Tremmel Studios

The story of the Astoria Expedition on which

John Bradbury traveled.

Bradbury is mentioned on pages:

Page VII, Page 4, Table of Contents, Page 143, Page 150, Page 154,
Page 155, Page 172, Page 173, Page 174, Page 181, Page 185,
Page 194, Page 200, Page 220. 

Copyright. Entered at Stationers' Hall.

By SAMUEL HILL

78, Hamilton Street, Stalybridge.  1907.

JOHN BRADBURY, F.L.S.

NATURALIST AND EXPLORER.

"The Indian knows his place of rest, deep in the cedar's shade."

Felicia Hemans.

John Bradbury was born at Souracre Fold, or
Far Souracre, Stalybridge, about the year 1765. The
family tombs with their various inscriptions, and
which are to be seen in the old burial ground of St.
George's Chapel, Cocker Hill, have been of great service
to the writer, in verifying many facts not hitherto known
concerning the Bradburys.

The family numbered seven persons all told, com-
prised of the parents, one daughter, and four sons, of
whom John was the youngest.

A very interesting account exists of Bradbury's
early years, his future biographer, fortunately, having
been his playmate in childhood, his companion in youth,
and his friend and confidant in maturity.

Little has been written about Bradbury for nearly
fifty years, and it is the desire of the writer to brush
away the cobwebs of gathering obscurity, and retrieve
from partial oblivion the name and works of our almost
forgotten and unknown townsman.

As a little lad he was taught in the school of John
Taylor, a local genius, who dabbled in mathematics

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 205

and the study of botany, and whose humble academy
was situated on Cocker Hill.

The future explorer was remarkably precocious, even
in his early years, exhibiting great interest in natural
history and wild-life. The schoolmaster saw and en-
couraged his pupil's leanings, and occasionally took the
lad with him on his botanical rambles, whilst Bradbury's
father bought him a copy of the works of Linnaeus,
which he studied fervently.

Leaving school he went into one of the primitive mills,
but even then he found leisure time sufficient to enable
him to continue his studies. At the age of eighteen he
had established a night school at which he taught the
young men of his acquaintance what he himself had
learned. He had acquired a microscope and a pair of
astronomical globes, and by means of these appHances
distributed, free of charge to his scholars, food for the
mind and brain. He revelled in the explanation of the
construction and habits of insects and flowers, and fixed
in the sides of one of a number of bee-hives which he
possessed two small panes of glass, so that his pupils
might see the wonderful honey-makers at their work.

He contributed articles to the botanical journals of
that time, and his name and fame soon became well
known and recognised amongst the eminent scientific
authorities.

At the age of twenty- two his writings and discoveries
were stirring the thoughts of the naturalists in the
Metropolis, the consequence of which was that Sir Joseph
Banks wrote to our subject, and as a sequel of the

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correspondence John Bradbury was invited to London,
where he was presented to many noted gentlemen, in-
troduced to and admitted a member of the Linnean
Society.

Sir John Parnell, His Grace the Duke of Leinster, Mr.
Legh of Lyme, and other eminent patrons and devotees
of the sciences of Botany and Natural History, recognised
and encouraged the countrj^-bred aspirant. For these
patrons he did much work in organising and la3'ing out
their various country seats and parks. He, however,
does not appear to have been partial to lengthy engage-
ments, preferring occasional spells of liberty and freedom
At one period he made a pedestrian tour of Ireland,
and thereby discovered many new plants, his ambition
being to add to the store of knowledge already amassed.

Passing over the middle years of his life, we find that
in the early part of last century he lived occasionally
at Manchester, periodically migrating between that
town and Liverpool. At the latter place he met that
noble minded man, William Roscoe, Esq., who intro-
duced him to Mr. Bullock, at that time the head of the
Liverpool Museum. A Society which had for its
principles the diffusion of scientific knowledge, and was
known as the Liverpool Philosophical Society, was at
this period very active, and it appears John Bradbury
was appointed corresponding secretary. The patrons
and supporters of the society included the Earl of Derby
and Col. Leigh-Phillips, and it would appear that the
increasing demand for a larger supply of cotton for
the manufactures in this country had been under

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 207

consideration. The supply had been dependent upon the
West Indies, and it is presumable that the new Republic
of the United States, with its vast area unknown and
unexplored, had attracted the attention of the Liverpool
Society. Be that as it may, John Bradbury was selected
and engaged to undertake a hazardous journey of survey
and exploration through the country known as the
southern part of the United States of America.

At this time (1809) Bradbury would be about 43 or
44 years of age, and is described as being in the prime
of manhood, swarthy, broad-shouldered, and of medium
height, amiable, yet stubborn in disposition, temperate
in his habits, and a most excellent marksman. He was
fond of music, active on his feet, and determined in his
methods and opinions.

Prepared v/ith letters of introduction to the President
of the United States, James Madison, and also to the
British Consul at Washington, he left England in the
spring of 1809, and was met and received by the represen-
tatives of the American Societies, to v/hom his labours
had become known. This welcome impressed Bradbury
very much, and in after years our townsman always
spoke with feeling and gratefulness of the kindness, the
hospitality and universal civility which he had ever met
with at the hands of the American people.

If the reader would revel in a record of perilous
adventure, hair-breadth escapes, and exciting yet
truthful details, let him consult " Travels in the interior
of America in the years 1809, 1810 and 1811, including
a description of Upper Louisiana, together with the

208 BYGONE STALYBRIDGE

States of Ohio, Indiana, and Tennessee, and containing
remarks and observations useful to persons emigrating
to those countries. By John Bradbury, F.L.S.,
London, Corresponding Secretary of the Liverpool
Philosophical Society, and Honorary Member of the
Literary and Philosophical Societies of New York, United
States of America." A copy of this book, published
in 1817, may be seen at the Mechanics' Institution.

On his return to this country Bradbury was pressed
to publish his diary and other writings, which he did.
The years between 18 12 and 18 17 were probably spent
in writing and publishing his book. The selling of the
work and subsequent collecting of the money would
entail much further labour, and to make a long story
short, the publication of his works ruined John Bradbury;
the result was that his future became darkened by the
clouds of adversity.

There can be no greater grief to a man who honestly
knows that he has done his duty than to feel that his
labours are unappreciated. After his manifold work,
his valuable discoveries, and the devotion of the best
days of his hfe to the cause of natural research his
future prospects were obscured and indefinite, and in
the depth of despair he resolved in his heart, if a chance
obtained, to quit his native land for ever.

He little dreamed how soon that chance would present
itself. Wandering through the streets of Liverpool one
day, he met by accident with an American sea captain,
with whom he had formerly been acquainted. His
friend was astonished at the condition in which he

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 2O9

•found Bradbury, for the latter had almost reached a
state of destitution. Explanations having been made,
the Yankee, to his honour and credit be it said, kindly
gripped the poor fellow's hand, forthwith offering a
free passage to America on board his ship for the entire
Bradbury family.

Once again the wandering naturalist crossed the
western ocean, and on his arrival at New York, his
acquaintances who had known him in brighter days
welcomed him again with a friendliness which must
have been gratifying to the heart of the exile.

Thus, on a foreign strand far away from the old home,
which to-day honours his name, John Bradbury found
that respect and recognition which were denied him in
the land of the brave and the free.

He ultimately became Curator and Superintendent
of the Botanical Gardens at St. Louis, where he was
honoured and respected by the residents of that city.
His family settled in their new home, and with good
prospects, Bradbury was now beyond the fear of penury,
and with undiminished vigour he continued his
researches and investigations. He was often visited by
the Indian Chiefs whom he had met in the wilds, and
with whom he was always on the most friendly terms.

In the spring of 1825 a strange desire took possession
of Bradbury to revisit the haunts of the Red Men, and
he forthwith started from the City of St. Louis for that
purpose. It may be that the trials of his early years
had left their mark ; it may be that his life was cut short
by accident. Be that as it may, the last record of him

14 .

210 BYGONE STALYBRIDGE

states that he is supposed to have died, and been buried
with great solemnity by the Indians somewhere in the
valley at the head of the Red River.

To-day the works of our townsman are being eagerly
sought for by American agencies, and in a very short
time the few copies remaining in the district may drift
away.

In conclusion we find that in the 6oth year of his age
this truly wonderful man, a noble example and a bene-
factor to his race, became a martyr to the love of liberty,
science, and everything that was beautiful and sublime
in nature.

We claim for our townsman, John Bradbury, the
honourable distinction of having been one of the first
white men to explore, survey, and publish an account
of the hitherto unknown solitudes, which have since
furnished the bulk of the cotton used in Lancashire.