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Scudder Ancestral Home: Horton Kirby, Kent, England

Scudder Ancestral Home: Horton Kirby, Kent, England

Scudders Immigrated to Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1635–1644

Dedicated to continuing the vision and work of the Scudder Association of America founded in 1912

to build community & connection among Scudders to work together to:

  •  Gather, verify, preserve, and publish accurate history and genealogy of ancestors and descendants of:

Thomas Scudder (T), John Scudder (J), Elizabeth (Scudder) (E) Lathrop and our common English ancestor Henry Scudder

  •  Memorialize 400 years of Scudder contributions to history.

  •  Build family history skills in youth & adults.

  •  Foster belonging and the Scudder heritage of Service.

Youth Page

Fun with Family History
Scudder Family History Resources

Scudders – U.S. 250th Celebration
DNA Committee Page

The Scudder Family Historical & Biographical Journal
Dedicated to educating, preserving history and promoting the Scudder heritage of service and philanthropy

Scudder Ancestral Home: Horton Kirby, Kent, England

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Journal Menu page

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Latest Issue of the Journal, Volume 7, no. 1, (Summer 2025)

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Why Is Family History Beneficial?

           Psychologists at Emory University “studied the role of family history knowledge in adolescent development and identity formation [and found] “…irrespective of race or ethnic background, adolescents who know more about their family histories have ‘higher self-esteem, better family functioning, greater family cohesiveness, lower levels of anxiety, and lower incidence of behavior problems.’ Furthermore, having this family information positively correlates with overcoming psychological and educational challenges.” Also true for adults, benefits can include ‘promoting lifelong learning and fostering civic pride and responsibility by placing forbears in context of world, national and local history.’

—From Daniel Webster, “The Enduring Power and Promise of Family History,” American Ancestors, volume 24, no. 4, (Winter 2024), https://www.americanancestors.org   and Carol Clark, “How family stories help children weather hard times,” Emory University, April 29, 2020, https://news.emory.edu/stories/2020/04/esc_covid_19_family_stories/campus.html.

 The Scudder History Association encourages these outcomes!  We invite you to utilize our Youth Page & Family Activities Page to help younger generations learn more about their family heritage and their nation, including how Scudders helped to build the United States.

Scudder History Association Announcements

What’s Happening? Get Involved!

 . Committees offer opportunities to gather online with other Scudders to help us to achieve our vision to build family unity & a team to further Scudder family research efforts .Volunteer here.

 . Calendar. Click here.

 . If you are looking for the Scudder Association Foundation – India charitable website, click here.

 . Tell your family about: Youth Page      

                                                Family Activities Page

                                                Resources for “How to Do” Family History

 . Want to check if you are a Scudder? Click here.

U.S. 250th celebration
Read about Scudders in the Cause of Independence
Nathaniel5 Scudder, John Hart, and the New Jersey and Continental Congresses Prepare

3

The Second Continental Congress voting independence
Nathaniel5 Scudder & his cousin Deborah Scudder’s husband
>Signer John Hart were in the 2nd Continental Congress.

Thomas1 Scudder (T) family
of Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony

1

Thomas1 (T)’s Family Page

&

Introductory biography for Thomas (T)

 

John2 Scudder (J) family
Of Barnstable, Plymouth Colony

John2 (J)’s Family Page

&

Introductory biography for John (J)

Elizabeth2 Scudder (E) family
Barnstable, New London, Norwich

Elizabeth2 (E)’s Family Page

&

Introductory biography for Elizabeth (E)

The Rev. Henry1 Scudder
Remained in England

Rev. Henry1’s Family Page

&

Introductory biography for Rev. Henry.

Overview of three generations beginning with common ancestor in England for the three American Scudder lines (T, J & E)

More detailed and sourced diagram accessible here


Scudder Family History Resources

SFH&B Journal online

Contact the Journal editor

Contact the Historian

Contact the Genealogy Committee

Scudder Ancestral Lineage form

Family History Activities Page

Resources for “How to do” Family History

Research Log Template from the Historian

Links to Allied Families organizations

Other Family History Websites

 


Resources for SHA Members:

Youth PageScudder family history for Youth

      Stories for children and by children, Activities,

      Youth submissions of their family history research

Newsletter Distributed by email to our members.

Committee List-  Volunteer here

Genealogical Database

Meetings & ReunionsOnline & in person.

Submit ancestral lineage form or other

family information here

DNA Committee Info Page and Contact

Scudder Family Branches Subcommittees for

Research & Online Collaboration Groups

Further Our English Research with Other Scudders Who Descend from Kent, England


Scudder Library Research Section 

Topical Resource Pages

Scudders in the Puritan Migration

Scudders in Religious History, and who contributed to the advance of religion, religious liberty & religious institutions

Scudders in the Cause of Independence, American Revolutionary War & Continental Congress & Provincial & State Congresses

 

More features coming soon.

Books online pertinent to Scudders & allied families

Fun with Family History

Youth PageScudder family history for Youth. Stories for children and by children, Activities.
This month: Look on your family tree to find if you have an American Revolutionary War Soldier.
Or do you have an ancestor who served in the military? What did you learn? Write their story. Submit your story to the Youth Page.

Family History Activities Page
Idea of the month: Host family gatherings
Get multiple family members involved, such as by having an ice cream “Sunday” where everyone is invited to share
family stories. Or, if your family is geographically scattered, meet online.

Help us celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence by honoring American Scudder Patriots

by sharing your ancestor’s American Independence story. Click here to submit or for ideas about how to involve
your relatives in the fun or to find historical resources to document your ancestor’s story.
If you are DAR, SAR or Colonial Dames, Holland Dames, etc., is your ancestor a Scudder? If so, please contact us here.

Family Branches Subcommittees for Online Collaboration Groups
Share, collaborate, identify areas that need further research on your family branch and collaborate in research.
Submit findings to the Journal. Click here
Let us know if you want to be in a Scudder family branch group.
Click here to see family branch groups that are already formed
Click here  to suggest branch groups(s) in which you would like to participate if that group is not already formed.
 

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Note: Return element at end of footnote.

  1. Purchased License for image. See also David Anstiss, “Horton Kirby Village Sign,” geograph.org.uk – 1222979.jpg. Wikimedia Commons. Another website offers the explanation about the meaning of the images that make up the village sign. They are “St. Mary the Virgin church, the railway viaduct, the River Darent which flows through the village, hops which are still grown locally and the chimney of the former Horton, Kirby Paper Mill.” From flickr, <a href=” https:=”” www=”” flickr=”” com=”” photos=”” l2f1=”” 5272058503=””>https://www.flickr.com/photos/l2f1/5272058503
  2. Fitz Hugh Lane, “Salem Harbor,” 1853,  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salem_Harbor_Fitz_Hugh_Lane.jpeg. Public domain.2
  3. Robert Pine and Edward Savage, “The Second Continental Congress voting independence,” National Archives Catalog, NAID 532839, Record Group 148, Records of Commissions of the Legislative Branch, https://catalog.archives.gov/id/532839.
  4. “Pioneer Village, Forest River Park, Salem, Mass. Postcard, Noble Collection, Essex Institute Historical Collection, https://digitalheritage.noblenet.org/s/salem/item/11428