Hudson’s of Bridlington
The Hudson family have been traced back as far as the mid-18th century and the towns of Bradford & Bingley in the West Riding of Yorkshire. However at least four generations called Bridlington home, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, where the family were carpenters and building contractors. Our 2nd great grandfather, Joseph Henry HUDSON, expanded the construction business to include banks, churches, and a large number of houses. Joseph married Jane Elizabeth FUSSEY, from a family of farmers and lay preachers with a long history in the East Riding. As the family’s reputation grew Joseph was elected to the Lords Feoffee from 1911 until his death in 1930.
The legacy was passed onto his son, Bernard HUDSON, who married Elsie HARDACRE, daughter of two teachers who settled in Nether Poppleton, near York. Elsie was the granddaughter of a cooper from Settle, North Yorkshire, and letterpress printer from Bury, Lancashire. Shortly before the outbreak of WWII Bernard tragically died during a blackout, falling over a railing to his death. Elsie was left widowed to raise four children, aged between 6-15 years.
Our grandmother Sheila Mary HUDSON was the second of the four children. Born in 1925, Sheila was too young to join the war effort until 1941 when she joined the Land Army. While waiting to reach the age of 16 she attended dances in Bridlington and met her future husband, Albert Wear “Nobby” CLARK of Darlington. Nobby was stationed with the 54th Searchlight Battery in Filey, just a short bicycle ride away from Bridlington. The couple married after the war and settled in York. They purchased a house in Burton Stone Lane, recently vacated by Sheila’s late grandfather, James HARDACRE.
Grandparents
Hudson Family Stories
Hudson’s of Bridlington
The Hudson family have been traced back as far as the mid-18th century and the towns of Bradford & Bingley in the West Riding of Yorkshire. However at least four generations called Bridlington home, in the East Riding of Yorkshire, where the family were carpenters and building contractors. Our 2nd great grandfather, Joseph Henry HUDSON,…
Ronald Hardacre & The Commander of the British Empire
Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood St. James’s Palace, London, S.W.L The QUEEN has been graciously pleased, on the occasion of the Celebration of Her Majesty’s Birthday, to give orders for the following appointments to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. To be Ordinary Commanders of the Civil Division of the said…
Joseph Henry Hudson & The Lords Feoffees
The Court Leet 1919, July 17th, the day after the Peace Pageant. The Court Leet was a local court set in front of the Bayle Gate, formerly the gatehouse of the priory, in Bridlington and continued during the period of the Lords Feoffees. Joseph Henry HUDSON, our 2nd Great Grandfather, is the man seated in…
Gilbert Hardacre & West African Cocoa Trade
Gilbert Clapham Hardacre (1889-1959), our Great Grand Uncle on the Hudson side of the family, was our first ancestor to reach West Africa in his role a cocoa trader for York-based confectioners firm, Rowntrees. Gilbert’s travels were the inspiration for members of successive generations of our family to reach beyond the north of England and…
James Hardacre & Walking Pictures
James HARDACRE (1861-1947), is our 2nd Great Grandfather, from Settle, North Yorkshire. He was the fourth of six children born to Cooper & Casker, Richard HARDACRE, & farmer’s daughter, Mary CLAPHAM. James appears to have excelled at school and chose a career in teaching. After taking teaching positions in Halifax, Skipton, and Redmire, James settled…
Ann Fussey’s Award for Respectable Servitude!
Our fourth great grandparents Ann SPROXTON (1797-1875) of Roos and Anthony FUSSEY (1784-1860) of Ryehill married in Sheckling cum Burstwick in the winter of 1814. The village names may appear unfamiliar but they are all in the East Riding of Yorkshire, the far east! To say the couple were productive is an understatement. Ann delivered…
Wilfrid Hudson & Fortress Engineers
Wilfrid Hudson was born and raised in Bridlington, by Jane and Joseph Henry HUDSON, who ran a construction business in the town. After studying civil engineering he joined the Bridlington Corporation as an assistant borough surveyor.
Nobby Clark & The Searchlights
Albert Wear Clark aka Nobby Clark was born 1921 in Darlington, County Durham, the third of nine siblings born to a steel worker and worsted cotton spinner. Nobby followed in his father’s footsteps as a labourer in the steelworks. Why Nobby Clark? A clerk would deal with the common people but would be better educated,…
