Various circumstances, however, lead to the supposition that for some time after he had attained his majority, which must have been about the year 1534, Richard had his home at Bradshaw Hall with his uncle Henry, who was, without doubt, living there with Elizabeth, his wife, as tenant up to the year 1541. Before this event, however, the foolish lad had entered upon the extravagant and downward career which ultimately led to his ruin and to his banishment from the old home and lands. His frequent appeals to his uncle William for money resulted in, first a mortgage, and finally, in December, 1542, the absolute sale of his interests in the whole of the Bradshaw domain to his uncle William, of Marple, co. Chester. One of the sums of money sent to him by his uncle was the result of a most piteous appeal, which ends thus: “For I have no money bott off you, nor I cannot boro non but of you, nor I wyll not, and therefore I prey you to be good to me of thys.” In an exceedingly neat and educated handwriting are the few words written in the spare space below Richard’s letter complying with the request, and signed “Wylliam Bradsha.” After the 20th October, 1547, the date of a sale of an annuity by him to a man at Stockport, nothing is known of Richard Bradshawe except that by his wife, Katherine, daughter of Elys Staveley, of Redseats, near Castleton, he left a son, Thomas, described in 1582 as of Swindels, co. Chester.
William Bradshawe thus became possessed of the Bradshawe estates. He is described as of Marple, co. Cheshire, as early as February, 1534, and as late as November, 1549. The first deed in which he is described as of Bradshaw is dated 15th July, 1547.
It is doubtful, however, whether he ever altogether abandoned Marple, as his second son, Henry, appears to have succeeded him there. He must have died about the year 1561, for the first mention of his wife, Margaret, as a widow is in a deed concerning her dower, which is dated 2nd February, 1562. She was a daughter of Christopher Clayton, of Strindes Hall, near Marple, co. Chester.
As the three eldest of their children were born before the times of parish registers, it has been most helpful to discover among the family deeds a long slip of parchment endorsed: “The sevrall ages of Wm. Bradshawe’s children.” The information, which is in Latin, and in a legal handwriting, is as follows:—
Birth of Godfrey Bradshawe, 29th September, the second hour after noon, A.D. 1531.
Birth of Elizabeth Bradshawe, 24th August, in the morning, A.D. 1533.
Birth of Henry Bradshawe, 6th September, the eighth hour before noon, A.D. 1535.
Birth of Margaret Bradshawe, 10th July, the third hour after noon, A.D. 1539.
Birth of Francis Bradshawe, 14th June, the sixth hour after noon, A.D. 1543.
Birth of Anthony Bradshawe, 3rd February, the ninth hour after noon, A.D. 1545.