Commonalities are points where Paul’s and my ancestral lines crossed paths at different times and places throughout history. It happened surprisingly often, and the romantic in me says it’s proof that Paul and I were meant to be together. Salisbury, MA in the 1600s is the most intriguing commonality, because there is evidence that our ancestors knew each other fairly well.
There are two relevant pedigrees for this story, the Bradbury line and the Eastman line. Both Roger Eastman and Thomas Bradbury settled in Salisbury, MA in the early 1600s. A plaque in front of the Rocky Hill Meeting House listed these men as two of the original Salisbury settlers.
Thomas Bradbury is the 12th name down in the first column. Roger Eastman is just seven names down from that, also in the first column.
According to the “First Settlers of Salisbury” project on Geni.com, Thomas Bradbury “Came from Wicken Bonant, Essex County, England. One of the most prominent citizens of Salisbury. Town clerk, schoolmaster, justice of the peace. Rep. in General Court seven years. Most of the ancient records of Salisbury and many of the County were written by him.”
According to the same source, Roger Eastman was a ” ‘housecarpenter’ (sic) or ‘planter.’ He came in the ‘Confidence’ servant of John Sanders. His daughter, Abagail Eastman, was the mother of Daniel Webster. Remains of their old homstead (sic) are still to be seen on the Baker Road.”
It is very likely that Thomas and Roger knew each other and interacted in their small town. In fact, according to the 1896 text “Salisbury’s Earliest Settlers,” by John Q. Evans, Thomas and Roger may have been in-laws. According to this text, Roger’s son Nathaniel married one of Thomas’ daughters. (p.6)
Pedigrees:
| Thomas Bradbury (1610-1695) | Roger Eastman (1610-1694) | |
| Mary Gater Perkins (1615-1700) | Sarah Smith (1621-1698) | |
| Wymond Bradbury (1637-1669) | Philip Eastman (1644-1714) | |
| Sarah Stockman (1642-1718) | Mary Margaret Barnard (1645-1712) | |
| Rev. Wymond Bradbury (1669-1734) | Ebenezer Eastman (1681-1748) | |
| Maria Cotton (1671-1736) | Sarah Peaslee (1690-1744) | |
| Deacon John Bradbury (1697-1778) | Philip Eastman (1713-1804) | |
| Abigail Young (1699-1787) | Abiah Bradley (1715-?) | |
| Joseph Bradbury (1740-1822) | Squire Jonathan Eastman (1746-1834) | |
| Dorothy Clarke (1750-?) | Esther Johnson (1753-1834) | |
| Lewis Bradbury (1763-1840) | Robert Eastman (1783-1867) | |
| Sarah East (1760-1850) | Sarah Lee (1786-1867) | |
| Mark Bradberry (1796-1862) | General Seth M. Eastman (1808-1875) | |
| Minerva Dawson (1804-1885) | Lucy Cloudman (1815-?) | |
| Jerome Girard Bradberry (1834-1877) | Jacob Many Lightenings Eastman (1816-1876) | |
| Nancy McDaniel (1846-?) | Mary Nancy Eastman (1831-1858) | |
| Sidney L. Bradberry (1867-1918) | David Weston Eastman (1851-1918) | |
| Alzora Ann Vest (1868-1910) | Emma M. Red Star Marks (1871-?) | |
| Clarence Goff Martin (1901-1980) | Francis Richard Eastman (1891-1968) | |
| Mable Melvina Bradberry (1906-1962) | Estelle L. Bradley (1890-1980) | |
| Monroe Park Long (1924-1999) | Herman Willis VanRoekel (1920-1984) | |
| Dorothy Alice Martin (1928-1964) | Dorothy Rose Eastman (1920-2018) | |
| Gary Park Long (1948-Living) | ||
| Kathleen Dale Smith (1949-2012) | Delores Sue VanRoekel (1953-Living) | |
| Paul John Michaels (1974-Living) | Paul John Michaels (1974-Living) | |
| Emily Alice Long (1973-Living) | Emily Alice Long (1973-Living) |
The Michaels Project 