Ludington enlisted in the
Connecticut Provincial Forces in September 1755, at the age of seventeen. He was with Captain Foote's company of the Second Connecticut Regiment. He re-enlisted on April 19, 1756, served under Colonel Andrew Ward at
Crown Point, and was discharged on November 13, 1756. He was called back again for fifteen days of service for the relief of
Fort William Henry in August 1757. He re-enlisted on April 14, 1759, for the campaign of the Second Connecticut Regiment under Colonel
Nathan Whiting and was a member of David Baldwin's Third Company. He served in the
French and Indian War from 1755 to 1760 and was in the
Battle of Lake George where he witnessed the death of his uncle and cousin. He marched to Canada and participated in the
Battle of Quebec on September 13, 1759. He then proceeded from Boston to Branford, Connecticut, in the spring of 1760 and retired from the military. Ludington returned to civilian life and married his cousin Abigail on May 1, 1760. She was born on May 8, 1745, and was turning fifteen years old. They had twelve children, all born in
Kent, New York, (then known as Philipse Upper Patent) and raised the family on a 229 acre farm. Ludington was commissioned a lieutenant in recognition of his service. He resigned at the enactment of the
Duties in American Colonies Act in 1765. He was affiliated with
George Washington's
intelligence in the American Revolutionary War; the military commander
Nathaniel Sackett asked Ludington for help to furnish spies in
Dutchess and
Westchester Counties, New York, to gather information on British activities. Ludington collaborated with
Enoch Crosby, an American Revolutionary War soldier who worked in the same territory. A
shoemaker by trade, while traveling for his trade Crosby was able to obtain
critical information important to Washington. Ludington aided Crosby with the objective to get information to American patriots. He also helped other spies, among them Benajah Tubbs and
John Jay. == Family ==