The Kingdom of Accomack, VA - 1635

Although the earliest settlers in Colonial America resided inland in the Jamestown area, the eastern shore of Virginia was a thriving settlement. Most of the early settlers of Virginia did not leave England for religious reasons like the northern colonies did, but sought the opportunity to become a "country gentleman". While the New England area was seeking independence, the Virginia colonies was seeking to extend the English ways and traditions. The opportunity to hold large tracts of farmable land was feasible at this time. The English government would grant 50 acres of land for every servant, criminal or other undesirable that was brought over to the colonies by respected individuals. Around 1630 the peninsula containing Accomack became a favorite site for the well-to-do English to seek their fortune.

• Robert Hudson b.1592 - London to Virginia -ship James in 1622

• Edward Hudson is listed as living at Ye Neak of Land on 2/16/1623 (no record when he came here)

• William Hudson b.1602 - London to Virginia - ship Bonaventure on 1/2/1634

• Ralph Hudson b.1618 - London to Virginia - ship Thomas and John on 6/6/1635

• William Hudson b.1615 - London to Virginia - ship Transport on 7/4/1635

• Christopher Hudson b.1605 - London to Virginia - ship Alice on 7/13/1635

• Richard Hudson I b.1605 - London to Virginia - ship Safety in August 1635

Richard Hudson left the port of London in 1635 aboard the ship "Safety" bound for Colonial Virginia.

4. Richard Hudson I (1605 - 1658)

Richard is my tenth Great-Grandfather. Born in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England to William Hudson and Alice Turner, Richard settled along Hungars Creek in Accomack, Virginia 1635. Although some sources indicate Richard may have been in Accomack earlier than 1635, the only ships records I could find were of the "Safety" sailing from London in 1635. It appears Richard was a coastal trader from transporting records from 1642. Richard was married to woman known as Mary and fathered the following children:

Richard II (my line) who married Mary Bowman

Robert who married Elanor

Edward (1638 - ??)

John (1646 - 1694) who married Mary

Nicholas (1644 - 1676) who married Elizabeth Freeman (Quaker)

Henry (1642 - 1710) who married Lydia Smith

• Apparently Richard I came to Virginia in 1635 as an indentured servant to Obedience Robbins. Court records indicate a dispute over payment to Obedience which indicates a servatude.

• Richard sued a Mrs. Savage for payment of some services that were rendered. The court ordered her to pay Richard 600 lbs of tobacco and five barrels of corn. (Eighty lbs of tobacco were worth about one pound Sterling and a day's wages was about sixteen lbs of tobacco) (Deeds And Will Book 1632 - 1640 p.19)

• Goodwiffe Robbins was brought into court for slandering Richard's wife Mary. Goodwife Robins' wife Alice received twenty lashes for this offense. It appears that Alice Robbins was a disagreeable person evidenced by the fact that she was quite often in court. For another slanderous offense she was "...lashed to the end of a canow and towed over the creeke".

• Richard again appears in court over a disputed hog. It appears Richard claims it was stolen and could identify it by its markings in the ear(the same fleur de lis utilized by Gentlemen Henry Hudson). The defendants claim that the markings in the ear were destroyed when the sow was attacked by dogs. Richard claimed that the thieves cut it out. The records are not entirely clear as to how it ended. Copies of these court records are attached to the hardcopy version of this document.

• Court records show the transfer of a minor orphan from the household of Richard and Mary to his sister in law Ruth Hayes. Copies of these court records are attached to the hardcopy version of this document.

• Finally court records show that Richard snuck upon "..his Girle" and her boyfriend in a compromising position in the woods. It is not known if "..his Girle" is his daughter or a servant, but the description in the court records is amusing. Copies of these court records are attached to the hardcopy version of this document.

Henry and Lydia's children were as follows:

Robert (1695 - 1728)

Mary

Elizabeth

Christian

Rhoda

Absalon (abt. 1700 - 1776) married Sophia

Major (abt. 1700 - 1781) who married Martha

Henry (abt. 1700 - 1742)

David (abt. 1700 -1773)

John (abt. 1700 - 1760) who married Sarah

William Hudson (abt. 1700 - 1766) who married Sarah and fathered the following children:

Zephorah

Leah

Henry (abt. 1736 - 1780)

William (abt. 1736 - 1780)

John (about 1736 - 1780)

Mary

Dennis who fathered Eli (1761 - 1851)

5. Richard Hudson II (abt 1634 - 1678)

Richard II is my ninth Great-Grandfather. Various sources list the birth date of Richard II between 1630 and 1635. If his birth was prior to 1635 this would lend credence to the suspicion that Richard I was in Accomack prior to 1635 or Richard II was born in England instead of Accomack. Whatever the case may be Richard II left Accomack in 1652 for the mainland and Henrico County, VA. Richard met his wife Mary Bowman and settled along the south branch of the James River on a tract of land known as "Roxdale". Richard and Mary had the following children:

Robert (1662 - 1757) Progenitor of the "Hudsons of Chesterfield County"

Richard III (1659 - aft 1706) Progenitor of the "Hudsons of Amelia County"

William (1668 - 1701) Progenitor of the "Hudsons of Hanover" (my line)

Records show the possible existance of a daughter, Rebecca

• Richard married Mary Bowman and apparently received a tract from his father in law Bowman known as Roxdale. Various court records indicated the transfer of ownership of this estate along with identifying family members. The will of Richard II is indicated to in court records from Richard III. It indicates that the Roxdale estate is placed in the hands of their guardian, Thomas Paulen, until the three children reach legal age to inherit their land.Copies of these court records are attached to the hardcopy version of this document. Also attached to the hard copy version is other court records with Richard Hudson's involvement. I have not completely deceiphered them, so it is up to you.

Samuel (died in 1761)

John

Henry

Peter

Phoebe

Robert (1685 -??) who married Martha and had the following children:

Robert (died in 1787)

Joel (1728 - 1810)

George

Simon (1738 - 1780) who married Mary Anderson and had son Simon in 1772

six daughters