Descendants of Ipswich settlers Humphrey Bradstreet and Robert Day met in Minnesota and married in 1781
Lavina S. Bursley’s fifth great grandfather, Robert Day, was made a freeman in Ipswich in 1641. In Robert’s will, he wrote:
“I give to my son John Day after my decease…ye parcell of land lying near the common fence gate w[hi]ch was part of Mr. Bradstreets his lot…”
Humphrey Bradstreet arrived in Ipswich in 1635. From this will, we know that Humphrey Bradstreet not only knew Robert Day, but had also lived nearby and conducted land transactions with him. He would never have guessed that two and half centuries later, his sixth great grandson, Albert J. Stanwood, would meet and marry Robert’s fifth great granddaughter, Lavina Bursley, in the small town of Elk River in Minnesota.
Albert and Lavina are my second great grand parents, and Ipswich, the home of both of their ancestors, one of my favorite places.
Me with the headstones of Lavina (Bursley) Stanwood’s great grandparents, Aaron and Sarah (Goodhue) Day
Ipswich Town Historian led a walking tour of the town in June 2015. The Caldwell house was home to Lavina (Bursley) Stanwood’s ancestors.
The Bradstreet Farm was originally in the town of Ipswich but was later annexed to neighboring Rowley. This portion of Humphrey Bradstreet’s land remained in the family until 2007!
