Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 90

Author: Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, 1853-1935, ed. cn
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 848

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Flag Officer Whittle in command; from there he was ordered to Ship Point to take command of the heavy guns at that place, co-operating with Colonel Zulokoskie in command of that post. From there he was ordered to take command of the stationery battery on the river front just below York- town. On the evacuation of Yorktown. Captain Hudgins was assigned to duty in the ordnance department at Richmond, where he served until the evacuation. On the surrender of General Lee he started to join General Joseph E. Johnston's army, but was captured by General Wright's Sixth Army corps, and given his parole. Captain Hudgins had a commission as captain of artillery in the Confederate States of Amer- ica, during the Civil war. Captain Robert King Hudgins married, October 25, 1834, Sarah James, born April 13, 1816, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Davenport ) White, of Mathews county, Virginia. Mrs. Hud- gins died August 10, 1891, and is buried by the side of her husband in Norfolk, Vir- ginia. Children of Captain Robert K. and Sarah James (White) Hudgins: James Madison, of whom further; William Ed- ward, of whom further; Henry Clay, of whom further; Elizabeth S .; Robert D .; Louis Kossuth; Charles Buckner ; Sarah Frances.

Colonel Henry Clay Hudgins, son of Cap- tain Robert King and Sarah James (White) Hudgins, was born in Mathews county, Vir- ginia, September 19, 1841, died August 6, 1913. His education completed, the out- break of the Civil war found him beginning the business of life in New Orleans, where he accepted, in January, 1861, the position of secretary to Commodore Rousseau, of the Confederate States navy. This he resigned when his state, Virginia, seceded, and promptly returned to his home and entered the service as a private in the Old Domin- ion Guards, one of the first companies of the Virginia volunteers. He served with this company at Pinner's Point until the evacu- ation of Norfolk, after which the company was assigned to the Ninth Virginia Infan- try, as Company K. With his regiment he participated in the battles of Seven Pines, Malvern Hill, Second Manassas, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, and Frederickburg, hav- ing previously been promoted to first ser- geant, he was unanimously elected by his company as first lieutenant, 1862. He took

part in the Suffolk and New Bern expedition of Longstreet's corps and Pickett's division and participated in the battle of Gettysburg in the historic assault of Pickett's division upon Cemetery Hill, where he was wounded, but escaped capture. Captain Allen, com- manding Company K, having been captured at the "Stonewall" on the same field, Lieu- tenant Hudgins, after he was able to return to duty, assumed command and acted as captain during the remainder of his active service until the end of the war. After the Pennsylvania campaign, Lieutenant Hud- gins was sent with his company to "Camp Lee," Richmond, to recruit and while sta- tioned there as senior officer in command of "Camp Lee" Battalion, co-operated with local defense in protecting the city against the raid of Kilpatrick's cavalry. Having rejoined his regiment, he participated in sev- cral engagements around Richmond and at Bermuda Hundred, finally surrendering to General Wright's army corps, near Danville, Virginia. He was paroled and returned home. Since the war, at the reorganization of his old company in 1875, he was elected captain and upon the organization of the Fourth Virginia Regiment, he was chosen its first colonel, August 29, 1882. Colonel Hudgins has served as commander of Stone- wall Camp, Confederate Veterans, of Ports- mouth, Virginia.

Henry Clay Hudgins married, in Ports- mouth, Virginia, January 8, 1867, Lucrece Langhorne, born October 16, 1848, died Sep- tember 10, 1898, daughter of Maurice and Lucrece (Bilisoly) Langhorne. Children all born in Portsmouth: 1. Charlotte Ruth, married F. Nash Bilisoly (q. v.). 2. Mary Elizabeth, born January 27, 1870, died June 28, 1899. 3. Henry Langhorne (q. v.). 4. Maurice Robert (q. v.). 5. Nannie Lucrece, born May 18, 1876, unmarried, living in Portsmouth. 6. Morgan Hughes, born De- cember 4, 1878. 7. J. Bilisoly (q. v.). 8. Augustus Kossuth, died in infancy. 9. Fitzhugh Lee (q. v.). 10. Elizabeth Win- field, born November 16, 1889, died October 18, 1894.

Henry Langhorn Hudgins. Henry Lang- horn Hudgins, eldest son of Colonel Henry Clay and Lucrece (Langhorne) Hudgins, was born in Portsmouth, in 1871. He was educated in the public schools, passing through all grades and finishing the high

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school course of study. He then served a number of years at the machinist's trade, then entered mercantile life, continuing several years. He then formed a connec- tion with the Bell Telephone Company and for nine years was manager of their Portsmouth branch, only severing his asso- ciation after his election in 1909 to the office of city treasurer. At he close of his four years' term in 1913, Mr. Hudgins was re-elected to succeed himself, his second term to expire in 1917. He is very popular in the city where his life has been spent and is loyally devoted to the welfare of the city in which his every interest is located. He is a Democrat in politics but numbers his friends and partisans in all parties. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and of the Improved Order of Red Men. Mr. Hudgins married, De- cember 21, 1908, Mary L. Moore, daughter of William Augustus and Jane M. Moore, of Portsmouth. Mr. and Mrs. Hudgins have a son, Henry Clay, born September 4, 1910.

Maurice Robert Hudgins. Maurice Rob- ert Hudgins, second son and fourth child of Colonel Henry Clay and Lucrece (Lang- horne) Hudgins, was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, June 18, 1874. He was educated in the public schools of Portsmouth, grad- uating at high school, and began business life as an employee of the Seaboard Air Line, continuing with this corporation for several years. After leaving the Seaboard he engaged in life insurance business as an agent, and on the strength of the abil- ity as a producer of business, won his pres- ent high position, Eastern Virginia manager of the New York Life Insurance Company. He has prospered in all his undertakings and is rated as one of the progressive public- spirited men of his city. He is a member of Montauk Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In politics is a Democrat, and presi- dent of the Board of Health. Mr. Hudgins married, June 23, 1910, Mabel Brown. Chil- dren: Morgan Parrish, born July 10, 1911; Maurice Robert (2), May 5, 1913; Lucrece Wingfield, August 8, 1914.

Joseph Bilisoly Hudgins. Joseph Bilisoly Hudgins, fourth son and seventh child of Colonel Henry Clay and Lucrece (Lang-

horne) Hudgins, was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, November 30, 1880. He was edu- cated in the public schools, finishing at high school. He began business life as clerk in the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank of Portsmouth, being in 1899 individual bookkeeper, and later assistant general bookkeeper. In 1907 he was appointed teller of the Mercantile Bank, resigning to accept, January 1, 1908, the assistant cash- iership of the Bank of Tidewater. His rise in the banking world has been rapid, but each advance lias been won by merit alone. He is treasurer of the Elizabeth Building and Loan Association and is highly regard- ed by his associates in bank and association. He is also treasurer of the Portsmouth Busi- ness Men's Association. He is a Democrat in politics and has served as judge of elec- tions. He is a communicant of St. John's Episcopal Church and is a vestryman in this church. Mr. Hudgins married, April 14, 1910, Emma Stevens Martin, of New York City, born July 7, 1886, daughter of Dr. Edward Ward Martin and Eleanor (Wigg) Martin, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Hudgins have one daughter, Eleanor Dunwoody, born May 10, 1912.

Fitzhugh Lee Hudgins. Fitzhugh Lee Hudgins, youngest son and ninth child of Colonel Henry Clay and Lucrece (Lang- horne) Hudgins, was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, April 18, 1885. He began and con- tinued early study for seven years in private schools, then spent two years in public schools, completing his study in Norfolk Academy, whence he was graduated, class of 1904. He began business life as clerk with the People's Bank of Portsmouth, leaving that institution for a clerkship with the Sea- board Air Line and there continuing until May, 1910. He then accepted his present position, deputy clerk of the Hustings Court, of Portsmouth, where he has made an excep- tionally fine record for efficiency and cour- tesy. He is a member of St. John's Protes- tant Episcopal Church, and is especially in- terested in the Sunday school, in which he is a teacher. In politics he is a Democrat.

William E. Hudgins. Robert King Hud- gins, son of Captain Robert and Susan. (Buckner) Hudgins, whose life and ancestry precede this sketch, descended through his mother, Susan (Buckner) Hudgins, from

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John Buckner, the Virginia founder of the family, son of Thomas Buckner and grand- son of Hugh Buckner, the latter born in England in 1560.

John Buckner, born in England in 1631, died in Virginia in 1695. He married De- bora Ferrers, born in England, died in Vir- ginia. their marriage being solemnized in London, July 10, 1661, by the Vicar General of Canterbury. In 1667 they settled in Gloucester county, Virginia. John Buckner brought the first printing press and printer from England in 1683 and in that year is recorded as a member of the Virginia house of burgesses.

Thomas Buckner, second son of the four sons of John and Debora (Ferrers) Buck- ner, became one of the prominent men of his day. He was coroner in 1702, justice in 1705, sheriff in 1712, member of the Virginia house of burgesses in 1718, and from 1714 was a vestryman of Petworth parish. He married, in 1698, Sarah, daughter of Captain Francis Morgan, a member of the Virginia house of burgesses in 1653, and justice of York county, Virginia.

Thomas (2) Buckner, youngest child of Thomas (I) and Sarah (Morgan) Buckner, was born in 1702, died in 1756. His will dated June 2, 1755, was probated in 1756. He was a justice of Gloucester county, Pennsylvania. He married (first) Mary, daughter of Philip and Mary (Matthew) Smith, who bore him a daughter, Mary, who married, in 1763, John Chrisman. He mar- ried (second) Mary, daughter of Samuel and Sarah ( Matthews) Timson, the latter a daughter of Baldwin Matthews, and grand- daughter of Governor Samuel Matthews, captain-general and governor of Virginia, 1622-1660, both wives being granddaughters of Baldwin Matthews, of York county, Vir- ginia, and first cousins. By his second wife. Mary (Timson) Buckner. Thomas Buckner had four children : Baldwin Matthews, died in 1798; John, married Dorothy Cros- by, and died in 1790; William, of further mention ; Colonel Mordecai, of colonial war fame, who married, in 1768, Mrs. Elizabeth Beverly.

William Buckner, third son of Thomas (2) and Mary (Timson) Buckner, was born in Kingston parish, Mathews county, Vir- ginia, in 1750, died in 1804. He served three years in the revolutionary war as captain in the Virginia state navy. While on a mis-

sion from Baron Steuben to a supposed French fleet, anchored in Chesapeake Bay, but which proved to be the British fleet, commanded by Admiral Arbuthnot, by whom he was captured and carried to Eng- land and there imprisoned for nearly one year, arriving home March 7, 1782. A claim for half pay was later allowed by the Amer- ican government. He died in Matthews county, Virginia, February 13, 1804. He married, in Mathews county, September II, 1773, Elizabeth, daughter of Captain Thomas and Dorothy (Armistead) Smith, of Kingston parish, Virginia (he a vestry- man in 1677), and sister of Rev. Armistead Smith, rector of Kingston parish in 1794.

Susan Buckner, fourth child of William and Elizabeth (Smith) Buckner, was mar- ried by her uncle, Rev. Armistead Smith, to Captain Robert Hudgins. Their son, Rob- ert King Hudgins, married, in 1834, Sarah James White, daughter of John White, who served in the revolutionary war, and his wife, Elizabeth Davenport, married in King- ston parish, Virginia, 1791; she was the daughter of Captain William Davenport, captain of Virginia troops in the revolution- ary war, and his wife, Mary Hunley. Rob- ert King and Sarah James ( White) Hud- gins had issue: James Madison, William Edward, Henry Clay, Elizabeth S., Robert D., Louis Kossuth, Charles Buckner, Sarah Frances.

James Madison Hudgins, eldest son of Robert King and Sarah James (White) Hudgins. was born August 30, 1835, died in Norfolk, Virginia, May 18, 1895. During the war from 1861 to 1865 he was captain and assistant quartermaster in the Confed- erate army. He married, June 26, 1871, Mollie Sumner Schofield and resided there- after in Norfolk. William Edward, the sec- ond son, is mentioned below. Henry Clay. third son (q. v.). Elizabeth S., eldest daughter, born in Mathews county, married in Portsmouth, January 21, 1869, Richard C. M. Wingfield. Robert D., fourth son, born in Mathews county, May 9, 1847, died in Norfolk, August 31, 1891, and is buried next to his father and mother in the Nor- folk Cemetery. He was a popular club man of Richmond, Virginia, and on the wall of a room in the Commonwealth Club, which he aided in organizing, hangs an oil paint- ing of "Bob Hudgins" as he was familiarly known to his many friends. He never mar-

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ried. Louis Kossuth, the fifth son, born in 1850, married (first) in Norfolk, May 3, 1883, Eliza Cowdery, who died February 17, 1885, daughter of Dr. George W. Cowdery. He married (second) January 2, 1892, Helen Baylor. No issue. Charles Buckner, sixth son, born May 26, 1853, graduated from the University of the South, G. D., class of 1882. When a boy he served as messenger boy in the ordnance department of the Con- federate government at Richmond. He was ordained deacon, May 27, 1883, and has been a faithful clergyman of the Protestant Epis- copal church from that date. On January 15, 1887, he became rector of St. Peters, Rome, Georgia, and on January 15, 1912, celebrated the twenty-fifth year of his pas- torate. He married, in Maysville, Ken- tucky, September 29, 1886, Anna Francesca, daughter of Rudolph and Katherine Albert. Sally Frances, youngest daughter, never married.

William Edward Hudgins, second son of Captain Robert King and Sarah James (White) Hudgins, was born in Mathews county, Virginia, April 7, 1838. He was a young lieutenant in the United States reve- nue cutter service at the breaking out of the war between the states. When his native state, Virginia, seceded, he resigned his commission and tendered his services to her, which being accepted, he was appointed sec- ond lieutenant in the Corps of Artillery, regular army, and was commissioned as captain in the provisional army to serve with volunteer troops. He was ordered to West Point on the York river, as drill mas- ter, reporting to Commodore Whittle in command of the defences on the river. From West Point he was ordered to Gloucester Point to report to Captain Thomas Jeffer- son Page, Confederate States navy, under whom he served until a new naval battery was erected at Yorktown. Captain Thomas L. Henderson, Confederate States navy, commanding that battery, requested and ob- tained his transfer to that command. He served in that battery, drilling volunteer troops at the heavy guns until the Nelson battery of seven guns was built on the hill immediately in front of the old historic Nelson house, to command which battery he was ordered by General Magruder, remain- ing there until Yorktown was evacuated, retaining command until the last moment in order to cover the retreat of the army, and

upon the completion of the retreat he spiked guns and threw the remaining ammunition into the well inside the battery, then with his command escaped in small boats up the river to West Point and thence on to Rich- mond, where he reported for duty, and was assigned as ordnance officer of a group of batteries around Richmond. While on that duty he was assigned as a member of Gen- eral Winder's general court martial, then sitting in Richmond. Desiring more active service, he applied for and received a com- mission as lieutenant in the Confederate States navy and was ordered with a few other officers to report to Commodore Bar- ron to accompany him to Jackson, Mississ- ippi, on special duty. ostensibly the capture of some Federal gunboats in the Mississippi river. On their arrival, circumstances over which the commanding officer had no con- trol, prevented the carrying out of the pur- pose of the expedition. He then returned to Richmond and was ordered to report to Commodore Hunter, Confederate States navy, commanding naval defences at Savan- nah, for duty on board the Confederate States ironclad steamship, Savannah, by Cap- tain Pinckney. On the march of General Sherman's army through Georgia, the Fed- eral prisoners were transferred from Ander- sonville to Savannah, and it becoming nec- essary to detail a sufficient number of offi- cers and men from the fleet in the river to guard them, Lieutenant Hudgins was or- dered to take command of the detail, which duty was performed to the satisfaction of the commanding general, who so expressed himself in writing to his commanding offi- cer. Upon the arrival of General Sherman's army at Savannah, the ship on which Lieu- tenant Hudgins was stationed covered the retreat of the Confederate army across the Savannah river, after which, to prevent the ship from falling into the hands of the enemy, by orders of Captain Brentaand, with the assistance of the gunner and car- penter, he laid a train of powder to the magazine and the hands proceeded on foot towards Charleston, South Carolina. Shortly afterwards the explosion of the magazine was heard, sounding the death knell of the good ship. Savannah. On arrival at Charles- ton the officers and crew were distributed among the Charleston fleet. Lieutenant Hudgins was ordered with a detachment to Wilmington, North Carolina, to report for

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special duty to Commodore Pinckney, Con- federate States navy, in command of the naval defences. On reporting he was or- dered to Battery Buchanan, near Fort Fisher, at the mouth of Cape Fear river, Captain Chapman, Confederate States navy, in command, who regularly each day sent a portion of his command over to Fort Fisher to fight the big guns. After the first day, the senior lieutenant being sick, Lieu- tenant Hudgins was put in command of the detachment and fought the guns immedi- ately in front of the Federal fleet, until Fort Fisher fell. L Lieutenant Hudgins was wounded, captured and taken prisoner, be- ing first confined at what is now the Na- tional Soldiers' Home in Hampton, Virginia, then carried and confined in Fort Delaware. He was returned to Richmond a few days before it fell and left in President Davis' train, going as far as Danville, Virginia, stopping near there with his mother, who had refuged from Richmond. Hearing of the surrender of General Lee, he started, in company with his brother, who was wounded to join General Joseph E. Johnston's army. On the march he was captured and paroled by General Wright's Seventh Army Corps, United States army, and then returned to Portsmouth, Virginia.

After the surrender, Lieutenant Hudgins proceeded to South America and served as lieutenant in the Columbian navy and also in the Peruvian navy, when Peru and Chili were at war with Spain, returning home in 1866. Lieutenant Hudgins, after the return to Portsmouth, entered the service of his state and the department to which he was assigned was the protection of the oyster beds of the state, serving as captain of the police boat. During this period he fought and won what is known in local history as the "oyster war." For several years he was city collector. Captain Hudgins was com- mander of Pickett Buchanan Camp, Con- federate Veterans, member of the Royal Ar- canum, trustee and vestryman of St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church, and in politi- cal faith was a Democrat.

Captain Hudgins married, in 1871, Louise Victoria Stone, born September 14, 1852, daughter of Captain Edward E. Stone, United States navy, and his wife, Fannie Leonide (de Montalant) Stone. Captain Edward E. Stone was a son of Jeremy and Ann Green (Mitchell) Stone, and descend-

ant of Gregory Stone, who settled at Water- town, Massachusetts, May 25, 1636, a lead- ing man of the town, deputy to the general court, member of the government council and magistrate. Jesse Stone, a descendant, was the revolutionary ancestor of Captain Edward E. Stone. Fannie Leonide (de Montalant) Stone was the daughter of Eu- gene de Montalant, born in Angiers, France, in 1800, was killed by the Indians in the Virginia frontier in 1852. He married Maria Rose Celestine Boutin, born in Nor- folk, Virginia, in 1807, died in Paris, France, April 30, 1861, only daughter of Louis Boutin, born in 1779 in San Domingo, where his father had a large plantation, died in Norfolk, Virginia. He married, in 1805, in Norfolk, Maria Bryan. Louis Boutin was the son of Jean Francis Boutin, born in Paris, died in San Domingo, and his wife, Rose Elizabeth (Bobee) Boutin, born and married in Paris, died in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1837. Captain William E. and Louise Victoria (Stone) Hudgins are the parents of ten children, all born in Norfolk, Virginia, and there reside: I. Estelle Victoria. of further mention. 2. Louise de Muset Hud- gins married, November 25, 1896, William J. Baxter, Jr., son of William J. and Louisa (Dey) Baxter, of North Carolina. Their five children are: Louise de Montalant, born August, 1897, died March 4, 1900, bur- ied in Norfolk, Virginia : John Baxter, born August, 1900; William R., born 1902, died 1903, buried in Norfolk, Virginia; Eliza- beth, born October, 1907; William J., Jr., born December. 1911. died January, 1912, buried in Norfolk, Virginia. 3. Lucile de Montalant Hudgins married, February 27, 1900, Stark Armistead Sutton, M. D., of Norfolk, Virginia, son of Dr. William T. and Annie (Outlaw) Sutton, of North Caro- lina and Norfolk, Virginia. Dr. S. A. Sut- ton was surgeon of the Fourth Virginia Regiment. They have two children: Stark Armistead, Jr., born December 25, 1900, and William T., born July 27, 1909. 4. William Edward (2) Hudgins, of further mention. 5. Charles Robert Hudgins, married, Janu- ary 30, 1915. 6. Leonide de Montalant Hud- gins married, October 29, 1907, Edward Huger Lucas, son of E. H. and Caroline (Ravenel) Lucas, of South Carolina, and has a daughter Leonide de Montalant Lucas, born July 29, 1913. 7. Caroline Elizabeth Hudgins, unmarried. 8. Albert

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Mayo Hudgins, unmarried. 9. Herbert Ver- million Hudgins, unmarried. 10. Engene Le Masurier Hudgins, unmarried.

Estelle Victoria, the eldest daughter of Captain William E. and Louise Victoria (Stone) Hudgins, is president of the Vir- ginia Chapter, Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America ; founder and regent of Falls Church Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution ; member of Colonial Dames of America in the State of Virginia ; national councilor of the National Genea- logical Society, of Washington, D. C .; Daughter of the Confederacy, and in 1912 published a history of the Hudgins and allied families from which the facts herein contained have been largely drawn. She married, August 11, 1897, in Norfolk, Vir- ginia, William Edward Callender, son of John Robert and Marion (Kerr) Callender, of Edinburgh, Scotland, cotton merchant and exporter. He retired from business in 1901 and studied for Holy Orders in the Episcopal church. He was made deacon in Christ Church, Raleigh, North Carolina, by the Right Rev. J. B. Cheshire, D. D., Bishop of North Carolina, September 21, 1902, or- dained priest, July 10, 1904, in Christ Church, Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, by the Right Rev. Ellison Capers, D. D., Bishop of South Carolina. He was rector of Christ Church parish, Mount Pleasant, and acting chaplain, Coast Artillery, United States of America, at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, from 1902 to 1904. Chaplain of naval re- serves, South Carolina, with the rank of lieutenant (senior grade) July 22, 1907; rector of St. John's Church, Florence, South Carolina, 1907; rector of the Old Falls Church, Falls Church, Virginia, 1908. (George Washington was a vestryman of this old colonial church). Children of Wil- liam Edward and Estelle Victoria (Hud- gins) Callender: Mabel O., born in Char- lotte, North Carolina, April 3, 1899, died 1899, buried in Norfolk, Virginia; Virginia Ormistoun, born in Charlotte, North Caro- lina, March 4, 1901 ; Louisa de Montalant, born at Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, April 16, 1904; William Edward, Jr., born February 21, 1908, in Laurens, South Caro- lina, died March, 1908, buried in Laurens.

William Edward (2) Hudgins, son of Captain William Edward and Louise Vic- toria (Stone) Hudgins, was born in Nor- folk, Virginia, March 23, 1878. He was

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Encyclopedia of Virginia biography, Volume V, Part 90

Author: Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, 1853-1935, ed. cn Publication date: 1915 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 848

Author: Tyler, Lyon Gardiner, 1853-1935, ed. cn
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 848