His trainer was Andrew Sowel (some sources spell Sowle or Sorole), the foremost Quaker printer in London, who printed in the Crooked Billet in Holloway Lane at Shoreditch.

[failed verification][1] William and Elizabeth Bradford arrived in America sometime in November 1685 and settled at a location near where Philadelphia was eventually laid out.

He published a booklet in 1689 composed by Quaker missionary George Keith titled The Presbyterian and Independent Visible Churches in New England.

[5][8] In that year Joseph Growdon, a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly council, hired Bradford to print William Penn's original charter for the province.

[4][9] In reprimanding the publishing of the original charter, authorities attempted to deny the people of Pennsylvania knowledge of the rights and privileges afforded them under their laws.

[4][11][12] He had sent his wife and two infant sons to England and was making preparations to follow, to become the replacement printer for Sowel who had died, with plans to take over his business there.

[14] In 1692, Bradford printed thirteen of Keith's writings, including An Appeal from the Twenty-Eight Judges to Spirit of Truth, which the authorities construed as rebellious against the local government.

[5] One of note was the first book in New York City, "New-England Persecution Transmitted to Pennsylvania" authored by Keith and with some words in Hebrew type.

He was printer to this government for upwards of 50 years and being quite worn out with old age and labour he left this mortal State in the lively Hopes of a better Immortality.

Reader, reflect how soon you'll quit this stage, You'll find but few attain to such an age; Life's full of pain; lo, here's a place to rest; Prepare to meet your God, then you are blest.

[24] He trained several apprentices that including John Peter Zenger, James Parker, Henry DeForest, and his son Andrew Bradford.