15 house servant b Hereford Ceedenhill?
Had piano and music warehouse at Hereford. Later at Colne House, 173 High st. Watford [next door to Lomas house where the Baylys lived, and F.J. and Florence Helena courted.]
Owned considerable property in Watford and Hereford [see will]
1855 buys land from John Neale. He has John Neal's will 4 oct 1777-Neal's wife is Elizabeth- is Elizabeth a relation?
1855 first appears in Watford directories under “gentry, private residents” Never listed under a trade.
1041861 Census High Street Watford RG 9/833 page 24
Edmund BRADLEY head mar 58 Tunner (sic) of pianos b Midx London
Margaret A BRADLEY wife mar 49 Teacher of Music Ladies School b Hackney Midx
Margaret A BRADLEY daur Unm 21 Teacher of Music Ladies school b Herts All Saints
Florence BRADLEY daur 14 scholar b Herts St Nicholas
Emma H BRADLEYdaur 13 scholar b Herts St Peter’s
Edmund T A BRADLEY son 11 scholar b Herts St Peter’s
Charlotte D BRADLEY 8 scholar b Herts St Peter’s
Rhoda M MAIN niece 7 scholar b Midx Brompton
Thomas M SIMS Lodger Unm 27 Solicitor’s clerk b Herts Newbury
Mary Emma LANGLEY Unm 17 House servant b Herts Watford
1862-69 took Watford Railway to court. This was the Watford and Edgeware railway, which never happened in the end
104 They paid £1,680 for his land.
1862 purchaase of land by Rickmansworth Railway. Details and map in folder showing land Edmund owned (from Mary Forsythe)
Partner in brewery at Watford- Benskin Bradley & co. Set up in 1867 when the Cannon brewery was sold. By 1874 just Benskin.
104From ‘The Book of Watford” by J. B.Nunn publ. 1987 ISBN 0 9511777 1 0
“John Dyson was a bachelor and his executors sold the brewery by then called Cannon Brewery to Joseph Benskin a retired London publican in partnership with Mr Bradley, a Watford Draper in 1867. Later Bradley dropped out.” it later bought other breweries and eventually became part of Allied Lyons.
Other Watford books (no mention of Bradleys) ‘Watford’ by Judith Knight published by Chalford, and “Watford, a pictorial history” by Dennis F.Edwards, published by Phillimore.
1866 Appears in PO Directory under Watford as a Private resident, Mr Edmund Bradley High Street (Daniel Rogers Bayly also appears as Esq.)
1871 CENSUS 173 High Street, Watford RG 10/1381/80 page49
Edmund Bradley age 68 Piano-forte tuning, b. Middx,London
Margaretta A Bradley age 59, professor of Musick, b. Middx. London
Emma H. Bradley, daughter, age 22, b. Hereford
Edmund Theodosius Alexander Bradley, age 20 , P.O.F.Clerk, b. Hereford
Edmund Bradley’s Will 1879
On the 21st day of July 1879 the will of Edmund Bradley, late of High Street Watford in the County of Hertford, deceased who died on the 13th day of June 1879 at High Street aforesaid was proved in the Principal Registry of the Probate Division of the High Court of Justice, by the oaths of Margaret Ann Bradley of High Street aforesaid Widow the Relict and George William Chapman Bradley of No 49 Vincent Street Barrow in Furness in the County of Lancaster Gentleman the son of the said Deceased, the executors named in the said will they having been first sworn duly to administer,
Resworn December 1879 under £800?
personal estate under £200
No Leaseholds
This is the Last Will and Testament of me Edmund Bradley of High Street Watford in the County of Herts Gemtleman
I devise all the real estate of which I shall die possessed unto my dear wife Margaret Ann and her assigns for the term of her natural life without impeachment of waste and I empower my said wife to let any part or parts of my said real estate for any term or terms in possession not exceeding seven years at the best rent that can be obtained for the same without premium
And from and after her decease I devise to my son George William Chapman Bradley his heirs and assigns my town dwelling houses Nos 173 and 175 High Street Watford aforesaid as the same are now in the respective occupations of myself and my son Charles Percy and the gardens washhouses workshop bridge meadow and orchards at the back of the said dwelling houses as far as the middle of the bed of the River Colne with all the appurtenances to the same respectively belonging
I devise to my son Alfred his heirs and assigns my freehold workshops and two rooms added thereto situate in Water Lane Watford aforesaid with their appurtenances as the same are now in the occupation of Walter Pope
I devise to my daughter Margaret Ann Sims her heirs and assigns my freehold cottage No 13 Water Lane aforesaid with the appurtenances in the occupation of (space) Holmes
I devise to my son Charles Percy his heirs and assigns my plot of ground situate at Hunderton Gardens near the City of Hereford with appurtenances
I devise to my son Francis Septimus his heirs and assigns my freehold garden known as Neale's garden an Watford aforesaid and the stables in Neale's Yard with the appurtenances as the same are in the occupation of Edward Marler and also the cottage and garden in Neale's Yard in the occupation of (space) Stafford
I devise to my daughter Florence Helena Bayly her heirs and assigns my freehold cottage No 14 Water Lane aforesaid with the appurtenances
I devise to my daughter Emma Haswell her heirs and assigns my freehold cottage No 15 Water Lane aforesaid with the appurtenances
I devise to my son Alexander Theodosius Edmund his heirs and assigns my freehold house shop garden and stables in High Street Watford aforesaid with the appurtenances as the same are now in the occupation of Richard Almond
I devise to my daughter Charlotte Dorothea her heirs and assigns my piece of freehold meadow land situate over the Bridge on Water Lane aforesaid with the appurtenances as the same is now in the occupation of Frederick Sedgwick together with the iron bridge over the river
I bequeath to my said dear wife Margaret Ann for her life all my shares in the Watford Corn Exchange Company and after her decease I bequeath the same to my said son Charles Percy absolutely
I devise and bequeath all the root residue and remainder of the real and personal estate of which I shall die possessed unto my said wife Margaret Ann her heirs executors administrators and assigns according to the natures of the same
And I appoint my said wife and my said son George William Chapman Bradley Executrix and Executor of my will and hereby revoking all former wills doe declare this to be my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have set my hand this twenty eighth day of April one thousand eight hundred and seventy nine
Edmund Bradley - signed by the said Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us as witnesses who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have signed our names as witnesses
F H Wilson Iles M D 58 High Street Watford
George J Eady Solr % Great Winchester St London
Proved at London 21st July 1879 by the oaths of Margaret Ann Bradley Widow the relict and George William Chapman Bradley the son the executors to whom Admon was granted.
M.I. found by Carol Bradley in 2005 at Vicarage Road Cemetery Watford :
“In Memory of
EDMUND BRADLEY
who departed this life
13th June 1879
Aged 76
Also of
EMILY FRANCES BRADLEY
Granddaughter of the above
who departed this life 9th June 1879
aged 2 years & 7 months
and were both interred on the 17th June 1879
for ever with The Lord
Also of
MARGARET ANN
**loved wife of Edmund Bradley
**arted this life January 8th 1899
aged 87
**o of Eliza
** wife of F.S.Bradley
** this life Jan 24th 1899
**ed 68
ARCHIVE MATERIAL
His account book- details of day to day expenses; collections of rent; shares in mining company etc.
Various Bradley documents were lent to Hertfordshire record Office, and copied by them, referenced as PC817 and PC828