Edward Bromfield (1649-1734)

He was born in Hampshire where his father and grandfather had been Members of Parliament. As a younger son, he undertook an apprenticeship in London before sailing to Jamaica in his new capacity as a merchant. He came to America in 1675 and settled in Boston where he became State Commissioner (1691); State Representative (1693-1695); Selectman (1694-1695); and finally, Member of the Governor's Council of Massachusetts (1703-1728). He married his first wife in 1677 but she died giving birth to his eldest daughter. In 1683, he married Mary, daughter of the Rev. Samuel Danforth and they had four children who survived childhood (listed above).