Col Joseph Bridger, Cavalier

It is important to note that the Bridgers and the Pitts of our lineage were American Loyalists, the men serving as Cavaliers and loyal to the English Crown before and during the Revolutionary War.

It is not surprising granted the amount of trade and favour they had with England. 

Excavations at Whitemarsh unearthed an epitaph for our Col. Bridger which I find quite interesting - a bit of it reads thus:

"Sacred To The Memory of The Honorable Joseph Bridger, Esq., Councillor of State in Virginia to King Charles ye 2nd.  Dying April ye 15; A. D. 1686; Aged 58 years Mournfully leaving his wife, three sons and four daughters."

"To Charles his councels did such honour bring,

His own express fetched him to attend the King."

Joseph Bridger initially was summoned to Virginia in the year 1652 by the notorious Colonel Nathaniel Bacon.  (Ann Bacon's ancestor?  I do not know yet.)

Later, Bridger served as a 'Councillor of State in Virginia to King Charles II '.

That he was one of the most prominent men in Isle of Wight county, Virginia, is undisputable.  He carried out land transactions that involved thousands and thouands of acres and his home, named "Whitemarsh" had no less than 17 rooms and was built of brick.

Col. Bridger was also member of the House of Burgesses for Isle of Wight Co., Virginia in the 1657-58 session also serving in 1663.

The last item of interest that I note for him (Certainly not the last of his interesting deeds - only those that I will list.) he was witness to the Last Will and Testament of the Royalist Governor Berkley of Virginia.

For an interesting look at even his bones which were excavated by The Smithsonian Institute, follow this link Heritage Lady.