The Lineage of Our First American Emigrant
Jonathan RUDD
of
Saybrook, Connecticut

Early Generations.

The pedigree of the Rudds of Northamptonshire is the source of our information regarding this family of Rudds. The pedigree of the Northamptonshire Rudds from which I am about to quote is a copy of one preserved in the British Museum, amongst several others which are practically identical in their statement.

Some American Rudds.

In America, the name Rudd is of comparatively infrequent occurrence, and though it has been synonymous with a high degree of respectability, it has not become pre-eminently distinguished nor conspicuous in public annals. ....Nearly all American Rudds are sprung from Jonathan Rudd, who first appeared in New Haven, CT in 1643. His origin and early history are wholly conjectural, and especially discouraging conditions have thus far attended all efforts to clarify the subject. A tradition, extant in several branches of his descendants, asserts for him a Nottinghamshire origin, but corroborative evidence of this tradition has been sought in vain. It is supposed that he came to New England in 1637, at that time of the greatest influx of settlers in the first half of that century.

Jonathan1 RUDD appears to have been quite a lad in his early years. He is thought to have been a native of England who came to America prior to 1640. He first appears at Hartford, CT , on 2 Apr 1640 when, with other youths, he was before the court for being intimate with Mary Bronson. On 4 Jan 1643/4 he was fined in New Haven for defective arms. Three months later he was find with others for attending a drinking party. He took the oath of fidelity on 1 Oct 1644. He seems to have returned shortly after to Hartford, and although he was mentioned in New Haven records on 2 Jun 1646, as having told Edward Parker some gossip he heard from the boatswain, he did not appear to testify in the case.

It is not known when he settled in Saybrook except that he was there by the winter of 1646/7. He was made a freeman of the Connecticut Colony, 15 May 1651. On 23 Feb 1652/3 he was appointed with Thomas Tracy to assist Capt. John Mason in fitting out the six great guns for the defense of Saybrook. He was made leather sealer for Saybrook on 4 Oct 1656.

Jonathan's title of Lieutenant, which appears in records of his estate may have come from his being one of the two men appointed to assist Capt. Mason at Saybrook Fort, but unlike his co-assistant Thomas Tracy, he does not seem to have been formally commissioned.

Jonathan died in July 1658, as recorded in the inventory of his estate, filed 28 August 1658.

Jonathan is a qualifying ancestor for Sons of Colonial Wars.

Jonathan1 RUDD = unknown

Children of Jonathan1 RUDD:
Generation 2.

Nathaniel2(Jonathan1) RUDD married (1) Mary POST 16 Apr 1685. Mary (Post) Rudd was b. Nov 1662, d. Nov 1705, a daughter of John POST=Hester HYDE. Nathaniel and Mary (Post) Rudd settled at West Farms, now Franklin, CT, in the part which is now Bozrah, and later in Norwich, where he was one of the organizers of the first church there. He seems to have prospered as he left at his death, an estate valued at 689 pounds. He died in April 1727 in Bozrah.

Children of Nathaniel2 and Mary (Post) RUDD.

Nathaniel2 married (2) Abigail HARTSHORN. Abigail (Hartshorn) Rudd was b. 28 Apr 1686, Reading, MA, the daughter of Joseph HARTSHORN = Susannah BUCK. Following Nathaniel's death in April 1727, Abigail =(2) 1729, Lt. Samuel BUTT of Canterbury.

Children of Nathaniel2 and Abigail (Hartshorn) RUDD:

Generation 3.

Joseph3(Nathaniel2, Jonathan1) RUDD was born 31 Oct 1708, Windham, CT, and died 8 Jan 1787, Bennington, VT. He married 21 Nov 1733, Norwich, Sarah MOSELEY, daughter of Increase MOSELEY and Mary HAZEN.

Children of Joseph3 and Sarah (Moseley) RUDD:

  • Increase RUDD, b. 21 Sep 1734 = Bathsheba JOHNSON

  • Zeruian RUDD, b. 3 Sep 1736 = William VINCENT

  • Hipzibah RUDD, b. 30 Mar 1738

  • Joseph RUDD, b. 26 Mar 1740 = Sarah STORY

  • Ednah RUDD, b. 1 Mar 1741/2

  • Sarah RUDD, b. 1 Aug 1744/5

  • Abigail RUDD, b. 28 Nov 1746

  • John RUDD, b. 29 Dec 1748 = Chloe HILL

  • Jeremiah RUDD, b. 9 Jan 1750/1

Generation 4.

Increase4(Joseph3, Nathaniel2, Jonathan1) RUDD was born 21 Sep 1734. He married Bathsheba JOHNSON, the daughter of Maverick JOHNSON and Deborah PAYNE. Increase fought in the battle of Bennington, serving under Capt. Merriman and Wood, and was a private and Sergeant in the war. The family moved to Middletown, Rutland County, VT. Increase and Bathsheba Rudd were members of the Congregational Church, the first church organized in Middletown.

Children of Increase4 and Bathsheba (Johnson) RUDD:

  • Silas RUDD, b. 25 Feb 1756 = Phebe HERRICK

  • Deborah RUDD, b. 7 Mar 1758 = Levy WOOD

  • Eunice RUDD, b. 28 Jun 1761 d. 1774 @12

  • Hannah RUDD, b. 19 Feb 1763 = Stephen RICHARDSON

  • Baruck RUDD, b. 5 Jun 1765 = Abigael MATHURIN

  • Thedy RUDD, b. 3 Jul 1767 = Austin HILL

  • Johnson RUDD, b. 9 Jul 1769 = Abigail BROWN

  • Sarah RUDD, b. 16 Jul 1772 = Samuel SPICER

  • Abigail RUDD, b. 28 Jul 1774 = Ormond BUTLER

  • Lydia RUDD, b. 25 Sep 1776 = Pitman BARKER

  • Samuel RUDD, b. 10 Feb 1779 = Mary AMES

  • Olive RUDD, b. 30 Jan 1784 = John BROWN