I'M INDEBTED TO WILLIAM (BILL) HUDSON OF WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, A GREAT-GREAT-GRANDSON OF WILLIAM(?) HUDSON ABOVE, FOR SHARING HIS INFORMATION ON THE HUDSON FAMILY.
Much more information on the Hudsons is to be found in Bill's multiple-volume family history entitled 'The Hudsons of County Kerry and their Descendants' along with more recent works entitled 'The Hudsons of Tralee', 'The Hudsons of Kilbaha North', and 'The Hudsons of Ballyeagh' along with a study of land ownership in the townland of Kilbaha where Bill's Hudson ancestors settled, copies of which Bill has donated to Tralee and Listowel libraries in Co. Kerry. The National Library of Ireland in Dublin also has a copy of 'The Hudsons of County Kerry and their Descendants'. Bill researched his Hudson family history for over half a century and these very impressive works are the fruits of his labour. Note that advance notice needs to be given to the above libraries in order to view these volumes.
It's not certain at all that the first name of Mr. Hudson above was William, but Bill's father thought it might have been. It is certain that William(?) above was connected to the prominent Hudson family of Tralee but the exact relationship is not known. It's also known that William(?) above was Protestant, as were the Hudsons of Tralee. It's a possibility he was the William Hudson of Bunagarha, near Listowel, who was the father of Kilbaha landlord Edward Hudson (and grandfather of Edward's son, also named Edward, who inherited the Kilbaha land), but we have no evidence to support this. Any assistance in establishing the exact nature of the connection would be much appreciated.
In Ireland, the Hudson surname is most numerous in Dublin and East Leinster. It's an English name meaning "son of Hudd", " Hudd" being a pet form of Hugh or Richard. Hudsons came to Ireland as settlers in the 17th century.
