Biography of Ann Rudd (nee Spurgeon)

Ann was born in Great Ellingham, Norfolk to parents Stephen (a labourer) and Ann Spurgeon, and baptised on 27 July 1834 at Great Ellingham, Norfolk.

In the 1841 census she's 6, living with her parents Stephen (40) & Ann (35), sisters Sarah (12), Eliza (10), brother John (3), and baby Bertha (8 months). By 1851 age 16 she's a servant living with the Sparkhall family at 48 Buckenham Road, Attleborough, Norfolk.

Ann married William Rudd on 31 August 1857. Soon after they sailed on the Patrick Henry from London to New York, arriving on 28 October 1857. Her older brother William had already emigrated to Michigan, married and began farming in Newark, Gratiot County, Michigan in 1853.

The 1860 census records William (30), Ann (26) & baby Jenette (8 months), living together with Ann's brother William (32) at Addison, Oakland, Michigan. In the 1870 census William (40) & Ann (36) are living at Newark, Gratiot, Michigan with their daughter Jennette Bertha (10) & son Frank William (1). William Rudd's personal estate was valued at $130 plus real estate $500.

A topographic map of Gratiot County from 1876 shows William Rudd owning a 40 acre plot in Block 26 (zoomed), just north of Ann's brother William's 2 plots in Blocks 34 & 35. Also shown on a 1889 map.

Ann died of consumption on 9 August 1877 age 43.