William Bradford (c. 19 March 1590 – 9 May 1657) was an English Puritan Separatist originally from the West Riding of Yorkshire in Northern England. He moved to Leiden in Holland in order to escape persecution from King James I of England, and then emigrated to the Plymouth Colony on the Mayflower in 1620. He was a signatory to the Mayflower Compact and went on to serve as Governor of the Plymouth Colony intermittently for about 30 years between 1621 and 1657. He served as a commissioner of the United Colonies of New England on multiple occasions and served twice as president. His journal Of Plymouth Plantation covered the years from 1620 to 1646 in Plymouth.

The Pilgrims, also known as the Pilgrim Fathers, were the English settlers who traveled to America on the Mayflower and established the Plymouth Colony in Plymouth, Massachusetts (John Smith had named this territory New Plymouth in 1616, coincidentally sharing the name of the Pilgrims' final departure port of Plymouth, Devon.). The Pilgrims' leadership came from the religious congregations of Brownists, or Separatist Puritans, who had fled religious persecution in England for the tolerance of 17th-century Holland in the Netherlands.

Honoring the Adams Presidents as a part of a national wreath-laying tradition. Twice each year the President of the United States sends a wreath to the  United First Parish Church to be placed on the tomb of the Adams Presidents.  This national tradition started during the administration  of President Lyndon Johnson in 1967. Each year,  wreaths of red, white  and blue flowers are sent to the burial places of all deceased  presidents on the anniversary of their birthday. The  United First Parish Church, Church of the Presidents is the proud keeper of this important annual recognition of our Presidential  heritage.  Admission  to the wreath-laying ceremony, the Adams Crypt and Church Sanctuary are  free. Donations to support the History and Visitors Program are greatly  appreciated. United First Parish Church is located at 1306 Hancock Street, Quincy, MA 02169.

For more information about the ceremonies, please email office@ufpc.org or call 617-773-1290.  

Founded by President John Quincy Adams and Vice President John C. Calhoun. Listed in the National Register – Reference number 100005905. 1500 Harvard St. NW Washington DC