I found a series of legal filings in Boston in the 1720's. The suits involved a salt meadow in Weymouth owned by James Ludden one of the original settlers of Weymouth. Several histories reference a guide named Ludham who carried the colonial governor across the Great river in 1632 (For example, see The history and antiquities of Boston, p. 145) James was possibly a soldier closely associated with Captain John Holbrook. This is plausible - James was fined in 1640 for not having gunpowder. (See Records of the governor and company of the Massachusetts bay in New England. p. 311) James had three daughters born in Weymouth between 1636 and 1642. James Ludden and his wife Alice has a son, John in 1656. James was one of the original settlers of Weymouth, receiving a lot in 1651. In his 1688 will, James Ludden listed his sons James, Joseph, and Benjamin by name. He mentions a wife and grandchildren. He appoints his wife and sons Benjamin and James executors of his will. Old James Ludden died in 1692. In 1693 when the inventory of his estate was filed, James his son was the only surviving executor. The lawsuits from the 1720's list Samuel Bagley of Braintree, mason and Joseph Bagley of Providence as grandchildren of James Ludden and heirs of Mary showing their mother Mary Bagley is the daughter of James Ludden.
This contradicts prior research that identified the wife of James Puffer as Mary Ludden. In 1915, George Nutt, identified Mary Swalden who married James Puffer in 1656 as Mary Ludden. (see Descendants of George Puffer of Braintree, Massachusetts, 1639-1915. p. 17) This has been referenced by several researchers since. The lawsuits show this is incorrect. In the images of the original marriage record the name Swalden appears similar to the name transcribed as "Swilven" written in the same hand. This record refers to the marriage of a Jael Sullivan who was imported to Massachusetts as an indentured servant. (See Brides from Bridewell : female felons sent to colonial America. p. 107-9) It at least plausible, Swalden should have been transcribed as Swilvan and Mary is a Gaelic speaking indentured servant. We would likely write her name, "Mary Sullivan".
Currently, the mother of Mary Ludden is identified by several researchers as Mary Alice Johnson. This is likely an attempt to reconcile contradicting sources for the wife of James Ludden. It is unlikely Mary Alice is a single person - neither Alice nor Mary is a common diminutive for the other. The Puritans did not often use diminutives; and English colonial families did not regularly use middle names until after the American revolution. In some areas of New England middle names were not common until after the Civil War. One original record names the wife of James, John's mother, as Alice; however, John could be the son or grandson of the father of Mary. This gives us a few possibilities:
- James the father of Mary Ludden Bagley married a woman named Alice and all of his children are the children of Alice born between 1636 and 1756
- James the father of Mary Ludden Bagley married a woman named Mary and later married a woman named Alice who is the mother of John.
- James the brother of Mary Ludden Bagley was born before 1636 and is the husband of Alice and father of John.
Raymond Tingley identified James wife as Mary Johnson, daughter of Davy and Elizabeth Johnson of Weymouth. (See Some Ancestral Lines, p. 166, 211.) Tingley noted a marriage date for James and Mary and assigned John to the son James and wife Alice. As Tingley noted James Ludden was associated with the Johnson family - in 1636 James was involved the settlement of a lawsuit with the widow of Davy and Willliam Almy. (See Records of the governor and company of the Massachusetts. p. 64) James is identified as the servant of both Davy Johnson and William Almy. James was also fined for drunkenness at that time. Unfortunately, Tingley is noted for "making shit up". (See https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Raymon_Meyers_Tingley_Fraud) Some index records indicate there are family trees and other documents that list Alice Kinham as James wife. Others indicate she was the wife of James' son. Alice Kinham was a servant of the Lovell family who arrived in 1636 with a group from Somerset. She was 22 at the time making her birth in 1613 or 1614. Some researchers have suggested she is the daughter of the Kingman family that arrived at the same time. Others have refuted this claim. If she is the daughter of the Kingman family she may have married a man named Barnard.
Alice Kinham could plausibly be the mother of Marry Ludden. She arrived in 1635. There is plenty of time for her to conceive a child before February 1637. Alice Kinham would be around 43 when John was born. If the Alice is the mother of all of James children the family would be
- Mary Ludden (14 Feb 1637 - before 1711) m. Samuel Bagley (1630?-Feb 1711)
- Sarah Ludden (15 Jan 1640 - before 1642)
- Sarah Ludden (5 Aug 1642 - 22 July 1700) m. Daniel Fairfield
- James Ludden (1644? - 19 November 1716)
- Joseph Ludden (1646? - 1690?)
- Benjamin Ludden (1648? - 28 January 1690) m. Eunice Holbrook
- John Ludden (13 January 1656 - 1680?)
We know from the existing published records James Ludden was a sometime servant of Davy Johnson. There are no recorded children for David/Davy Johnson. Does a daughter of David Johnson named Mary Johnson exist? If she does, James Ludden would have needed his masters' permission to marry. Would Davy have allowed his servant to marry his daughter? If he did and Alice is the second wife the family could be (assigning the children with a birth record to Mary and all the others to Alice)
- Mary Ludden (14 Feb 1637 - before 1711) m. Samuel Bagley (1630?-Feb 1711)
- Sarah Ludden (15 Jan 1640 - before 1642)
- Sarah Ludden (5 Aug 1642 - 22 July 1700) m. Daniel Fairfield
- James Ludden (1644? - 19 November 1716)
- Joseph Ludden (1646? - 1690?)
- Benjamin Ludden (1648? - 28 January 1690) m. Eunice Holbrook
- John Ludden (13 January 1656 - 1680?)
- James Ludden (1632? - 19 November 1716) m. Alice?
- John Ludden (13 January 1656 - 1680?)
- Mary Ludden (14 Feb 1637 - before 1711) m. Samuel Bagley (1630?-Feb 1711)
- Sarah Ludden (15 Jan 1640 - before 1642)
- Sarah Ludden (5 Aug 1642 - 22 July 1700) m. Daniel Fairfield
- Joseph Ludden (1646? - 1690?)
- Benjamin Ludden (1648? - 28 January 1690) m. Eunice Holbrook
- James Ludden (1632? - 19 November 1716) m. Alice?
- John Ludden (13 January 1656 - 1680?)
- Mary Ludden (14 Feb 1637 - before 1711) m. Samuel Bagley (1630?-Feb 1711)
- Sarah Ludden (15 Jan 1640 - before 1642)
- Sarah Ludden (5 Aug 1642 - 22 July 1700) m. Daniel Fairfield
- Joseph Ludden (1646? - 1690?)
- Benjamin Ludden (1648? - 28 January 1690) m. Eunice Holbrook
