Thomson Jay Hudson

Thomson Jay Hudson (February 22, 1834 – May 26, 1903), was an American author, journalist, a chief examiner of the US Patent Office, and a prominent anti-Spiritualist psychical researcher, known for his three laws of psychic phenomena, which were first published in 1893.

Family

The son of John Hudson (1791-1872), and Ruth Hudson (1800-1875), Thomson Jay Hudson was born in Windham, Ohio on February 22, 1834.

He married Hannah Elizabeth Story (1833-1908), later Mrs. William R. Dewitt Bersley, in 1852. They had four children.

He married Emma Little (c.1844-1908) on May 28, 1861. Their son, Charles Bradford Hudson (1865 - 1939), was landscape painter.

Early life

His early life was spent on a farm, where he bore the brunt of the hardships incident to farm life in days before agricultural machinery lightened its labors. To this, as well as to heredity on both sides of his family, he owed his robust health and iron constitution. His early education was acquired in the common schools of his neighborhood and at an academy in a neighboring town. It was here that some characteristics of his adult life first asserted themselves. He refused to be bound by precedent or to submit to authority in matters of education; while following the prescribed course faithfully, he insisted on adding studies he deemed valuable. For instance, he surprised his common-school teacher by announcing his intention to study Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, and Logic. However, young Hudson was aided in his private education by a learned uncle who loaned him books and provided private instruction.