Hudson Family Records

On  most pages of this website I have included, in total or in part, information from records held by libraries, museums, government agencies, and church parishes, and from many original documents that remain in the hands of Hudson descendants. On this page I have gathered together some of the more important records of the Hudson history.

Death of William Hudson

Funeral Notice

HUDSON - The friends of the late Mr WILLIAM HUDSON of Lord Clyde, are most respectfully invited to follow his last remains to the place of interment, the Smeaton Cemetery.   The funeral cortege will leave his late residence THIS DAY (Tuesday), at 1 o'clock pm. punctually.

J. W. Preston, Undertaker.

Funeral of William Hudson

A highly esteemed and old resident of the district passed away on Sunday in the person of Mr William Hudson, of Lord Clyde.   The deceased, who had been ailing for a few months past, was 80 years of age.   He was one of the earliest settlers of the district.   He was born in the parish of LONGSLEDDALE, county of West Moreland, and arrived in Victoria in 1862.   After working for a time in Coghill’s Creek he bought a farm at Lord Clyde about 40 years ago, on which he remained.   The deceased leaves a widow and family of twelve.   Three of the daughters are married, and two of the sons are in Western Australia, the remainder being at home.   Much sympathy is expressed for Mrs Hudson and the family in their bereavement.   The funeral will leave deceased’s late residence to-day at 1 o’clock for the Smeaton cemetery.  (Clunes Guardian & Gazette, March 31, 1908).

Bereavement Card

In Loving Memory

OF MY DEAR HUSBAND,

William Hudson,

Who died at “Sunny Brow”, Lord Clyde,

ON SUNDAY, MARCH 29th,1908.

Aged 80 Years.

Interred at Smeaton Cemetery, Tuesday March 31st, 1908

Death of Isabella Hudson

The death of Miss Isabella Hudson, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs William Hudson, of "Sunny Brow" farm, Lord Clyde, has excited widespread regret, not only in Clunes and immediate neighbourhood, but throughout the district.   Deceased, who was 21 years of age and a general favourite was only ill six days, being attacked with inflammation of the lungs on Sunday week, having been able to carry out her household and other duties up to the day previous.   Dr. Lang was sent for from Clunes on Monday, and was met in consultation by Dr. Gordon, also of this town, on Thursday, but despite all the skill, care, and attention bestowed upon her, she breathed her last on Friday to the grief of her family and friends and the regret of all who knew her.   The funeral took place on Sunday, and was one of the most numerously attended in the district for some years, the procession including, in addition to the mourning coaches, 54 vehicles and 35 horsemen.   At the Smeaton cemetery the Rev. C.M. Lowe, Vicar at Clunes, officiated at the grave, the coffin bearers being Messrs Muller, J. Muller, M. Kelly, T. and J. Hudson, and H. Hepworth, the pall bearers comprising Messrs P. Nase, Nolan (2), Postlethwaite (2), and T. Keay.   The funeral arrangements were conducted by Messrs J. Heron and Co., of Clunes.   The scene was a most affecting one.   Deceased was born at Lord Clyde, where her parents have resided over 22 years.   (Clunes Guardian & Gazette, Tuesday, July 30, 1895).

Bereavement Card

In Affectionate Remembrance

of

Isabella

Eldest and Dearly Beloved Daughter of

WILLIAM AND MARY JANE HUDSON

Of “Sunny Brow”, Lord Clyde

WHO DIED FRIDAY, JULY 26th, 1895.

Aged 21 Years.

Interred at Smeaton Cemetery, Sunday, July 28th, 1895

Death of John Hudson

A very sad death occurred at Lord Clyde on Thursday evening last, when Mr J. Hudson, son of well known and respected residents of the district, succumbed to an acute attack of pneumonia.   The deceased was a fine, manly, muscular young fellow, very popular owing to his genial and kindly disposition, and highly esteemed by all who knew him.   Great regret was felt at his early death - for he was only 22 years of age - and the utmost sympathy was felt for the sorrow stricken parents and other members of the family.   The deceased was a valued officer of the local coursing club, being slipper, a position in which he had shown much skill.   The funeral took place on Sunday, and although the weather was wet friends journeyed from all parts of the district to pay the last tribute of respect.   The cortege comprised fully seventy vehicles and about twent horsemen.   The pall bearers were Messrs G. Fraser, G.C. Symons, T. Fawcett, A.E. Kempson, C. Fawcett, A.L. Nase, J. Fawcett; and the coffin bearers, Messrs G. Leishman, G. McIvor, Parsons, J. Arnel, Birch, and Jas. Weatherson, all being members of the coursing club.   There were a large number of handsome floral tributes, including wreaths from Mr Geo. Fraser, president of the club, also from the Clunes and Maryborough clubs, and a number from individual friends.   The remains were interred in the Smeaton cemetery, the Rev. J.A. Cue officiating at the grave.   The funeral arrangements were ably carried out by Mr J.W. Preston. (Clunes Guardian and Gazette, Tuesday, July 30, 1907).

Bereavement Card

In Loving Memory of our

Dear Jack,

Dearly Beloved Sixth Son of

WILLIAM AND MARY JANE HUDSON

Of “Sunny Brow”, Lord Clyde

WHO DIED THURSDAY, JULY 25th, 1907.

Aged 22 Years.

Interred at Smeaton Cemetery, Sunday, July 28th, 1907

Marriage of Rachel Victoria Hudson to Harry Harris

On Thursday morning last St Paul’s church was the scene of a very pretty wedding, the contracting parties being Miss Rachel Victoria Hudson, fourth daughter of Mrs William Hudson of Lord Clyde, and Mr Harry Harris, eldest son of Mr and Mrs William Harris of Sutherland Street, Clunes.   It was intended that the wedding should be a quiet one, but somehow the ladies got hold of it, and hence there was a large gathering to witness the ceremony.   The service was ably conducted by the vicar, the Rev. F.W. Coupe.   The choir and the organist (Miss E. Wilkinson) did honor to the happy pair, by rendering the choral part of the service, which certainly is the coping stone to the service, and at the conclusion Miss Wilkinson excellently played the “Wedding March”.   The bride, who was given away by her brother Joseph, looked charming in silk crepe de chine, with the usual veil and orange blossom, and carried a handsome bouquet of white roses and carnations, entwined with ferns.   She was attended by two bridesmaids, Miss Ruby Hudson (her sister) and Miss Jessie Harris (sister to the bridegroom).   Both looked very nice, simply attired in white, and carried bouquets of roses.   They both wore black hats, trimmed with roses.   The bridegroom was supported by Cr A.E. Kempson and Mr W.A. Crawford.   As they left the church the happy pair and party were deluged with rose leaves (sic) by their many friends.   Subsequently a group photo. was taken at the Victa studio, and, thereafter about 25 (principally relations) sat down at dejeuner in the assembly room, provided and laid out most tastefully by Mrs Grenfell.   The usual toasts followed.   The “Happy Pair” was humorously given by the Rev. Coupe, and acknowledged by Mr Harris.   Mr Muller proposed the “bridesmaids”, and Cr A.E. Kempson responded.   “Parents” was proposed by Mr F. Harris and replied to by Messrs H. Harris and Mr J. Hudson.   The newly-married pair left by the three o’clock train for Castlemaine, taking with them the best wishes of all for their future prosperity.   The bride wore a travelling dress of grey cloth coat and skirt, and grey hat, with roses and foliage.   The presents to the bride were very numerous, valuable and useful. (Clunes Guardian & Gazette, November 14, 1911, by “Humming Bee”).

Meeting of the Clunes Coursing Club

The annual meeting of the Clunes Coursing Club was held on Wednesday, at the Club Hotel.   In the absence of the president (Mr G. Fraser), Mr T. Fawcett occupied the chair.   There was a good attendance of members.   The Secretary (Mr A.E. Kempson) reported ....that the past year was not as successful from a coursing point of view as previous years, owing to the scarcity of hares, due to the drought.   The Clunes Club, however, was not the only Club affected, as many other clubs in the state met with similar luck.   Financially the season was a success, and quite equal to the preceding year.   Four meetings were held, the Scale Park kennel being the most successful. . (Trophies were presented to the most successful dogs - details given).   The best thanks of the club are also due to the landowners for allowing the club the use of their land for coursing purposes.   They are Messrs G. Fraser, C. Fawcett, J. Weatherson, A.Clarke, G. McVicar, A. Nase, F. Charleson, W.S. Holmes, McRae, Leishman, W. Hudson, L.R. Carter, and others.   I would urge the club to take similar steps as heretofore for the protection of game against poachers.   The thanks of all are due to Mr C. Fawcett, the judge, who carried out his duties with that excellence for which he is noted.   He was absent from one meeting, and his place was kindly filled by Mr J. McCrum, who, I regret, had the misfortune to lose his mount, in regard to which the club has expressed its sympathy.   Mr G. Pearce carried out the important duties of slipper during the latter part of the season.  (Clunes Guardian & Gazette, 20 May, 1904)

  List of Officers:   President, G. Fraser, Esq., J.P.; vice-presidents, Messrs T. Fawcett, A.L. Nase, and G. Leishman; stewards, Messrs. W.H. Birch, B. Fawcett, J. Anderson, E. Cooper, John Anderson, H. Bockholt, G. McIvor, Joe. Weatherson, J. Fawcett, T. Hudson, W. Nichol, G. Beveridge, J.L. Carter, and W. Foley; judge, Mr C.Fawcett; slipper, G. Nelson; slip steward, A.L. Nase; treasurer, G.C. Symons; field marshall, J.Weatherson; card sellers, W.Crawford and D.Downes; A.E. Kempson, secretary. (Clunes Guardian & Gazette, 24 July, 1908)

Clunes Livestock Market

Messrs Hepburn, Dowling and Crawford report:   A fair supply of cattle came to hand for to-day’s sale, comprising a good proportion of useful quality beef.   There was a good attendance of the trade and competition throughout was very spirited at a marked improvement on last week’s prices.   Bullocks to £7 12s 6d, cows to 6p 10s.   A large number of sheep was penned, chiefly useful descriptions.   The demand was very brisk, and last week’s prices were fully maintained.   Crossbred wethers to 12s 8d, crossbred ewes to 11s 3d; merino wethers 8s 3d, merino ewes 9s 5d.   A small number of lambs forward, which met a very brisk sale at higher prices.   Prime (woolly) to 13s 6d, good 8s 6d to 9s 6d; prime (shorn) to 10s, good 8s to 9s.   A fair supply of pigs penned which sold at an improvement on late rates.   Best to £1 11s.   (Included in the sale listings were 25 steers and cows for Mr Wm. Hudson, Lord Clyde; steers to £1 13s; cows to £4). (Clunes Guardian & Gazette, 3 March, 1899).

  Included in the sale were 3 pigs for W. Hudson, Lord Clyde. (Clunes Guardian & Gazette, 24 November, 1899).

Clunes Show

  Mr W. Hudson, Lord Clyde, listed as a judge for Swine. (Clunes Guardian & Gazette, 3 March, 1899)

  In the dairy produce section, Mr W. Hudson, Lord Clyde won first and second prize for “farm house hams”. (Clunes Guardian & Gazette, 5 November, 1907).

Hudson Family Members in Electoral Rolls of the Clunes District  

Division of Laanecoorie, subdivision “Clunes District”

Clunes School

On 22 January 1992, Mr C.H. Fenton, Research Officer from the William Barkell Memorial Arts and Historic Centre, Clunes, provided me with an extract from the Clunes School Records, containing seven entries for children with the surname Hudson. Un updated list of records from the Clunes Primary School was provided by Helen Quick on 23 June 2004, which contained details of twelve students named Hudson, including those in the previous list.

Hudson Children in the Clunes Primary School Records (By Family/Birth Date)

Family Groups 2,3 and 4 are descendants of William and Mary Jane Hudson.

Family Group 2 comprises the two of the children of Thomas Hudson (1877-1956) and Laura Dunstan/Hudson: William Russell Hudson (my father) and Dorothy Laurel Hudson. The school records give Laura Hudson's occupation as "home duties" and her address as Smeaton Road, Clunes, which is the home of her mother Eliza Jane Bolitho/Dunstan. In 1921, she must have decided to take two of her children on a visit to see her widowed mother.

Both Family Groups 3 and 4 are the children of Joseph Edmund Hudson (1890-1956). Group 3 contains children from his first marriage to Marjorie Alix Pearce: Marjorie Elizabeth Hudson, Dorothy Jean Hudson, Joseph Stanley Hudson and John Logan Hudson. Group 4 are children from his marriage to Jean Clune, and include: Edmund Benjamin Hudson, Joseph Christopher Hudson, Margaret Rose Hudson and William Robert Hudson. Joseph Edmund Hudson's occupation is listed variously as "farmer", "manager" and "overseer" (presumably on the farm "Sunny Brow"), and his address is given as Lord Clyde. Jean Clune/Hudson's occupation is given as "home duties' and her addresses as Purcell Street and Canterbury Street, Clunes.

Clunes Cemetery Records

Mr C.H. Fenton provided a list of Hudsons in the Clunes Cemetery Records:

Names in italics are those of Joseph Edmund Hudson (1890-1956), his first wife Majorie Alice (?Alix), daughter Marjory (Marjorie) Elizabeth (1917-1930), and second wife Jean.   The other Hudsons do not seem to be related.

Smeaton Cemetery

 William Hudson and Mary-Jane Goddard/Hudson and several of their children are buried in the Smeaton Cemetery, about 4 miles east south-east of “Sunny Brow”, including:

Campbelltown Cemetery

Mary Askew/Goddard/Sinclair (Mary Jane Goddard/Hudson's mother) and her daughter Kate Sinclair are buried at Campbelltown Cemetery, about 5 miles north-east of “Sunny Brow”, and to the south of Campbelltown.

Also buried at Campbelltown Cemetery are members of the Weatherson family, including Elizabeth Goddard/Weatherson (May Jane Goddard/Hudson's sister) and her husband John Weatherson, together with other members of the Weatherson family, arranged below in headstone groups.