When Bradford Bliven was born on 20 June 1806, in Rhode Island, United States, his father, Judge William Barton Bliven, was 28 and his mother, Amey Taylor, was 25. He married Anna James Barber on 21 February 1833. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 2 daughters. He died on 31 May 1885, at the age of 78, and was buried in River Bend Cemetery, Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island, United States.