Joseph Dudley - Family and Legacy

Family and Legacy

In 1668, Dudley married Rebecca Tyng, who survived him by two years. They had twelve children, ten of whom survived to adulthood. His son Paul served as attorney general and chief justice of Massachusetts. Dudley, Massachusetts is named for his sons Paul and William, who were its first proprietors.

Dudley at his death owned large tracts of land in Massachusetts, principally in Roxbury and what is now Worcester County. The latter properties he purchased from the Nipmuc in partnership with William Stoughton, and was granted land for the purpose of settling French Huguenots that became part of Oxford. Dudley frequently used his position, especially when president of the dominion and governor of the province, to ensure that the titles to lands he was interested in were judicially cleared, a practice that also benefited friends, relatives, and business partners. Edward Randolph wrote that it was "impossible to bring titles of land to trial before them where his Majesties's rights are concerned, the Judges also being parties."

Nineteenth century historian John Palfrey wrote of Dudley that he "united rich intellectual attributes with a groveling soul", forging political connections and relationships in his early years for the purpose of furthering his own advancement. He capitalized on his favorable family connections to the Puritan leadership of Massachusetts to establish connections in England, but then betrayed those Massachusetts connections when it became necessary to further his quest for power. Thomas Hutchinson, who later also served as provincial governor, and wrote an extensive history of Massachusetts, wrote of Dudley that "he had as many virtues as can consist with so great a thirst for honour and power." Biographer Everett Kimball wrote of Dudley, "... in spite of his failings of temper he possessed a good deal of tact and personal charm, by which, when everything else failed, he could sometimes transform an enemy into a friend."