Worcester County MD Archives News.....John Andrew Jackson HUDSON, An Accident or Suicide, July 31, 1909 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/md/mdfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Bill Hudson BillHudson308@verizon.net August 21, 2009, 3:13 pm Democratic Messenger, Snow Hill, Worcester, MD July 31, 1909 John Andrew Jackson Hudson 7/31/1909 AN ACCIDENT OR SUICIDE? Captain of North Beach Life-Saving Station Found Drowned in Water Tank. Captain John Andrew Jackson Hudson, captain of North Beach Life-Saving Station, was found dead Tuesday morning last in the cistern attached to the station. A coroner's jury, composed of twelve citizens of Ocean City, summoned by James A. Mumford, magistrate, went to North Beach Station and after viewing the remains and looking into the matter of Captain Hudson's death thoroughly, rendered a verdict of suicide. Captain Hudson had been connected with the United States Life Saving Service ever since the organization of the service. He was a brave seaman, a thorough disciplinarian, and was greatly devoted to the Life-Saving service. He was a member of the Masonic Order, was an Odd Fellow and a good citizen of Worcester County. It was his boast that he never voted anything but a Democratic ticket and he was proud that he was a namesake of one of the fathers of Democracy. The North Beach Life-Saving Station is a lonely spot 10 miles below Ocean City, and at this time of the year when the Life-Savers are off duty, but two men stay at the station. Captain Hudson had been worried by debts which he was unable to meet and had been complaining of ill health for several years, had been very despondent for some time past, and Monday night at 6 o'clock James T. Quillen, the only other man at the station, said when he got supper for the captain the latter seemed more depressed than usual and noticed that his head dropped frequently with spasmodic jerks. Mr. Quillen had often heard Captain Hudson say he had troubles enough to kill him, and when he went from his house to the station early in the morning to serve Captain Hudson's breakfast and could not find him, he immediately became suspicious and began a search. He found Captain Hudson face down in his night clothes in the water tank. A letter to his wife and children at Berlin, written Saturday night, made no mention of his intention to commit suicide although he stated significantly at the end of the letter that things were going badly with him and he did not know when he would get home again. The family of Captain Hudson and many friends as well, do not believe he committed suicide. They say he was in very poor health and had been subject to attacks of vertigo. The believe he had on of these attacks which he was leaning over the tank in the night to get a drink of water, and died of heart failure. One of his friends said that he knew Captain Hudson preferred this water and he had frequently gone to the tank at night to get a drink. Captain Hudson was 52 years old last January and had been in the life saving service for 29 years. He had been captain of the North Beach station for 19 years and was one of the most popular and hospitable captains in the service. He is survived by a widow and eight children, the youngest of which is only seven years old. Captain Hudson had a residence on North Beach which he occupied for many years, but recently he moved his family to Berlin that they might be more comfortably situated. The news of his death was a great shock not only to his wife and children but to the entire community. Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon and interment was in Evergreen Cemetery. 31 July 1909 Democratic Messenger, Snow Hill, Maryland. Research by Bob Stevens. Additional Comments: JOHN ANDREW Jackson Hudson, b. January 07, 1857, Assacorkin Island, Worcester County, MD; d. July 13, 1909, North Beach, Assateague Island, Worcester County, MD. was the twelfth child GEORGE Hudson and SUSAN BIRCH George was married two previous times, consecutively MARY RICHARDSON & MAHALA HARRINGTON. There's more on George: GEORGE E.10 Hudson (MAJOR9, SAMUEL8, JONATHAN7, JONATHAN6, HENRY5, RICHARD4, WILLIAM3, HENRY2, "GENTLEMAN" HENRY1) was born March 17, 1807 in Box Iron, Worcester County, MD, and died February 17, 1894 in Portersville, Worcester County, MD. He married (1) MARY B. RICHARDSON January 23, 1834. She was born April 17, 1813, and died February 28, 1838. He married (2) MAHALA HARRINGTON September 04, 1839. She was born July 23, 1819, and died October 30, 1840. He married (3) SUSAN R. BIRCH March 29, 1842. She was born May 29, 1824 in Worcester County, MD, and died January 11, 1859. Notes for GEORGE E. HUDSON: George E. is buried beside his son George J. in the Methodist Episcopal Cemetery on Route 366 in Stockton, Maryland. George J's son Thomas and wife Abby are buried there also. George J. and Abby's son Thomas died the same week as George E. who was living with his son George J. in Portersville at the time of his death. In Jul. of 2001 I, (Bill Hudson), my wife Mary Jane Fitzgerald- Hudson, and my mother Barbara J. Hudson visited George's grave and once prior in Jul, 2000. The grave marker appears relatively new and I suspect a family member placed it in recent years. George E. was the owner of Assacorkin Island in Chincoteague Bay. Here his children were born and raised. He was a Oysterman, Farmer and Boatbuilder. We have been to the island, known as Assacorkin (or George's Island) and have seen the original homestead, still standing, owned and restored by the Assacorkin Island Duck Hunting Club. Here's more family buried in nearby Evergreen Cemetery, Worcester County, MD Documented by William Earl Hudson and Mary Jane Fitzgerald-Hudson 5 May 1999 Name Born Died Mary Elizabeth Hudson 12/28/1855 6/27/1924 William L. Hudson 11/6/1852 4/4/1929 John T. Hudson 9/11/1888 4/5/1961 Fanny H. Hudson 10/16/1883 3/3/1978 L. Calvin Hudson 8/2/1882 11/29/1959 Henry G. Fassitt 1/29/1853 12/18/1918 M. Anne Fassitt 2/28/1851 4/28/1938 Arlington M. Fassitt 6/22/1891 9/5/1923 M. Elizabeth Littleton 11/5/1860 10/7/1930 Marvel E. Hudson 1898 1996 Henry D. Hudson 1894 1946 Etha Rodney 2/26/1912 3/25/1914 William A. Hudson 7/15/1859 5/12/1906 Rosine 8/7/1860 5/12/1906 Kerney R. 3/16/1867 7/18/1914 Lilly D. Hudson 3/25/1871 7/6/1949 J. Hilary Hudson 3/29/1858 1/23/1951 Frank Selby Parker 11/12/1877 4/13/1898 Son of J.W & Sallie M. 1845 1914 James W. Hudson 10/4/1838 5/20/1912 He passed away in firm hope in Jesus our lord. John A.J. Hudson Captain North Beach USLSS Station Berlin MD 1/7/1852 7/13/1909 Mary E. His Wife 12/11/1852 6/13/1938 Harold L. Hudson 1901 1950 Veteran WWII Calvin Taylor Hudson 11/18/1900 5/3/1956 Maryland PVT Co A 28 Med Training Bn World War II Fannie S. Hudson 5/11/1884 7/17/1903 Olga Hudson McIntyre 3/25/1883 4/5/1962 Louella H. Spring 5/29/1905 Wallace Naylor Spring 7/3/1898 9/26/1991 Ella P. Hudson 3/13/1879 3/2/1966 J. Wallace Hudson 3/2/1881 3/23/1968 Mildred H. Bunting 12/2/1903 11/8/1974 W. J. B. Bunting 11/26/1896 9/12/1937 George N. Hudson 9/17/1944 1/26/1988 Lt. Col. USAF Myrtle B. Hudson 5/20/1914 9/6/1973 John W. Hudson, Jr. 9/5/1906 4/30/1976 George Henry Hudson 5/11/1872 10/4/1912 Son of John A. Hudson & Annie his wife Age 40 yrs 4 mo 23 days Charles E. Hudson 1867 1957 Leah E. 1872 1947 Ella K. 1891 1946 Wardell E. 5/5/1896 3/30/1923 27Y 10M 25D At Rest Alice Hudson 11/20/1913 3/21/88 David L. Hudson 10/19/1915 9/25/1996 Doris M. Hudson 1934 1980 Daughter Althea Hudson Pitts 2/25/1906 6/29/1984 Loving Mother Walter E. Hudson 8/28/1904 6/12/1984 Edna V. 12/25/1908 3/5/1981 Edward Lee Hudson 1951 1979 Maggie Hudson Briddell 4/25/1913 3/24/1987 Maude Hudson 1891 1892 Elisha Hudson 1893 1894 F. Frank Hudson 4/2/1895 12/25/1980 Ella C. 11/10/1903 Amy Lewis 1918 1998 Preston E. Lewis 5/29/1910 9/28/1956 Alma Faye Hudson 11/25/1942 11/25/1943 Roxie M. Hudson 7/14/1900 12/21/1980 Calvin T. Hudson 7/17/1956 5/28/1989 V. Robert Ben 3/28/1908 9/1/1976 Mary McLaine 6/26/1911 12/14/1993 Jody Lynn Hudson 9/8/1966 9/8/1966 Margaret L. Hudson 6/17/1941 6/13/1998 Beloved Mother & Wife Mayme Hudson 1885 1933 Isebelle 1858 1939 Frederick J. 1858 1947 William D. Hudson 9/20/1931 4/9/1994 Sgt US Army Korea Capt Wm Isaac Hudson 8/28/1880 11/22/1946 Elma Estella 3/22/1888 6/19/1947 William Timmons 1/19/1819 4/9/1891 Martha A 11/17/1826 8/17/1901 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/mdfiles/ File size: 8.7 Kb This file is located at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/md/worcester/newspapers/hudson-jaj.txt