William Bradford

William Bradford was born in 1590 and when he was very young both of his parents died so he lived with several relatives while he was growing up. When he was 12 he went to a church of separatists and got really into their ideas and beliefs. By the time he was 17 he was what we would call a radical christian and told the congregation about his idea to separate from the church of England. This was an extremely dangerous thing to do because at the time church and state were one thing and you had one religion to follow. later William found out that the King of England, James I, was tracking down the separatist leaders and imprisoning them. He found this out and they decided to go to the New Netherlands. I think they should have gone but at the same time Jesus tells us that we will be persecuted and that in order to follow him we have to drink of the same cup that he did and pick up our cross and follow him. I think it is kind of cool that the king was persecuting them because it shows that they were not afraid to speak out on their beliefs. He had alot of influence and used it well and very carefully. He had to trust God and walk by faith in everything he did because he was not sure what would lie ahead but knew that was what God had planned for him and his congregation.