William Bradford
1589?-1657. Second governor of Plymouth Colony; writer. Baptized in 1590 in Yorkshire, England, he is referred to by Cotton Mather* as the Moses who brought the Pilgrims out from England to the New Canaan. He governed the colony for most of the years between 1621 and 1656. Bradford wrote the History of Plymouth Plantation, a historical masterpiece, describing how God had providentially led the Pilgrims in the creation of their new society between 1620 and 1646. His scholarship and managerial ability were great, but, in Mather's words, “the crown of all was his holy, prayerful, watchful and fruitful walk with God, wherein he was very exemplary.”