Notes:

William left home when he was sixteen to make his home with his uncle, Richard A. Bradley.  In 1855 he moved to Warren County, Illinois, where he remained until 1859 when he returned to Jackson County, Illinois.  

In July of 1861 he enlisted in Company I, 10th Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry.  He was mustered in as a Sergeant at Chester, Illinois on 3 August 1861 for the term of three years.  In April 1862 the regiment was sent to New Madrid, and from there to Island No. 10.  The regiment was engaged in the first campaign at Corinth, Mississippi and in Alabama and Tennessee, taking part in the march to Knoxville, and for several months on duty around Nashville.  It took part in the engagements at Dalton Gap, Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain and Peach Tree Creek.  He was discharged at Resville, Georgia on 1 Jan 1864 and re-enlisted as a Private (Veteran) in his same company.  After the capture of Atlanta the regiment was involved in the March to the Sea, the capture of Savannah and the subsequent campaign through the Carolinas and Virginia.  The regiment took part in the Grand Review at Washington, D.C.  William was honorably discharged on 4 July 1865 at Louisville, Kentucky.  He was 5'10", dark complexion, blue eyes and dark hair.

After the war William bought a farm in Jackson County, Illinois, which he operated until 1875 when he moved to Watson, Effingham County, Illinois and started a truck farm.  He was elected to numerous township offices, serving for four years as a member of the County Central Committee and as a delegate to numerous County and State conventions.  He also served as Police Magistrate.  He joined the Masonic lodge in 1865, belonged to the International Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.) and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, serving as Commander of the Watson Post in 1910.  On 13 November 1890 he applied and recieved an invalid pension.

William married Melissa Koen 28 Apr 1865, Randolph County, IL. Melissa was born 2 Sep 1842, St. Clair County, IL; died 20 Feb 1870, IL; was buried , Mill Creek Cemetery, Wine Hill, Randolph County, IL. [Group Sheet]

1. Curtis Bradley was born 29 May 1866, Jackson County, IL; died 3 Oct 1935, Vandalia, Fayette County, IL; was buried 5 Oct 1935, Vandalia, Fayette County, IL.
2. Frances E. Bradley was born 20 Nov 1867, Randolph County, IL; died 6 Oct 1892, Effingham County, IL.

William married Emily Steele 2 Oct 1870, Randolph County, IL. Emily was born 4 Dec 1838, Randolph County, IL; died 1927; was buried , Looney Spring Cemetery, Campbell Hill, Jackson County, IL. [Group Sheet]

1. Alice May Bradley was born 23 Jul 1871, Desoto, Jackson County, IL; died 29 Mar 1899, Watson, Effingham County, IL.

Notes:

Shortly after his birth the family moved to Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee.  On 29 September 1814, James enlisted as a private in Captain Thomas Scurr's Company, 2nd Regiment of Tennessee Volunteer Mounted Gunmen.  This regiment was commanded by Colonel Thomas Williamson and fought under General Coffee's command during the Battle of New Orleans.  James was discharged on 27 April 1815 at Nashville, Tennessee.  James received a land grant for 80 acres of land under the Act of September 1850, and located it in Jackson County, Illinois.   James moved near Shiloh Hill in Randolph County, Illinois Territory in 1817.

Like his father, James Bradley was a stone mason by trade, and for many years lived on his farm and manufactured monuments and chimney foundations.  He was the first man to do stone cutting and monument work in the southern part of the state, and was also a maker of grindstones.  He was very involved in local politics.  He was appointed numerous times to County Juries between 1825 and 1840.  He was the head of the Bradley Road District in 1827, and was appointed Fence Viewer in Gognia Township in 1830.  He served as Justice of the Peace in 1831, and in 1839 was appointed by the Illinois State Legislature as one of the commissioners to lay out a road from Belleville, via New Athens, to Brownsville.

On January 1st, 1836 several citizens of Randolph and Jackson counties, including James, met to organize a school, which became known as Shiloh School located in Randolph County.  James was among the men who donated money to purchase 80 acres for the school house on 13 April 1839.  On the 11th of November 1839 he became a Trustee of the school, and 12 days later the Trustees were charged with the incorporation of Shiloh College.  Upon the college's incorporation on 22 January 1840, he was appointed a Trustee of the College, and served until August of 1842.  
    

James married Martha Hughes 28 Nov 1820, Randolph County, IL. Martha was born 15 Oct 1804, Randolph County, Illinois Territory; died 15 Oct 1845, Jackson County, IL; was buried , Gillespie Cemetery, Randolph County, IL. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

(Research): 20 May 1793:  Joshua Bradly of Mecklenburg County, NC sold to Andrew Alexander Jr. 100 acres of land on Clark's Creek.  This land was Granted to Thomas Galloway on 24 Mar 1784 and he sold it to Joshua Bradly on 21 Oct 1791.  [Mecklenburg County Deeds, p 273/651]

Joshua married Nancy "Ann" Gardner 17 Aug 1796, Cabarrus County, NC. Nancy (daughter of James Gardner and Mary Ann) was born Abt 1775, Mecklenburg County, NC; died Yes, date unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

(Research):23 Aug 1775:  Henry Bradley Sr. sold to Henry Bradley Jr. 100 acres of land in Hopewell, formerly Shrewsbury Township, York County, PA.

3 Dec 1777:  Henry Bradley Sr.'s Will proven in court.  He willed 80 acres, known as Mount Pleasant, to his son Henry Bradley Jr.

18 Aug 1783:  Henry Bradley Jr. sold 100 acres of land to Frances Hartmann.   This was land grant #2379 that Henry Bradley Sr. sold to Henry Bradley Jr in 1775.

31 Jan 1791:  Letters of Administration granted to James Griffith of the Estate of Henry Bradley, late of Hopewell Township, York County, PA.

Found wife online listed as Mary Giles

Notes:

(Research): 26 Jan 1767, James Gardner received 73 acres adj. Charles Harris, Saml Brown, and William Gamon(?) from H.E. McCulloh.   [Records of Mecklenburg County, NC, Vol 4, p. 99]

Poplar Tent Cemetery, near Concord, NC
Gardner, Hezekiah James, d. 6 May 1773, age 9mos, son of James and Margaret Gardner.  (WHO IS THIS?  Did James marry twice and this was son by first marriage or was transcription wrong and "Marg." really "Mary"?

On 14 Sep 1776 James Gardner, shoemaker, purchased a lot on the west side of Trade Street in Charlotte, NC; #19,  for L130.  [Records of Mecklenburg County, NC, Vol 7, p. 211]

Signer of 1778 Mecklenburg Petition (North Carolina General Assembly - Sessions, Apr-May 1778. Box 1, Joint Papers, North Carolina State Archives)

July Session 1784:  Robt. Harris vs James Gardner.  Ordered that James Gardner and Att be advised that it is the Sentiment of this Court that James Gardner have the Lands agreeable to his Entry, But not to extend to the North of Charles Harris old line of the place that ____Galloway lately lived on or take in any improvements of said land and that Robert Harris pay the cost of this suit.  [Mecklenburg County Court Minutes, Book 1, p. 33]

1790 Federal Census:  Mecklenburg County, NC
Gardner, James
1 male over 16 (James)
1 male under 16 (Hezekiah James)
6 females (wife Mary Ann, daughters Sophie, Nancy, Abigail, Rachael, Elizabeth)
2 slaves

April Session 1793:  Margaret Blackwood (of full age) a Minor of Thomas Blackwood, decd, came into Court and made choice of James Gardner as her Guardian who entered into Bond with Ezekial Alexander, security. [Mecklenburg County Court Minutes, Book 3, p. 129]

July Session 1793:  An inventory of the amount of sales of the estate of Thomas Blackwood, decd, by James Gardner and John Gardner was shown. [Mecklenburg County Court Minutes, Book 3, p. 133]

July Sesson 1796:  John Gardner and James Gardner, Executors of Thomas Blackwood, decd, to James Henry for 141 acres of Land, dated 19 July 1796, proved by John McKnitt Alexander.  [Mecklenburg County Court Minutes, Book 3, p. 171]

James married Mary Ann Abt 1763. Mary was born Abt 1745; died Nov 1815, Sumner County, TN. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

(Research):In the Name of God Amen.  I Mary Ann Gardner being in common health and of a sound judgement and ____ but colling to mind my mortality do make and ordain this my las will and testament in the form and manner following.  And First I do leave and bequeth unto my grand daughter Mary Ann Sloan my Bed, one sheet, one Bolster, & two pillows. -- And Secondly I leave and bequeth unto Mary Ann Kelough one bed, one sheet, one Bolster, & two pillows.  And Thirdly I leave My Saddle to Margaret Kelough.  And fourthly I leave to my grand daughter Mary Ann Giles one coverlet and drawer upon the loom, and one of the blankets. -- And Fifthly I leave to my Grand daughter Mary Ann Harris one single coverall, one coverlet drawn up with needle.  And Sixthly I leave to my daughter Ann Bradley, one double coverlet and one stand of white curtains.  And Seventhly I leave one black habit to my daughter Mary Sloan.  And Eighthly I leave one calico habit to Nancy Bradley.  And Ninthly I leave one ____ cotton habit to Hannah Giles. And Tenth I leave one ____ _____ bed quilt to my daughter Abigail Clark and Elizabeth I leave one Sundry bed quilt and one Blanket to my Grand daughter Mary Ann Harris.  And I further leave to Racheal Harris one Pewter Basin and one pewter dish and four chairs, one large dutch oven and hooks.  And I further leave the ________ of ______ furniture and one large pot with its hooks and my weaving loom with all its furniture and one set of spools and one _____ loom and one coffee mill to Abby Clark.   And I further leave to Racheal Harris one Pot Rack and I leave my flax ______ to Mary _____ .  And I further leave my cooking ____ to my daughter Abigail Clark.  And I further order that my negro woman Phillis with all my horses, cattle, hogs, and articles of every kind not mentioned by name in my will be sold and after paying my just debts and giving Jane Read five dollars and Eliza Bradley five dollars, then the amount of said ____ to be equally divided among my daughters and all my clothing not mentioned in my will by name I order to be divided among my daughters equally as they may see fit.  And I do further appoint John Barr and John Sloan Executors wholly and solely of this my last will and testament, signed with my own hand & seal affixed thereto  Jun 26th day In the year one thousand eight hundred and twelve.
Mary Ann  X  Gardner
Proven in Sumner County, TN  during the Nov 1815 term.