William Bradshaw's parents are Thomas Bradshaw, Sr. and Elizabeth Bradshaw. We believe her maiden name was Bradshaw but relation is not known if any.

William had four known brothers: 1) James Bradshaw who was instrumental in the Republic of Texas. James served as a Mounted Riflemen, 3rd Brig., Texas Militia. 2) Thomas Jr. 3) Moses and 4) John Bradshaw.

William Bradshaw perhaps was born in VA (probably Scott Co., VA) and married Melinda WEAR in Sevier Co., TN on 09 Aug 1818.

Around 1825, the family moved to Lauderdale Co., AL, most of their children were born there. When William's brother James died in 1844 and was willed his enormous estate. William and his family moved from Nacogdoches in 1849 to Ioni Twp., where their daughter Diana was married in 1850 to Kindred Watkins. During the 1850 census they were found in Ioni Twp., Anderson Co., TX. And lived there for the rest of their lives.

William and Melinda (Wear) Bradshaw had at least 10 children:

1) Samuel Erastus 2) Peggy "Polly" 3) Minerva 4) Elizabeth 5) Pleasant William 6) Dinah m: Kindred Watkins 7) Martha m: Andrew C. Thomas 8) Melinda 9) Nancy Anne m: Wm E. Denson & 10) Margaret C. Bradshaw.

CENSUS RECORDS:

1830 Lauderdale Co., AL Census, pg. 243
William BRADSHAW
1 - Free white males under 5 (Pleasant W.)
1 - Free white males bet. 10 - 15 (Samuel E.)
1 - Free white males bet. 40 - 50 (William age 33)
1 - Free white females under 5 (Dinah)
1 - Free white females bet. 20-30 (Melinda age 29/30)

1840 Lauderdale Co., AL Census, pg. 98
W. BRADSHAW
1 - Free white males bet. 10 & 15 (Pleasant)
1 - Free white males bet. 20 & 30 (Samuel)
1 - Free white males bet. 40 & 50 (William)
1 - Free white females under 5 (Nancy & Margaret)
1 - Free white females bet. 5 & 10 (Dinah & Martha)
1 - Free white females bet. 40 & 50 (Melinda)

1850 Anderson Co., TX Census taken on 22 Oct 1850 (Page 48, Dwelling # 318-318)
William Bradshaw, age 54, M, b: VA, Occupation: Farmer, Value of Real Estate Owned: $20,000
Malinda, age 49, F, b: TN
Pleasant W., age 23, M, b: AL
Martha, age 19, F, b: AL
Nancy A., age 15, F, b: AL
Margaret C., age 12, F, b: AL
Littleberry King, age 22, M, b: TN

1860 Ioni Twp., Anderson Co., TX Census, pg. 51 (529-529)
William Bradshaw, age 70, M, Farmer, $10,000 in Real estate value, $2,500 in personal estate value, b: AL
Elizabeth Bradshaw, F, wife, age 40, F, b: AL
Taylor Lovett, age 11, M, b: AR
Thomas Lovett, age 9, M, b: TX
Elizabeth Lovett, age 9, F, b: TX
Ambros Lovett, age 7, M, b: TX
(Note: Lovett's are step children belonging to Elizabeth's prior marrige)

1860 Beat 6 Twp., Anderson Co., TX Slave Schedule, 17 July 1860
William Bradshaw, page 13
1 - Black Female age 18

PUBLISHED MATERIAL:

History of Anderson Co., TX, pg. 351
S. Douglas Watkins, son of Sam Watkins, grandson of Kindred Watkins & Dinah Bradshaw. His great grandparents were William BRADSHAW and Malinda WARE who were study pioneers of Nacogdoches. Married in 1818, the Bradshaw's moved from Nacogdoches in 1849 to Ioni where their daughter Diana was married in 1850 to Kindred Watkins. These were the parents of Sam, the father of Douglas. All were farmers of the more progressive class.

History of Anderson Co., TX, pg. 244
Mr. Gad Watkins, "My great Uncle, Jim BRADSHAW from TN came to Texas in the days of the Republic. He built a fort in Nacogdoches County (now part of Cherokee Co., TX). It was one of the strongest forts of the day and travelers made it a point to stop there for safety. It became a very famous pioneer hotel. "This Uncle amassed a great fortune in land and slaves." Upon his death my grandfather, William Bradshaw, inherited land and one hundred negros from his estate. Grandfather took his slaves to Louisana and sold them for $1,000 a piece. As there were no banks, to get the money home was a problem. He was paid in gold. Putting it in a box, he set this in the stage coach and rode all the way home with his feet on the box."

History of Anderson Co., TX, pg. 330
Mr. L. C. Watkins' great grand parents were William & Malinda (WARE) BRADSHAW, married in TN in 1818, moving to Nacogoches, TX in 1840, came to Anderson Co., TX in 1849 and settled near what was later Denson Springs, Anderson Co., TX. (Denson Springs is named after Nancy Anne Bradshaw who married a Denson. Daughter of William & Melinda Bradshaw. The Bradshaw's belonged to that class of pioneers who rapidly accumulated comforts in their homes. Not content with mere "food, fire and shelter" they sought the rarer, more luxurious possessions - those things which make for a keener enjoyment in living. They brought from their old home in Nacogoches all such things as could be crowded on their wagons. One notable tree which they brought bore luscious figs. That tree still flourishes on the old home in Denson Springs, and what is more amazing, it is still bearing!

Denson Springs Cemetery
Slocum, Anderson County, TX
Located 6 mi. east of Slocum on SH 294, then .5 mi. north on CR 1220
Early settlers of this area, known as Ioni after a nearby Indian village, began arriving in the early 1830s. The land on which this cemetery is located was granted to James BRADSHAW in 1835. When he died in 1844, the property was inherited by his brother, William, who moved here with his family from Nacogdoches in 1849. One of William BRADSHAW's daughters, Diana, married Kindred Watkins in 1850. When their first child, a son, was born and died on August 15, 1851, he was buried near their home. The child's burial was the first in what would become Denson Springs Cemetery. Over the years, this one-acre plot became a family burial ground. Later, other settlers of the area were also buried here, and when the name of the community was changed in 1878 to Denson Springs, this site became known as the Denson Springs Cemetery. Besides the marked graves, it is believed there are a number of unmarked burials. Veterans of the Civil War, World War I, and World War II are interred here. The graveyard was deeded to the Denson Springs Cemetery Association in 1980. Set in a grove of trees, it is a quiet reminder of the area's early pioneers and settlers. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836 – 1986