Thomas Dodson Jr (abt. 1707 - bef. 1783)

Born about 1 Oct 1707 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Rose) Dodson — married before 1725 in Virginia

Husband of Eleanor (Unknown) Dodson — married after 1766 in Virginia

Descendants

Died before 21 Oct 1783 before about age 76 in Pittsylvania county, Virginia, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Cindy Jajuga [send private message]

Biography

Thomas Dodson Jr performed Patriotic Service in Virginia in the American Revolution.

Thomas Dodson Jr is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A032939.

Thomas Dodson was born about 1707 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, English Colony of Virginia. He was a son of Thomas Dodson and Mary Durham.

DAR Records

• DODSON, THOMAS SR
• Ancestor #: A032939
• Service: VIRGINIA Rank(s): PATRIOTIC SERVICE
• Birth: CIRCA 1709 VIRGINIA
• Death: ANTE 10-21-1783 PITTSYLVANIA CO VIRGINIA
• Service Source: ABERCROMBIE AND SLATTEN, VA REV PUB CLAIMS, VOL 3, P 763
• Service Description: 1) SUPPLIED COMMODITIES FOR THE CONTINENTAL ARMY
• RESIDENCE; 1) County: PITTSYLVANIA CO - State: VIRGINIA
• SPOUSE: 1) ELIZABETH ROSE 2) ELEANOR SLOAN
• DAR has red flagged Thomas Dodson with the following statement: "The proof of service used to establish this person as a patriot is no longer valid. Subsequent evaluation of the proof of service may have determined that the proof is not acceptable under today's standards (examples: tombstone, obituary, undocumented genealogy or county history, family tradition); the service belongs to another person of the same name; the residence of this person during the Revolution is inconsistent with the service, or multiple people have claimed the same service. Future applicants must provide proof of service (and possibly residence) that meets current standards."

First Marriage

Thomas married sometime before 1725 Elizabeth Rose, daughter of John and Mary Rose of Northumberland County. Elizabeth was the mother of all his children. ^[1] She was born about 1706 in Virginia, and died after 1766 in Fauquier County, Virginia. Note: A number of genealogies have Thomas Dodson and Elizabeth Rose's date of marriage as April 3, 1726 in North Farnham Parish Church; however, there is no record of Thomas and Elizabeth's marriage recorded in the records of The North Farnham Parish Registers. No documented record of Thomas and Elizabeth's marriage has been located. DAR records on some very early membership applications based on Thomas' service, list the April 3, 1726 date for Thomas and Elizabeth's marriage; however, the DAR does not have any documents in their records that prove this marriage date. The explanation given being at the time the DAR record requirements were not as strict as they are today. Based on the recorded birth in The North Farnham Parish Registers for the birth of their son Joseph Dodson on the 21st February 1725^[2] it is believed Thomas and Elizabeth were married prior to 1725^[3].

Children:

1. Joseph Dodson, born February 21, 1725, died 1773; wed Martha/Anna
2. Thomas Dodson (III or "2nd Fork"), born October 3, 1728, died March 25, 1816; married Mary Neville ? Thomas (2nd Fork) was born October 3, 1728 Richmond County to Thomas and Elizabeth Rose - above. He went from Richmond to Prince William to Fauquier County and was member of Broad Run Baptist Church August 11, 1865. In September 1792, he purchased 50 acres in Hawkins County, Tennessee.
3. Mary Dodson Child, born June 16,1730; married Mr. Child
4. Elizabeth Dodson Bennett, born May 27, 1732; married John Bennett
5. Sarah DodsonNeville, born May 27, 1732; married John Neville
6. Alice Dodson, born 1734; married Lazarus Dodson
7. William Dodson, born 1738, died May 6, 1832; married Winifred Johnston
8. George Dodson, born 1740, died about 1816; married Anne
9. Rosanna Rhoda Dodson Creel, born 1744; married John Creel
10. Jesse Dodson, born November 22, 1752, died November 22, 1843; married Ruth Dodson

Second Marriage

Thomas Jr. married sometime after 1766,^{[4] [5]}

Baptist Church

The Great Enlightenment had reached the American colonies by the middle of the eighteenth century. Baptist evangelists were successful in recruiting many of the Dodsons as new members. Among the Broad Run Baptist Church founders were Thomas Dodson, Jr. and his brother, Joshua, and sister-in-law Ruth. Interestingly, wife Elizabeth was not among the church roles (both women and men were listed).Ule, Michelle Duval, compiler The Dodsons, Durhams, Roses and Nevilles. Spring, 2000, Author's Website who was generous to share her work by PDF. In his Last Will and Testament, Thomas gave to the Baptist church, "to meet in the worship service of the Lord the meeting house near John Creel mill with the 3 acres of land."

Occupation

Thomas owned many acres of land and grew tobacco.

Prince William County, Virginia

About 1733, Thomas sold his land received from the will of his father and moved to Prince William County, the part that became Fauquier in 1759, and settled on Broad Run of Occoquan Creek. He was a founding member of Broad Run Baptist Church, December 3, 1762. Thomas and other relatives were later dismissed to moved to Halifax County (spring of 1766). Some of the land holdings in Halifax became part of Pittsylvania County; they bounded Birch Creek.

Burches Creek, Halifax County, Virginia

On May 25, 1766 Thomas Dodson, his wife Elizabeth, son Thomas Dodson and daughter in law Mary Dodson, sold 400 acres of land on the south run of the Broad Run of Occoquan for £224. It appears the younger Dodsons stayed in Fauquier County while the older couple moved to Halifax County. There, on December 18, 1766 Thomas Dodson purchased 400 acres on both side of "Burches Creek" for £50.

Timeline

• 1733 - Sold land in Richmond County, Virginia - moved to Prince William County (the part that became Fauquier County in 1759). Settled on Broad Run of Occoquan Creek.
• 1739 Rec'd 5 shillings in will of father, Thomas
• May 8, 1761 Thomas Dodson Jr received as a gift from his father, Thomas Dodson, the deed to land he already possessed: "part of two tracts on the Mine Branch in Steward's Line...Faulkner's Line...150 acres."
• December 3, 1762 - became a founding member of Broad Run Baptist Church
• May 25, 1766 - Thomas Dodson and wife Elizabeth, son Thomas Dodson and daughter-in-law Mary Dodson, sold 400 acres on the south run of the Broad Run of Occoquan, Fauquier County, for £224.
• 1766, December bought 400 acres on Birch Creek in Halifax County, Virginia - later part of the land was in Pittsylvania County when it was created.
• December 1766 - Bought land on Birch Creek in Halifax County (part of land was in Pittsylvania County)
• 23 August, 1759 - Thomas Dodson Jr. to son Joseph Dodson 150 acres of land^[6]
• June 22, 1773 - Thomas Dodson to John Creel. 50£. Tract on both sides Burch Creek, 200 acres. Crossing the mill pond. Signed: Thomas Dodson Sr: Witness: Jeffery Johnson, David Dodson, Caleb Dodson: September 23, 1773 Proved by oaths of wit
• June 22, 1773 - John Creel bound for 1000£ to provide a place for Thomas Dodson and wife to live during their lives which shall be the place whereon they now live or such place as shall content them. Signed: John Creel: Witness: Jeffrey Johnson, David Dodson, Caleb Dodson. Both deeds recorded on September 23, 1773.^[7]
• August 12, 1779 - wrote will in Pittsylvania County
• October 21, 1783 - Will recorded and widow and George Dodson qualified as executors

Death and Legacy

Thomas died sometime before the 21st of October, 1783 when his last will and testament was proved in court in Pittsylvania county, Virginia.

Thomas' Will was written the 12th of August, 1779 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.^[8] Will says he gives to the use of the separate and regular Baptist to meet in the worship service of the Lord the meeting house near John Creel mill with the 3 acres of land.

Thomas' Will was proved on the 21st of October, 1783 [Pittsylvania Wills and Deeds, B11, p.133] names grandson Thomas, son of Joseph Dodson dec'd; sons Thomas, George, William; daughters, Sarah Nevil, Elizabeth Bennett, Else Dodson, Rhody Creel; wife Ellinor; and to the Baptists, use of the meeting house near John Creel's mill with 3 acres of land. Executors: Wife and son George.

Children named in will: Joseph, Thomas (2nd Fork), Mary (married Childs), Sarah (married Neville), Elizabeth (married Bennett), Alice (married Dodson), William, George, Jesse, Rhoda

Will and Testament

WILL OF THOMAS DODSON of Pittsylvania County, Virginia reads as follows: "In the Name of God Amen this twelfth day of August in the year of our Lord 1779 I Thomas Dodson of Pittsylvania county of the state of Virginia being in good health and perfect and sound memory as common but concious of uncertainty of this life and the certainty of death do make this my last Will and testament in manner and form following Imprimis I give my precious and immortal soul to my Almighty Creator who gave it me and humbly hope for pardon of all my sins by the merits and meditation of Jesus Christ my redeemer, my body I desire to buried in a decent Christian manner and what Estate God of his goodness hath blessed me with I dispose of as followeth Item I give to my grandson Thomas Dodson son of Joseph decest the sum of one shilling sterling Item I give and bequeath to my son Tho's Dodson my whip saw Item I also give and bequeath to my son George Dodson a negro girl Lavina to him and his heirs forever Item I also give and bequeath to my son William Dodson after the death of my wife the Plantation and tract of land whereon I now live to him and his heirs forever Item I give and bequeath to daughter Sarah Nevil one shilling. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Bennett the sum of one shilling Item I also give and bequeath to Else Dodson the sum of one shilling Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Rhody Creal the sum of one shilling Item I also give and bequeath to my loving wife Ellenor Dodson all my moveable estate excepting my still and whip saw such as houses, cattel hogs, and sheep with all my household and kitchen furniture provided she will give up her join and what I have with her and if not as much to be sold as will pay her and she shall have the remainder, likewise I lend her the use of my negro woman named Vilet her natural life and after words to my son Jesse Dodson and his heirs forever provided the wench should breed in my wife life the said child or children to return with their mother to my son Jesse Dodson and his heirs for ever Item I also leave my still to be valued at my decease and for my son Jesse Dodson to have the still by paying his brothers and sisters their equal proportion according to the valuation of the said still. Item I also give to use of the separate and regular Baptist to meet in the worship service of the Lord the meeting house near John Creels Mill with three acres of land be same more or less Item I also appoint my loving wife Elenor Dodson and my son George Dodson my only and sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby disallow revoke and disannul all and every other former will and Legesee and Executors by me in any ways before this time named, willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament as Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand seal the day and year above written Enterlined before signed. [signed] Thomas Dodson Signed, sealed and delivered by the said Thomas Dodson to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of the subscribers Daniel Gardner, Heath Gardner, Silvany Gardner, Nathaniel Gardner . . . At a court held for Pittsylvania county the 21 day of October 1783 The within last Will and Testament of Thomas Dodson deceased was exhibited into court by Ellenor Dodson and George Dodson the Executrix and Executor therein named and proved by the oaths of two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of the said Executrix and Executor who made oath according to law Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form of Law in giving security where upon they together with Richard Brown and William Herring their securities entered into bond and acknowledged the same according to law. Teste Will Tunstall CC"^[9]

History of Broad Run Baptist Church

A History of Broad Run Baptist Church, Fauquier County, Virginia, 1762-1987, John S. Moore, 1987, Chapter Two, p.13-15

On December 3, 1762, Broad Run Church was organized by David Thomas and John Marks with ten members who were: Edmund Hays, Peter Cornwell, Joshua Dodson, Thomas Dodson, William Stamps, Elizabeth Hays, Sarah Cornwell, Ruth Dodson, Elizabeth Dodson and Betty Bennett. All of these ten charter members except Elizabeth Dodson were listed on the Mill Creek Church roll. [Mill Creek was one of only 3 Regular Baptist Churches in Virginia prior to Broad Run.]

At the May Court of 1763 (Fauquier Minute Book, 1763-64, p.43) the names of 41 persons including 17 members of Broad Run Church were presented by the Grand Jury "for absenting themselves from the parish church within six months past." There were: David Thomas [the pastor], Thomas Dodson, Abraham Dodson, Elisha Dodson, Joseph Dodson, George Dodson, Edmund Hays, Peter Cornwell, Obed Conwell, William Davison (Davis?), John Davis, Timothy Stamps, William Stamps, John Bennett, Joshua Dodson, John Creel and Joseph Morrison.

Thomas, Abraham, Joshua and Elisha Dodson were brothers; Joseph and possibly George were sons of Thomas; John Creel was a son-in-law of Thomas. Timothy and William Stamps were brothers of the John Stamps who married Eleanor Dodson, daughter of Elisha.

Fauquier County, Virginia, DB 2, p.444 - May 26, 1766 - Thomas Dodson Sr and wife Elizabeth and Thomas Dodson Jr and wife Mary of Hamilton Parish to William Hunton, 400 acres on south run of Broad Run, corner Joseph and George Dodson, Humphrey Brooks near Rev. Mr. Stuarts line.^[10]

Slaves

Thomas Dodson Jr was a slave owner. See Space: Slaves_of_Thomas_Dodson_Jr for details.

Research Notes

Note: (not documented, ideas for future research) Holly says: "I have the following unattributed note, probably also from Muriel Teel Cooter: "Mary Rose had a sister Elizabeth Rose, who was the first wife of Thomas Dodson of Fauquier Co, Virginia. Dodson¹s second wife was the widow Eleanor Sloan. Thomas Dodson and his wife Elizabeth Rose settled in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, along with John Stamps, son of Thomas Stamps, and John Stamps¹ first wife, Rachel Gooding. Apparently Elizabeth Rose died and her widower Thomas Dodson married Eleanor Sloan. Then Thomas Dodson died, and Rachel Gooding Stamps died, and Dodson¹s widow Eleanor Sloan Dodson married the widower John Stamps."^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ Ule, Michelle Duval, compiler The Dodsons, Durhams, Roses and Nevilles. Spring, 2000, Michelle Ule's Website Author generously provided a PDF.
2. ↑ Page 48, The Registers of North Farnham Parish 1663 - 1814 and Lunenburg Parish 1783 - 1800 Richmond County Virginia, Compiled and Published by George Harrison Sanford King, Fellow, American Society of Genealogists, Fredericksburg, Virginia 1966, published by Southern Historical Press, Inc., Easley, South Carolina
3. ↑ Page 15, The Dodson (Dotson) Family of North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia: A History and Genealogy of Their Descendants Volume One, by Mrs. Sherman Williams, Compiler and Editor and The Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr., Publisher, copyright 1988, publisher Southern Historical Press, Inc., Easley, South Carolina
4. ↑ (after the death of Elizabeth Rose), to Eleanor Sloan, as her 2nd husband. Eleanor was executrix of Thomas' Will. Eleanor was the widow of John Sloan who died in Pittsylvania County, Virginia in 1769.
5. ↑ Page 15, The Dodson (Dotson) Family of North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia: A History and Genealogy of Their Descendants Volume One, by Mrs. Sherman Williams, Compiler and Editor and The Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr., Publisher, copyright 1988, publisher Southern Historical Press, Inc., Easley, South Carolina
6. ↑ Fauquier County, Virginia Deed Book 1 (1759-1763) pages 26 & 27; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4C-93NQ-8
7. ↑ Pittsylvania Deed Book 3 (p.361 and p.362)
8. ↑ Pittsylvania County Virginia Deeds, Wills No. 11, 1780 - 1820; pages 133 and 134.
9. ↑ Deed books, 1767-1901 (with wills 1767-1820) ; indexes to deeds, 1767-1934: "Pittsylvania County Virginia, Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah at PIttsylvania County Courthouse, Chatham Virginia, March 13, 1950. "Deeds & Wills, No 11, 1780-1820." Deed books, 1767-1901 (with wills 1767-1820), page 133-134; indexes to deeds, 1767-1934"
   Catalog: Deed books, 1767-1901 (with wills 1767-1820) ; indexes to deeds, 1767-1934 Deeds and wills book, v. 11, 1780-1820 (contains deeds 1790-1791 & wills 1780-1820, 1822, 1836).
   Film number: 007646030 > image 78 of 287
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9PX-G2LV (accessed 1 August 2023)
10. ↑ Posted by [email address removed]: Thomas Dodson to son Jesse Dodson, gift of land. March 1772: Pittsylvania Land Tax Lists, 1782. Thomas Dodson Senior, 280 acres.
11. ↑ Mitchell, Frank "Sloan Connection Database" rootsweb post September 1, 2012, Web accessed May 26, 2014

Thomas Jessie Dodson Jr. BIRTH 1 Oct 1707 Farnham, Richmond County, Virginia, USA DEATH 21 Oct 1783 (aged 76) Pittsylvania County, Virginia, USA BURIAL Unknown MEMORIAL ID Find A Grave: Memorial #79914414 NOTE: FindAGrave site is in error as Thomas Dodson Jr. did not have or use a middle name of Jesse.

• DAR Genealogical Research

• "The Early Records of Broad Run Baptist Church, Fauquier County, Virginia, 1762-1783"]. Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Volume 26, Number 4, November 1988, 284-296 Note: PERSI, Allen Co Public Library