DUDLEY, Eliphalet 1790 U.S. Census Winthrop 1-3-3-0-0

Eliphalet Dudley was born 1765 in Exeter, New Hampshire, the only child of Stephen and (Miss) Sleeper Dudley. He came to Readfield (then part of Winthrop) with his parents in 1770 from Brentwood, New Hampshire to Hallowell ("the Hook") and through the woods to Readfield by following spotted trees. They settled Dudley Plains (now Plains Road) where Eliphalet lived / carried on his father's homestead as did his son Henry and grandson David. Their homestead was listed on the 1816 taxpayers list as 60 acres and neighboring John Sleeper and John Dudley. Eliphalet is listed as providing patriotic service in the Revolutionary War. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1825 and a member of the First Free Religious Society of Readfield in 1826.

In 1781 he married Sarah Emerson in Winthrop. She was born 1763 in New Hampshire, daughter of Samuel and Rebecca (Arnold) Emerson. Sarah's father, Samuel Emerson, also settled in this area - first coming to Pownalbourough where he enlisted for service in the Revolutionary War. His wife died there in 1776. Samuel Emerson then came to Mt. Vernon - to be near his daughter and son-in-law no doubt - where he was counted on the 1790 census as 1-1-2-0-0. Samuel Emerson died in Mt. Vernon in 1808.

Eliphalet died at Readfield in 1836 age 71years. In 1850 Sarah was living on the homestead where their son Henry was then head of the household. Their youngest, unmarried child Mehitable was also still living there with her mother and brother Henry. Sarah died in 1850 at age 88, soon after the census was collected. Both are buried in Dudley Plains Cemetery on Plains Road.

Children of Eliphalet and Sarah (Emerson) Dudley:
1. Elizabeth b.1-1-1782 m.Currier Brown s/o Samuel Brown of Readfield
2. Samuel b.2-16-1785 m.Mary Childs of Hallowell, ME
3. Stephen b.7-1788 m.Sibyl Simpson of Clinton, ME
4. John b.8-28-1790 m.Polly Brown d/o Samuel Brown of Readfield. He d.9-22-1862
5. Prudence b. 7-1792 m.Mr. Moore
6. Henry b.8-16-1795 m.Dorothy (Dolly) Maxfield of Mt. Vernon
7. Nancy b.12-26-1798 m.Daniel Ingraham of Mt. Vernon
8. David b.10-11-1806 m.Thankful B. King of Boston, MA
9. Mehitable b.1808 unmarried

Bibliography:
Soldiers, Sailors and Patriots of the Revolutionary War, Maine by Fisher page 216
History of Kennebec County by Kingsbury page 891, 910, 997
History of Winthrop with Genealogical Notes by Stackpole & Young; pgs. 736-737
To Those Who Led the Way: Readfield VR's 1768-1913 self published by Dale Potter-Clark
1790 Winthrop and 1850 Readfield U.S. Census