Baptized in Lebanon Church

Increase Rudd is listed as a freeman in Wells in 1780 - pg. 1113
Maria, d/o Matthew Lindsay and ? Keyes, married Marvarick[sic] Rudd of Middletown. Mr. Rudd went west in 1837 - pg. 12113

They resided in Connecticut until after 1769, but record not there in 1672 when daughter, Sarah, was born. All of the children are registered in Vermont, but state of birth not given. They may have stopped in Massachusettes enroute to Vermont - the Johnson family was from there; otherwise, the balance of the family was born in Vermont. They had 13 children, losing two daughters before adulthood. The others are listed as living at the time of his death, as well as his wife (not named).

He gave part of his farm for the first burial ground of Middletown. It was completely filled before another one was formed. Today, not a record of who buried there, no markers remain, just the indentations in the ground indicating burials.

Increase and his son, Joseph, were very active in the Congregational Church of Middletown - where, when differences arose, Increased was called upon, with others, to straighten things out. History shows the great devotion they held toward a Christian life. The Church still stands. Increase owned the farm and perhaps other lands at times from records. He was also a Cooper and he willed his tools to his son, Johnson, at this death. He was also a weaver, and willed his Great Wheel to his daughter, Olive. His estate was small. His name is found several times in community affairs.

T he town of Wells, Vermont was organized March 9, 1773, with Ogden MALLORY, moderator, and John WARD, clerk. At the second meeting, held November 1, 1773, Ogden MALLORY, Daniel CULVER, Joseph LAWRENCE, Abner HOWE and John WARE were chosen selectmen. Ogden MALLORY, Timothy MOSS and Reuben SEARLE were the first listers, elected March 11, 1777. In 1780 there were twenty-three freemen in the town as follows: Ogden MALLORY, Gideon SEARLS, Abe MERRIMAN, Reuben SEARS, Increase RUDD, Zacheus MALLORY, Silas MALLORY, Caleb SMITH, Timothy MOSS, Barnabas MOSS, John MOSS, Richard CROUCH, Samuel CULVER, Gill MALLORY, Benjamin RICHARDSON, Abner HOWE, Jonathan WEBB, Alexander GORDON, Ebenezer SUMMER, jr., Joshua CULVER, Ebenezer WELTON, Daniel CULVER, Daniel MCINTOSH.

First land records are in Middletown, VT in 1779 where he lived until his death.

Instrument describing a tract of land (transcribed from handwritten and includes the mark of Increase Rudd):
"Know all men by these present that Increase Rudd of Middletown, in the county of Rutland and state of Vermont for and in consideration of one thousand dollars to me paid before the delivery hereof by Johnson Rudd and Samuel Rudd both of Middletown aforesaid. The receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, have given, granted, bargarined and sold, and do hereby give, grant, sell and convey unto them, Johnson and Samuel, and to their heirs and assigns forever all my rights and titles in and unto the following tracts of land all lying in middletown aforesaid and bounded as follows (viz.). The bounds of the first tract beginning at the NE corner of the lot of land Esq. Burnam bought of Selah (Telah) Hubbard in the original line of the township of Wells; hence tenth 10 deg. west forty six rods; then east 10 deg. south twenty rods and three quarters to a stake and stones. Then south ____ _____ sixty two rods, then west to north in the south ___ of ___ Hubbard's lot fifty rods to a ___ maple paddle marked; then south twenty-nine rods to a stake and ___ then east 10 deg. south one hundred and __ rods to a stake and stones, then north 10 deg. east one hundred and sixty rods, then west 10 deg. south seventy-six rods to a stake and stones, then south 10 deg. west sixty rods to the original line of Wells, then west to the bounds begun at, containing one hundred acres. The bounds of the second tract beginning at the southwest corner of the last mentioned hundred acres, then south 10 deg. west fifteen rods and about three quarters to a Beach tree marked with ER and BR for the northwest corner of the land which David Clark sold to Barak Rudd, and the southwest corner of the ___ contained thence east 10 deg. south one hundred and three rods to a Beach tree marker ER BR thence north 10 deg. east to the southeast corner of the aforesaid hundred acres, containing about nine acres and a half. ___ and the bounds of the third tract beginning at a beach ? adder standing in the southwest corner of lot no. 69, division fourth; thence north 10 deg. east forty four rods, thence west 10 deg. north nineteen rods, thence south 10 deg. west forty fourrods; thence to the bounds begun at, containing five acres and one quarter, being a part of lot no. 33 division 2nd within the ___ bounds of ___ County of Rutland aforesaid. The whole of these tracts together containing one hundred and fourteen acres and three quarters of an acre.

To have and to hold the above granted and ___ premises with all the privileges and appurtenances they belong ___ them the said John and Samuel, and their heirs and assigns, to their and each of their own, profit, use, benefit and ___ of forever. And I the said Increase Rudd do hereby, for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators covenant and agree to ___ with the said (s'd) Johnson and Samuel and their heirs and assigns, that at and until the ___ these presents I am well ___ of the premises as a good and feasible estate in fee simple, and that I have good right to bargain and sell the same in manner and form as I have written, and that the same is ___ and ___ of all ___ whatsoever. And furthermore, I, the said Increase Rudd ___ myself and heirs forever to ___ ___ tenure the aforesaid premises to the said Samuel and Johnson and their heirs and assigns, against all the lawful claims of my ___ or ___ whatsoever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 5th day of May one thousand eight hundred.

signed, sealed & : Edmund Bigelow
Polly Bigelow Increase Rudd

State of Vermont Be it remembered that on the 5th day Rutland County of May 1800 Increase Rudd, signer, sealer of the foregoing instrument comes before me and acknowledges the same to be his free act and deed.

___ Edmund Bigelow, Justice Peace

Received the above instrument the 7th day of May, 1800 and recorded the same
(illegible signature), Town Clerk

Increase Rudd was also one of the signers of a petition:

Transcription:

"To the Honorable the Legislature of the State of Vermont

We the subscribers and inhabitants of the County of Rutland beg leave to inform your honours that the works on the south end of Castleton Pond are extremely advantageous, useful and necessary to the public in the west part of the county, and understanding that ______ are commercial and have been carried on, by a Letigeous neighbour against the patriotic proprietors of said works, with a view to force them to cut down their dam, or to seize, tantalize, and wear them out.

We your honours, petitioners being sensible of the necessity and importance of them works to the public as well as your honours constitutional power of _______. We pray your honours to pass a law empowering such commissioners as you shall think proper to assess the damages once and for all, done by the said dam's _____ the sands contiguous to the said pond; and in the ______; or payment of such damages _______ corners of the lands so flowed; enact that they shall be forever barred from continuing those vexatious suits.