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Part 1--Mrs. Elmendorf's Theory There are a number of controversies in our Dudley history, but the twomost commented upon on this site, and cause the most email andquestions, are those concerning Governor Thomas Dudley and thepossible descent through Charlemagne. We will take a VERY short lookat both. Be aware that I intend in no way to settle the disputes, infact I may stir more up. I wish to state from the start that I willentertain comment upon them, but will NOT let this site take a standupon them. You will soon see why. NOTE: our first controversy will concern Gov Thomas Dudley. While I AMaware of the book/booklet/pamphlet "The Ancestry of Governor ThomasDudley" by Frederick Weid (a Fellow of the American society ofGenealogists) and Mrs. Elmendorf written in 1962, the article willONLY concern the article she penned in 1968. Reason? I only have THATarticle, and not the book. The other theories will be examined onother pages. The lineage of Gov. Thomas Dudley has always been in dispute. That hisfather was Captain Roger Dudley, and his mother Susan Thorne, hasnever (to my knowledge) been questioned. But who was the goodCaptain's father? Of this we are NOT really certain. There are(currently) FOUR theories--each with their good points and bad. Beaware that ANY of these theories are proven (or, unproven). The long standing theory that most genealogists accept is that he camethrough the Baronial Dudley from John Dudley of the Drapers Guild,back to John Sutton. This was originally promoted in Dean Dudley'smonumental History of the Dudley Family and was not questioned until(to the best of my knowledge) Mrs. Elmendorf. and would account forGov Dudley's obvious "Sutton Dudley" coat of Arms (which, by the way,still is not questioned). Then came Mrs. Minnie Elmendorf. In the July, 1968 edition of "TheAmerican Genealogist" (vol. 44, no.3), she advanced the (ratherobscure) theory that Cap. Roger was the son of "John, serg. of thePastry." (Note: for those unfamiliar with these abbreviations, I willexplain them. "serg of the Pastry" means Sergeant of the Pastry...asomewhat military title that implies that he MAY have been a chef.(Actually, it DOES mean he was connected to the bakery of someone inRoyalty, However, it is more accepted as just a title....meaningnothing except he knew someone!). This article touched off a storm of controversy among the descendantsof Gov Thomas that continues to this day. When this site came on-linein April of 1997, I was sent over 75 emails DEMANDING that I take aposition on this. When I finally did get a copy of the Article, what Iread truly surprised me. What evidence does Mrs. Elmendorf putforward? Here are some quotes, and my own notes on them: NOTE: yes, I am going to get critical of this--but I WILL be criticalof ALL of theories. While I DO have a "druther" (A theory I do like)please be aware that---NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE---I REPEAT ANYONE---TELLSYOU, NONE of them are proven. First, she doesn't directly seem to question the descent from theBaronial Dudley's. Good thing, too. Even heraldry supports this. Secondly, she attacks Dean Dudley (author of "History of the DudleyFamily") outright. Whether she does this simply to call attention toherself, or she truly believes his "evidence" is faulty, is not said.While a critical look at Mr. Dudley's theory is quite acceptable, shemake NO acknowledgment of his reasons or research. This, in myopinion, is unprofessional. Thirdly, her manuscript is (or at least appears to be) wellresearched. The lady obviously did a lot of homework. Unfortunately,most of the books and manuscripts she cites is UNAVAILABLE for about90% of us to check. It took me over 6 months before deciding to writethis, and still I have not seen half of the books, etc, that shecites. I HAVE seen some, and while I admit that they DO exist, (andwill stipulate to the others), I see nothing in them that definitelypoints a finger. HOWEVER: My overall impression of the article is this: any evolution scienceteacher would be proud! Let's look at some of the quotes and wordsused to support her work: She begins on the first page by saying: "some recent discoveries have strengthened the belief that hisfather...." No facts is she referring to, just a belief. "Missing is proof that Roger was the son of John, Serg. of thePastry." And she offers none, either. "Who reared this boy can only be conjectured. There is one intriguingpossibility. Conjectures and possibilities. That is all Mrs. Elmendorfcan offer. The rest of the article is more of the above. While I must say thatthe theory IS a possibility, SO is Dean Dudley's and all the rest whowent before and after him. The main problem with Mrs. Elmendorf'sarticle is that so many came to accept it as Gospel---and I am not sosure that it was really meant to be taken so. IF she wished to offerit as a theory (which another, who also offers a very intriguingpossibly, has done) she should NOT have concluded her article to implythat she had solved the mystery. In addition, her quoting ofmanuscripts that are NOT available to the general public, (a fact thatshe knew) allows any researcher to say just about anything they want.I am NOT saying she was lying--but a simple photocopy in the articlewould have lent support to her theory. In addition, the fact that shebases SO MUCH on assumptions does not--in my mind, at least--lend hercredibility. Again, I am NOT saying that she IS wrong--I just would NOT take andbase ANY genealogical claims upon it at all! The problem with Genealogy is that it is an INEXACT hobby. We can ONLYresearch what is THERE--and when hard evidence stops, so do we. It isfascinating to delve into "maybe this, or maybe that," but we CAN NOTput forth as factual things that are not. Now, in saying all of this, I fully realize that research into theancestry of Gov. Thomas WILL continue--and it MUST. Reports ofon-going research SHOULD be made public--as Mrs. Elmendorf's was. Ijust wish it would NOT be stated, or implied, that mysteries such asthis have been SOLVED. They will not be...not until HARD evidence isbrought forth.... And it has not been here. KEEP her theory, as it is a valid one--butdo NOT add it to your family trees yet. I will entertain any opposing viewpoint. IF you write a reputableopposing article, email me it, and IF well documented I WILL post iton-site. and now for your NEXT controversy: There is so much controversy over his parents, that those stated areonly a conjecture based on Dean Dudley's work. Other possibility isJohn Dudley, "Sgt of the Pastry". Only the name John Dudley can beestablished. http://www.dudleygenealogy.com/wga36.html#first does notname his parents. Others make him the son of John Dudley and ElizabethClerke. The following information is from "The Life and Works of ThomasDudley, The Second Governor of Massachusetts," by Augustine Jones.Published by Houghton, Mifflin and Company, Boston and New York, 1899. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Dudley, born 1576 at Northampton, England near Castle Ashby.Son of Roger Dudley who was killed at the Battle of Ivry in 1590. Nameof his mother is unknown, (some sources say her name was SusannaThorne). She was a kinswoman of Augustine Nicolls of Faxton,Northampton. Thomas Dudley had one sister, probably younger. He married Dorothy Yorke, (born 1582) daughter of Edmund Yorke ofCotton End, Northampton in 1607 or 1608. She died December 27, 1643 atRoxbury, Mass. The following epitaph was written for her by herdaughter, Anne Dudley Bradstreet, the famous poet: AN EPITAPH On my dear and ever honored Mother Mrs. Dorothy Dudley Who deceased December 27, 1643; and of her age, 61; Here lyes, A worthy Matron of unspotted life, A loving Mother and obedient wife, A friendly Neighbor, pitiful to poor, Whom oft she fed, and clothed with her store, To servants wisely aweful, but yet kind, And as they did, so they reward did find: A true instructor of her Family, The which she ordered with dexterity. The publick meetings ever did frequent, And in her closet constant hours she spent; Religious in all her words and ways, Preparing still for death, till end of dayes: Of all her Children, Children, lived to see, Then dying, left a blessed memory.
Karl-Heinz
Böttcher
