Born Henry Holmes, his mother was an executive at Amore Foods.  His father lived at the Martian Islamic commune and left to do missionary work on Earth in 2231 but was never heard from again.  His mother was killed in an accident on Phobos in 2248 during Henry's third year at the university on Mayword. 

After Helen Holmes' death, she was accused of espionage and the family's assets were seized by the courts and awarded to the Rouche Corporation.  Henry, who was on Proxima, was included in the estate as property.  His name was legally changed to Herman Winnifred Mudgett and he was sold to the Gumpta sisters who owned the largest stock of breeding males in the Breeders' Guild.

After an unruly Jane on narcotics died in a mishap, Henry fled to Mayworld's Quaker Commons.  Forces within the Breeder's Guild used the opportunity to settle accounts and Henry was blamed for several deaths.  The name 'Mudgett' became used as an aspersion.

He settled on Beta Two under the name Hawthorne Abendsen living in the desert area called 'the badlands' and made a refuge for genetic eunuch males who had run away rather than be sold for indentured labor by the Breeding Guild.  While living there, he wrote an allegorical novel titled "The Last Cricket on Titan" which was banned by the Majestic Council.