Jonathan Rudd, Lt.

Bef 1623 - 1658

• Name	Jonathan Rudd, Lt.
  Suffix	Lt.
  Born	Bef 1623	England
  Gender	Male
  Died	1658	Saybrook, Middlesex Co, Connecticut
  Notes	Jonathan RUDD, at New Haven in 1640, took the oath of fidelity 1 October 1644. He was a worker in leather, a farmer and a soldier. New Haven Co records show that "he kept a dirty gun and drank spirits while on guard duty." Jonathan was a sergeant in the Saybrook train band in 1646. Jonathan was made freeman, 1651 at Hartford. He was appointed in 1652 an assistant to Capt. John MASON at Saybrook Fort and served as selectman in 1656. After Jonathan's death in 1658, the Rev. James FITCH was appointed guardian for the children and the family moved with him to found Norwich, CT in 1660. The exodus of at least forty families to Norwich represented the majority of the inhabitants of Saybrook. !Savage !The Connecticut Nutmegger - Dec 1991; p.439, 445 !NEHGR 96:393 Governor Winthrop related an incident which he says 'fell out the first winter of 1646-47, which was the first spent by him in the plantation [Saybrook]. The main points of the story were these: "A young couple in Saybrook were to be married; the groom was Jonathan Rudd. The Governor does not give the name of the bride, and unfortunately the omission is not supplied by either record or tradition. The wedding day was fixed, and a magistrate from one of the upper towns on the river was engaged to perform the rite; for there was not, it seems, and person in Saybrook duly qualified to officiate on such an occasion. But 'there falling out at that time a great snow,' the paths were obliterated, traveling obstructed, and intercourse with the interior interupted, so that 'the magistrate intended to go down thither was hindered by the depth of the snow.' On the seaboard there is usually a less weight of snow, and the course can be more readily ascertained. The nuptials must not be delayed without inevitable necessity. Application was therefore made to Mr. Winthrop to come to Saybrook and unite the parties. But he, deriving his authority from Massachusetts, could not legally officiate in Connecticut. "'I saw it necessary to deny them in that way, but told them, for an expedient for there accommodation, if they come to the plantation it might be done. But that being too difficult for them it was agreed that they should come to that place which is now called Bride Brook, as being a place within the bounds of the authority whereby I then acted; otherwise I had exceeded the limits of my commission.' "This proposition was accepted. On the brink of this little stream, the boundary between two colonies, the parties met, - Winthrop and his friends from Pequot, and the bridal train from Saybrook. Here the ceremony was performed, under the shelter of no roof, by no hospitable fireside, without any accommodations but those furnished by the snow-covered earth, the overarching heaven, and perchance the sheltering side of a forest of pines or cedars. Romantic lovers have sometimes pledged their faith by joining hands over a narrow streamlet; but never, perhaps, before or since was the legal rite performed in a situation so wild and solitary and under circumstances so interesting and peculiar. "We are not told how the parties traveled, whether on horseback or on sleds or snow-shoes, nor what cheer they brought with them, whether cakes or fruit, the juice of the orchard or vineyard, ot the fiery extract of the cane. We only know that at that time conveniences and comforts were few and luxuries unknown. Yet simple and homely as the accompaniments must have been, a glow of hallowed beauty will ever rest upon the scene. We fancy that we hear the foot-tramp upon the crisp snow; the ice cracks as they cross the frozen stream; the wind sighs through the leafless forest, and the clear voice of Winthrop swells upon the ear like a devout strain of music, now low and then rising high to heaven, as it passes through the varied accents of tender admonition, legal decision, and solemn prayer. The impressive group stand around, wrapped in their frosty mantles, with heads fervently bowed down, and at the given sign the two plighted hands come forth from among the furs and are clasped together in token of a life-long, affectionate trust. The scene ends in a general burst of hearty hilarity. "Bride Brook issues from a beautiful sheet of water, known as Bride Lake or Pond, and runs into the Sound about a mile west of Giant's Cove. In a straight line it is not more than two miles west of Niantic Bay. The Indian name of the pond or brook, or of both, was Sunk-i-paugor, Sunkipaugsuck (which means cold water). "It received the name of Bride Brook on the spot, at the time of the nuptial celebration. Winthrop in his deposition says, 'And at that time the place had the denomination of Bride Brook.' That a considerable company had assembled is evident from the narrative, which alludes to those present from Pequot, and to the gentlemen of the other party, who 'were well satisfied with what was done.' "Thus it appears that Bride Brook was originally the western boundary of New London. It had been fixed upon as the terminus between her and Saybrook anterior to the marriage solemnized upon its eastern brink, though it obtained its name from that occurrence. "The annals of history can furnish but few incidents more striking than the Bride Brook marriage. All the accessories of the scene are picturesque and impressive. The little company stood in the midst of a dreary waste of snow, far from any human habitation except the huts of savages; ancient forests and immense solitudes were around them, beyond which, in shadowy magnificence, vast and indefinite, lay that unexplored world on whose brink they stood. We might, perchance, add to these features the stalwart forms of natives, a tribe of whom dwelt not far from the place, darting among the trees or looking on at a distance. What sublime scenery for a wedding! There is no marriage upon record that has such romantic associations." In a poem written by Miss F. M. Caulkins, 1852, the story of the marriage was immortalized. To this fair stream two sledgy trains, Grotesque and quaint as Lapland wains, Rushed swiftly o'er the dazzling plains: Vast earth before, behind all hoary, Embosomed in a shroud of glory. How still is all surrounding snow! How dead but for this diamond glow! The sun's exhuberant overflow, Filling the air with quivering gladness, Relieves earth's spectre of its sadness. No sounding bells waked nature's ear, Yet music, flowing sweet and clear, Rippled the sea of silence drear. Cheery they come, -men, maidens singing, And all the echoes round them ringing. They meet: here noble Winthrop stands. Come forth, ye gladsome bridal bands, Ye snow-capt hills, clap all your hands! Ye spicy cedars, green and towering, Draw round them all your screens embowering. The woven nets are lightly spread, The spruce boughs yield their fragrant aid, The white smoke o'er them curls a shade, And fruits and viands, choice and dainty, Flow from the ample horn of plenty. Her furry wrappings cast aside, As rosy skies when clouds divide, Forth steps the conscious, blushing bride, A trembling, serious, fadeless beauty, Commingling sweetness, love, and duty. She stood like Summer on the snow,- No morning dawn around could throw Such rosy light, so warm a glow,- And hovering clouds, with seraphs laden, Showered heavenly blessings on the maiden. She was a dame of fair degree; Her lover, fearless, bold, and free, Had suffered scaith by land and sea; Their hearts long pledged by word and token, Now let the sacred rite be spoken. Then hands were clasped, and Winthrop prayed: The life-long covenant was made; High heaven a mute attention paid; Winds, groves, and hills, with reverence lowly, Trembled around a scene so holy. 'Now Sunk-i-paug is Bridal Lake: Flow, ever flow!' - thus Winthrop spake, - 'Round hearts and homes thy journey take; Love's streamlet out of Bride Lake welling, GOD LEAD A BRANCH TO EVERY DWELLING.' (excerpted from Bride Brook, a Legend)
  Person ID	I22388	Bryant
  Last Modified	18 Feb 2001

  
  

  Family	Mary Burchard
  Married	1647	Saybrook (Bridebrook), Middlesex Co, Connecticut   [1, 2]
  Children	1. Patience Rudd,   b. Abt 1647, Saybrook, Middlesex Co, Connecticut ,   d. Bef 1700   2. Jonathan Rudd,   b. Abt 1648, Saybrook, Middlesex Co, Connecticut ,   d. 1689, Norwich, New London Co, Connecticut   3. Mary Rudd,   b. 1648, Saybrook, Middlesex Co, Connecticut ,   d. 04 Aug 1726, probably, Windham, Windham Co, Connecticut   4. Nathaniel Rudd,   b. Abt 1653, Saybrook, Middlesex Co, Connecticut ,   d. Apr 1727, Bozrah, New London Co, Connecticut
  Family ID	F1590	Group Sheet

  
  

• Event Map		Born - Bef 1623 - England Married - 1647 - Saybrook (Bridebrook), Middlesex Co, Connecticut Died - 1658 - Saybrook, Middlesex Co, Connecticut  = Link to Google Maps   = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Sources

  [S10] Hurd, New London Co, CT, Hurd, D. Hamilton, (reprinted, Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1990, 1882), p.560. [S233] Saybrook Founders, Descendants, Staplins, Elaine F., Chairman, (The Founders Committee, Saybrook, CT, 1985), Thomas Burchard.