The Duttons of New England

Genealogy & History



SCUDDER, David Coit[1]

Male 1835 - 1862  (27 years)Deceased    Has no ancestors but one descendant in this family tree.

David Coit's spouse(Harriet Louisa) are unproven. If you have any proof, please make a suggestion.
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  • Name SCUDDER, David Coit 
    Birth 27 Oct 1835  Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Burial Nov 1862  American Mission Cemetery, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India Find all individuals with events at this location  [2


    • October 25 (27?) 1835
      Birthplace: Cambridge, Middlesex, MA, USA [alternatively, Boston MA] as per grave stone]
      Death: Died November 19, 1862 in Chennai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
      Cause of death: drowned in the Vaigai River
      Immediate Family:
      Son of Charles Scudder and Sarah Lathrop Coit
      Husband of Harriet Louisa Dutton
      Father of Vida Dutton Scudder; David Coit Scudder; Charles Scudder; Eleazer Scudder and Ebenezer Scudder. [Since most reference sources say Vida Scudder is his only child, it is not clear what happened to the other children.]

      Brother of Samuel Hubbard Scudder and Horace Elisha Scudder
      Half brother of Charles William Scudder; Marshall Sears Scudder and Evarts Scudder

      David Coit Scudder Born on 27 October 1835 at Boston, Mass., the son of Charles and Sarah Lathrop (Coit) Scudder. He is not descended from John Scudder, but rather from a Scudder of the early days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He married Harriet Dutton. Their children were David C. Scudder, Charles Scudder, David Scudder, Eleazer Scudder and Ebenezer Scudder.
      He was an American missionary influenced in boyhood to go to India by the work of Rev. Dr. John Scudder, Sr.{no relation] Scudder arrived at Madras on June 26, 1861. He was in charge of the large station of Periyakulam. He was admired by the Christians of the large village congregations of that station. An enthusiastic young American, his emotions overcame him when he arrived in Kodaikanal in 1862, as he recalled:
      "I . . . seized our United States flag, shouted out 'Long may it wave!' . . . at the English collector . . . and did other uncouth things"
      David Scudder drowned n the Vaigai River 19 November 1862 between Andipatti & Periyakulam, 20 months after arriving in Tamil Nadu. Interment was in the old Anglican Churchyard, at Kodikanal. The inscription on his headstone reads:
      "D.C.S. Missionary of the A.B.C.F.M. In Southern India. Born in Boston, U.S.A. Oct. 27, 1835 Landed at Madras June 26, 1861 Drowned in the Vaigai River Nov. 19, 1862"

      A little book, much worn and old, bearing the title: Letters to Sabbath School Children, by Rev. J. Scudder, M.D., Missionary at Madras, with:
      "Master David Scudder, from his affectionate friend, J. Scudder, New York, August 8, 1843", written broadly across the fly leaf, was found in his library.
      The Clancy and Scudder Scholarship founded with a legacy of $300, bequeathed by Mrs. Taylor of New York State to Mrs. Washburn, and transferred by Mrs. Washburn to the Pasumalai Institution. In January 1885 the Mission accepted it as the Clancy Scholarship. But it was not put on deposit until June of that year, when an additional sum of $400 in commemoration of David Coit Scudder from David's brother Horace E. Scudder was added to it. The two donations were deposited together as the "Clancy and Scudder Scholarship". It amounted to Rs. 1,500, and continued until 1906.

      See: Life and Letters of David Coit Scudder: Missionary in Southern India, ed. Horace Elisha Scudder; Kennedy Dane (1996) The Magic Mountains: Hill Stations and the British Raj, University of California Press.

      Note: A FAG memorial has been created for Mr Scudder in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge MA. If it is intended to document a physical presence in the cemetery, that representation would be a cenotaph.

      Thanks to Julian P. Donahue [49949452] for help with this memorial. [1]
    Death 19 Nov 1862  Tamil Nadu, India Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Age 27 years 
    Person ID P1392  Dutton Ancestry
    Last Modified 7 Feb 2022 

    Family Ancestors DUTTON, Harriet Louisa (unproven)
              b. 9 Feb 1837, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 11 Jan 1920, Wellesley, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 82 years)  [3
    Marriage 27 Feb 1861  Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Age at Marriage He : 25 years and 4 months - She : 24 years. 
    Children 
    Married: 1x1. SCUDDER, Vida Davida
              b. 15 Dec 1861, India Find all individuals with events at this location
              d. 9 Oct 1954, Wellesley, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 92 years)  [Father: Birth]  [Mother: Birth]
    Family ID F5204  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 21 Jan 2023 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 27 Oct 1835 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarriage - 27 Feb 1861 - Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - Nov 1862 - American Mission Cemetery, Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu, India Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 19 Nov 1862 - Tamil Nadu, India Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend Address Cemetery Farm Town Parish City County/Shire State/Province Country Region Not Set

  • Sources 
    1. [S50] Findagrave.com.

    2. [S50] Findagrave.com.
      Created by: Starfishin
      Added: 2 Apr 2016
      Find a Grave Memorial #160368527

    3. [S64] (See) Marriage Record.



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