It appears that Gentleman Henry is my thirteenth Great-Grandfather, that is thirteen greats before the Grandfather. Although many sources differ on his exact birth and death dates, the dates published here are the ones that are documented in the Mormon (LDS) Church records. By examining the dates and ages of the sons and grandsons, these dates seem to be the most feasible.
Henry's official title was Gentleman, Alderman of London, Lord of Manors. Henry had gathered considerable wealth in trade and was lord over many manors, some which were conferred to him by King Henry VIII. The significance of the title Gentleman comes from the aristocracy of ancient England. Gentleman was a title given to man of certain nobility signifying social position in England. During the fifteen hundreds, England was divided into two distinctive classes: the aristocracy (land owners) and the peasants. There was no middle class, so you were either a rich land owner or you were poor. Gentleman Henry Hudson was obviously of the aristocracy demonstrated by his collection of titles and the ownership of a coat of arms that identified our family.
The inscription on Henry's tomb in St. Dunstan's indicates that he had eight sons and three daughters with a wife named Barbara. The LDS Church documents only two his sons; William (my line) and Henry II.
It appears that Henry II was a member of the Muscovy Company (Association of Merchant Adventurers) founded by the explorer Sebastion Cabot in 1553. There are some records that indicate the Henry II was co-founder of this company. The Muscovy Company sought a northern route to China and India and ended up exploring the Northern North American continent. Henry II (an uncle) fathered a son Henry Hudson III (the explorer) who would be a first cousin to me many times removed.
Henry Hudson III (1575 - 1611)
Henry III married a woman only known as Katherine. As part of the Muscovy Company, Henry III failed in his attempts to find a passage to China in 1607 and 1608. Sailing in in the "Half Moon" as part of the "Dutch East India Company" , Henry III discovered the Hudson River in 1609. In 1610, sailing for England in the ship "Discovery" , Henry founded what is now Hudson Bay. On this voyage, in 1611, the Discovery was mutinied and Henry and his son were set adrift in the sea to perish.
The LDS Church identifies William's birthdate as 1528. Most records agree that Gentleman Henry fathered a son named William, but most records I have seen want to attach William (1560 - 1630), husband of Alice Turner, as Henry's son. The death of Gentleman Henry in 1555 and Birth of Alice Turner's William make this impossible. Again, the LDS records seen to make the most sense when it records Alice Turner's William as son to 1528 William. 1528 William appears to be my twelfth Great- Grandfather.
William Hudson married Alice Turner about 1603 and appears to be my eleventh Great-Grandfather. Most records closely agree as the place and dates of William's existance. Little else is known except that he fathered my tenth Great-Grandfather, Richard Hudson I who came to Virginia in 1635.