Tracing Your Dudley Roots

This little article is NOT intended as a beginners guide to genealogy. I only wish to start those of you who have done little research off on the right path.

Most Dudley's who begin tracing their lineage start with a preconceived idea that THEY are related to "so and so" Dudley--usually based upon stories told them by elder relatives who were told stories, who got the stories from their relatives, and so forth. The most popular Dudley's to be related to are (in order):

1. Governor Thomas Dudley
2. Lady Jane Grey Dudley
3. John de Sutton (Dudley)
4. Anyone connected to Dudleytown, Ct.

Now, with over 600,00 + Dudley's in the U.S., the REAL possibilities that YOU are related to any of the above are:

The reason is simple....Gov Thomas only had one son (Rev Samuel) who produced searchable male offspring, and most of the daughters lineage is still being researched. (NOTE: yes, I know about Joseph and Paul, but no information on them is currently available) Lady Jane & husband Guilford, and HIS dad, all lost their heads over the Queenship issue (see article on her elsewhere), and all of the Dudley's in Dudleytown DIED!!!!

NOTE: Now, it is true that Rev Sam's son had LOTS of kids (and this is where most descendants today trace back through), and it is possible that YOU are connected to them. HOWEVER, do NOT start KNOWING that you are related...let the chips fall where they may!

That leaves John de Sutton--to whom NO one can prove descent to!

Now, that does NOT mean that your branch is forgotten. It is not. It is an old and honorable name--well worth any research you do. So how do you find out if you are related to anyone famous (or infamous)? Read on.

Here's what you do:

1. Start with your dad & mom and get their birth and marriage dates and places. If one or both are deceased, record the death date also. MAKE SURE you get the places.
2. Get Grandma and Grampa's info as above.
3. Get Great-Grampa and Grandma's stuff as above. (make sure you get any kids along the way also)

Now, in doing all this if you find someone born in England (as I did), forget Gov Thomas and the Dudleytown gang. You are not related to them.

However--by this time you'll probably find you have about 3-400 names. Yep, you heard me right--3-400! Hopefully, you are using a computer to keep track of all these people--and making backups along the way. Should you find that you ARE related to one of the famous Dudley's, Congratulations! (I think--because being related to Gov Thomas brings its own headaches--but more about that later) If not--I am sure that by this time you have enough interesting people in your database to make you press on.

Hopefully you will wind up in England. However, not all Dudley's do. So--where to start? Down at your local Mormon Church. In your yellow pages, look up "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" and under that, "Family History Center." Journey on down there and have their famous IGI explained to you. They will be VERY happy to help you, and then sit down at their computer, pop in the CD, and look up the first Dudley you have that was born in England. Wha-la! you're off!

NOTE: never be afraid of the Mormon (LDS) church Family History Center. Believe it or not, many of the people that work there are NOT Mormon. In addition, in the eight years I've worked with these people, not once did any of them try to convert me. They are friendly people who are there doing the same thing you are--getting headaches looking for dead relatives! They will, of course, answer questions if asked, but they will not press you. The closest thing to converting they have is a little display with free Books of Mormon on them. That's it!

Alternate methods? Well, go on down to your library and find out if there is a local Genealogy Society. Also, some computer clubs have genealogy SIG's (Special Interest Groups) that may help. And there is always the Internet (the Web). That's where you'll find ME!!! hehehe Actually, you will find very little on the Web about Dudley--that's why I'm here. We Dudley's need to share more information--and I hope I can provide a place for it.

For further information about beginning research, check the on-line course in the menu below. More will be coming there, and the one there now has good lessons on beginning research.

Good Hunting!