Author John A. Brayton has proven that the mother of Colonel Joseph Bridger was Mary PURCHAS, not Mary NEWCE. He cites his findings in his book entitled “Colonial Families of Surry and Isle of Wight Counties, Virginia, Volume 10 Bridger of Godalming, Surry; Slimbridge, Gloucestershire; and Virginia.” He went to England to do research, which was encouraged by Barbara Dossett, a genealogist who provided John with an outline of the Bridger family connecting them with the Elliotts. Some of the info he found: 1656, Transcripts: Mary Purchas(e), daughter of John Purchase and Joane baptism on 17 July 1603. And on pages 16-17: “Samuel Bridger, the eldest son of Rev. Lawrence Bridgers and Gillian Tanner, was born, according to the record of his matriculation at Magdalen Hall, Oxford College, 1584, …….. he married Mary PURCHASE, the daughter-in-law of his first cousin Richard Bridger, who had married Joane (Perrier) Purchase, the widow of John Purchase.” She was only listed as “Mary the daughter-in-law of a Richard Bridger,” and the author had to find a marriage for Richard Bridger, as follows: Richard Bridger married 21 Dec. 1617 in Godalming, Joanne (Perier) Purchase, the widow and second wife of John Purchase, who had just been buried in Godalming, 27 June 1616. (Info from Godalming Parish Registers, pg.229).” He documents Mary’s line back to her grandmother Joane Elliot and then documents the Elliott family back to the 15th century.

Regards,
Elaine Powell

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Elaine

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Elaine

Thank you so much!
Rita Edwards