The Dudley Line

Looking Back

Edward Dudley

Edward Dudley was the immigrant to the colonies. He arrived in Virginia in February of 1637. He was born in Bristol England on 6 Jan 1602. He was induced to come to the Virginia colony by Thomas Hampton the rector of the Church of Jamestown.  

Edward and his wife Elizabeth Pritchard, the daughter of Robert and Hester Pritchard of Bristol, lived first in Norfolk and later settled in York County, the area south of Rappahannock River. This area was Lancaster and then Middlesex County. In 1654 Edward was listed in Lancaster Deeds Book 1654 pg 177 for his tithes. But in 1655 his widow petitioned the court asking for a survey and division of the 300 acres formerly owned by Edward Dudley. 

An Edward Dudley witnessed the Will of Thomas Saxe. In the Will his son Richard received cattle. It was proven in court in January of 1654.

Edward and Elizabeth had the following children:

• William
• Richard
• Elizabeth
• Robert

William, son of Edward, was probably born in Bristol England about 1621. In 1657 he patented about 3,000 acres of land on Dragon Swamp in Lancaster County for transporting 32 people to Virginia. He sold 2,00 of these acres to Harry Thacker. (Lancaster Co. Deed Book #1 pg 160). William was listed on the list of tithables in Lancaster for the years 1661, 1662, and 1663. He became a vestryman of Christ Church in 1666 (Vestry Bk pg 6) and became a church warden of Pianketank or Lower Chapel of Christ Church in 1668. (Vestry Bk pg 14) In 1672 the vestry paid him 10,000 pounds of tobacco for completing the chapel. 

William was fined by Governor Berkeley sixteen hogsheads of tobacco for his involvement in Bacon's Rebellion. He was living on Mobjack Bay in Gloucester County at the time and was a merchant. Thomas and William Dudley, sons of William Dudley, filed a grievance stating that their father was forced during Bacon Rebellion to administer the oath imposed by Bacon but did so unwillingly. He was pardoned by the Governor and he fined William the tobacco. (better than the death sentence that some received) James Cary a merchant in London also supported the claim against Governor Berkeley. There are some people that believe William's wife Elizabeth's maiden name was Cary. James Cary was finally able to have the fine paid remitted out of the estate of the Governor.

William died in 1677 and Elizabeth, his widow was executor of his estate. (Order Bk Middlesex County pg 70).  On 2 Mar 1677 she executed power of attorney to her son William. William remained in Middlesex but his brothers, James and Thomas, moved to Gloucester County.  

William and Elizabeth had the following children:

• James
• Thomas 
• William
• John
• Christopher

William, James, and Thomas were listed as "thought by the court to be capable to serve as footmen and to find themselves with armes" in Middlesex County.

William, son of William and Elizabeth, married Mary Bawd, daughter of William Bawd of Lancaster County in 1682.

In 1690 he was a member of Christ Church's vestry in Middlesex Virginia.

William died before November of 1692. 

William and Mary had the following children:

• William - born April 1683 moved to Bath Co. NC in 1716 to be near his uncle, Christopher. He married Jemina and had a son, Arthur.
• Robert moved to Princess Anne Co. VA and married Elizabeth, daughter of Solomon White. He married Eleanor second. He died in 1746. In his Will he lists his children, Robert, Henry, Isabella, Amy and Eleanor Jackson.
• Thomas was placed under the guardianship of his uncle Thomas when his father died. So he was under 18 years of age at that time. In 1706 he married Elizabeth Meecham.

Thomas and Elizabeth had at a son Peyton that left in his will property to his nephew Gwyn Dudley of Franklin County. 

Gwyn's father was Thomas, brother of Peyton, and son of Thomas and Elizabeth.

Thomas married Joyce in Middlesex, Virginia. I have not been able to find his will. Many of the family trees on Ancestry.com have him dying in 1760 in Amelia County. I have not seen any documents to support this. 

Research on Gwyn Dudley seems to indicate that he came to what was then Bedford County as a young boy. Again, that has not been proven.

Even with all the documents found about the Dudley family, there are many missing. For now this seems to be what is available because of all the burnt county records in Virginia. 

Going back to England there are some researchers that indicate the Dudley line goes back to royalty, to King Edward III. They even have linked this line to a castle.. Dudley Castle.

Dudley Castle

Are the Franklin County, Virginia Dudleys descendants of a King? I do not know, but it is nice to think so. I have no proof one way or another, if you find it let me know. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Pattie