Quoted from Danver's Senior Oracle (on-line)

Credit: This information was copied from a Christmas Card sent to Priscilla Hunt Porter, Editions Editor and her husband in 1956 from Alvah J. Bradstreet and Bertha L. Bradstreet.


"Simon Bradstreet was a mild-mannered, efficient diplomat, always counseling moderation between the Colonies and the Mother Country. However, he put himself with determination at the head of the revolt against Andros. He was the first to sign a proclamation which was THE FIRST DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE AGAINST ENGLAND.

This act of Bradstreet's brought him great public honor. He shares with George Washington the unique distinction of deposing and sending overseas a royally appointed Governor of the Colonies. Cotton Mather referred to him as the "Nestor" Governor of New England. While Governor, he opposed the witchcraft delusion in Salem. He saved the life of one Mrs. Morse, who was sentenced to be hung as a witch, by not allowing the sentence to be carried out.

Soon after his retirement to private life in Salem, trouble again broke out with the Indians at Fort Royal in Canada. The Ex-Governor, although ninety year of age, enlisted some troops and marched with them to the Fort and captured it.

After this, he spent four years in retirement at his Salem home, the present site of Essex Institute. He died in 1697 in his ninety-fourth year. His tomb, in the Charles St. Cemetery, at Salem, was provided by the General Court, and the following Latin inscription may still be read: - Translated "Gentleman and soldier, senator in the Colony of Massachusetts from 1630 to 1673. Then until 1679 Deputy Governor, and finally, until 1686 Governor of the Colony by the united and unchanging vote of the people. In judgment he was farsighted as Lyceus. Wealth and honor had for him no allurement. He kept an even balance between the authority of the King and the liberty of the people. Of temperate judgment in religion, of blameless life, he overcame the world and left it March 27, 1697 in the third year of King William the Ninth, and the ninety-fourth year of his age."