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SCHENECTADY DIGITAL HISTORY ARCHIVE
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[This information is from Vol. II, pp. 766-770 of Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs, edited by Cuyler Reynolds (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1911). It is in the Reference collection of the Schenectady County Public Library at R 929.1 R45. Some of the formatting of the original, especially in lists of descendants, may have been altered slightly for ease of reading.]
The Dudley family is one of the most noted and interesting in the whole world. All over England are great castle ruins and tombs of the Dudleys that speak eloquently of the past greatness of the family. They have been noble for centuries, and English history teems with their doings. Queen Elizabeth, in the fifth year of her reign (1562), granted Kenilworth castle to Robert Dudley, son of John, Duke of Northumberland, who added several fine buildings to the already magnificent structure, now in ruins. In July, 1575, the queen paid a visit to Leicester at this castle, remaining seventeen days, witnessing the entertainments devised by her favorite in her honor. But King James I. refused a later heir his rights to the castle, and it passed from the family. Sir Philip Sidney declared that his highest hereditary honor was to be a Dudley. There is a record of Dudley castle written in Domesday book, Britain's oldest national record, that says in the time of Edward the Confessor the estate was worth a rent of 4 pounds, but at the time of the survey ordered by William the Conqueror it was valued at 3 pounds rental.
Volumes have been written of the family doings in America since the coming of Thomas Dudley, the "Pilgrim," deputy governor and governor of Massachusetts Bay colony, who died at his home in Roxbury, Massachusetts, July 31, 1653. Men and women distinguished in every walk of life have borne the name, which is everywhere honored. In Albany, New York, there is an imperishable monument to the name, Dudley Observatory, erected mainly through the munificence of Mrs. Blandina (Bleecker) Dudley, in memory of her husband, Hon. Charles Edward Dudley, born at Johnson Hall, Staffordshire, England, May 23, 1780, died in Albany, New York, January 23, 1841, son of Charles Dudley, collector of customs, Rhode Island, and Catherine Cooke Dudley, of Newport, Rhode Island. Hon. Charles Edward Dudley was an eminent merchant of Albany. He was a member of the New York senate 1820-25, mayor of Albany 1821-28; United States senator to succeed President Martin Van Buren, 1829-33. His wife Blandina was a daughter of Rutgers Bleecker. She became a noted philanthropist in her later years and gave her wealth freely for benevolent and scientific purposes. They had no children. The Dudleys of Johnstown, New York, herein recorded, descend from Francis Dudley, of Concord, Massachusetts.
(I) Francis Dudley, born about 1640, settled at Concord, Massachusetts, about 1663. He was living in 1702 and is believed to have died in Concord. He was a soldier in King Philip's war, and the record shows payment to him for services under date of February 29, 1675. He married, October 26, 1665, Sarah Wheeler, of Concord, daughter of George Wheeler. She died December 12, 1713, at Concord. Children:
(II) Samuel, son of Francis and Sarah (Wheeler) Dudley, was born at Concord, Massachusetts, June 27, 1682, died at Douglass, Massachusetts, March 27, 1747. He removed to Littleton in 1714, and was town clerk there 1716-17; from thence he removed to Sutton, Massachusetts, about 1728, where he was lieutenant of the train band, first representative to the general court, had a front seat in the church, and held many offices and appointments until 1737, when his name disappears from the Sutton records. In 1745 he was of Douglass, Massachuetts. He had four wives, and the records contain the names of fourteen children. His first wife, Abigail King, died August 9, 1720. His second wife Lydia Wetherbee, died March 27, 1747. His third wife was ————, and his fourth wife, Sarah Shepard. Children: Samuel, see forward; Francis; David, one of a triplet, the others being Jonathan and Abigail; Sarah, Abigail (2), Mary, Patty, Roger, Paul, Charles, William, and Douglasette, daughter of last wife.
(III) Samuel (2), eldest son of Samuel (1) and his first wife, Abigail (King) Dudley, was born July 28, 1705, and was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun in 1750, at Littleton. He is styled in the records "husbandman" and "gent." He married, February 17, 1729, Abigail Waters. He left no will. His estate was inventoried at 12,261 pounds. Children:
(IV) Stephen, son of Samuel (2) and Abigail (Waters) Dudley, was born at Littleton, Massachusetts, July 2, 1735, and died in South Carolina, about 1784. He served in the revolutionary war. He married Lydia Harwood, of Littleton. Children:
(V) General Peter Dudley, son of Stephen and Lydia (Harwood) Dudley, was born at Littleton, Massachusetts, November 29, 1773, and died at Peru, Bennington county, Vermont, August 13, 1847. His father died when he was but a boy, and his mother with her small children removed to Vermont, settling at Andover. In March, 1800, with his young wife he went to Peru, Vermont, where he purchased a tract of wild forest land, built a log cabin, and with his wife founded a home in the wilderness. In time the log cabin was replaced by a commodious farm house, the forest fled before the fields, and he became a prosperous, well-to-do farmer. He possessed a strong and sturdy independence of character and was of the strictest integrity. He was elected to the Vermont legislature in 1810, and served by successive re-elections for fifteen years. Between 1835-40 he was again elected for two or three years in succession. He was liberal to all public improvements and enterprises. He was instrumental in getting the first school established and in having the first house of worship erected. Upon the organization of a military company in Peru he was elected its first captain, was promoted to colonel and later brigadier-general of the Bennington county brigade. He served during the second war with Great Britain in 1812-14, and was with his command in the Plattsburgh campaign. He resigned from the service in 1820. He was a loyal supporter of President Madison and advocated a vigorous prosecution of the war. He married, March 11, 1800, Lucy Barnard, born November 7, 17——, died at the homestead in Peru, August 24, 1840, followed by the General seven years later. General Dudley had fifteen grandsons who were old enough to serve in the civil war; of these, twelve did serve, seven of them as officers; six were wounded, and three died in the service. He had thirteen children:
(VI) James Madison, son of General Peter and Lucy (Barnard) Dudley, was born in Peru, Vermont, July 19, 1813, and died at Johnstown, Fulton county, New York, April 9, 1892. He remained on the farm assisting in its cultivation and attending the public school until seventeen years of age, when he entered the Chester (Vermont) Academy. Later he pursued a course of study at Burr Collegiate Seminary, Manchester, Vermont. Choosing the profession of law, he placed himself under the preceptorship of Judge Washburn and Peter T. Washburn, of Ludlow, Vermont. About the year 1840 he removed to New York state, locating in the town of Broadalbin, Fulton county, where he continued his legal studies, removing later to Oppenheim, same county. In July, 1845, he was admitted to the bar, and practiced at Oppenheim until 1850, when he opened an office in New York and practiced there for about seven years. In 1852 he removed his family to Johnstown, New York, which was ever after his home. In 1857 he formed a legal partnership with Judge John Wells, which partnership continued until January 1, 1877, the firm at times being Wells, Dudley & Davis, and Wells, Dudley & Alexander, until 1869. In that year Jeremiah Keck was admitted to the firm, which as Wells, Dudley & Keck continued until January 1, 1877, when the partnership of Wells, Dudley & Keck was dissolved, being succeeded by Dudley, Dennison & Dudley — James M. Dudley, James A. Dennison, his son-in-law, and Harwood Dudley, his son, composing the firm. In 1882 Mr. Dennison was appointed deputy attorney general of the state of New York and retired from the firm. Mr. Dudley and son Harwood continued the partnership until it was terminated by the death of James M. Dudley. He was a leader in the profession to which he was devoted. Honorable and just in character, learned in the law and skilful in its application, he had the full confidence of the bench, the respect of the bar, and was trusted implicitly by his clients. The firm with which he was connected ranked among the first at the Fulton county bar and always had a large clientage. In public affairs Mr. Dudley took an active interest. He was appointed district attorney by Governor Seymour, and in 1866 was chairman of the Fulton county board of supervisors. In 1871 he was the candidate of the Republican party for county judge. In 1872 and 1873 he served as a member of the convention to revise the state constitution. He was for many years United States commissioner. He believed in the public school system and always gave freely of his time and influence to forward the cause of education. He was one of the trustees of the old Johnstown Academy, later merged into the Union Free School. In 1869 he was elected president of the board of education of Johnstown, holding that position until the year of his death. In religious faith he was an Episcopalian, and a member of St. John's church, which he served as trustee and vestryman. His membership and active church life in that parish covered the period from 1856 to his death, April 9, 1892. His influence in Fulton county was always exerted for the welfare of the people, and never for selfish gain or advancement. He was loyal in his friendships and true to his obligations as a citizen and neighbor. He married, June 14, 1843, Maria Swartwout, born January 9, 1820, died March 4, 1882, daughter of Samuel and Parthenia (Cline) Swartwout of Oppenheim, New York, and a great-great-great-great-granddaughter of Roeloff Swartwout, of Ulster county, New York, born in Holland about 1634; came to New Netherlands 1655; settled at Fort Orange (Albany); first sheriff of Ulster county under Governor Peter Stuyvesant; justice and collector of the grand excise. His son, Thomas Swartwout, of Kingston, New York, was one of the seven grantees in the patent of the Minisink valley in 1697. Children of James M. and Maria (Swartwout) Dudley:
(VII) Harwood Dudley, third son of James M. and Maria (Swartwout) Dudley, was born at Oppenheim, Fulton county, New York, September 11, 1852. He obtained his early education in the public schools and prepared for college at Johnstown Academy. So well and thoroughly had he prepared that he was able to enter the sophomore class at Union College in 1872, being graduated A. B. in 1875. He had already decided upon the profession of law and had read and studied during his summer vacations. He entered Albany Law School and was graduated LL.B., 1876. He was admitted to the bar of New York, May 17, 1876, and January 1, 1877, became one of the firm of Dudley, Dennison & Dudley. In 1882 the firm narrowed down to J. M. and H. Dudley, father and son. Of all these partners, Harwood Dudley is the only living member. After the death of James M. Dudley, the son Harwood continued the business alone until September 1, 1904, when he admitted his nephew, Alfred Dudley Dennison, as partner. The firm continues, as always, to transact a general legal business. Besides the high standing the firm has always had as practitioners they have also a reputation as law writers. In 1880 they adapted the sixth edition of Cowen's Treatise to the provisions of the code. In 1887 the seventh edition was revised and the decisions brought down to date. In 1881 they rearranged and really rewrote "Edwards on Bills and Notes." This literary work fell largely upon Harwood Dudley, in some of the editions all the work being his own. He stands high in his profession and in the regard of his fellowmen. His broad, enlightened mind covers a variety of interests. He is greatly interested in the work of the Humane Society, and is president of the Fulton county branch as well as an active worker for the society's objects. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and serves as deacon. For six years he was a member of the board of education. In 1908 he accepted an election as trustee of his alma mater, Union University. In the Masonic order he has attained the thirty-second degree, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. He is past master of St. Patrick's Lodge No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons, a lodge of which Sir William Johnson was a charter member and the first worshipful master, and General Nicholas Herkimer and Majors Peter Ten Broeck and Jelles Fonda members. He is a member and past T. I. M., of Johnstown Council, No. 72, Royal and Select Masters, and is trustee of the grand council, R. and S. M., of the state of New York. He is a member of the Johnstown Historical Society; a member of the Empire State Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. His social club is the Colonial, of which he has been president. There is very little that affects the social life of Johnstown in which he has not a vital concern. He is a man of the people, and their interests are his. Politically he is a Republican. He married, December 7, 1881, Frances, daughter of David G. and Jerutia (Wooster) Selmser. They have no children.
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