And to think I’ve been masquerading as a Dudley for my entire life.
When I discovered recently that I’m a dual citizen of both Canada and the USA it set off a chain of events that sent me into a frenzy of activity. In order to prove that I’m a Canadian citizen I needed to locate some documents, including my mother’s birth certificate, so I spent several days going through about a dozen large boxes of family history documentation that I’ve collected over the years. I hadn’t seen most of that stuff since 2003-2005 when I collected it in a flurry of genealogical research.
My quest for documents reignited my interest in my Dudley family history and made me realize that I needed to get it organized and compiled into some kind of logical, sequential presentation that would tell the Dudley story to members of my family and even to myself. So early last week I purchased a “deluxe” copy of Legacy Family Tree, ($79.95, although the standard edition is free) a genealogy software for Windows that assists family historians in tracking, organizing, printing, and sharing family history.
I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Legacy is a very powerful and flexible software, so out of necessity it’s also complex and tricky to navigate. When combined with the vast amount of family history documentation I’ve collected, the task of getting all that info entered into the software without making errors and getting it all organized and compiled so that all the names, dates and places agree with each other can be nothing short of intimidating.
But I’m making progress and today I decided to share some of it. My primary purpose isn’t to share my family history with readers – some of the info I’m including I’ve shared in the past so readers are already familiar with it. My purpose is to show you where I’m at with my Legacy Family Tree project. If you look at it more carefully than I intend for you to, you’ll find errors, typos and a lot of duplicated information, which I’ll be “fixing” in the near future. What I’d really like to do with this is inspire at least a few readers to tackle a family history project of their own.
If I can do it, most anyone can.
First, for this presentation to make any sense to my readers I need to explain why the Dudley’s haven’t always been Dudleys. If I don’t, you’re likely to be thoroughly confused.
Part of Dudley Castle – most of the castle was destroyed by a fire in 1750 that lasted for three days
In the 1400’s the Sutton family owned Dudley Castle in the town of Dudley, West Midlands, England. Sir John Sutton, born in 1400, became the first Baron Dudley when he was summoned to Parliament as “johanni de Sutton de Duddeley militi” in 1440. A writ issued by Parliament enabled the barony title to be used by the Sutton family in future generations.
More of Dudley Castle
That same John Sutton (there were several John Suttons in a row) became the first of his family to take Dudley as their surname in place of Sutton, The name stuck and that’s why we’re Dudleys today instead of Suttons.
Ron Sutton instead of Ron Dudley? Now that would take some getting used to…
After genealogical information (names, dates, places, events, photos etc.) has been entered into Legacy, the software can generate an almost endless variety of styles of reports and charts that can be saved and printed. Below I’m including parts of four pages of what Legacy calls a “Narrative Book Report” of my family history. I haven’t yet included any photos or graphics and I have lots of loose ends to clean up (especially duplicate information) but at least you can see what it’s beginning to look like.
I’m very, very lucky in that I’ve been able to track my direct paternal Dudley line back 34 generations. Here you see generation 4 and parts of generations 3 and 5. I’m including this page in part because it explains how, why and when the Dudley’s came to Utah (see Oliver Hunt Dudley).
Here you see all of generation 12 (except the title) and much of generation 13. I intend to condense the General Notes for Roger Dudley into a less detailed and more “readable” form.
Anne Bradstreet
This is a nineteenth century depiction of Governor Thomas Dudley’s daughter, poet Anne (Dudley) Bradstreet, by Edmund H. Garrett. No portrait made during her lifetime exists. It’s one of many photos and graphics I intend to integrate into the Legacy software.
Part of generation 17 and most of generation 18. I chose to include this page because Sir John Dudley is one of the ‘big shots’ in my lineage and because it was John who changed our surname from Sutton to Dudley.
Once I get past Sir John in the 1400’s I find very few details about my ancestors, other than names, dates and some places. Back then the Suttons were called de Suttons. This is the last page of my 12 page Narrative Book Report. After (before?) this I draw a blank.
Well, I’ve probably bored many of you to tears but this is what I’ve been doing for most of the last two weeks. I’ve spent countless hours researching my ancestors on Family Search, Ancestry, WikiTree , Wikipedia and other genealogy websites, in addition to combing through my personal records.
If you should decide to look into your own family history, I’d recommend that you begin with Family Search or maybe Ancestry. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you’re able to find.
It’s a little like being sucked down a rabbit hole but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the ride.
Ron
Fascinating and fulfilling journey through time. Forty years ago we stumbled across a paper copy of a search my husband’s father had done through church records. No nobility etc but he was able to get as far back as “a slave named William and a slave named Susan” on a ship that stopped first in Barbados and then later in British Guiana. A few years later we returned to Canada with me preceding him by a couple months to establish a base here while he finished off arrangements there. I debated taking thae precious paper with me but felt that since it was his family he might prefer to keep it close. Bad call on my part because he lumped it in with a bunch of academic papers that got lost in transit. 🙄 Sadly the search could never be duplicated because the wooden church containing the records had burned to the ground.
I had a similar experience. I was researching my Dad’s family tree back to Quebec. I was stuck in the 1860s. There was no clear path beyond that. The surname LaChance was common there but direct lineage was scattered. I learned that in 1881 Canada was getting fed up with the French population using two names. One being a given surname and the other being a nickname or “dit” name. I found documents showing the original name was Pepin dit LaChance. “The little lucky one.” Canada said each had to choose one or the other before the 1881 census. Some chose Pepin and others chose LaChance. My grandfather chose LaChance and moved to NH the same year. The name Pepin was lost in the shuffle. I learned this 10 years ago as Canada has fabulous genealogy records. I was able to track back to the founding of the Ile d’Orleans in Quebec in the early 1600s and back to Le Havre
Normandy to the first immigrant Andre Pepin @1600. ( I don’t have my papers in front of me for exact dates). I wish my Dad had known this. He would have been fascinated!!
Ron, very impressive! It is so fascinating, isn’t it? And I do agree about the rabbit hole aspect. I’ve been an active member of Ancestry for many years and I’ve found many a distant and fascinating (possible) connection. However until I retire my attention to this is spotty and infrequent. I’m sorry for all your data entry, but the records you have are incredible! I applaud your intention to keep this history correct and current. Very important.
I have learned that there is a distinct class difference that emerges during these searches: property owners, nobility, local barons and the like can be found in many, many types of documents.
The poor folks, not so much. Especially in Ireland (my biased opinion). Unless one was in jail, the poor house, or a debtor, records are limited to church records. The O’Mara side of my family are unknown until my great-great grandfather Malachi O’Mara (Mara) emigrated from Ireland to the US and was married in New York in 1849. The other side, the Maddens, are from a village in East Galway, Ireland. My great-grandfather & all his siblings but one emigrated to America in 1860’-1870’s. Anyway, it’s very difficult to get any traction farther back than about 1842. Have been back to the auld sod three times. Can’t find the darn castle!
Sorry for the personal tangent.
This why your records are so fascinating and important.
KM
Kathryn, don’t apologize for your “personal tangent”. I enjoyed reading it.
And I agree with your primary point. I’m just lucky that some of my ancestors were “notable”, so more records than usual are available for those who choose to search for them.
I hope that ‘nobility’ will transfer to your Canadian citizenship. Just looking out for possible future prospects, heh! 😎😎🤠
That is quite the family tree Ron. I’ve only traced both branches of my family tree back Europe to the 1630s. It exploring my father’s side of the family and my LDS roots I have learned that my great great grandparents journal and diary from the journey West from Nauvoo are archived in the church historical Society there in Salt Lake City. I would love to visit and read their description of the hardship that they endured on their way west to the Utah territory
Steven, if and when you visit, don’t forget the Utah Historical Society and the DUP. I’ve found some good stuff in both places – DUP especially.
Fascinating. I can well understand you being sucked down this rabbit hole – and suspect that you are lucky that there has been only one significant name change.
“you are lucky that there has been only one significant name change”
EC, in almost 1300 years I probably am lucky.
Good for you!!! Back in 2010 I purchased Ancestry and knocked out our family tree during the free 2-week demo period – who needs to sleep?!. It was a fascinating journey! The efforts were very appreciated by my ex-husband and extended family. Few surprises on the journey!
Kathleen, if you go back now, 13 years later, you may be able to add to your tree. I was able to add an additional generation this time and I also discovered that I’d left one out.
👍
This is fascinating! So glad you shared it! Every now and then I get the urge to start researching my family but mostly have resisted. I know me: I’d get started and then not find time!
Beth, If you get started you may be surprised how easy it is for you to find the time. It made me change my priorities in that regard.
Kalispell, Utah ? I’ve known of Kalispell,Montana all my life, but
until today, haven’t heard of one in Utah–and my AAA atlas doesn’t
list one in the index. Where is it, or where WAS it ?
Kris, there isn’t a Kalispell, Utah. Sarah died in Hill Spring, Alberta. Her husband (my grandpa) DeVere died in Kalispell but it’s in MT, not UT. That’s just one of the errors and typos I still have to fix.
Dang, and I thought I was doing good to trace my dad’s family tree back to 1501 just using regular Ancestry. The rest is 1700’s or complete epic fail.
That is “doing good”, Connie. Lots of folks reach a dead end (pun intended) at four or five generations.
What a task Ron. No way at my age and low tech skills could I ever handle this. You get two thumbs up and a few high fives for your efforts here. So you might be related to the famous bank robber of the past Willie Sutton. 🙂 🙂
In England we were the Sambournes but in America became Sanborns.
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
“So you might be related to the famous bank robber of the past Willie Sutton”
Everett, given some of the scoundrels in my family history I wouldn’t be surprised!
Amazing Ron. Wish I could trace my family tree further back.
Like you, I am the holder of boxes of old photos and documents/ Have done a lot of work in Ancestry, but have not been able to go any further back than 4 generations or so. Also getting tired of paying the yearly fees for the Ancestry service and not being able to download trees and such. Think I will look to one of these standalone programs.
Michael, try Family Search instead of Ancestry for your research. It’s free and once you get the hang of it it’s very, very good.
Appears it’s proving to be a winner for you! 🙂 I haven’t done a lot of Genealogy but know “names” can be relative and aren’t always reliable for sorting things out!
Nice to have a “winter” project when birding is slow….. 😉
Thanks, Judy. It’s going to keep me busy and mostly out of trouble for some time to come. But when birds and weather cooperate again, they’ll take precedence.