A Haunted History
Although Dudleytown was established in the early 1700s by the Dudley family, it has been abandoned since the mid-1800s. The Dudley family, consisting of Gideon Dudley, Thomas Griffis, Abiel Dudley, Barzillai Dudley, and Martin Dudley, were the first European settlers in the region.
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The town was named after them because they owned much of the land in the area. Dudleytown is located in a valley known as the Dark Entry Forest and has been surrounded by unexplainable phenomena.
Creating a Town
Dudleytown wasn’t a town like others from the beginning. Once the Dudley family settled here, other settlers began to join them, and it became more of a farmland. The Dudley family and other settlers worked the farm, but it sat atop a hill and was not very productive.
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When more fertile lands became available in the 19th century, it was no surprise that most of the town’s residents moved away in search of greener pastures. It wasn’t long before Dudleytown became dark and silent; you’ll never guess how it began.
The Haunted Forest
Some believe that Dudleytown is cursed because of the haunted forest in the town. Dudleytown was created deep within the woods of Litchfield County. The surrounding forest is said to be haunted by the spirits of those who died there.
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There are also tales that the land was cursed by the Native American tribe that once resided there. The rumors claim that they cursed the European settlers who forced them to leave, resulting in the tragic history of the land.
Unleashing the Dudley Curse
Like most haunted towns, there was a theory about the Dudley curse and how it ended Dudley town. The Dudley curse began to gain traction as more people learned about the town and wondered how it all began.
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The Dudley curse is shrouded in mystery and misfortune. It kept many people away from Dudleytown as they feared the curse and what it would do to them if they ever got too close to it.
A Treasonous Act
Legend has it that the Dudley family is cursed, and it all began with Edmund Dudley. He was an English nobleman who wanted to overthrow King Henry VIII. He knew he could be killed for the very thought but had faith in his plans.
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However, Edmund was caught and beheaded for treason. Before his death, a curse of misfortune and death was placed on his descendants. According to Legend, this is the origin of the Dudley curse.
An Eye for the Throne
It soon became clear that the misfortune of the Dudley family only began with Edmund. His son, John Dudley, was determined to make his father proud and, therefore, hatched a new plan to seize control of the British throne.
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He arranged for his son to marry Lady Jane Grey because she became queen briefly. However, the plan failed, and John was soon executed alongside his son and Jane Grey.
Cloaked in Misfortune
The Dudley curse didn’t die with John. It slowly crept up on John’s living son, a military officer from France. He was glad to return home and begin a new life with a new family. However, he was returning home with a plague that soon killed him.
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Before he died, the plague spread throughout the country, killing many soldiers and thousands of civilians. A rumor soon grew about the gross misfortune of the Dudley family and everyone who came close.
A Hole in the Theory
With a series of unfortunate events trailing their path, it’s easy to see why the Dudley family was believed to be cursed. This string of misfortune experienced by each member of the family only reinforced the belief of most that the family curse followed them to America and gave rise to the haunted Dudleytown.
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However, there’s a huge hole in this theory. Although most people believe the family’s descendants settled in Dudleytown, John only had two children who died. Most people argue the family is connected, but there’s no real way to tell.
A Flawed Beginning
Dudleytown isn’t without its tragic stories. Most people believed the curse migrated with the family when they settled in America and continued to plague them. Rumors say farming didn’t work out for the residents because of the curse.
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In addition to the unsuccessful farming, several strange events occurred at Dudleytown, making the curse more believable. Inhabitants were more prone to death in Dudleytown than in any other place.
Running from Home
As many residents left the town searching for greener pastures, so did most of the Dudley family members. Although they went on to have a normal life, most people believe they were running away from the Dudley family curse that had plagued their family for many generations.
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No one knows why they left; these Dudleys seemed too happy to abandon a town named after them. They abandoned their homes and properties and never looked back.
The Curse of the Bloodline
One of the Dudleys stayed back, and the curse seemed to live on through him. Despite having a fortune to his name, Abiel Dudley soon became the star of an unfortunate story. Abiel lost his fortune quickly, and his property was confiscated and sold.
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However, this wasn’t the end of his misfortune. Abiel was rumored to have lost his mind. He suffered from senility and was insane till he passed away. Soon, it became clear that the curse didn’t die with Dudley.
A Series of Tragic Events
Abiel’s friend, Gershon Hollister, was building a barn for his neighbor, William Tanner, when he was attacked and passed away. Tanner soon became senile and mentally impaired. Before his death, there were rumors that Tanner spoke of creatures coming out of the woods at night.
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Nathaniel Carter moved into Abiel’s home, and soon, his relatives caught a plague that killed most of them. Although the survivors quickly fled, the curse followed them to Delaware, their new home.
The Curse Lives On
Nathaniel Carter took his family and moved, but the curse lived on in their life, and it soon became clear. Carter, his wife, and one of his children died at the hands of the indigenous people whose land they had settled on.
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He had three surviving children who were taken to Canada. Although his two daughters were ransomed, the son remained a captive for many years. He eventually married an indigenous woman and returned to the US.
Lasting Impact of the Dudley Curse
The town’s residents weren’t left out of the curse’s effects. Although no Dudleys left behind to carry on the curse, it seemed to have a lasting impact on the town’s residents. It began with a general named Herman Swift and his wife, Sara Faye.
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In 1804, Sara Faye was struck by lightning right in front of their home and passed away immediately. Like many others before him, the general went insane after his wife died and soon joined her.
The Inescapable Curse
Mary Young Cheney was believed to have been born in Dudleytown. Although her family moved soon after, Mary Young Cheney couldn’t escape the curse’s effect. She married Horace Greeley, editor and founder of The New York Tribunal.
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In 1872, Cheney died from an alleged suicide and was quickly followed by her husband a month later. However, it soon became clear she died from lung disease and not suicide, as rumored. It didn’t quell the fear of the Dudley Curse and the misfortune it brings.
A Curse Rooted in Witchcraft
Many theories abound about the Dudleytown curse, but one that quickly took root comes from a ghost hunter named Ed Warren. He belies that one of the Dudleys’ ancestors was an English judge sentenced to death for witchcraft, resulting in the curse.
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Ed isn’t the only one who believes the curse is rooted in witchcraft. There are several mysterious stone structures scattered throughout the woods of Dudleytown. Although no one knows their purpose, it is speculated that they were used for spiritual purposes.
Sealed from the Public
Dudleytown seemed ideal for a ghost hunter looking for a thrilling adventure. However, it is off-limits to the public and will remain so. Although the town was initially open to visitors, it soon became closed due to trespassers and vandalism.
Those caught trespassing can face steep fines or even imprisonment. This only adds to the town’s mystery, as many people speculate that the government is trying to bar visitors from the haunted gates of Dudleytown.
The Dudleytown Chronicles
Over the years, there have been varying attempts to capture the history and mysteries of the town. Nancy Ziegler is one of those who have written about Dudleytown. As a co-author of a book about Dudleytown called Deadlytown, Nancy was lucky to visit the town.
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She believes that the residents of the Dark Entry Forest have a vested interest in covering up the ghost stories. She even claims that ghosts slapped and scratched her on her visit.
A Legacy of Doom
Although most people believe Dudleytown is haunted, others are skeptical and believe that the town’s reputation is exaggerated to discourage trespassers and protect the town from being vandalized. The town’s true history and the nature of its legends will never be fully known.
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However, Dudley town continues to fascinate those who believe in ghosts and the unexplained. While there’s no way to confirm the rumors, no one can deny the eerie atmosphere and mysterious past of Dudleytown.