There is inconsistent information on his age. On Pg. 25 of a c.1890 compilation of gravestone inscriptions by local resident Reuben Rawson Dodge is written "Joseph Dudley, d. March 30, 1790, aged 35 years". On Pg. 66 of a 1905 town wide compilation of gravestone inscriptions by Henry C. Batcheller, Sutton Town Clerk (done to supplement the death records in the Vital Records of Sutton to 1850, which were published in 1907) is written "Joseph Dudley, d. Mar 30, 1790, Age 36 yrs. (stone broken)". That minor variation may be due to interpretation of phrasing such as "died in the 36 year of his age" (i.e., age 35 plus), which the remaining pieces indicate may have been inscribed into his gravestone.
However, on Pg. 416 of the Vital Records of Sutton is entered "Dudley, Joseph, March 30, 1790, in 26th year. G.S. 19" (The notation references gravestone at cemetery 19, Wilkinsonville Cemetery.) This 10 year variation may simply be a transcription error by the publisher. Or someone may have recognized the age error in the 1905 transcription and re-examined the pieces (?) of his gravestone.
This may be Joseph Dudley, son of Pvt. John & Molly (Morse) Dudley, who was born in Sutton on September 18, 1773. On Pg. 106 of the Dudley Genealogies is written "Joseph, d. at Sutton, MA. March 30, 1799.". Was 1799 inscribed into this "broken" gravestone misread as 1790? On other slate gravestones of that period, the digit 9 has been found inscribed as a 0 with a shallow tail on the bottom. If there was a break in that area (or perhaps a piece missing), it may actually have been inscribed 1799.
Joseph Dudley and Abigail "Nabby" Potter married in Sutton on March 25, 1794. In the death records on Pg. 415 of the Vital Records is written "Dudley, Abigail, wid. Joseph, Jan. ---, 1837, a. 61."
The unusually large footstone for his plot (fourth attached photograph) is carved from fieldstone and inscribed Cb Dy Dd St 10 d Ye 1784. It is believe to have been the original gravestone for child Caleb Dudley, who is interred about 50 feet to the left (northeast) of this plot. Translation is Caleb Dudley Died September 10 d(ay) Ye(ar) 1784. It is speculated that after being replaced with a slate gravestone for Caleb it was relocated to Joseph plot due to his gravestone being broken.
The four reassembled pieces (two of which were held together with an iron strap and bolts) from the right side of his gravestone were found by a neighbor in November of 2021 buried in the topsoil at or near the property line (GPS co-ordinates 42.171209, -71.722577) shown in the fifth attached photograph. More searching to be done.
However, on Pg. 416 of the Vital Records of Sutton is entered "Dudley, Joseph, March 30, 1790, in 26th year. G.S. 19" (The notation references gravestone at cemetery 19, Wilkinsonville Cemetery.) This 10 year variation may simply be a transcription error by the publisher. Or someone may have recognized the age error in the 1905 transcription and re-examined the pieces (?) of his gravestone.
This may be Joseph Dudley, son of Pvt. John & Molly (Morse) Dudley, who was born in Sutton on September 18, 1773. On Pg. 106 of the Dudley Genealogies is written "Joseph, d. at Sutton, MA. March 30, 1799.". Was 1799 inscribed into this "broken" gravestone misread as 1790? On other slate gravestones of that period, the digit 9 has been found inscribed as a 0 with a shallow tail on the bottom. If there was a break in that area (or perhaps a piece missing), it may actually have been inscribed 1799.
Joseph Dudley and Abigail "Nabby" Potter married in Sutton on March 25, 1794. In the death records on Pg. 415 of the Vital Records is written "Dudley, Abigail, wid. Joseph, Jan. ---, 1837, a. 61."
The unusually large footstone for his plot (fourth attached photograph) is carved from fieldstone and inscribed Cb Dy Dd St 10 d Ye 1784. It is believe to have been the original gravestone for child Caleb Dudley, who is interred about 50 feet to the left (northeast) of this plot. Translation is Caleb Dudley Died September 10 d(ay) Ye(ar) 1784. It is speculated that after being replaced with a slate gravestone for Caleb it was relocated to Joseph plot due to his gravestone being broken.
The four reassembled pieces (two of which were held together with an iron strap and bolts) from the right side of his gravestone were found by a neighbor in November of 2021 buried in the topsoil at or near the property line (GPS co-ordinates 42.171209, -71.722577) shown in the fifth attached photograph. More searching to be done.
There is inconsistent information on his age. On Pg. 25 of a c.1890 compilation of gravestone inscriptions by local resident Reuben Rawson Dodge is written "Joseph Dudley, d. March 30, 1790, aged 35 years". On Pg. 66 of a 1905 town wide compilation of gravestone inscriptions by Henry C. Batcheller, Sutton Town Clerk (done to supplement the death records in the Vital Records of Sutton to 1850, which were published in 1907) is written "Joseph Dudley, d. Mar 30, 1790, Age 36 yrs. (stone broken)". That minor variation may be due to interpretation of phrasing such as "died in the 36 year of his age" (i.e., age 35 plus), which the remaining pieces indicate may have been inscribed into his gravestone.
However, on Pg. 416 of the Vital Records of Sutton is entered "Dudley, Joseph, March 30, 1790, in 26th year. G.S. 19" (The notation references gravestone at cemetery 19, Wilkinsonville Cemetery.) This 10 year variation may simply be a transcription error by the publisher. Or someone may have recognized the age error in the 1905 transcription and re-examined the pieces (?) of his gravestone.
This may be Joseph Dudley, son of Pvt. John & Molly (Morse) Dudley, who was born in Sutton on September 18, 1773. On Pg. 106 of the Dudley Genealogies is written "Joseph, d. at Sutton, MA. March 30, 1799.". Was 1799 inscribed into this "broken" gravestone misread as 1790? On other slate gravestones of that period, the digit 9 has been found inscribed as a 0 with a shallow tail on the bottom. If there was a break in that area (or perhaps a piece missing), it may actually have been inscribed 1799.
Joseph Dudley and Abigail "Nabby" Potter married in Sutton on March 25, 1794. In the death records on Pg. 415 of the Vital Records is written "Dudley, Abigail, wid. Joseph, Jan. ---, 1837, a. 61."
The unusually large footstone for his plot (fourth attached photograph) is carved from fieldstone and inscribed Cb Dy Dd St 10 d Ye 1784. It is believe to have been the original gravestone for child Caleb Dudley, who is interred about 50 feet to the left (northeast) of this plot. Translation is Caleb Dudley Died September 10 d(ay) Ye(ar) 1784. It is speculated that after being replaced with a slate gravestone for Caleb it was relocated to Joseph plot due to his gravestone being broken.
The four reassembled pieces (two of which were held together with an iron strap and bolts) from the right side of his gravestone were found by a neighbor in November of 2021 buried in the topsoil at or near the property line (GPS co-ordinates 42.171209, -71.722577) shown in the fifth attached photograph. More searching to be done.
However, on Pg. 416 of the Vital Records of Sutton is entered "Dudley, Joseph, March 30, 1790, in 26th year. G.S. 19" (The notation references gravestone at cemetery 19, Wilkinsonville Cemetery.) This 10 year variation may simply be a transcription error by the publisher. Or someone may have recognized the age error in the 1905 transcription and re-examined the pieces (?) of his gravestone.
This may be Joseph Dudley, son of Pvt. John & Molly (Morse) Dudley, who was born in Sutton on September 18, 1773. On Pg. 106 of the Dudley Genealogies is written "Joseph, d. at Sutton, MA. March 30, 1799.". Was 1799 inscribed into this "broken" gravestone misread as 1790? On other slate gravestones of that period, the digit 9 has been found inscribed as a 0 with a shallow tail on the bottom. If there was a break in that area (or perhaps a piece missing), it may actually have been inscribed 1799.
Joseph Dudley and Abigail "Nabby" Potter married in Sutton on March 25, 1794. In the death records on Pg. 415 of the Vital Records is written "Dudley, Abigail, wid. Joseph, Jan. ---, 1837, a. 61."
The unusually large footstone for his plot (fourth attached photograph) is carved from fieldstone and inscribed Cb Dy Dd St 10 d Ye 1784. It is believe to have been the original gravestone for child Caleb Dudley, who is interred about 50 feet to the left (northeast) of this plot. Translation is Caleb Dudley Died September 10 d(ay) Ye(ar) 1784. It is speculated that after being replaced with a slate gravestone for Caleb it was relocated to Joseph plot due to his gravestone being broken.
The four reassembled pieces (two of which were held together with an iron strap and bolts) from the right side of his gravestone were found by a neighbor in November of 2021 buried in the topsoil at or near the property line (GPS co-ordinates 42.171209, -71.722577) shown in the fifth attached photograph. More searching to be done.
Family Members
Children
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