according to a family legend, hudson served as a drummer boy during the american revolutionary war (which began in 1775, when he was 14). his service is unconfirmed, however, and his name does not appear in the historical register of officers of the continental army. there is also doubt about hudson's claim that his property was "spent" at the hands of the british. if his land had been raided, he would have received a share of the firelands, a tract of land given residents of connecticut in compensation for war damages, and hudson would probably not have later invested in and settled land in the connecticut western reserve.