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Research Findings on Mary (Marshall) Bradley (1793–1873)

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Biographical Overview of Mary Marshall Bradley

Mary Marshall Bradley was born in the early 1790s in Maryland, and later married Joseph Bradley of Pennsylvania. According to her grave record, she died on January 4, 1873 in Rock Grove, Stephenson County, Illinois, at about 79 years of age. Her burial is in Frankeburger Cemetery, Rock Grove, IL. That record also indicates Mary was born in Prince George’s County, Maryland. This aligns with independent evidence from Maryland church records (see below) suggesting she was born in Prince George’s County in 1793.

Mary’s husband Joseph Bradley (1792–1866) was born in what became Columbia County, Pennsylvania (then part of Northumberland County). The couple likely married in Pennsylvania sometime in the 1810s (no official marriage record has been found in online indexes), and they had several children born in Pennsylvania before migrating west. By 1850, Joseph and Mary Bradley were living in Ontwa Township, Cass County, Michigan (as shown in the 1850 U.S. Census), with both of them listed as age 58 and born in “Pennsylvania”. (Mary’s birthplace was probably misreported by the census taker, since other sources clearly state Maryland.) In the 1860s they moved to Stephenson County, Illinois, where Joseph died in 1866 and Mary lived until 1873.

Summary of key life events: Mary Marshall was born ~1793 in Prince George’s Co., MD; married Joseph Bradley (of Northumberland/Columbia Co., PA) likely circa 1812–1815 (exact date/place undocumented); lived in Pennsylvania (early 1800s), then Cass Co., Michigan (by 1850), and finally Stephenson Co., Illinois, where she died in 1873.

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Evidence of Mary’s Parentage

Mary’s Parents (Hypothesis vs. Evidence): The user suspects Mary’s parents were William Marshall and Euphemia “Harriet”, who lived in Northumberland County, PA. However, extensive evidence indicates her parents were actually named John Marshall and Elizabeth Fendall Fry Ford.

Notably, a FamilySearch-indexed christening record from Maryland shows that “Mary Hepsaba Marshall” (an old spelling of Hephzibah, likely a middle name) was born 9 June 1793 in Saint John’s Parish, Prince George’s County, Maryland, to father John Marshall (age 20) and mother Elizabeth Fendall Fry Ford (age 24) [1] (https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/MZPT-DZ2/mary-hepsaba-marshall-1793-1873). This baptism record is part of Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650–1995 on FamilySearch. It provides a direct link between Mary and her parents’ names in Maryland, rather than Pennsylvania.

Furthermore, the FamilySearch family tree for Mary includes this source and lists her maiden name as Mary Hepsaba Marshall, confirming the 1793 birth and parentage.

Mary was not an only child. The same Prince George’s County parish register (St. John’s, an Episcopal/Anglican parish) shows other children born to John Marshall and Elizabeth (Ford) around that time. In particular, two sisters are documented:

Nancy Ann Marshall, born 1797 (died 1872) [2] (https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/MZPT-DZ2/mary-hepsaba-marshall-1793-1873)
Rebekah Malvina Marshall, born January 19, 1805 in Prince George’s County. The baptism entry for Rebekah explicitly names John B. Marshall as father and Elizabeth Ford as mother [3] (https://www.ancestry.com/1940-census/usa/North-Carolina/Relukah-Marshall_5b24jn)

A marriage record exists for John Marshall and Elizabeth Fendall Fry Ford on February 9, 1790 (likely in Prince George’s County) [4] (https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/MT5B-3DR/elizabeth-fendall-fry-ford-1770). This was just a few years before Mary’s birth, fitting the timeline.

Table: Children of John Marshall and Elizabeth (Ford)

Child (Marshall)Birth/BaptismNotesEuphemia Marshallc. 1790Married James C. Sproul ~1810 in Northumberland Co., PA. Died 1849. Named a daughter Euphemia Harriet Sproul. [5] (https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/L7N2-2B7/james-c.-sproul-1786-1854)Mary “Hepsaba” Marshall (later Bradley)9 June 1793Married Joseph Bradley of PA. Died 4 Jan 1873 at Rock Grove, Stephenson Co., IL. [1] (https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/MZPT-DZ2/mary-hepsaba-marshall-1793-1873)Nancy Ann Marshall1797Died 1872. Possibly unmarried or not traced further. [2] (https://ancestors.familysearch.org/en/MZPT-DZ2/mary-hepsaba-marshall-1793-1873)Rebekah Malvina Marshall19 Jan 1805Baptized in MD; father listed as John B. Marshall and mother Elizabeth Ford. [3] (https://www.ancestry.com/1940-census/usa/North-Carolina/Relukah-Marshall_5b24jn)

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Migration to Pennsylvania & Family Confusion

It appears that after 1805, the Marshall family left Maryland and resettled in Pennsylvania. By around 1810, the family (or at least the older daughters) were living in Northumberland County, PA. In fact, Mary’s elder sister Euphemia Marshall was married in Northumberland County about 1810. Mary herself likely met and wed Joseph Bradley in that same area, although no contemporary marriage record has surfaced.

As for the names “William Marshall and Euphemia Harriet”: No evidence has been found of a William Marshall married to a Euphemia Harriet in Northumberland County for this timeframe.

Euphemia was actually Mary’s sister.
Harriet appears in the next generation as Euphemia Harriet Sproul, daughter of Euphemia and James C. Sproul.
William Marshall may be a confusion with an earlier generation or another family.

Thus, the theory of William Marshall and Euphemia Harriet being Mary’s parents is a mistaken conflation of Mary’s sister Euphemia and a grandchild.

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Genealogical Records Discovered

The search spanned major genealogy websites and record repositories. Below is a list of relevant records and findings that support Mary’s origins and family connections:

Baptism Record (Primary Source):
Mary “Hepsaba” Marshall, born 9 June 1793, daughter of John Marshall and Elizabeth Ford, baptized in St. John’s Parish, Prince George’s County, MD. Indexed in Maryland Births and Christenings, 1650–1995 on FamilySearch. Confirms birthplace and parentage.
Sibling Baptisms:
- Nancy Ann Marshall, born 1797, Prince George’s Co., MD
- Rebekah Malvina Marshall, born 19 Jan 1805, baptized with parents John B. Marshall and Elizabeth Ford.
Parental Marriage Record:
John Marshall and Elizabeth Fendall Fry Ford, married 9 Feb 1790, likely in Prince George’s Co., MD. Cited from compiled FamilySearch records.
Gravestone & Cemetery Records:
- Mary Marshall Bradley memorial: born in Prince George’s Co., MD (possibly Oct 7, 1797), died 4 Jan 1873, buried in Frankeburger Cemetery, Rock Grove, IL
- Joseph Bradley: born Columbia Co., PA, died 13 Sep 1866 in Rock Grove, IL
  Records found on FindAGrave.com.
1850 U.S. Census, Ontwa Twp, Cass Co., MI:
Joseph and Mary Bradley, both listed as age 58 and born in Pennsylvania (likely an error for Mary), with children born in PA—showing their residence in PA through the 1820s.
Family Trees:
- Ancestry.com and WikiTree entries confirm the same family structure.
- Euphemia Marshall (Mary’s sister) married James C. Sproul around 1810 in Northumberland Co., PA. Their daughter, Euphemia Harriet Sproul, appears to be the origin of the "Harriet" confusion.
Probate & Land Leads:
No will or probate record found for John Marshall (~1820), but researchers are encouraged to check probate records in Prince George’s Co., MD and Northumberland/Columbia Co., PA. Deeds or land grants could contain family links, especially if Mary or Elizabeth released dower rights.

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Recommended Archives and Repositories (Maryland & Pennsylvania)

To deepen research into Mary Marshall Bradley’s lineage, the report recommends these key archives and institutions:

Maryland Repositories

Maryland State Archives (MSA), Annapolis, MD
Holds original parish records, probate files, land deeds, and early vital records. St. John’s Parish baptismal records for the Marshall children are likely in their holdings.
MSA Guide
Maryland Center for History and Culture (MCHC), Baltimore, MD
Extensive genealogical library including published Maryland church records, Bible records, and genealogies. May include Ford or Fendall family materials.
Prince George’s County Historical & Genealogical Societies, Upper Marlboro, MD
Local archives, marriage abstracts (1777–Civil War), cemetery surveys, and volunteers who can assist with early record searches.
Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MD
Maryland genealogy resources, including Ancestry Library Edition, local maps, and city directories. Also houses “Maryland Records: Colonial, Revolutionary, County and Church”.
Pratt Library Genealogy Guide
FamilySearch Library / Family History Centers
Digitized images of Prince George’s Co. church and probate records may be accessible at LDS-affiliated centers.

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Pennsylvania Repositories (Northumberland / Columbia Co. Focus)

Northumberland County Historical Society (NCHS), Sunbury, PA
Strong local genealogical holdings including newspapers, tax lists (1790s+), deed indexes, and surname files. Offers remote research support.
NCHS Genealogical Library
Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg, PA
Holds early Northumberland County wills, deeds, Orphans' Court records, Revolutionary War files, and land surveys. Many digitized via Ancestry partnership.
PA Archives & Ancestry Access
Columbia County Historical & Genealogical Society, Bloomsburg, PA
Relevant to Joseph Bradley’s roots. Holds early church records and genealogy collections for the county.
Sunbury Public Library, Sunbury, PA
Local history room may contain obituaries, 19th-century county histories, and newspaper archives that mention the Bradley or Marshall families.
Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (GSP), Philadelphia, PA
Compiled genealogies and publications like Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine often include transcriptions from Northumberland records.
FamilySearch Catalog – Pennsylvania
Many county records (deeds, wills, tax lists) available on microfilm and digital image, viewable at Family History Centers or affiliates.

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Sources

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