Our first Richard came from England to the Colonies as a member
of the Church of England. His son, Richard II, and grandson, Richard
III, were also members.
Christening records for some of Hall Hudson's children are recorded
in Bristol Parish, which indicates he was a member of the official
English Church too. His Great Bible, probably his most treasured
possession, was passed on to one of his sons.
Obadiah I and his son, Obediah II, contemporary with the Revolution,
were consequent members of the Church of England. Departure from
that institution probably originated with them. The events of
the time and expansion of the frontier became the rights of passage
to break with the past.
According to Valda, Obediah Hudson III and his wife, Elizabeth
Coons (Kuntze, etc.), were members of the German Reformed Church.
The Kuntzs came from Germany and were members of that faith.
Obe and Elizabeth migrated about 1825 to Jackson County, Tennessee
and located in an area under the sway of reformative teachings.
Established Church doctrines and control were replaced with a
simpler unobtrusive, yet challenging, faith.
Their children were most likely reared in that religious environment,
including their son, Obediah IV, our Obe. When he later married
Parthenia Robertson in Missouri he was already acquainted with
concepts of reformation.
Parthenia was raised in a devout Christian home. Her parents,
Jane Ellen Erwin and William Abner Robertson, were converted and
joined the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1850, after they migrated
to Missouri. Her father became an active layman in that organization.
The frontier was in religious ferment then and many were influenced
by the agitation and turbulence induced by the religious "reformers."
Southeast Missouri must have been ripe for reformation when in
1864 Obediah IV came in contact with the Robertsons.
After Obediah and Parthenia were married their religious faith
became an important function in their lives (as to many on the
frontier). They located in Ripley County and apparently met with
other Christians, concerned for the current reformatory principles,
and gradually embraced the teachings of the "Disciples."
As the "Disciples Movement" came of age it divided into three
main branches. It appears the branch with the most influence in
Ripley County was the Church of Christ. Obe and Parthenia were,
or became, active members.
Their children were brought up in a Christian atmosphere and about
all became Christians and members of the Church of Christ.
Today, many of Obe and Parthenia's descendants are Christians.
Some of those are members of the Church of Christ and some are
not. But the Christian faith of our Hudson fathers is a vital
portion of our Hudson heritage.
Faith of our Fathers.
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