Week 4:  “I’d like to meet..”  

This week, I was still involved in researching the Dudley family ancestors, particularly the children of Robert Dudley and Clarissa Isabell Ross, my 4th great-grandparents.  See their story on last week’s post.  Usually, I gather some basic details on each child and look for interesting stories.  The stories often makes them more human as opposed to being just names and dates.  I find that when I come upon someone who has an interesting story, I usually also learn some history – a learning experience!  That is what happened this week and I found someone I would like to have met!

Robert and Clarissa had 10 children that I know of and the seventh child was named after her mother, Clarissa Ross Dudley, but the family called her “Clarry” and many records used the nickname rather than her formal name.   Clarry was born in 1806 in Surry County, North Carolina, which is near the southern Virginia border.   Clarry married a man named Asa Hodges on 9 Oct 1830.

Asa is the man I would like to have met!  Asa was born in 1804 in Mount Airy, Surry County, North Carolina.   His parents were Giles Joseph Hodges and Mary “Polly” Noblett.  I found the will of Joseph Hodges who died about 1841 in Surry County and his will was probated on 4 July 1841.  In the will, his son Asa Hodges was left some stock and appointed one of the executors of the estate.  Others in the will besides his wife Mary were Asa’s brother Meredith Hodges (first born) and seven sisters.

Joseph Hodges parents, I discovered, were Bartholomew Benjamin Hodges ( 1752-1831) and Elizabeth Cockerham.    I found a picture of the cabin built by Bartholomew, Asa’s grandfather, that Asa’s father Joseph grew up in – an interesting picture.  The cabin was located on White Dirt Road in Surry County.   Asa probably was familiar with his grandparent’s cabin and visited there while growing up.  Amazingly, it still stands!

After Clarry Dudley and Asa were married, they stayed in Surry County according to the 1840 Census for Surry.  Sometime between 1848-1850, they had moved to Murry County, Georgia.  In the 1850 Census, Asa was 46 and a farmer.  Clarry was 44  and they had 9 known children, ages 2 to 18 (5 sons and 4 daughters).  All the children were born in North Carolina.  The 1860 Census found them living in DeKalb County, Alabama with a Post Office of Lebanon, Alabama.  Asa, listed as a farmer,  was now 55 and Clarry 54.   Six of the children were living with them and three of the sons were farm laborers.  The value of his real estate was $150 and personal estate was valued at $200.   That would be about $4500 and $6000 today.  Comparing Asa’s values with neighbors, several neighbors were around the same values as his but quite a few had higher values.

The Agricultural Census for Asa Hodges in DeKalb County, Alabama in 1860 did indicate that they were not really well off.  He held 30 acres improved and 10 acres not improved.  He owned no horses, mules or donkeys but had 2 oxen (for plowing) and 2 dairy cows and 2 other cattle.  He did have 15 sheep and 30 swine for a  livestock value of $150.  As for crops, he did not grow wheat, rice or rye but had 300 bushels of Indian corn, 50 pounds of tobacco and 15 pounds of wool.

So far, Asa Hodges seemed like an ordinary farmer – until I came across his military service! His muster card for the Confederate army listed him as a private in Capt. J. T. White’s Co., Hunter’s Regiment of Indian Volunteers. The muster-in roll was dated Sept. 10, 1863 as part of the Chickasaw Nation!  Asa was Native American – Chickasaw to be exact.   He joined under Capt. Thomas Miller for 3 years or for the duration of the war.   This regiment of Indian Volunteers was organized Oct. 23 of 1863 so Asa was probably among the first volunteers.  Having an “Indian” regiment fighting for the Confederacy was new to me.   He was in the First Chickasaw/Choctaw Cavalry Regiment and keep in mind that he was about 58 or 59 years old at this time.

Some of the history of the 1st Choctaw and Chickasaw Mounted Rifles Regiment that I found states the regiment was first organized at Scullyville, Choctaw Nation in July 1861 with 1085 men,  In May 1862 it had 27 officers and 707 men.  The regiment had six companies of Choctaws, three of Chickasaws and one of half-breeds.  It lost 12 men at Newtonia and was attached to D. H. Cooper, T. Walker brigade, Tran-Mississippi Department.   The regiment skirmished in the Indian Territory (Arkansas) and lost three men at the battle of Poison Spring.  It was included in the surrender of June 23, 1865.

Asa Hodges died in 1865 as he was killed or severely wounded, causing his later death, while serving in this Indian regiment, likely at the Battle of Poison Spring (Arkansas Territory) or Newtonia (Missouri Territory) although there is no recorded evidence of his death in battle or anyone else’s for that matter.

Asa was likely in the 2nd major battle of Newtonia on Oct 28, 1864.  Confederate forces numbered 4,000 and Union forces were about 6,500.  This was the last battle of the Civil War fought in Missouri.  The Southern forces had Choctaw, Cherokee and Chickasaw soldiers while other Cherokee soldiers fought with the North.  More information can be found at http://www.newtoniabpa.webs.com..

So what happened to Clarry Dudley Hodges?  She is listed in the 1870 Census at age 64, widowed, living on the farm with her son, R. (Robert) D. Hodges, 25, who was head of household.   Four more children all in their 20’s lived there also – Martha, 29; Matilda, 27; Charles, 23; and Rebecca, 21.   In 1880, Clarry, 73, lived with her daughter Martha J Bruce and Son-in-law, James M Bruce, who was a farmer.   Clarry died in 1895 in DeKalb County, Alabama at about 89 years old.  Clarry was my 4th great – aunt.  Although her husband, Asa Hodges, was not a direct line descendent (although his children are cousins), I think he had an interesting story  – a story waiting to be told!  I am sure he would have had many adventures to relate!

Sources:

Marriage Bonds of Surry, North Carolina: County Court Records at Dobson, North Carolina; Also, FHL microfilms:  0546467-0546474.

Wills, Vol 4-5, 1827-1867; Surry County, North Carolina; Will of Joseph Hodges probated on 4 July 1841; pages: 181-182.

United States Federal Census; Year: 1850; Census Place: Murry, Georgia; Roll: M432_78; Page: 200A; Image: 408.

United States Federal Census: Year: 1860; Place: Division 2, DeKalb, Alabama; Roll: M653_9; Page: 182; FHL microfilm: 803009.

23 July 1860, Division 2, DeKalb, Alabama Agricultural Schedule; Archive Collection; Number: M279; Roll: 27; Page: 25; Line: 13; Schedule Type: Agriculture.

U. S. Confederate Service Records, 1861-65; Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.

Historical Data Systems comp. U. S., American Civil War Regiments, 1861-1866 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 1999.

United States Federal Census: Year:1870; Place: Township 6 Range 7, DeKalb, Alabama; Roll: 593_15; Page 826B; FHL microfilm: 545514.

United States Federal Census; Year: 1880; Place: DeKalb, Alabama; Roll: 12; Page: 577D; Enumeration District: 055.

The prompt for the third week of January in my 52 Ancestors in 52 weeks Challenge is “Special Name.”    While researching the Dudley families with their many offspring, I came across a few unusual or special names such as James Ransom Dudley, my third great-grandfather whom I blogged about 2 weeks ago – I mean, where did a name like “Ransom” come from?  Then, I came across “Ransom Stillender Dudley” – now there was a name I never heard before – Stilllender!  It turns out the Ransom Stillender Dudley was the nephew of my third great-grandfather – my first cousin four-times removed.  I usually don’t spend a lot of time on “collateral relatives” (not direct ancestors) but this guy had an interesting story and it was begging to be told!

Ransom Stillender Dudley was born on 21 September of 1835 in Pulaski County, Virginia, the son of William Parham Dudley ( brother to James Ransom, my 3rd gg) and Mary “Polly” Stephens Deatherage.  I was quite excited to find pictures of both his parents.   When Ransom Stillender was born, his father was 42 years old and his mother was 31.

Ransom was the 10th child of 14 known children of William and Mary Dudley.  Evidentially he was named Ransom after his uncle Ransom Dudley but I was unable to discover where the name Stillender came from.  Sometimes I find children are given middle names from the mother’s birth surname but I didn’t find that to be the case here.  Searching through ancestors of the Deatherage and Dudley families, there wasn’t any “Stillender” to be found!

The 1850 U. S. Federal Census for 1850 for William Parham Dudley  finds Ransom S. as 14 years old.  Ransom S Dudley was not found on a 1860 Census for his parents or any where else in Virginia and that may have been because he had joined the military.  One record showed that in February of about 1860, Ransom entered the Confederate Army as a member of the Pulaski Guards.   On 23 May of 1861 was the date of the Secession of Virginia from the United States to become part of the Confederacy.  Governor Letcher of Virginia officially transferred Virginia forces to the Confederacy on 6 June 1861.  The Civil War had begun.  Ransom stayed with the Pulaski Guards for about a year and then went into active service for the remainder of the war and…you probably guessed…he was sent up to the front lines.

He was in Company C of the Virginia 4th Infantry Regiment with his official enlistment date of 17 April 1861 and mustering out on 14 April of 1864.  I was able to follow his Company and Regiment history to track his service in the War and use other sources to verify what engagements he was in.  Many of the battles were familiar to me as being part of American History.  Ransom went from Richmond to take part in an engagement at Harper’s Ferry, then up the Potomac, fighting and skirmishing under General Johnson to fight at the Battle of Manassas where they routed the Federal troops.  His regiment then went to Fairfax Court House and took winter quarter at Centerville, Virginia.  The next spring brought them to Romney and Winchester and falling back to Staunton, Virginia.  The next battle was Kernstown, which I was not familiar with.

I found that Kernstown was General Stonewall Jackson’s only major tactical defeat during the war but was really considered a strategic victory as it helped to divert Union forces from a campaign to attack Richmond.  From this information, I knew that Ransom was with General Stonewall Jackson’s regiment and stayed with him until that general was killed at Chancellorsville. Then, came Gettysburg, and most are familiar with this tragic and horrific battle in Pennsylvania.  At Gettysburg, Ransom S Dudley lost his left arm on July 3, 1863 and was taken prisoner.  It seemed his luck had run out.

Ransom was sent to David’s Island in New York, a Union prison and hospital for Confederate prisoners, and lay for four months under the care of  the Christian Commission.  According to Wikipedia, the” United States Christian Commission was an organization that furnished supplies, medical services , and religious literature to Union troops during the American Civil War.  It combined religious support with social services and recreational activities.  It supplied Protestant chaplains and social workers and collaborated with the U. S. Sanitary Commission in providing medical services.”  After the four months, Ransom was sent home minus his left arm until his mustering out.

Ransom was in Tazewell County, Virginia (near Wythe and Pulaski Counties) in 1866 after the war.  I found an interesting note about him contained in the “Annals of Tazewell County, Virginia” (p. 71).  In the August term of the court meetings, this note was added: “Ransom S Dudley, having lost an arm in battle, it is ordered by the Court that he be released from payment of county levies.”  This was the first time I came across such an action where the veterans were given special considerations!

No Federal Census was found for Ransom S Dudley for 1870 but on January 3, 1871, he married Mary Susan Arther.  Mary Arther was born in Botetourt County, Virginia in 1844, the daughter of John A and Elizabeth (Good) Arther, and came to Pulaski County in 1867 with her parents.  They were married by J. M. Kirkpatrick.  The 1880 Federal Census found Ransom and his wife living in Dublin, Pulaski County, Virginia and he was 45 years old and Mary was 38.  His occupation was “drives engine” as he was an engineer for the Norfolk & Western Railroad.  He must have been quite competent at using just one arm!  Mary’s parents, John Arther and Elizabeth Arther were also listed as living with Ransom and Mary along with a niece named Lutey Arthur, age 11.  Also in the household was a black servant, age 9, named Willie Cocke.

I had to skip to the 1900 census as there 1890 records were destroyed by fire – a great loss!  But I found that Ransom was also appointed U. S. Postmaster for the City of Pulaski, Virginia on 9 March of 1886 and again on 27 Jan of 1890.   Despite his handicap, he was able to secure jobs and support his family.

In 1900, Ransom was now 63 and rents his home.  He was listed as a Railroad laborer but was not employed for 6 months.  Mary was also listed in the household along with a surprise —James Andrus, age 10 was listed as their adopted son!  Ransom was full of surprises!  James was born in June 1889 and was attending school.  Unfortunately, I was unable to find any more information on what happened to James Andrus, the adopted son, as yet.  Ransom and Mary did not have any children of their own that I know of.

On 21 February of 1908, Ransom S Dudley passed away and was buried in the Oakwood Cemetery in Pulaski, Pulaski County, Virginia.  In trying to trace what happened to Mary, his wife, after Ransom’s death, I found her living with a niece and nephew, Phoebe and Dudley Sturdevant in Newbern, Pulaski, VA at age 75.  In 1922, at age 77, Mary applied for a widow’s pension which gave some vital information on the form.  It verified the date of their marriage, her age and place of birth, and that she was living with someone, probably a relative, named F. F. Wood.  She listed Ransom’s cause of death as ” Paralysis, resulting from injury” (sad) and stated she had not remarried.  Her income in 1922 from all sources was a mere $120 and she owned no property.   Mary died on July 27 of 1927, five years later, at age 83 due to dysentery and senility.  She was buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Pulaski, Virginia.

This ends my story of Ransom Stillender Dudley, a man with a special name and a special story.  He was a soldier, prisoner and survivor of the Civil War and a man who seemed to make the best of things despite his losing an arm and was compassionate enough to adopt a son.  Hope you enjoyed his story!

Sources:

Virginia, Select Marriages, 1785-1940 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.  Also: FHL microfilm: 2,048,472.

United States Federal Census; Year: 1880; Census Place: Dublin, Pulaski, Virginia; Roll: 1386; Page: 240B; Enumeration District: 057.

United States Federal Census, Year: 1900; Census Place: Pulaski, Pulaski, Virginia; Page: 25; Enumeration District: 0050; FHL microfilm: 1,241,724.

United States Federal Census, Year: 1920; Census Place: Newbern, Pulaski, Virginia; Roll: T625_1907; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 61.

Library of Virginia; Richmond, Virginia; Confederate Pension Rolls, Veterans and Widows; Collection #: CP-5_139; Roll #:139; Roll Description: Prince William County (surnames FO-Y) to Pulaski County (surnames A-Hen).

Historical Data Systems, comp. U. S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2009.

A Brief History of the Dudley Family by Naoma Dudley Slone. Contributed to Ancestry.com.

U. S. Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2010.  Also: Record of Appointments of Postmasters, 1832-1971, NARA Microfilm Publications, M841_145 Rolls, Records of the Post Office Department, Record Group #28, Washington D. C.: National Archives; Volumes 51 and 80.

Ancestry.com. Annals of Tazewell County, Virginia from 1800 to 1922 in two Volumes Harman, John Newton, Richmond: W.C. Hill Print. Co., 1922-1925; Vol. 1, p. 71.

Wikipedia: United States Christian Commission and Battle of Kernstown.

Find A Grave, database and images, memorial page for Ransom S Dudley, Find A Grave Memorial no. 99426181, citing Oakwood Cemetery, Pulaski, Pulaski County, Virginia, USA.

Certificate of Death for Mary Susen Dudley, Commonwealth of Virginia, Bureau of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, Reg. Dist. No. 0773, Pulaski, Pulaski County, Virginia: Reg. No. 73.

 

This week’s prompt is “Challenge” and I found that solving the mystery of our first Dudley ancestor to immigrate to America and unravelling his story is indeed a true challenge.  It is a challenge that raised more questions than answers!

Last week  I was searching for the first Dudley ancestor who immigrated to the American Colonies.   The immigrant I found was Charles Dudley, my fifth great-grandfather.  I found him in a round about way as so often happens in genealogical research!  I was researching Robert Dudley who married Clarisssa Isabell Ross, and were my fourth great- grandparents.  This led me to explore their children and one daughter, Elizabeth Dudley, had married a Hardin Herring.   Elizabeth was also called “Betty” in some sources and “Betsey” in others which also made research on her a bit challenging!

I had to search for her husband and found information on Hardin Herring in the “History of North Carolina”  (see sources below).  Hardin Herring’s father was Henry Herring who came from Virginia to Surry County, North Carolina in colonial times and bought a tract of land on Stuart Creek.  I knew the Dudley family was in Surry County and that Robert Dudley had land on Stuart Creek so things were starting to become familiar.  I learned that Henry Herring contracted to pay for the land in tobacco – interesting!  Tobacco was the currency of the period.  Henry lived only a few years and the perfecting of the title to the land on Stuart Creek was left to family members.  His son, Hardin Herring, had made farming his lifelong occupation in Surry County and took a wife to join him in this endeavor.  He married “Betty” Dudley, who I determined was Elizabeth Dudley, daughter of Robert and grand-daughter of Charles Dudley.

Now I had found Charles, the father of Robert Dudley, through his grand-daughter, Elizabeth (Betty).  The source also stated that Charles was a native of England and added this information on Charles:

“He (Charles) is said to have been a younger son of a wealthy nobleman.  When a youth, seeking adventure, he ran away and accompanied a neighbor to America.  In this country, he acquired land on Ararat River in Surry County (North Carolina), and here he reproduced so far as possible the circumstances and environment of the typical sporting English squire.  He evinced a great fondness for fast horses and kept up a free-handed hospitality.”

That was quite an interesting insight about Charles Dudley but I needed to know more and to further verify this information.   I found that a Charles Dudley was born in England on 21 December 1750 as recorded in his Anglican Church Prayer Book and Psalms, place not mentioned.   One source stated he was born in Sedgley, Staffordshire and was the son of Thomas Dudley (1716-1758) and Hannah Maria Keeling or Keelinge (1720-1790).   A Charles Dudley was baptized on 27 July 1752 in Tipton, Staffordshire, England, son of “Thos. Dudley and Hanamarie” according to  England Birth and Christening records.  This may or may not match our Charles Dudley.  However it seems unlikely that if he was born in 1750 that the parents would wait until 1752 to baptize him considering the prevalence of infant mortality at the time.  FamilySearch has a record of his birth as 30 June 1752 and his christening at St. Martins, Tipton, Stafford, England on 27 July 1752.  This seems to be the truer date of birth for Charles.

UPDATE: However, I recently found that the Charles Dudley, son of Thomas and Hannah had died young in England so it could not be our Charles!  So the search for his true parentage continues!

But which birth record is for our Charles Dudley?  The date written in the prayer book or the birth and christening records for St. Martins?  After all, the prayer book also had names and birth dates of wife Mary and their son Robert and daughter Judithe.   Would not the dates written by Charles himself be accurate?  There is a difference of 2 years between the 2 sources and it is assumed that both are the same Charles Dudley.  More research questions emerge!

Charles married Mary Dulyin in 1769 in England.  Mary Dulyin was born 14 July of 1749 and they were married for about 31 years until Mary died in Surry Co., North Carolina just before 1800 at about age 51.  Their first child was Judithe Dudley born 5 May 1770 and second child was son Robert Dudley, born 30 December 1772, my 4th great-grandfather.  Charles married  Elizabeth ____ soon after  his first wife’s death in 1800 and they had supposedly two daughters, Nancy  in 1806 and Mary on 10 April 1808.  Wife Elizabeth died in 1859 in Mount Airy, Surry, North Carolina.  There are confusing records about the last two daughters, Nancy and Mary, and they may indeed be the same person.  According to the Surry County Historical Society records, Mary may have had the nickname of Nancy.  Mary  (Nancy) married Thomas Poore,  had 8 children and her descendants preserved the prayer book containing vital dates of birth – no death dates were recorded.

I discovered an immigration record for a Charles Dudley arriving in 1776 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.  Charles Dudley was recorded as the “Primary Immigrant” but does not record if his wife accompanied him as they would have been married by then.  He would have been about 24 years old if this is the record of our Charles Dudley.  It is not contrary to the history about which stated he came as a youth (young man).

We can follow Charles’ migration somewhat.  His son Robert was born in Carolina County, Virginia so we can assume Charles was in Virginia about 1772.  In 1782, Charles Dudley owned 200 acres of land in Surry County, North Carolina.

  Now here is an interesting fact – this land was acquired by the famous “Siamese Twins”, Chang and Eng.  Prior to his death in November 1781, the land was owned by Mr. Byron Bunker, a descendant of one of the “Twins.”  Charles Dudley received a land grant for 100 acres on 9 August on 1787 on the south side of the Yadkin River in Surry County.  Further research discovered that his first land grant was earlier – in November of 1777 and he received 3 more grants for a total of about 1000 acres.  Based on the land records, I can assume he moved from Virginia to North Carolina between 1772 (when son Robert was born) and 1777.

In 1780, it is believed that Charles was part of the Surry County Militia of Patriots that fought at the Battle of Shallow Ford.  According to Wikipedia, the Battle of Shallow Ford occurred on October 14, 1780 at the Yadkin River and the outnumbered patriots (Whigs) with help from a troop of Virginia militias, defeated the Tory army and caused them to retreat.  The Battle occurred a week after the Battle of King’s Mountain and was an important turning point in the Revolutionary War.

Some sources state that Charles died in 1859, making him 108 years old at the time of death!  However there is no proof of this.  So here was another challenge!!  I decided to review census records for Charles in Surry County.  The first census I found him in was the United States Census of 1784-1787  where his surname was listed as “Doudley.”  Henry Herring (see above) was also on the census.  The Census records for 1790 affirms Charles as a resident as does the Census for 1800 -both in Surry County.  The 1800 Census also listed his son Robert as a separate household.  Charles is listed on the 1810 Census in Surry and he would have been around 60 years old.  However, the 1820 Census for Surry County does NOT list Charles Dudley but does list his son Robert and his grandsons, Ransom and William.   In 1830, only Robert is listed as Ransom and William moved to Virginia in 1828.  No Dudleys were listed in Surry County in 1840 (Robert died in 1834).  Judging by these census records, I believe that Charles Dudley died sometime between 1810 and 1820 between the ages of 60 and 70 and not in 1859.  His wife Elizabeth lived until 1859 but no actual death record for Charles was yet found.  Charles was buried in the Herring-Dudley Cemetery, Mount Airy, Surry, North Carolina.

So it seems there is more research ahead on Charles.  However, we know he was brave enough to immigrate and finally establish himself in North Carolina and live the life of an English Squire.   He was a patriot and helped to defend his home and county from the British.   He sold land that would belong to the Siamese Twins, Chang and Eng.  His son Robert lived near him with his family which may have been comforting.  He had to endure the loss of his first wife around 1800 but quickly remarried.  In all, despite the lurking questions, I did learn some interesting facts about my immigrant fifth great-grandfather!

 

Sources:

History of North Carolina, Vol. 5, North Carolina Biography; Connor, R. D. W. (Robert Digges Wimberly), 1878-1950; Boyd, William Kenneth, 1879-1938; Hamilton, Joseph Greoirede Roulhac, 1878-1961; Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, New York; Published 1919; Vol. 5, p. 76.

Ancestry.com. England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975 [database on-line], Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Charles Dudley  Family Bible Record:  1749-1830; State Archives of North Carolina; Call # 400.1.1.761; also, North Carolina Digital Collections.

A Brief History of the Dudley Family; contributed be Naoma Dudley Slone; http://mv.ancestry.com/viewer.

Ancestry.com. U. S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s; Original data: Filby, P. William, ed.; Farmington Hills, MI, USA: Gale Research, 2012.

The Heritage of Surry County, Surry County Historical Society; Family No. 209; p. 166.

Surry County, North Carolina, Land Grant No. 1834; Aug. 9, 1787, Bk. No. 65; Page No. 279.

U. S. Census – Dudley in Surry Co., North Carolina, 1786-1850; Compiled by Nancy Bryant 4/25/00 based on information on census information on microfilm and books at Family History Library, Los Angeles, California.

England Births and Christenings 1538-1975, database, FamilySearch; Citing Charles Dudley; FHL microfilm 1,526,134.

It is a new year of “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” with prompts each week by genealogist Amy Johnson Crow.

Last year in 2018 I fell a bit behind on weekly blogs due to our moving to a new home.  This year, I will do my best to blog something about our ancestry each week!  Our prompt for this first week of January is “First.”  I have recently started working on our Dudley ancestry – a line from Mary Lavalett Dudley, wife of Joseph Cloud Lyon, my second great-grandparents.  In my research, I wanted to determine who was the first Dudley ancestor to come to this country.

Last month I wrote about Ransom Dudley and Jency Lyon, my third great-grandparents, and parents of Mary Lavalett Dudley.   Further research brought me to the parents of Ransom (also called James Ransome Dudley) which were Robert Dudley and Clarissa Isabel Ross.  According to my sources, Robert Dudley, my fourth great-grandfather, was not the first Dudley to come to the Colonies.  I discovered he was born in Caroline County, Virginia on 30 December 1772 just before the Revolutionary War and at some time later, his family moved to Surry County, North Carolina.  Surry County is along the border of southern Virginia and northern North Carolina.  Robert Dudley  married his cousin, Clarissa Isabel Ross, in 1791 in North Carolina when they both were about 19 years old.  Clarissa was also born in Virginia and her family moved to North Carolina also.  She was the daughter of William Ross of Amherst Co., Virginia and Rachel.  There is some discrepancy whether Rachel’s surname was Fugate or Coxey.  Most sources claim her birth name as Fugate.

Robert Dudley and Clarissa had 10 children from 1792 to 1815 including James Ransome Dudley, my third great-grandfather, and their first-born child. (see Dec. blogs)  Other known children included:  Mary Dudley Boyd; William Parham Dudley; Elizabeth “Betsey” Dudley Herring; Charles Dudley; Nancy Dudley Whitaker; Clarissa “Clarry” Dudley Hodges; Judith Dudley Snow; Frances Dudley Gordon; and Celia Dudley Moore.  The Dudley children grew up in Surry Co., North Carolina but many did not stay there. About 1828, the great westward movement had begun and free government land was available for the asking.  Robert’s three sons, Ransom, William and Charles, left to move westward into new territories.  Ransom and William Dudley and their wives settled in Montgomery County, Virginia due to the hardship of traveling with young children but Charles and his family continued on to Indiana territory and later, to Illinois.  Of the daughters, Mary married Hugh Boyd and they ended up in Mooresville, Morgan Co., Indiana.  Clarry Dudley and her husband, Asa Hodges, lived in DeKalb Co., Alabama and Judith and her husband, Simpson William Snow ended up in Thurman, Fremont, Iowa.  Frances and husband, William Gordon, lived in St. Louis, Missouri!   So the family of Robert and Clarissa Dudley were scattered all over the young nation, it seems!

Indeed, Robert dared to wander and in the History of North Carolina (p. 76), mentions that after reaching manhood, Robert took his family to Georgia, but did not find that state entirely to his liking and soon returned, having made the entire round trip with wagon and team!

However, Robert and Clarissa then remained in Surry Co, North Carolina in the Mount Airy region according to U. S. Census records.  In 1800, they lived in Salisbury, Surry Co. and in 1810, they were listed as living in just Surry County.  1820 found them in Capt Farkners District of Surry and 1830 just listed Surry County.   Robert was also on the 1812 tax list for Surry County.  Robert died on 4 October 1834 and left a will.

Robert stated in a nuncupative will that he wanted “his property to remain as it then was and wished no division to take place in the same until after the death of his wife or widow and until his daughters or children are all married.”    However, four years later in 1838, there was a sale of his personal estate and his widow Clarissa, age 78, was living with her daughter Betsy and son-in-law, Hardin Herring so the wishes of Robert were not carried out unless there was an agreement by his children, to dispose of his estate in this manner!

So ended the story of Robert Dudley and I found he was not the first Dudley to immigrate to the American Colonies!  Recent research has uncovered that his father, Charles Dudley may have been the first Dudley of our line to immigrate!   Charles was born 21 December of 1750 in Sedgley, Staffordshire, England and died in Surry County, North Carolina!  Next week, I plan to reveal my research into Charles Dudley and tell his story.

Sources:

The Heritage of Surry County, Surry County Historical Society, Family # 209, p. 166.

Ancestry.com, North Carolina Marriage Index, 1741-2004 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2007.

Ancestry.com, Virginia, compiled marriages, 1740-1850 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 1999.

Charles Dudley Family Bible Record, 1749-1830; State Archives of North Carolina; North Carolina Digital Collections; Call # 400.1.1.761.

A Brief History of the Dudley Family, contributed by Naoma Dudley Slone, Ancestry.com.

Year 1800; Census Place: Salisbury, Surry County, North Carolina; Series: M32; Roll: 32; Page: 647; Image: 653; FHL microfilm: 337908.

Year 1810; Census Place: Surry Co., North Carolina; Roll: 43; Page: 670;Image: 00353; FHL microfilm: 0337916.

Year 1820; Census Place: Capt Farkners District, Surry, North Carolina; Page: 758; NARA Roll: M33_82; Image: 413.

Year 1830; Census Place: Surry, North Carolina; Series: M19; Roll: 125; Page: 113; FHL microfilm 0018091.

1812 Tax lists, Surry County, North Carolina.

History of North Carolina, Vol. 3, p. 76. for William J Herring.