See also
1 Deborah DUDLEY1 (1647- ) [4391]. Born 20 Sep 1647, Guilford, New Haven, CT.1
2 William DUDLEY2,3 (1608-1684) [3646]. Born 11 Sep 1608, Sheen (later Richmond), County Surry, England.2,4 Marr Jane LUTEMAN 24 Aug 1636, Ockley, England. Died 5 Mar 1683/84, Guilford, New Haven, CT.2,3
William Dudley was among several emigrants that signed the 'Guilford Covenant', in the company of Rev. Henry Whitfield, aboard the St. John.
Guilford Covenant - signed "on shipboard" June 1639
"We, whose names are hereunder written, intendending by God's gracious permission to plant ourselves in New England, and, if it may be, in the southerly part, about Quinnipiack: We do faithfully promise each to each, for ourselves and families, and those that belong to us; that we will, the Lord assisting us, sit down and join ourselves together in one intire plantation; and to be helpful each to the other in every common work, according to every man's ability and as need shall require; and we promise not to desert or leave each other or the plantation but with the consent of the rest, or the greater part of the company who have entered into this engagement.
As for our gathering together in a church way, and the choice of officers and members to be joined together in that way, we do refer ourselves until such time as it shall please God to settle us in our plantation. In witness whereof we subscribe our hands, the first day of June 1639.
Robert Kitchell, John Stone, Thomas Norton, John Bishop, William Plane, Abraham Cruttenden, Francis Bushnell, Richard Gutridge, Francis Chatfield, William Chittendon, John Hughes, William Halle, William Lute, Wm. Dudley, Thomas Naish, Thomas Joanes, John Parmelin, Henry Kingsnorth, John Jordon, John Mepham, Henry Doude, William Stone, Henry Whitfield, Thomas Cooke, John Hoadly"
From William Dudley, a Biographical Sketch by Al Dudley, an eleventh generation descendant.
"On May 20, 1639, under Captain Richard Russell, the St. John left England for the colonies. It was the first boat to cross the Atlantic and go directly from England to Connecticut. The passengers, followers of Reverend Henry Whitfield, included William Dudley and his pregnant wife, Jane Lutman. They had been married some three years earlier on August 24, 1636 by Rev. Whitfield in his church, Saint Margaret's located in Ockley, County Surrey, England.
It was on June 1, 1639, while still at sea that the twenty-five male family heads drew up and signed an agreement known variously as the Guilford Compact and the Plantation Covenant. This simple agreement formed the basis for the establishment of a new settlement along the shores of what is now Long Island Sound in Connecticut. It has been documented that Jane delivered a child, William, while at sea aboard the St. John. Thus, the boat arrived with one more passenger than were on board when it left England.
We do not know William's birth date but some sources indicate he was born in 1608 in the town of Sheen, later Richmond, in County Surrey, England. His parents are sometimes reported to be David Dudley and Joanna Arnold. We have not yet confirmed this information. Nothing is known of Jane's birth or parentage, but she is said to have been "of Wyseborough Green". Guilford records indicate that the couple had four children. William, was born aboard the St. John on June 8, 1639; Joseph was born in Guilford, April 24, 1643; Ruth was born in Guilford April 20, 1645; and Deborah was born in Guilford, September 20, 1647. Two sources ascribe to them a fifth, unnamed child, but no records have been found to confirm this birth. No mention of a fifth child is made in William's will.
There is very little of record concerning William and Jane although he was apparently a substantial member of the community. He was granted 3 3/4 acres of land on Petticoat Lane (now Fair Street) for a home lot in the first division of land. In subsequent divisions he was granted additional land and eventually accumulated holdings of about 150 acres in various parts of Guilford. William was a farmer and kept cows, horses, sheep, and oxen. Upon his death, his estate was valued at 345 pounds, 3 shillings, 5 pence, a considerable sum in 1684.
Records reveal that he became a Freeman on June 30, 1650, at the same time as many others of the 25 original settlers. We have recently examined some old town records and find that William was elected and served as Townsman on three occasions, in 1653, 1656, and again in 1661. He was also chosen to "set out highway" as needed, to "set out grounds for the mill's use" and to set out fence for the young cattle. He also served as an appraiser of estates on several occasions. It has been claimed by some that he served as a representative to the General Court, but lists of those Deputies do not include his name and town meeting records do not reveal his ever having been elected to such a position. He may have been illiterate. His will drawn up on December 22, 1679 and a codicil, drawn up on July 25, 1683, were not signed, but marked and affirmed. His signature does appear on the Guilford compact, but one or two persons may have written it, like all the others. Similarities in the signatures leads one to this possible conclusion. If he were illiterate, it might explain why he never held public office as all Freeman were expected to do.
William Dudley died in Guilford on March 16, 1684 following by ten years the death of his wife, Jane in Guilford on May 1, 1674."
4 David DUDLEY2 ( - ) [3648].
5 Joanna ARNOLD2 ( - ) [3649].
3 Jane LUTEMAN2,3 (c. 1615-1674) [3647]. Born c. 1615, Wysborough Green, England.3 Died 1 May 1674, Guilford, New Haven, CT.3
6 Jacob LUTEMAN2 ( - ) [3650].
| 1 | "William Dudley, a biographical Sketch by Al Dudley, an eleventh generation descendant". |
| 2 | "Ancestry.com, Snow/Lyman Ancestors". |
| 3 | "Genealogies of Connecticut Families from the New England Historical and Genealogical Register". |
| 4 | Francis Bazley Lee, Editorial Supervisor, 1907, "Genealogical and Personal Memorial of Mercer County, New Jersey". |