Joseph Bridger

General Joseph Bridger (before 28 Apr 1631^[1] – before 8 May 1686^[2]) was a military and political figure in the Colony of Virginia. Some sources relate him as "Colonel" (Col.) Bridger.^[3]

Born in Gloucester, England, in 1631, he was the son of Samuel Bridger, the auditor of the College of Gloucester.^[4] Bridger served as a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses from Isle of Wight County, Virginia in the 1657-8 session, as well as in 1663. According to some sources, Bridger was later a co-acting Colonial Governor of Virginia in 1684, and 1685.^[5]^{[additional citation(s) needed]}

During Bacon's Rebellion, Bridger was an adherent of Governor William Berkeley.^[6]

Several of Bridger's descendants also served in the House of Burgesses.^[7]

He died in 1686, in Isle of Wight County, Virginia.^[8] He was interred at St. Luke's Church, in Smithfield, Virginia.^[9]

Family[]

Joseph Bridger married ca. 1654 Hester Pitt, daughter of Colonel Robert Pitt of Isle of Wight Co., Va. [1]

The children of Joseph Bridger and Hester Pitt were:

Capt. Joseph II (ca. 1654 - by 1713/4) who married Elizabeth Norsworthy
Martha (ca. 1658 - 1714), married Thomas Godwin
Col. Samuel (ca. 1663 - by 1713), married Elizabeth Godwin
Col. William (ca. 1668 -1730), married Elizabeth Allen
Elizabeth (ca. 1665 - 1717), married Thomas Lear
Mary (ca 1667 - ), married Capt. Richard Tibboth
Hester (1665 - ca. 1722), married George Williamson

References[]

^ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch: indexed 11 Feb 2018, Josephus Bridger, 28 Apr 1631; citing index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 425,402.
^ Will date 18 Oct 1683, probate date 8 May 1686. Chapman, Blanche Adams. Wills and Administrations of Isle of Wight County, Virginia 1647-1800. Joseph Bridger. Citing LDS Family History Library, accession 975.554 P28c. 1995, p. 250.
^ "Chapter 1, Part 2 - "The Tidewater Hearth" - John D. Bridgers M.D."
^ See also: Database and images memorial page for Samuel Bridger (1584–21 Jul 1650), Find A Grave Memorial no. 74617351; accessed 08 Jan 2020, citing Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester, City of Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England; Maintained by Kat (contributor 47496397).
^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "Re: Col Joseph Bridger, IOW". genealogy.com. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography". vagenweb.org. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Joseph Bridger". wikitree.com. Retrieved 19 May 2016.
^ "Col Joseph Bridger (1628 - 1686)". findagrave.com. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
^ Fischer, David Hackett (1989). Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America. New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 633–639. ISBN 978-0-19-506905-1.