Ransom Dudley was born in Franklin County 13 March 1819 the son of Thomas and Nancy (Pasley) Dudley. He was the eighth of ten children born to this marriage. Other siblings included: 1. John, born 1800 and died in 1804; 2. Robert, born 1809; 3. John born 1805, who died of pneumonia in 1862; 4. Gywn, born in 1810; 5. Lucy Mary, born 1812; 6. Stephen, born 1813; 7. Thomas, born 1816; 8. Ransom; 9. Sparrell, born 1821 and 10. Gillian Frances,born 1825.

This branch of the Dudley family migrated to Franklin County from Lunenburg County where Thomas was born in 1772, the son of Gwyn and Mary E. (Hale) Dudley. Thomas and Nancy raised their children on a farm in the Gills Creek area of Franklin County. Ransom was listed in the 1860 census as being a Tobacco Peddler.

When duty called it’s sons of Virginia, Ransom enlisted in Company E, 58th Virginia Infantry on 24 July 1861 at John Pasley’s Store. He was 41 and was listed as a 3rd Corporal. On 28 February 1862 he was elected 2nd Seargent and elected 2nd Lieutenant 1 May 1862. Ransom was wounded in action (fractured left arm) at the battle of Gaines Mill 27 June 1862. He was promoted again on 27 October 1862 and returned to duty on 30 April 1863. His left arm became practically useless and he resigned due to wounds 30 March 1864.

Ransom moved to St. Louis, Missouri in 1868 where he met Julia P. Jones. She was born in Franklin County 14 November 1844, the daughter of Henry and Sophia (Sink) Jones. They were married in St. Louis, Missouri 28 March 1868. They shortly thereafter settled in Callaway Co., Missouri and had ten children: James Thomas, Benjamin Franklin, Nancy Mary, Ransom Alexander, Stella B., Virginia L., Joseph E., Martha Ella, Lilburn J., and Hattie L., all born in Missouri.

Ransom died in Missouri 24 July 1896 and was buried in his Confederate uniform. He and Julia are buried at the Bachelor Cemetery in Callaway County, Missouri.

Ransom is the great grandfather of James Knipp, and the great, great grandfather of Jeffrey E. Knipp, both Elijah Gates Camp members.