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WHY THE BRACEWELLS CAME TO AMERICA
(A SHORT LOOK AT ENGLISH HISTORY)
By Joe Taylor, 1991
Our English ancestor was Robert Bracewell, son of Richard of London. Robert was christened October 13, 1611, in London County in Holborn, St. Andrew Parish. Christening of two other children is recorded: Jone Bracewell (F) and Thomas Bracewell, July 8, 1610, Holborn, St. Andrew Parish. Note that Thomas was born before Robert - that fact determines Robert's future.
We have records from the Church of England (Anglican) showing Robert having graduated from Oxford University in 1628 with a degree in theology, apparently at age 17.
The fact that his life was dedicated to the church was very much in keeping with English tradition during that period. Thomas, as the eldest son, would inherit his father's entire estate and Robert, the second son, went into the ministry, with no property or inheritance. The third son, if there was one, would usually go into military service.
We can assume that Robert went into ministerial training for a period in a secondary assignment in some Anglican church.
King Henry VIII had taken England out of the Catholic church in 1533-1534, after some years of rancor and discontent with the Pope in Rome. After Henry's death in 1547, the country was divided between those who wanted to stay independent of Rome, and those who would return the country to the "true church," (i.e., Catholic - Queen Mary 1553-1558 burned nearly 300 men and women for heresy, or non-Catholic beliefs).
Mary was followed by the very strong Anglican Queen Elizabeth I, who ruled from 1558-1603. Elizabeth replaced all of Mary's bishops but one, to reestablish England as protestant. Heavy fines were levied on Catholics who said mass or did not attend Anglican services. During the last 28 years of Elizabeth's reign, over 200 Catholics we executed, including her pro-Catholic cousin and possible heir, Mary Queen of Scots.
Under James I (1603-1625), the church struggle continued with his support of the bishops in their "measures to insure conformity" in belief and practice of religion.
During James's reign, England recognized the value of foreign trade and commerce. To expand trade and influence, colonies were established in Virginia (Jamestown) in 1609 and Bermuda in 1611. A wide division developed between James and parliament over his policies of taxation and war alliances, in many cases to protect European royalty.
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