Obadiah Hudson Revolution and Family Tree

His Story

In April 1839, an eighty-two-year-old Revolutionary War veteran named Obadiah Hudson appeared before the Municipal Court of Brooklyn, New York, seeking recognition for military service performed more than sixty years earlier. His memories carried him back to the opening years of the American Revolution, when militia companies from Long Island marched in response to British military movements and local men were called upon to defend their communities.

Hudson’s service was not distinguished by a famous command or a single celebrated battlefield achievement. Instead, his pension testimony describes the practical responsibilities of an eighteenth-century militiaman: preparing military equipment, marching with local companies, standing guard at threatened coastal positions, and responding to alarms.

He first served in a New York militia regiment under Colonel Phineas Fanning. During 1776, he worked for the regiment’s quartermaster, covering bayonets and cartridge boxes. He later joined militia movements toward western Long Island as British forces advanced upon New York.

Following the British occupation of Long Island, Hudson relocated with his father and family to Norwich, Connecticut. There he performed additional militia service, including sentinel duty at New London and several expeditions responding to reports of British activity.

One of the most significant events in his recollections was the British attack on New London and Fort Griswold in September 1781. Hudson reported marching toward the threatened defenses but arriving after the forts had surrendered. His account provides evidence of the militia response without establishing that he personally fought in the battle.

Decades later, Hudson faced a different struggle. He possessed no written military discharge and could not produce the original records of the companies in which he had served. His younger brother Isaac supplied supporting testimony, but the passage of time complicated efforts to verify his service.

By 1844, Hudson was elderly, impoverished, and largely confined to bed. He renewed his application for a federal pension, describing his declining health and the uncertainty surrounding his earlier claim. Congressional correspondence followed, yet the surviving pension file ultimately carried a rejected-claim designation.

His family continued pursuing the matter after his death. The documents they left behind preserve the story of a militiaman whose service had taken place in the ordinary, often overlooked military operations that sustained the American Revolution.

Early Life

Growing Up on Long Island

Obadiah Hudson was born approximately 1757 or 1758. His age is derived from his later pension declarations, in which he identified himself as eighty-two years old in April 1839 and eighty-six in March 1844. These statements provide an approximate birth period rather than a verified date.

His parents’ names and birthplace have not been established from the surviving pension transcriptions examined for this biography.

At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, Hudson was living in Southold, Suffolk County, on eastern Long Island. His first reported militia company was organized in the surrounding community.

Southold belonged to a region whose economy depended on agriculture, coastal commerce, fishing, and transportation across Long Island Sound. Connections with Connecticut and other Atlantic ports shaped both local trade and communication.

The island’s strategic position became increasingly important as relations between Great Britain and the American colonies deteriorated. Its harbors, roads, and proximity to New York City made it a significant military objective.

The Family’s Move to Connecticut

Hudson’s later testimony describes a major disruption in September 1776. Following the British occupation of Long Island, he moved with his father and family to Norwich, Connecticut.

The relocation placed him among communities that continued supporting the American war effort while remaining vulnerable to British operations along Long Island Sound.

Hudson stated that he remained in Norwich until May 1783, when he returned with his father to Long Island. The move therefore spanned much of the Revolutionary War and helps explain why his military service involved both New York and Connecticut militia organizations.

Revolutionary War Service

Captain Peter Hallock and Colonel Phineas Fanning

Hudson’s declaration of April 11, 1839, identifies his earliest period of service in Captain Peter Hallock’s company, part of a militia regiment commanded by Colonel Phineas Fanning.

He recalled serving approximately four months, from late January until early May 1776. The regiment was associated with the Southold area of Suffolk County, where Hudson was then living.

During this period, he worked under the regimental quartermaster, covering bayonets and cartridge boxes for military use.

Cartridge boxes carried the paper cartridges used to load muskets, while bayonet coverings protected edged weapons and made them easier to transport. Preparing such equipment was part of the extensive logistical work required to maintain an armed militia.

Hudson’s 1844 declaration gives a different chronology, stating that he first enrolled in March 1775 and remained associated with the regiment until July 1776. Because the two statements disagree, the precise beginning and duration of this service remain uncertain.

The Summer of 1776

During the summer of 1776, Hudson recalled being ordered westward with Captain Hallock’s company. He stated that the company traveled approximately fifteen miles before he obtained a substitute and returned home after five or six days.

Substitution was a recognized feature of militia service in some circumstances, allowing another eligible man to perform the duty required of the original militiaman.

Hudson subsequently entered Captain Thomas Wines’s company in a regiment commanded by Colonel Samuel Terry.

This company received orders to move toward the American forces in western Long Island. Hudson reported that the men advanced as far as Riverhead before receiving news that British troops had taken possession of the island.

The company returned after an absence of approximately twelve days. His brother Isaac later corroborated the general outline of these movements, although his testimony was based on family recollection rather than participation in the expeditions.

Sentinel Duty at New London

After relocating to Connecticut, Hudson reported serving in a militia company commanded by Captain Leffingwell, possibly under Colonel Huntington.

Early in 1777, he performed sentinel duty at New London for more than two weeks.

New London was an important harbor on the Thames River and a significant location for American maritime activity. British naval operations along the coast made the town and its defenses vulnerable to attack.

Sentinels were responsible for observing assigned positions, challenging approaching individuals, and alerting military authorities to danger. Such assignments were essential to coastal defense, even when no battle occurred.

Militia Alarms in 1778 and 1779

Hudson recalled additional service under Captain Smith during 1778 and 1779.

In 1778, he was called out with a militia detachment in response to an alarm. His 1839 declaration estimates an absence of five or six days, although a marginal notation indicates three days.

In the autumn of 1779, Hudson again served under Captain Smith and proceeded toward New London. He estimated that this assignment lasted approximately one week.

Neither episode is connected to a specific named battle in the transcribed testimony.

The New London Alarm of 1781

Hudson’s most consequential reported militia expedition occurred in 1781, when he served in Captain John Waterman’s company under Colonel Huntington.

During August or September, the company was called into service following reports that British forces intended to attack the forts defending New London.

Hudson stated that he marched toward New London but arrived after the surrender of the forts. He estimated that his service during this mobilization lasted at least five weeks.

His account connects him to the regional response to the British expedition of September 1781, but it does not establish that he personally fought in the attack or the defense of Fort Griswold.

Battles and Campaigns

The Long Island Campaign — 1776

In the summer of 1776, British commanders assembled a major expedition to capture New York City and secure the surrounding waterways. The operation involved British regulars, German auxiliary troops, naval forces, and a large concentration of military resources.

General George Washington’s American army occupied defensive positions around New York, including Brooklyn and western Long Island. British forces landed on Long Island in August and advanced against the American defenses.

On August 27, British troops defeated American forces at the Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn. Washington subsequently withdrew his army across the East River to Manhattan, preserving much of his force despite the defeat.

British occupation extended across Long Island, creating difficult circumstances for residents whose loyalties or activities connected them to the American cause.

Hudson’s testimony describes militia movements during this campaign. His company advanced toward Riverhead before receiving intelligence of British control of the island and returning home.

Connecticut Coastal Defense — 1777–1779

Throughout the Revolutionary War, Connecticut’s coastline was important to American trade, supplies, and naval operations. New London was particularly significant because of its harbor facilities and location on Long Island Sound.

British naval superiority exposed coastal settlements to raids, temporary incursions, and threats against American shipping. Local militia companies therefore performed guard duty and assembled when reports of approaching enemy forces reached their commanders.

Hudson described sentinel duty at New London in early 1777 and additional mobilizations under Captain Smith in 1778 and 1779.

His testimony provides evidence of recurring militia assignments, although it does not identify any specific engagement in which he personally fought during these years.

The Attack on New London and Fort Griswold — September 6, 1781

On September 6, 1781, British forces commanded by Benedict Arnold launched an attack against New London and the American defenses along the Thames River.

The British expedition divided its forces between the two sides of the river. Troops attacking New London destroyed substantial property and military supplies, while another force assaulted Fort Griswold at Groton.

Fort Griswold’s American defenders, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William Ledyard, resisted the assault but were eventually overwhelmed.

The fighting resulted in heavy American casualties. Numerous defenders were killed, including men who died after organized resistance had ended. The attack became one of the most notorious episodes of the war in Connecticut.

Hudson recalled that his militia company was called into service because of warnings that the British intended to attack the New London defenses.

He reported arriving after the surrender of the forts. His brother Isaac gave a similar recollection in his supporting deposition.

This distinction is important. Hudson’s account documents participation in the militia response to the attack, not service among the defenders who fought inside Fort Griswold.

Military Honors and Recognition

Obadiah Hudson sought federal recognition of his Revolutionary War militia service through pension applications filed in 1839 and 1844. The surviving file is identified as R.5337 — Rejected, and the transcriptions examined do not establish that he received a federal pension award.

No individual battlefield decoration, formal commendation, promotion, or bounty-land warrant has been verified in the supplied records. His declarations and his family’s later efforts to obtain payment document a sustained claim for recognition, not a confirmed government award.

Original Military Records

Revolutionary War Pension

The Pension Application of 1839

On April 11, 1839, Hudson appeared before the Municipal Court of Brooklyn and applied for a pension under the federal act of June 7, 1832.

The legislation provided pensions for qualifying Revolutionary War veterans based on the nature and duration of their military service. Applicants were expected to identify their units, officers, periods of service, and other circumstances sufficient to establish eligibility.

For veterans who had served in temporary militia companies, reconstructing such information decades later could be difficult. Muster rolls and discharge papers were not always available, and the men who could corroborate service were often deceased.

Hudson’s application described his militia assignments in New York and Connecticut. He named several commanders and estimated the duration of his service.

He acknowledged that he had never received a written discharge and could not produce documentary proof of his military history.

The Supporting Testimony of Isaac Hudson

Hudson’s younger brother Isaac provided a deposition supporting the application.

Isaac stated that he was approximately seventy years old in 1839 and had been too young to serve during the Revolution.

He nevertheless remembered his brother’s absences and military assignments, including movements on Long Island and the later expedition toward New London.

Isaac’s testimony was useful as family corroboration, but it was not equivalent to a surviving muster roll or a statement from a soldier who had served in the same company.

The Renewed Declaration of 1844

By March 1844, Hudson was approximately eighty-six years old and experiencing severe physical and financial difficulties.

He submitted another declaration from Huntington, Suffolk County, describing his service and explaining the uncertainty surrounding his earlier application.

The later account estimated a longer period of military involvement than his 1839 declaration. Hudson acknowledged that his recollections were imperfect.

He also described himself as destitute and unable to support himself.

A judicial certification accompanying the application stated that Hudson had been confined to bed for nearly two years and was too infirm to appear in open court.

Congressional Attention and the Rejected Claim

On December 27, 1844, Representative S. B. Strong wrote concerning Hudson’s pension application at the request of the veteran’s friends.

The correspondence requested information about the claim and any objections preventing its approval.

Other administrative documents in the pension file demonstrate that the case continued receiving attention during the 1840s.

The surviving file nevertheless bears the designation R.5337 — Rejected. Another administrative notation identifies the claim under number 35,831.

The transcriptions examined do not establish that Hudson received a successful pension award or regular pension payments.

The Claim After His Death

Hudson’s family continued seeking payment after he died.

On October 20, 1852, his daughter Harriet Ruland submitted an affidavit identifying herself as a legal heir and authorizing an attorney to pursue any pension or increased pension that might be due.

In July 1853, Obadiah Hudson Jr. authorized examination of the papers concerning his deceased father’s claim.

These later documents demonstrate that the family continued its efforts even after the veteran could no longer advocate for himself.

From His Account

Hudson’s pension declarations provide the most detailed surviving evidence of his military experiences. The following excerpts are drawn from the supplied archival transcriptions rather than independently verified manuscript images.

This statement identifies a specific responsibility that Hudson performed for his regiment and provides evidence of the logistical duties carried out by militia soldiers.

Hudson’s statement distinguishes his participation in the militia mobilization from direct combat during the British assault.

The absence of a written discharge complicated Hudson’s efforts to establish the duration and nature of his Revolutionary War service.

Isaac’s statement establishes that his testimony was based on recollections of his brother’s activities rather than firsthand experience in the same military unit.

Military Service Record

The service chronology is based principally on Hudson’s retrospective pension testimony. Contemporary muster rolls or discharge documents have not been independently established for every period listed.

Later Life and Burial

Returning to Long Island

Hudson stated that he returned from Norwich, Connecticut, to Long Island with his father in May 1783.

By 1839, he was living in Huntington, Suffolk County, New York. His later pension documents associate him with the Commack area.

The surviving transcriptions do not establish his civilian occupation or provide a continuous account of his activities during the decades following the Revolution.

Old Age and Financial Hardship

By 1844, Hudson was experiencing serious physical and financial difficulties.

He described himself as destitute and unable to support himself. A judicial certification stated that he had been confined to bed for nearly two years.

These records provide evidence of his circumstances late in life. They do not establish that he had lived in poverty throughout the years following the war.

Death and Burial

Hudson died before October 20, 1852, when his daughter Harriet Ruland identified him as deceased in a sworn affidavit.

His exact date of death has not been established from the documents examined.

No verified cemetery or burial location has been identified for this biography. Additional research in Suffolk County church, probate, cemetery, and vital records may help establish where he was buried.

Original Sources

The following records form the documentary foundation for this biography. The principal source is Hudson’s Revolutionary War pension application file preserved by the National Archives.

National Archives Pension File

1. National Archives and Records Administration. Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, Obadiah Hudson, rejected pension claim R.5337. National Archives Identifier 54950990. View archival record.
2. Obadiah Hudson. Pension declaration, April 11, 1839, Municipal Court of Brooklyn, New York. Images 4159603_00476–00478.
3. Isaac Hudson. Supporting deposition and associated certifications, 1839. Images 4159603_00481–00483.
4. Obadiah Hudson. Renewed pension declaration and judicial certification, March–April 1844. Images 4159603_00495–00497.
5. S. B. Strong. Congressional correspondence concerning Hudson’s pension application, December 27, 1844. Image 4159603_00489.
6. Harriet Ruland. Affidavit concerning her deceased father’s pension claim, October 20, 1852, with subsequent certification. Image 4159603_00474.
7. Obadiah Hudson Jr. Correspondence authorizing examination of his father’s pension papers, July 10, 1853. Image 4159603_00491.
8. Pension Office administrative documents. Rejected and suspended claim notations. Images 4159603_00485, 00488, and 00490.

Transcription Collection

The Yost Post research collection, RevWar-Transcriptions-Final.xlsx, records associated with National Archives Identifier 54950990.

The archival transcriptions provide the basis for the biographical details and quotations reproduced here. The original manuscript images should be consulted for final verification of uncertain dates, spellings, and military details.

Historical Research Note