Thomas Rudyard facts for kids

Thomas Rudyard (born around 1640 – died 1692) was an important person in the early history of the American colonies. He served as a top leader, called a Deputy Governor, in a place called East Jersey. He was also the very first Attorney General for the English Province of New York. An Attorney General is like the chief lawyer for the government.

Early Life and Quaker Work

Thomas Rudyard was born in a place called Abbey Farm in Rudyard, Staffordshire, England. He became a lawyer and was one of the people who owned land in the new American colonies. He owned part of the land in West Jersey.

Later, he lived in London, England. In the early 1680s, Thomas Rudyard was very active with the Quakers. Quakers are a religious group. He helped the "Meeting for Sufferings," which was a group that supported Quakers who were being treated unfairly. He also worked closely with William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania. Rudyard helped Penn write the first set of rules for the government of Pennsylvania.

Leading East New Jersey

In November 1682, Thomas Rudyard was chosen to be the Deputy Governor of East New Jersey. He also became the Secretary and Chief Register, which meant he kept important records. He held these jobs until February 1684.

The main Governor, Robert Barclay, never actually visited East New Jersey. This meant that Thomas Rudyard was the real leader in charge. During his time as Deputy Governor, four new counties were created: Bergen, Essex, Middlesex, and Monmouth.

Land Disputes and Replacement

Thomas Rudyard and the Surveyor General, Samuel Groom, had different ideas about how to give out land. Groom believed that a certain part of all land should be saved for the "Lords Proprietors." These were the main owners of the colony.

Rudyard disagreed with this rule. He and the Council (a group of leaders) appointed Philip Wells to give out land instead. The Proprietors in England did not like this. They said that any land given out by Wells was not valid. Rudyard and the Council replied that they would keep giving out land their way. They said most of the Proprietors did not even live in East Jersey.

Because of this disagreement, the Proprietors in England chose Gawen Lawrie to replace Rudyard as Deputy Governor in July 1683. Thomas Rudyard stayed on as Secretary and Register until 1685.

Attorney General of New York

After his time in East New Jersey, Thomas Rudyard moved to New York. In 1684, Governor Thomas Dongan of New York chose him to be the Attorney General there. He was the first person to hold this important legal job in the English Province of New York. He served as Attorney General until December 1685.

Later Life

In 1685, Thomas Rudyard left East New Jersey and moved to Barbados. He lived there until he passed away in 1692.