Scudder Family Historical & Biographical Journal
‘Dedicated to informing, preserving and promoting the Scudder family heritage of service and philanthropy’
Journal Vol 6, no 2
Journal Vol 6, no 1 Winter 2024
Journal Vol 5, no 3 Fall 2023
Journal Vol 5, no 2 Spring 2023
Journal Vol 5, no 1 Winter 2023
Journal Vol 4, no 2 December 2022
Journal Vol 3, no 3 Summer/Fall 2021
Journal Vol 3, no 2 Spring 2021
Cutting-edge Scudders, Building Bridges to People Who Were Different
The early immigrant Scudders and missionary-minded Scudders featured in this issue had unique opportunities to engage with people of other races, ethnicities, cultures, religions and politics that were different than their own. They moved to different countries or colonies where they were considered the strangers by those who were already present.
Samuel Scudder, b. 1643, Grandson of Thomas Scudder (T) by His Son John
Not much is known about Samuel3 Scudder, (known hereafter as Samuel I), oldest son of John2 and grandson of Thomas1 (T). He does not appear in the baptismal records of the Salem Church so he must have been born about 1643 in Salem, Massachusetts because his younger brother John3 was born in 1645 according to his marriage record, and his parents joined the church in 1647. His three sisters’ baptismal records are after that date.
Dr. Doremus Scudder and Rev. Frank Scudder, Missionaries to Japan and Hawaii:
In the 1880s, there were so many Scudder missionaries in India, that family members began being sent to mission fields elsewhere. Doremus Scudder M.D., D.D., 1858–1942, was in Niigata, Japan from 1885 to 1889
Missionary Frank Scudder in Japan and Hawaii
Frank Scudder, 1862–1956. Frank grew up with Dr. Doremus Scudder as children of the Arcot Mission in India. By the third generation of Scudders in India there were so many Scudders in the Arcot Mission that the mission board declined to send any more, suggesting that they should serve in other mission fields.
FOUNDING OF VELLORE MEDICAL SCHOOL Excerpt #2 from A THOUSAND YEARS IN THY SIGHT: THE STORY OF THE SCUDDER MISSIONARIES OF INDIA
This article is the continuation of the story of Dr. Ida Scudder and her founding and development of a medical college to train women doctors in Vellore, Tamil Nadu, South India. 1,000 Years in Thy Sight was written by D.V. Scudder, the wife of Dr. Ida\’s nephew, Dr. John Scudder III, who served as a missionary with her husband in Ranipet from 1929-1935. Please refer to The Scudder Journal (Vol.3 No.1, Winter 2021) for the first excerpt of Dr. Ida Scudder\’s missionary service and the story of the Vellore Christian Medical College and Hospital.
Journal Vol 3, no 1 Winter 2021
“The Missionary Scudder Family, 1819–1970,” the progenitors Dr. John and Harriet Waterbury Scudder
Dr. John Scudder sailed with his wife Harriet and their two-year old daughter, Maria, in June 1819 from Boston on the sailing vessel, Indus, bound for Calcutta, India. He was the first medical missionary sent out by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, and, in fact, was the first medical missionary from any country to stay more than two years
The Haystack Monument
What does a monument to a haystack have to do with members of the Scudder family offering over a thousand years of service (in a total of combined years served) to the people of India, Hawaii, Japan, China, South Africa and Arabia?
Journal Vol 2, no 2 Fall 2020
Journal Vol 2, no 1 Spring 2020
Dr. John Scudder’s First Hospital in Ceylon
An “island” oasis of Palmyra palms in the middle of rice fields is reached by a single lane road raised about six feet above the fields. It was on that virtual “island” that Dr. John situated his first hospital. A twenty-minute walk from the hospital takes you to the Panditeripu mission station
If You Are an American Scudder,
Which Is Your Courageous Immigrant Ancestor? John Scudder, b. 1618 or his sister Elizabeth Scudder, b. 1625 or Their Uncle Thomas Scudder, 1587? From the beginning of the history of the American Scudder family, one family trait stands out strong. Scudders are willing and able to do hard things to better their circumstances.
Thomas Scudder, b. 1587, Ancestor of the American Scudder (T) Line
The first document to prove that Thomas Scudder (T) of Horton Kirby, Kent, England was in America is dated 25 December 1637 and is found on the Salem, Massachusetts Town Records under Land Grants, B. Records in England show that Thomas Scudder…
Journal Vol 1, no 3 December 2019
Three Sons of Henry Scudder, Yeoman of Horton Kirby, Kent continued: Correction #2.
In this issue of our online Journal, we continue our series of articles to clarify and correct the history of the three sons of Henry Scudder, Yeoman of Horton Kirby, Kent (read Our Story begins with Henry Skudder (Scudder) Yeoman).
Thomas Scudder Did Not Marry Elizabeth Lowers! She was Another Man’s Wife! – Correction #2.
“Thomas1 Scudder (T)” is the way the Scudder Association Foundation refers to the original immigrant ancestor of the Scudder (T) line in America. This designation serves to differentiate the many thousands of Thomas1 (T)’s posterity from those of his nephew John2 (J)’s line.
Christmas at Vellore Medical School
“Well, Christmas is over and the New Year almost upon us. I had my celebration in Vellore as I was on Obstetric and Gynecological duty. Before Christmas, everyone was busy getting things ready. The nurses were planning their ward decorations: there were rehearsals for the Christmas plays; and everyone was doing up mysterious parcels for at least two weeks before.
Journal Vol 1, no 2 June 2019
Journal Vol 1, no 1 April 2019
A Story 200 Years in the Making . . .
“I go from love to Christ and to souls. The very self-denial of the work allures me. It is my happiness to go.”
It is two hundred years from the time the Rev. John Scudder embarked on his trail-blazing journey as the first medical missionary from America to go to a foreign land, to minister to body and spirit of then unknown souls more than 8000 miles away
Journey to India
This Chronicle is a record of the trip to India by members of The Scudder Association Foundation in January 2019 to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of John and Harriet Scudder’s sailing from Boston to begin the medical missionary work of the Scudders on the Indian Continent.