Ambrose Dudley was born in Spottsylvania county, Virginia, in 1750. At the commencement of the American Revolution he entered the Colonial Army with a captain's commission. While stationed at Williamsburg he became interested about the salvation of his soul, about the same time that the church in the neighborhood of his residence was making special prayer to God to send it a pastor. As if in answer to its prayer Mr. Dudley returned home a child of grace. Uniting with the church he expressed a desire to spend the remainder of his life in the gospel ministry, and was soon afterwards set apart to that holy calling. After preaching with much acceptance several years he moved with his young family to Kentucky, arriving at his destination, six miles east of Lexington, May 3, 1786. Within a few weeks after his arrival he took charge of the church at Bryant's. Here and at David's Fork church, and perhaps at other points, he ministered till the Master took him to himself. He was always prominent among the pioneer preachers of Kentucky. His fine natural gifts, his superior education, and his clear, practical judgment made him a leader in the business affairs of the churches and associations. He was a preacher of much zeal, but his zeal was tempered by wisdom. He was often moderator of the two associations of which his church was a member at different periods, and was one of the committee that arranged the terms of general union
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between the Regular and Separate Baptists of Kentucky, in 1801. From the time he came to Kentucky, in 1786, till 1808, few preachers in the State baptized more people than he. During this period his church belonged to Elkhorn Association, and he was among the leaders in all its transactions. But, in 1809, that body split, and Mr. Dudley, with a large majority of Bryant's church, entered into the constitution of Licking Association, formed of one of the divisions. He was a leader in this body, as he had been in Elkhorn, but he was now advanced in life, the association itself gradually decayed, and he was not so useful after his connection with it as he had been before. He continued to labor faithfully, however, till the Lord called him to the better country, Jan. 27, 1825, aged 73.
The cotemporaries of Mr. Dudley unite in ascribing to him a most excellent character. Elder James E. Welsh, who was raised up under his ministry, says of him: "His manners and general habits seemed to indicate that he was born for discipline. The very glance of his piercing eye was often sufficient to awe into silence. In his personal appearance he was unusually erect and neat, so that once when a stranger asked, in Lexington, where he could be found, he was told to walk down the street, and the first man he met having on a superfine black coat, without a single mote upon it, would be Ambrose Dudley. And but few men have ever lived and died in the ministry who kept their garments more unspotted from the world. He was highly calvinistic in his sentiments, and of unbending firmness where he thought truth and duty were involved. Whenever it was known that he had an appointment to preach, the universal declaration was, 'whether it rain or shine, Brother Dudley will be there.' He never disappointed any engagement he made, unless sickness or some equally unavoidable providence prevented. In family discipline he was very decided. He never spoke but once. In political or worldly matters he took but little interest, except within the limits of his own plantation. He was a man of God, whose praise is in all the churches throughout the region where he labored. He died at the "horns of the altar." A writer in Rippon's Register*, supposed to be Samuel Trott, says: "Ambrose Dudley has been preaching
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* Of April 1795, p. 202.
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about fourteen years, is well established in the doctrines of grace, a good natural orator, warm and affectionate in preaching, a persevering man whose labors the Lord has abundantly blessed, an example of piety and self-denial, and his praise is in the churches."Mr. Dudley was married in youth to Miss N. Parker, in his native State. He raised eleven sons and three daughters. At the time of his death he had nearly 100 grand children. Of his sons, Benjamin Winslow Dudley was one of the most distinguished surgeons in America. Thomas Parker Dudley, who was still living (March, 1885) in his 95th year, has been for many years the most distinguished preacher among the Particular Baptists in Kentucky, and the remaining nine were all men of prominence in their various callings.
The Dudleys The Dudleys have been men of strongly marked characteristics, bearing strong impressions of those of their reverend ancestor. They have been men of strong symmetrical intellects, of unflinching integrity and firmness, and of dauntless courage. They have possessed practical intelligence rather than genius, frankness and candor rather than suavity and blandishments, and have been strong props rather than brilliant ornaments to society. There have been among them preachers, lawyers, doctors, bankers, soldiers and farmers, all prominent in their callings. But there have been among them no poets, no painters, no orators and no rhetoricians, on the one hand, and on the other hand no dandies, no loafers and no mendicants, at least till the blood of their noble ancestors has become much diluted in the remoter generations. How hath God blessed, and made a blessing, the numerous seed of his faithful servant and hand maiden. Surely the promises of God are all yea and amen. ============= [From John Henderson Spencer, A History of Kentucky Baptists, Volume I, 1885; reprint. 1988, pp. 113-15. Scanned and formatted by Jim Duvall.]
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