Joseph Bridger
General Joseph Bridger (before 28 Apr 1631[1] – before 8 May 1686[2]) was a military and political figure in the Colony of Virginia. Some sources relate him as "Colonel" (Col.) Bridger.[3]
Born in Gloucester, England, in 1631, he was the son of Samuel Bridger, the auditor of the College of Gloucester.[4] Bridger served as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses from Isle of Wight County, Virginia in the 1657-8 session, as well as in 1663. According to some sources, Bridger was later a co-acting Colonial Governor of Virginia in 1684, and 1685.[5]
During Bacon's Rebellion, Bridger was an adherent of Governor William Berkeley.[6]
Several of Bridger's descendants also served in the House of Burgesses.[7]
He died in 1686, in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.[8] He was interred at St. Luke's Church, in Smithfield, Virginia.[9]
Family
Joseph Bridger married ca. 1654 Hester Pitt, daughter of Colonel Robert Pitt of Isle of Wight Co., Va.
The children of Joseph Bridger and Hester Pitt were:
- Capt. Joseph II (ca. 1654 - by 1713/4) who married Elizabeth Norsworthy
- Martha (ca. 1658 - 1714), married Thomas Godwin
- Col. Samuel (ca. 1663 - by 1713), married Elizabeth Godwin
- Col. William (ca. 1668 -1730), married Elizabeth Allen
- Elizabeth (ca. 1665 - 1717), married Thomas Lear
- Mary (ca 1667 - ), married Capt. Richard Tibboth
- Hester (1665 - ca. 1722), married George Williamson
See also
Among Governor Bridger's descendants were:[10]
- Jim Bridger, mountain man and explorer of the American Northwest
- Robert Rufus Bridgers, North Carolina politician of the Civil War era
- Bridger family of Virginia
- Bridger Family Association
Further reading
References
- "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch: indexed 11 Feb 2018, Josephus Bridger, 28 Apr 1631; citing index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 425,402.
- Will date 18 Oct 1683, probate date 8 May 1686. Chapman, Blanche Adams. Wills and Administrations of Isle of Wight County, Virginia 1647-1800. Joseph Bridger. Citing LDS Family History Library, accession 975.554 P28c. 1995, p. 250.
- http://www.tk-jk.net/Bridgers/Shaggy/fog0000000027.html
- See also: Database and images memorial page for Samuel Bridger (1584–21 Jul 1650), Find A Grave Memorial no. 74617351; accessed 08 Jan 2020, citing Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester, City of Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England; Maintained by Kat (contributor 47496397).
- "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Re: Col Joseph Bridger, IOW". genealogy.com. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- "Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography". vagenweb.org. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- "Joseph Bridger". wikitree.com. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
- "Col Joseph Bridger (1628 - 1686)". findagrave.com. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
- Fischer, David Hackett (1989). Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 633–639. ISBN 978-0-19-506905-1.