New England Families

James Dudley

Birth Name	James Dudley
Gender	male
Age at Death	about 80 years, 3 months, 19 days

Notes

General

There are a few family trees on ancestry.com, familysearch.org, and rootsweb.com that identify James Dudley as the son of Samuel6 Dudley of Pittston, Maine. None, however, show how to make the connection between a James Dudley born in Pittston and one who died in Veazie. Since there was more than one James Dudley in Maine at the time, I thought I would lay out the reasons why we can come to that conclusion.

First of all, The History of the Dudley Family by Dean Dudley, records the first six generations in this line from Governor Thomas1 Dudley as Samuel2, Stephen3, James4, Samuel5, and Samuel6. The book informs us that Samuel6 was born in New Hampshire and settled in Pittston, Maine, having bought land there in 1771 while still “of Brentwood, N. H.”

The author then quotes a letter he received in 1888 from Mrs. Sarah Crocker of East Pittston, Maine, a granddaughter of Samuel6. In it she says “Uncle James went to Oldtown, Me., and kept a tavern there.”[1]

James Dudley and Abigail Hook filed an intention to marry in Pittston, Maine in 1803, in which Abigail is described as “of Canaan.”[2] No location for James is given in the transcription, implying that James was of Pittston, the home of Samuel6 Dudley.

Secondly, the first son of James and Abigail (Hook) Dudley was named John H Dudley. His birth is recorded in the Pittston records and in the Maine Vital Records, Copied from Old Records, as occurring on Feb 29, 1803.[3] The birth is on the Orono records as happening on February 29, 1804.[4] Ruth Gray’s transcription of the Old Town records gives the location as Pittston.[5] Either two different boys named John H Dudley were born on the same leap year day, or his parents moved from Pittston to Orono/Old Town.

Finally, The Centennial Celebration and Dedication of the Town Hall, Orono, Maine, March 3, 1874, says:

A settlement was commenced between fifty and sixty years ago about a mile west of the Bangor road, of which the late James Dudley, who migrated from Pittston, Kennebec county, was facile princeps.[6]

For the preceding reasons, I believe we are on solid ground when we identify James Dudley, husband of Abigail Hook, and living in Old Town and Veazie, Maine, as the son of Samuel Dudley of Pittston.

There is a bit more about the Dudleys in Family Trees > New England Families on the menu of this website. I hope to update it with more sources and information one of these days.

Footnotes

1. Dean Dudley, The History of the Dudley Family, with Genealogical Tables, Pedigrees, Etc. (Wakefield, Mass.: Dean Dudley, publisher, 1886), pages 430, 431.

2. Henry Sewall Webster, editor, Vital Records of Pittston, Maine, to the year 1892 (Gardiner, Maine: The Reporter-Journal Press, 1911), p. 187.

3. Vital Records of Pittston, Maine, p. 51, as: “John, s. James and Abigail, Feb. 29 [sic], 1803″. [The "sic" was the transcriber's, not mine.] Microfilm of Maine Vital Records, Copied from Old Records, at New England Historic and Genealogical Society, as: “John Dudley, Feb 29, 1803, Pittston. Father: James Dudley, mother: Abigail Dudley.”

4.Orono Town Records, 1806-1838, microfilm copy at New England Historic and Genealogical Society, as: Family of James Dudley and Wife: John H. Dudley born on 29 Feb 1804.

5. Ruth Gray, editor, Vital Records of Old Town, Maine, prior to 1892 (Camden, Maine: Picton Press, 1996).

6. Centennial Celebration and Dedication of the Town Hall, Orono, Maine (Portland, Maine: Bailey and Noyes, 1874), page 137. Now digitized and at Google Books and HeritageQuestOnline.com.

Events

Event	Date	Place	Description	Sources
Birth	about September 1782	East Pittston, Kennebec County, Maine, United States		1
Birth	General The location comes from Dean Dudley, History of the Dudley Family, with Genealogical Tables, Pedigrees, Etc., (Wakefield, Mass.: Dean Dudley, publisher, 1886), pages 430 and 431.			1
Census	August 6, 1810	Pittston, Kennebec County, Maine, United States	1810 James Dudley household	2
Census	General 1810 Kennebec Co., Pittson, Series M252, Roll 11, page 669 James Dudley 2 male 0 - 9 1 female 0 - 9 1 male 26 - 44 1 female 26 - 44 [this family fits the James Dudley whose family is later recorded on the records of Orono, Maine, after 1821]			2
Census	June 1, 1830	Orono, Penobscot County, Maine, United States	1830 James Dudley household
Census	General 1830 Penobscot, Orono, Series M19, Roll 51, Page 483 James Dudley 1 male 0 - 5 2 female 5 - 10 1 male 10 - 15 1 female 10 - 15 1 male 15 - 20 1 female 15 - 20 1 male 40 - 50 1 female 40 - 50 [this may be him but not everybody matches up] "United States Census, 1830," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XH55-9G5 : accessed 03 Dec 2013), James Dudley, 1830.
Census	June 1, 1840	Orono, Penobscot County, Maine, United States	1840 James Dudley household
Census	General 1840 Penobscot, Orono, Series M704, Roll 149, Page 250 James Dudley 1 male 10 - 15 1 female 15 - 20 1 male 20 - 30 1 male 50 - 60 1 female 50 - 60 "United States Census, 1840," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XHYS-HTV : accessed 03 Dec 2013), James Dudley, 1840.
Property	June 25, 1842	Orono, Penobscot County, Maine, United States		3a
Property	Note Penobscot County Land Records Volume 285, 1857 and 1858 pages 224 and 225 image 417 at familysearch Prentiss to Dudley Know all men by these presents That I, Henry E. Prentiss of Bangor, in the County of Penobscot & State of Maine Esquire in consideration of four dollars & four cents paid by James Dudley of Orono, in said County, yeoman, (the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge) have remised, released, sold and forever quit claimed and do [ditto?] for myself and my heirs, by these presents, remise, release, sell and forever quitclaim unto the said James Dudley and his heirs and assigns, all my right, title & interest in and to a certain tract of land situated in said Orono, Containing twelve acres, more or less, with the house thereon standing the same conveyed to me by John H. Wilson Collector of Taxes, in said Orono for the year 1841 of by deed dated April 28th 1842 & recorded in the Penobscot Registry for Deeds Vol 130 page 201 To have and to hold the aforementioned premises with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging to him the said James Dudley & his heirs and assigns forever. so that neither I the said Prentiss nor my heirs, or any other person or persons claiming from or under me or them or in the name right or stead of me or them shall or will, by any way or means have claim or demand any right or title to the aforesaid premises, or their appurtenances, or to any part or parcel thereof forever. In witness whereof, I the said Henry E. Prentiss have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two. Signed, Sealed and delivered in presence of Charles Stetson Henry E. Prentiss Penobscot June 25, 1842 Personally appeared Henry E. Prentiss, and acknowledged the above instrument by him signed and sealed to be his free act and deed. Before me, Charles Stetson, Justice of the Peace Received April 3, 1858 2 PM Entered and compared By John Goodell J. Registrar https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3Q1-K7DK?view=fullText&keywords=Prentiss%2CHenry%2CPenobscot+Penobscot%2CPenobscot%2COrono%2CMaine&groupId=TH-909-85489-3216-21			3a
Census	June 1, 1850	Orono, Penobscot County, Maine, United States	1850 James Dudley household
Census	Note 1850 Penobscot, Orono, Series M432, Roll 264, p. 257, family 379. James Dudley, 67, Laborer, RE: $90, ME Abigail Dudley, 67, NH Mary Burleigh, 76, ME, pauper James Turner, 22, raftsman, ME Margaret Graham, 14, ME [one household between them and his son Newman w/ Priscilla.]
Property (Husband)	April 17, 1858	Orono, Penobscot County, Maine, United States		3b
Property (Husband)	Note Penobscot County Land Records Volume 294, 1859 Dudley to Town of Orono pages 55 and 56 of the book images 34 and 35 at familysearch Know all men by these presents . That I James Dudley of Orono, County of Penobscot, State of Maine, for and in consideration of Fifty dollars paid by the Town of Orone Inhabitants of Orono, (the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledged have given, granted, bargained, sold and conveyed and do hereby give, grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Inhabitants of Orono, a certain parcel of land containing twelve acres more or less, bounded as follows : On the North by Wm & J. Colburn land, on the West by A. G . Rings land ; on the South by lot 34 ., On the East by land owned by Robert & David McPheters & being & meaning the same parcel deeded to me by Henry E. Prentiss June 25th eighteen hundred & forty two & recorded April third 1858, Vol. 285 page 224. To have and to hold the aforegranted premises, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, to the said Inhabitants of Orono, to their use and behoof forever. and I do hereby, for my heirs, executors and administrators covenant and engage to and with the said Inhabitants of Orono, that I am lawfully seized in fee of the aforegranted premises; that they are free from all incumbrances that I have good right to sell and convey the same in the manner aforesaid and that my heirs executors and administrators shall and will warrant and Defend the same premises to the said Inhabitants of Orono forever against the lawful claims and demands of all persons. And I, Abigail Dudley, wife of the said James Dudley, for the consideration aforesaid does hereby remise, release and relinquish to the said inhabitants of Orono forever, all my right and title to Dower in ant to the aforegranted premises. In witness whereof I the said James Dudley and my wife Abigail Dudley, have hereunto set our hand and seal this seventeenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty eight. in presence of J. B. Chase Penobscot (ss) April 17, 1858. Personally appeared James Dudley and Abigail Dudley and acknowledged the above instrument by them signed and sealed to be their free act and deed. Before me J. B. Chase, Justice of the Peace Received April 12, 1859, 1h PM Entered and compared by John Goodell Jr, Registrar https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3Q1-KCSN?view=fullText&keywords=James+Dudley%2CAbigail+Dudley%2CAbigail%2CDudley%2CJames%2COrono%2CMaine&groupId=TH-909-85489-1916-8			3b
Census	June 1, 1860	Orono, Penobscot County, Maine, United States	1860 James Dudley household
Census	General 1860 Penobscot, Orono, Series M653, Roll 446, p. 913 James Dudley, 78, farmer, born in ME Abigail Dudley, 77, ME Note in last column for both of them: "Helped by the town." [They are living between the household of his son Newman and that of Abner and Priscilla Perkins. Priscilla is their granddaughter by Daniel.] "United States Census, 1860," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MDCH-CP8 : accessed 17 Feb 2014), John H Dudley, 1860.
Property (Husband)	March 29, 1862	Orono, Penobscot County, Maine, United States		3c
Property (Husband)	Note Penobscot Deed Books 1862, Land Records 1862 there is no information in the front of this book as microfilmed by familysearch March 29, 1862 page 117 and 118 in the book image 120 and 121 at familysearch Dudley et ux to Town of Orono Know all men by these presents That we, James Dudley and Abigail Dudley & wife of said James, in my own right, of Orono, in the County of Penobscot, in consideration of two hundred and fifty dollars paid by the Inhabitants of the town of Orono in needful supplies the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge have remised, released, sold and forever quitclaimed, and do for us and our heirs, by these presents, remise, release, sell and forever quitclaim unto the said Inhabitants of the town of Orono all right, title & interest in & to the twelve acres of land situate in Orono aforesaid, conveyed to us & our son N. K.Dudley by Ch. Widenham, by deed of [April] 21, 1838 on record in Vol 302 page 256, of Penobscot Registry, to which deed reference must be made, our interest being two thirds in us common and undivided, meaning the same premises where we now line have lived for over twenty one years. To have and to hold the aforementioned premises with, all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging to the said Inhabitants and their assigns forever, so that neither we the said James & Abigail, nor our heirs or any other person or persons claiming from or under us or them or in the name, right or stead of us or them, shall or will by any way or means have claim or demand any right or title to the aforesaid premises, or their appurtenances, or to any part or parcel thereof forever. And I, Abigail, as wife of the said James for the consideration aforesaid do hereby remise, release and relinquish to the said Inhabitants of Orono, and their assigns forever, all my right and title to Dower in and to the aforegranted premises. In witness whereof we, the said James & Abigail have hereunto set our hands and seals this twenty ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty two. Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of N Wilson. Signed James Dudley, Abigail Dudley Penobscot ss April 10th 1862. Personally appeared the above named James & Abigail Dudley, and acknowledged the above instrument by them signed and sealed, to be their free act and deed, Before me, N. Wilson. Justice of the Peace. Received April 11 1862 10 A. M & Entered and compared, By John Goodell Goodell Jr Registrar? https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G961-MZP8?view=fullText&keywords=Abigail+Dudley%2CJames+Dudley%2CDudley%2CJames%2COrono&groupId=TH-1951-39570-4144-63			3c
Death	December 20, 1862			4a
Death				4a
Burial		Fairview Cemetery, Veazie, Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Burial

Parents

Relation to main person	Name	Birth date	Death date
Father	Samuel Dudley	about 1747	1796
Mother	Sarah Young	February 28, 1751 (Julian)	Unknown
	James Dudley	about September 1782	December 20, 1862

Families

Family of James Dudley and Abigail Hook

Married

Wife

Abigail Hook ( * about 1782 + 1870 )

Event	Date	Place	Description	Sources
Intention to Marry (Primary)	August 3, 1803	Pittston, Kennebec County, Maine, United States	Intention to Marry of Dudley, James and Hook, Abigail
Intention to Marry (Primary)	General Vital Records of Pittston, Maine, to the year 1892, Henry Sewall Webster, editor, (Gardiner, Maine: The Reporter-Journal Press, 1911), p. 187, records their intention to marry on 3 Aug 1803.
Marriage	August 30, 1803	Canaan, Somerset County, Maine, United States		5a
Marriage	General Their marriage is recorded on this date in Vital Records of Canaan, Maine, 1784 - 1891, "old page 6, new page 21." (Section 2 of the microfilm roll at New England Historic and Genealogical Society.)			5a

Children

Name	Birth Date	Death Date
John H Dudley	February 29, 1804	December 25, 1864
Judith “Julia” Dudley	March 29, 1806	after 1880
Daniel G. Dudley	August 17, 1808	before 1840
Abigail H Dudley	November 10, 1810	1883
Gilman H. Dudley	February 13, 1813	September 22, 1874
Newman K Dudley	April 17, 1816	October 17, 1874
Priscilla/Permelia Dudley	October 2, 1818	November 26, 1896
Mary “Mahallath” Dudley	August 17, 1821	December 9, 1914

Pedigree

Samuel Dudley
1. Sarah Young
  1. James Dudley
    1. Abigail Hook

Source References

Dean Dudley: History of the Dudley Family, with Genealogical Tables, Pedigrees, Etc.
1810 United States Census
Penobscot County Land Records
1. - Page: Volume 285, 1857 and 1858, pages 224 and 225
2. - Page: Dudley to Town of Orono, Volume 284, 1859, pages 55, 56
3. - Page: Dudley et ux to Town of Orono, 1862, page 117 and 118 in the book
Maine Old Cemetery Association: Fairview Cemetery, Veazie, transcription
1. - General:
    Maine Old Cemetery Association, Cemetery Inscriptions, microfilm. Fairview Cemetery, Veazie, is on Series I, page 1874ff.
Vital Records of Canaan, Maine
1. - General:
    Vital Records of Canaan, Maine, microfilm, at NEHGS.
    Vital Records of Pittston, Maine, to the year 1892, Henry Sewall
    Webster, editor, (Gardiner, Maine: The Reporter-Journal Press, 1911), p. 187, records their intention to marry on 3 Aug 1803.

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