Thomas Taylor Bradford

Born: Mar 1850 in what is now Putnam County, Tennessee

Died: 16 Nov 1938 in the 8th District of Putnam County, Tennessee

Company C, 8th Tennessee Mounted Infantry, USA

1 Jan 1865-17 Aug 1865

Thomas is the son of Thomas Jerry Bradford and Rebecca E. "Becky" Kinnaird. He first married Martha Jane Nelson about 1893. Martha was the daughter of Henry B. Nelson - mother uncertain. Thomas and Martha had three children from 1894 to 1900. Martha passed away in 1900 and Thomas remarried to Eliza Jane Sherrell on 6 Oct 1901 in DeKalb County, Tennessee. Eliza was the daughter of William Jordan Sherrell and Mary Ann Parsley. Thomas and Eliza had eight children from 1902 to 1917.

Thomas' service is not well documented. The application for headstone below gives us the unit and service dates but no record exist for his monthly roll-calls.

A family story has it that Thomas' brother, John came home at some point and removed his 13 year old brother, Thomas, to Carthage where the Union forces were encamped. John was afraid the Confederates would take Thomas at gun point into the confederate services. Thomas would later join the Union Army. It is told that because of his small size and youthful appearance he served as a spy for the Union for some time. I don't know if that was before or after he joined the regular Union Army.

Thomas and both of his wifes are buried in the Pleasant View Cemetery in the 8th District of Putnam County, Tennessee.