The Long Island Scudder family      The Scudder family has played an important role in Long Island's history. Three Scudder brothers early in the latter half of the 17th century arrived at Southold from Salem, Massachusetts, and soon moved on to Huntington where two of them, Thomas and Henry remained, while the third, John chose Newtown at the west end.      Nine generations of Thomas' and Henry's descendants were born in Northport and other neighboring parts of Huntington Town. There and throughout the island, Scudders have held many public offices, including that of Justice of the Supreme Court by the Hon Townsend Scudder of Nassau County.      Nevertheless, one Scudder, John by name and a member of the original family, won fame and fortune in another field. He was in fact the first successful public museum owner in the City of New York and the predecessor by at least a gereration of the more renowned Phineas T. Barnum who finally acquired the Scudder collection.      John Scudder, sometimes referred as Dr. Scudder in 1802 purchased a small museum which had been established by the Tammany Society in 1790 and had since been unsuccessfully operated by several brief owners. Scudder first housed "Scudder's American Museum" at 21 Chatham street.  Then in 1810 he obtained a lease for the City Almshouse in City Hall Park, facing Broadway. The Chambers Street Bank occupied the basement of the same building. Following the founder's death about 1822, the museum was owred and operated by another John Scudder, possibly his son, who described the collection in a book entitled Address to the Public as being worth some $50,000. When sold to Barnum however in 1842 by the second John's heirs it brought only $15,000.      Nevertheless, for many years Scudder's American Museum was among the chief attractions of the city and people came from far and wide to view it's wonders.   When Barnum acquired the museum in 1842 it occupied a large marble building at the corner of Broadway and Ann Street which the second John Scudder had erected some years before. Here Barnum's Museum was destroyed by fire in 1865 and over its ashes arose the home of the New York Herald.      It is from the efforts of such pioneers as the John Scudders that many of America's present day institutions grew. Another article on this family can be found on Long Island Genealogy at: James L. Scudder, Huntington Artist

---

The Reverend Henry Scudder
       
Please Visit The Scudder Association, Inc.  For additional Scudder Family Information
Thank you to Simon Skudder from Bristol,UK for the following Information, Will and the Relationship Graphic linked below

     The Rev. Henry Scudder, listed in the Dictionary of National Biography, was a brother of Thomas Scudder who emigrated to New England with his Family in 1630’s.  Henry was granted an M.A. at Christ’s College, Cambridge in 1606, and afterwards he became Minister at Drayton, Oxfordshire,  when he married Elizabeth Hunt on 7th June, 1608, at Banbury, Oxfordshire;  she was the daughter of George Hunt longtime Rector of Collingbourne Ducis whose Father John Hunt had been sentenced to be burnt at the stake under Queen Mary but narrowly escaped by her timely death in 1558 and the accession of Elizabeth I;  her sister Martha Hunt married the Rev. William Whately, the "Roaring Boy of Banbury.  In  1633 he was presented by the King to the living of Collingbourne Ducis, near Marlborough, Wiltshire.  He held Presbyterian views and in June 1643 was summoned to the Westminster Assembly of Divines. When in June 1645 an order came from the House of Commons to pray for the forces, Henry was one of the four preachers assigned to Aldgate. On 6th April, 1647, he “made report of the review of the proofs of the ‘Confession of Faith’ of the seven first chapters and part of the eighth.” On 9th February, 1648, his name was added to the Committee for the scriptures.
     Henry preached a sermon on October 30th, 1644, at Margaret’s, Westminster, entitled “Gods warning to England By the Voyce of his ROD” saying “…be enemies never so powerful and malicious, we need not fear them, it shall not be as they intend, either for the greatnesse or continuance of the Evil which they would bring upon us, but according to the will of God, who has given them charge to afflict us..…I have only this main suite unto you, that you would continue resolute for God, and his True Religion, for the Kings Majesties just Rights, for the Lawes of the Kingdome, and the Liberties to which we are all born.”  before the assembled members of the House of Commons.  His sermon was printed at the request of the House and renowned among his writings are “The Christians Daily Walk in Holy Securitie and Peace”, published in 1627, a celebrated devotional work, comparable to today’s “Daily Bread” and “The Upper Room,” daily devotionals used among Protestant denominations in the U.S. The sixth edition was issued in 1635, the fifteenth published in 1813 and the last edition in 1826; a German translation appeared in Frankfurt in 1636.
     The will of “Henry Scudder of Collingborne Ducis in the County of Wiltes Minister of the Gospell of Jesus Christ” (dated 12th day of February 1651/2 and probated the last day of May 1652) reads “I give to my Brother Thomas Scudder, and to all his Sonnes and his daughter Elizabeth now in New England twenty shillinges a peece.”  and  “I give to my Cousin Bridgett Giles and to my Cousins John Scudder and Elizabeth Lathrop now in New England twenty shillinges a peece.”
     Henry was buried in the Church at Collingbourne Ducis but the body was removed after the Restoration.

---

WILL OF REVEREND HENRY SCUDDER OF COLLINGBOURNE DUCIS 1651

Graphic explaining "The relationship of the Rev Henry Scudder to Others in his Will"

The twentieth day of February in the yeare of our Lord God One Thousand six hundred ffifty one

Knowe all men by these present

Henry Scudder

 
This Will was proved at London before Sir Nathaniell Brent Knight Garter of Lawes and Master and keeper of the prorogation Court lawfully constituted the last day of May one thousand six hundred ffifty twoe.By the Oathes of Jane Russell, Martha Jacob and Bridgett Graile Executors named in the said will.To whom was committed Administration of all and singular the goods chattells and debts of the said deceased.They being first sworne truly to administer the same.