Joseph Bridger facts for kids

The grave of General Joseph Bridger at St. Luke's Church.

Joseph Bridger was an important leader in early Virginia. He was a soldier and a politician. Some people called him "Colonel Bridger."

He was born in Gloucester, England, in 1631. His father, Samuel Bridger, worked for a college there. Joseph Bridger later moved to Virginia.

Joseph Bridger was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses. This was like a government group that helped make laws for Virginia. He represented Isle of Wight County, Virginia in 1657-1658 and again in 1663. Some records say he even helped lead Virginia as a governor in 1684 and 1685.

During a time called Bacon's Rebellion, Joseph Bridger supported Governor William Berkeley.

He passed away in 1686 in Isle of Wight County, Virginia. He was buried at St. Luke's Church in Smithfield, Virginia. Many of his children and grandchildren also became leaders in the House of Burgesses.

Bridger's Family Life

Joseph Bridger married Hester Pitt around 1654. She was the daughter of Colonel Robert Pitt. Joseph and Hester had several children together. Their children included Joseph II, Martha, Samuel, William, Elizabeth, Mary, and Hester.

All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:

Joseph Bridger Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.