Richard Hudson I (son of William Hudson and Alice Turner) was born 1605 in Tamworth, Staffordshire, England, and died 1659 in Northhampton, Accomack Co, Virginia. He married (1) Joane Tilghman. He married (2) Mary Hayes on Abt. 1633. He married (3) Barbara Jacobs on 1652.
Notes for Richard Hudson I: Richard is believed to have sailed from London to Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship Safety. He settled along Hungars Creek in Accomack, Virginia. It appears Richard was a coastal trader from transporting records from 1642 and that he was Captain of his own ship and his Mate was Thomas Streete.
Richard's first wife's name is unknown, but he married a second time in 1638 to Mary Hayes, a widow about 30 years old. Along with his new wife Richard acquired two or more stepchildren and debts three times greater than the value of her estate.
Other indicators such as a wife, ownership of land, crops and livestock suggest his enterprises were more likely local than transoceanic. We also learn he was well spoken and sharp thinking. His livestock mark was a "fleur de leis," a device associated with a Hudson coat of arms. The fleur de leis was also the livestock mark of both Richard's sons, Henry and Nicholas, of Somerset County, Maryland.
He had misunderstandings with his friends and neighbors over ownership of livestock, which did not affect subsequent dealings. We assume on that account it concerned bills or debts due, which were settled peacefully out of court.
Richard Hudson disliked Marylanders. The reason is not distinctly stated, however, the rivalry between Virginia and Maryland for the Chesapeake trade was well known. Other traders about this time were also having difficulties with the Marylanders. Religious differences too could have contributed to his dislike. Marylanders were mostly Catholics and his sons, Henry and Nicholas, were very closely associated with, if not themselves, Quakers. Nicholas' wife, Elizabeth Freeman, was a Quaker and Somerset County, Maryland, where they lived, was a Quaker refuge. Additional studies show the Puritan Catholic political question at that time was rising to a head in England also.
The records reveal a few other facts about Richard Hudson. He provided a known place to hang tobacco and a place where people came "to beate corne," suggesting a milling site and merchant enterprise. He owned a dog, a gun, and lived near an "Indian Towne."
According to the work of Roy D. Hudson, Richard the sailor, continued to live at Hungars Creek, married a third time to Barbara Jacob, and left a Nuncupative (spoken to witnesses) Will in 1659.
One source indicates his children were "Girle," Richard II, Edward, Robert, Henry, Nicholas, John, William, and Charles.
Tidbits of the life of Richard I (from early Accomac Court records 1630 - 1660) · 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 servitude. · 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.
Richard Hudson II, was probably born in 1635 in Accomack County, Virginia, and he died in Henrico County, Virginia on October 25, 1669. 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, Virginia. Richard met his wife Mary Bowman and settled along the south branch of the James River on a tract of land known as "Roxdale" Children were Richard III (Hudsons of Amelia), Robert (Hudsons of Chesterfield), and William (Hudsons of Hanover).
More About Richard Hudson I: Christening: November 05, 1608, Cchurch of England. Immigration: August 1635, London to Virginia - ship Safety. Migrated: Hungars Creek, Accomack Co., Virginia.
More About Richard Hudson I and Mary Hayes: Marriage: Abt. 1633
More About Richard Hudson I and Barbara Jacobs: Marriage: 1652
Children of Richard Hudson I and Joane Tilghman are:
Henry Hudson, b. 1632, England, d. May 23, 1707, Somerset County, Maryland.
Children of Richard Hudson I and Mary Hayes are:
Robert Hudson, b. 1633, Northhampton, Accomack County, Virginia.
+Richard Hudson, b. 1634, England or Accomack County, Virginia.
Richard Hudson I (b. 1605, d. 1659)
Notes for Richard Hudson I: