Ludington family

The Ludington family was an American family active in the fields of business, banking, and politics. Henry Ludington was active in the American Revolution, while Lewis, James, Nelson, and Harrison Ludington were involved in developing cities in the states of New York, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Harrison was a governor of Wisconsin.

Origins

Author La Reiana Rule says the American name Ludington is of English origin from Luddington. She believes ancestors of the American Ludingtons were in towns in England from the 10th century. Her research indicates the name "Leodingtun" signifies "estate of the compatriot's family".^[1]

Lion Passant Guardant

Journalist Willis Fletcher Johnson says the American surname Ludington is also spelled Luddington, Ludinton, and Ludenton.^[2] He was told this family originated from the 16th-century Ludingtons of Shrawley and Worcester in England. Tradition has it that a Ludington was a follower of Richard the Lionheart in the Third Crusade and helped him plan a prison escape. This Ludington soldier received nobility status and a family coat of arms for his efforts. The coat of arms is colored in argent, azure, and gules, and emblazoned with a lion passant guardant and a crest featuring a palmer's staff. The motto reads: Probum non penitet (Honor not penitence).^[3][4]

Historiography

According to Paula Hunt, writing in The New England Quarterly in 2015, Johnson's Colonel Henry Ludington: A Memoir was published privately by Ludington's grandchildren, Charles H. and Lavinia Elizabeth Ludington.^[5] The biography, according to Hunt, "offers a laudatory account" of the colonel's life; Hunt states that it "was certainly not of the order of Johnson’s usual projects", noting that it was omitted from his New York Times obituary.^[6] She writes that the New England Historical & Genealogical Register reviewed it as a "charming, simple memoir",^[6] which she says was intended to "remedy a belief that the Revolution-era militia and its officers had not received the recognition they deserved and to ensure the colonel's place in American history", citing page vii of the Memoirs.^[7] She characterized the work as a "not wholly reliable source".^[8]

Doubts about the family's accounts had been raised before Hunt's report,^[9] and as early as 1956.^[10]

Genealogy

William Ludington

William Luddington and his wife Ellen are of unknown English origin, but are considered the base foundation of the American Ludingtons since there are confirmed history records on them.^[11] They were married about 1636.^[11] They immigrated to America about 1639 and settled in Charlestown, Massachusetts, which later became Malden, Massachusetts.^[4][12] Court records of 1640 show that William built his residence outside the city limits, which was illegal, and was issued a high fine for the infraction.^[13] The fine was rescinded because about this same time the law was repealed.^[14] William and Ellen raised seven children (the first born in England).^[15] After raising their children they moved to New Haven, Connecticut, around 1660, where William died shortly thereafter, as his widow remarried on May 5, 1663, to John Rose.^[16][17] William's will was probated May 25, 1663.^[11]

Thomas was their first child, born in 1637. John was born in 1640. Their third child was Mary, born 1642–1643. Their fourth child was Henry, who was killed in King Philip's War.^[17] Their fifth child was Hannah. Their sixth child was William II, born about 1655 who had two wives. William and Ellen's seventh child was Matthew, who died as a baby within 30 days.^[17][18]

William II was a businessman and married twice.^[11] His first wife was Martha Rose, daughter of John Rose and granddaughter of Robert Rose. Their children were: Henry, born 1679; Eleanor, birth date unknown (c. 1683) and married in 1714. His second wife was Mercy Whitehead and their children were: twins Mary and Mercy, born 1691; Hannah, born 1693; John, born 1694; Eliphalet, born 1697; Elizabeth, born 1699; Dorothy, born 1702; and Doreas, born 1704.^[17][18]

The second son of Henry (born 1679) was William III, born at Branford, Connecticut, on September 6, 1702. He married Mary Knowles, of Branford, Connecticut, on November 5, 1730. They had eight children, Submit, Mary, Henry, Lydia, Samuel, Rebecca, Anne, and Stephen. Mary Knowles died on April 16, 1759, and William III married his second wife, Mary Wilkinson on April 17, 1760.^[19]

Henry Ludington II

Main article: Henry Ludington

Henry Ludington was the third child of William III and Mary (Knowles) Ludington. He was born at Branford, Connecticut, on May 25, 1739.^[20] He built his home and a grist mill around 1775 in the area known as the hamlet of Ludingtonville; this later became the town of Kent, Putnam County, New York.^[21] He was made Colonel during the American Revolution and was aide-de-camp to George Washington.^[22]

Sybil Ludington

Sybil Ludington was the first child of Henry Ludington II and his wife Abigail Ludington.^[23] Sybil has received widespread recognition as the female Paul Revere; a report in The New England Quarterly says there is little evidence backing the story,^[24] and whether the ride occurred is questioned by modern scholars.^[25][26][27] In 1777, at the age of 16, she is said to have ridden a horse 40 miles (64 km) through the night^[28] to warn militiamen under the direction of her father that British forces had raided Danbury, Connecticut.^[29]

Frederick Ludington sons

Frederick, 1852

Harrison Ludington and Nelson Ludington were sons of Frederick, and Colonel Ludington was their grandfather.^[30] Harrison is identified with the development of the city of Milwaukee.^[31] He served as a Governor of Wisconsin from 1876 to 1878.^[32]

Nelson established a sawmill and laid out the city of Escanaba, Michigan, in 1862^[33][34] and provided the name for the city.^[35][36] Escanaba street names were originally named after the wives and daughters of the partners of the Nelson Ludington Company.^[37]

Lewis Ludington

Main article: Lewis Ludington

Frederick and Lewis built a store about 1808 in Kent, New York.

Lewis Ludington was the twelfth child and sixth son of Henry Ludington II. Lewis was the youngest of the children, born June 25, 1786.^[38] He helped develop Columbus, Wisconsin.^[39][40]

James Ludington

Main article: James Ludington

James Ludington, the sixth son of Lewis, never lived in Ludington, Michigan, a town named in his honor.^[41] Many of the street names of Ludington, Michigan, are related to James in one way or another.^[42] The main downtown intersection is James Street and Ludington Ave.^[43][44]

Ludington family tree

Ludington family tree showing relationships and the complete American family line of the Ludingtons from the progenitor

William Ludington 1608-1662 Ellen b 1617 founder of the Ludington family in America (five other siblings) (6th child) Marcy Whithead (second wife) William 1655-1737 Martha Rose (first wife) (two other siblings) (1st child) Henry b 1679 Sarah Collins 1679-1743 (one older sibling) William b 1702 Mary Knowles (first wife) Elisha wife (seven other siblings) (3rd child) (other siblings?) Henry b May 25, 1739 founder of Ludingtonville, NY Abigail b May 8, 1745 twelve children: Sybil b April 5, 1761 Revolutionary War figure Rebecca b January 24, 1763 Mary b July 31, 1765 Archibald b July 5, 1767 Henry b March 28, 1769 Derick b February 17, 1771 Tertullius b April 19, 1773 Abigail b February 26, 1776 Anne b March 14, 1778 Frederick b June 10, 1782 Sophia b May 16, 1784 Lewis b June 25, 1786 wife 14 other siblings Harrison b 1812 Gov of Wisconsin Nelson b 1818 founder of Escanaba, MI Charlotte James b 1827 founder of Ludington, MI other siblings: Laura, Delia, William, Robert, Charles, Henry, Lavinia, Emily, and Amelia, whose names were used for streets of Ludington, MI Mary Jennie

References

1. Rule, La Reiana (July 28, 1968). "What Your Name Means". Independent Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. p. 104 – via Newspapers.com .
2. Johnson (1907), p. 5.
3. Johnson (1907), p. 4.
4. Cutter (1914), p. 1102.
5. Hunt (2015), p. 192.
6. Hunt (2015), p. 193.
7. Hunt (2015), pp. 193–194.
8. Hunt (2015), p. 189, note 5.
9. Pollak, Michael (October 22, 1995). "Heroine of 1777 Still All in a Revolutionary Lather". New York Times. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
10. Hunt (2015), p. 220.
11. Patrick (1886), pp. 8–14.
12. Johnson (1907), p. 8-9.
13. Patrick (1886), pp. 9–10.
14. Cutter (1914), pp. 1102–1103.
15. Johnson (1907), pp. 10–18.
16. Clemons, Harry (1907). "Secret Service of the American Revolution". The Connecticut Magazine. 11. Connecticut Magazine Company: 265.
17. Cutter (1914), p. 1103.
18. Johnson (1907), pp. 18–20.
19. Johnson (1907), p. 22.
20. Johnson (1907), p. 24.
21. Heritage, p. 299.
22. Palmer, Evangeline (April 24, 1975). "Derry Residents Observe First Bicentennial Event". Nashua Telegraph – via Newspapers.com .
23. Johnson (1907), p. 45.
24. Eschner, Kat (April 26, 2017). "Was There Really a Teenage, Female Paul Revere?". Smithsonian. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
25. Hunt (2015).
26. Tucker, Abigail (March 2022). "Did the Midnight Ride of Sibyl Ludington Ever Happen?". Smithsonian. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
27. Lewis, Jone Johnson (August 15, 2019). "Sybil Ludington, Possible Female Paul Revere". ThoughtCo. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
28. Stewart (2004), p. 23.
29. Miller (2012), p. 2.
30. "Ex-Governor Ludington Dead". Green Bay Weekly. June 24, 1891 – via Newspapers.com .
31. Johnson (1907), p. 218.
32. "Official Directory". The Legislative Manual of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. 1876. p. 449. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
33. Dunathan (1963), p. 28.
34. "Royce is called City's Founder; Helped Name It". Escanaba Daily Press. June 29, 1963 – via Newspapers.com .
35. Dunathan, Clint (April 25, 1969). "Post Office Downtown Anchor May Be Slipping Far Westward". The Escanaba Daily Press. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com .
36. Dickson (2002), p. 55.
37. "A History of Escanaba". Escanaba Morning Press. July 1, 1976 – via Newspapers.com .
38. Johnson (1907), p. 224.
39. "More Light for Ludington". Wisconsin State Journal. Madison, Wisconsin. October 21, 1875. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com .
40. "National Register of Historic Places – Bellack, Albert M. and Alice, House". National Park Service. April 23, 2010. p. 2 & 3, section 8. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
41. Wood, Jeanne (May 8, 1969). "Alfred Ludington Pays First Visit Here". The Ludington Daily News. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com . James Ludington came from Milwaukee and there he returned shortly after founding the city.
42. "How did the streets receive their names". Ludington Daily News. April 11, 1970. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com .
43. "History of Ludington Told in Street Names". Ludington Daily News. June 23, 1947. p. 28 – via Newspapers.com .
44. Mason County Historical Society (1980), pp. 11, 303.

Sources

• Cutter, William Richard (1914). New England Families. Lewis Historical Publishing Company. p. 1102. OCLC 1048533505.
• Dickson, Karl (2002). Stories of Small Town Sports. K. Dickson. OCLC 632103235.
• Dunathan, Clint (1963). The Century Book. Photo Offset Printing Co. OCLC 9757108. Ludington gave the name...
• Heritage. Settlers of New York State. Heritage Books. ISBN 978-0-7884-3712-0. Ludingtonville, borne by the hamlet which has grown up about his old home. Henry Ludington
• Hunt, Paula D. (June 2015). "Sybil Ludington, the Female Paul Revere: The Making of a Revolutionary War Heroine". The New England Quarterly. 88 (2): 187–222. doi:10.1162/TNEQ_a_00452. ISSN 0028-4866. S2CID 57569643.
• Johnson, Willis (1907). Colonel Henry Ludington: A Memoir. Printed by his grandchildren Lavinia Elizabeth Ludington and Charles Henry Ludington : New York. OCLC 1081339067.
• Mason County Historical Society (1980). Historic Mason County, Michigan. Ludington, Michigan: Mason County Historical Society. OCLC 7429821.
• Miller, Jade S. (June 2012). Sybil's Ride of Courage. Tate Publishing & Enterprises, LLC. ISBN 978-1-61862-733-9. Sybil rode almost three times as far as Paul Revere.
• Patrick, Lewis S. (1886). The Ludington Family. The Independent Press. OCLC 866627271.
• Stewart, Jon (2004). America (the Book). Warner Books. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-446-53268-6.

Further reading

• Dunathan, Clint (January 14, 1956). "Lakeview Cemetery Begins 80th Year with Expansion". Escanaba Daily Press – via Newspapers.com .

External links

• Ludington history lives in Oak Park - Ludington heirlooms