Seth Bradshaw (1795–1860)

Seth Bradshaw, another of the American pioneer preachers, was born in Franklin county, Virginia on August 15, 1795, the son of Allen Bradshaw and Mourning Richardson-Bradshaw. At that time, the wild frontier that was to become his home and church field, the Commonwealth of Kentucky, was only three years old, having just (officially) become the fifteenth state in the Union on June 1, 1792. Although Bradshaw did not emigrate there until in his early twenties, we still feel confident in naming him as one of the Bluegrass state’s native eccentric preachers, on account of his peculiar personality; his overall distinct character and nature—as you will read—appear to have been well imbued with the unbridled spirit of Kentucky. Granted, if we can not consider him natively as such, we will at least reckon him naturally (at heart), a rough and rugged Kentuckian through and through. As the Kentucky Baptist historian J. H. Spencer described him:

“Mr. Bradshaw was a fine specimen of a Kentucky backwoodsman. He was a large man, of a very powerful frame, possessed of a high sense of honor, and dauntless physical courage.”

     It was in 1817 that Seth Bradshaw, then a young bachelor, relocated to Barren County, Kentucky. The following year, he married Judith, the daughter of a local Revolutionary War veteran named Reuben Harrison, and his wife Margaret (“Peggy”). The Harrison family likewise had recently moved there from Virginia. 

     Concerning Mr. Bradshaw further, J. H. Spencer wrote in his book, “A History of Kentucky Baptists from 1769 to 1885, Vol. 1” (1885):

     “He was regarded ‘the best man in the county,’ and in this opinion none concurred more heartily than himself.

     “In a new country where much labor and strong muscles are required to clear away the forests; where danger is to be met by physical courage, and where the land being sparsely settled by illiterate people, the laws of the country are so poorly enforced that every man becomes ‘a law unto himself’ (cf. Romans 2:14–16), a high degree of masculinity is a most useful, as well as a most honorable attainment. To be ‘the best man in the county,’ at the period of Mr. Bradshaw’s youth, was a higher ambition, and conferred a much higher honor than ‘going to the General Assembly.’ Hence every young man was anxious to be considered a ‘hoss.’

     “Mr. Bradshaw was proud of his masculinity, and embraced every convenient opportunity to display it. To use his own words, he ‘would rather fight than to eat, any time.’ He was a bold, reckless sinner, and like the unjust judge, he ‘neither feared God nor respected man’ (Luke 18:2). He continued his career of high-handed wickedness, until he was about thirty years old. But the spirit of the Lord can find a way to break the stoutest heart. Mr.

     “Bradshaw felt and acknowledged the power of divine grace. He was baptized into the fellowship of Concord church by Isaac C. Tracy, around the year 1825. His conversion was noticeable. He immediately began to call on his associates to repent and turn to God. Although he was a poor speaker, he possessed good judgment and a sincere masculine zeal, and apparently his gift manifested such an advantage that he was soon ordained to the ministry, and called to the care of Concord church. He was also called to the care of Poplar Log, Glovers Crock and Puncheon Camp churches. These churches prospered under his ministry and he enjoyed a good deal of success in his general labors for a number of years. But around 1833, the subject of systematic missionary operations began to agitate the churches of Barren River Association, of which Concord was a member. Mr. Bradshaw was a man of significant influence, and, being uninformed on the subject of missionary operations, he became the leader of the Anti-missionary party. When the split in the Association occurred in 1841, he identified himself with the Anti-missionary Association. By that means he lost his influence outside of the small faction of which he was the leader.

     “After several years, he became better informed on the subject, acknowledged his error, and returned to the missionary body. He continued to preach until near the end of his life, but never regained his former influence among the people. His last moments were spent with the most joyful anticipations of heavenly bliss. He seemed already to have entered the joys of heaven before he departed the pains of earth. He left the scenes of mortality, May 20, 1860.”

     Unfortunately, no other sources documenting the life and ministry of Seth Bradshaw remain extant today. We wish it possible to have shared more on this backwoodsman among eccentric preachers, but are satisfied to leave you with Spencer’s sole account. After all, if the faithful historian’s reveal of Bradshaw having been an ultra-masculine Anti-missionary Baptist—in and of itself—doesn’t merit him an entry in this BLOG-series, then no other strange, or fascinating fact concerning him will; at least, not in our opinion.

— Ron Metheny

*The preceding is shared as a companion to the book “Eccentric Preachers (Updated Edition)” by Charles H. Spurgeon. https://anekopress.com/product/eccentric-preachers/