William Dodson (abt. 1737 - 1832)

Born about Apr 1737 in Prince William County, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Winnifred (Johnson) Dodson — married after 30 Nov 1762 in Fauquier County, Virginia Colony

Descendants

Died 6 May 1832 at about age 95 in Iredell County, North Carolina, United States

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Biography

William Dodson is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A208661.

Rev. William Dodson was born about Apr 1737 in Prince William County, Virginia. William is the son of Thomas Dodson Jr and Elizabeth Rose.^[1]

William's father, Thomas Dodson Jr. sold his land in Richmond County, Virginia in 1733, and moved Prince William county, Virginia where Thomas purchased 1,786 acres in July 1740 for 28,170 pounds of tobacco.^[2]

William, entered into a marriage bond in Fauquier County, Virginia on the 30th of November, 1762 to marry Winnifred Johnson (Johnston). The bond reads as follows: "Dodson to Johnston - Know all men by these presents that we William Dodson and Jeffrey Johnston are held and firmly bound unto to our Sovereign Lord King George the Third in the sum of fifty pounds current money of Virginia to the paiment whereof well and truly to be made to our said Lord the King his heirs and successors we bind ourselves our heirs exors & admrs jointly and severally firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this 30th day of Novr 1762 The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a marriage suddenly intended to be solemnized between the above bounden William Dodson & Winnifred Johnston Spinster. Now if there be no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage then the above obligation to be void or else to remain in force [signed] Jeffrey his X mark Johnston [signed] William his X mark Dodson Sealed and delivered in presence of H. Brooke, O. Young"^[3] Winnifred was the daughter of Jeffery Johnston and his wife Rachel of Fauquier county, Virginia.^[4]

William's wife Winnifred died sometime prior to 1788, as only her children are named in the will of Winnifred's father, Jeffery Johnson as follows: "In the name of God Amen, I Jeffery Johnson of the state of North Carolina and county of Wilkes . . . doth make and ordain to be made this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, . . . Item I give to each of my grand children namely James, Rachael & Winifred Dodson five shillings sterling. . . . In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 23rd of March 1788 [signed] Jeffery his |-|-| mark Johnson . . . State of North Carolina Wilkes County} January Term 1789 The within Will was proved by the oath of George Wheatley a subscribing witness thereto and ordered to be recorded Test Wm Lenoir D.C.C. Recorded in Page 251 O.C."^[5] Winnifred's exact date of death is unknown but could have occurred sometime in the 1770's.

William married a second time. The name of William's second wife is unknown as no records have been located that give her name. No marriage record has been located for this second marriage.

William was a Baptist minister. William Dodson is probably the William Dodson who became a member by Baptism of Broad Run Church of Fauquier County on the 13th May, 1764, and who was excommunicated in 1769.

William Dodson the preacher (it stated on page 15) was one of the greatest speakers of his age. He was a natural poet. He could make songs as he sung them. Governor Moorehead's mother in N.C. told me that preacher Dodson went to village where a very wicked man lived and inquired a great deal about him. At length the wicked man came up the street to the store door to see him. He said "I learn that he can make poetry" "Yes" said Gov. Moorehead's father and he make poetry about you, if you will not to get mad." He said he would not get mad. Uncle told in verse all that ever he did in his life. He was baptized by John Lealand remained and preached in Virginia about 30 years then in 1797 he removed to Iredell North Carolina & preached nearly all the time till he died May 6, 1832. He was the greatest preacher that was ever raised in our family. I regret very much indeed that he did not print his poetry. (More about William the preacher)

It is unknown exactly when William moved to Halifax/Pittsylvania County, Virginia area but he probably came with his father-in-law Jeffery Johnson who was a witness to a bond and deed of Thomas Dodson and John Creel in Pittsylvania County, in June, 1773 (Pittsylvania Co. Deeds 3-361).

William's father, Thomas Dodson Jr, left the following bequest to William in his will dated the 12th of August, 1779: "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 . . . do make this my last Will and testament in manner and form following . . . 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 . . . [signed] Thomas Dodson . . . 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 i. . ."^[6] No record has been located of William selling this land.

It was reported in the annual register of the Baptist Denomination, by John Asplund that William Dodson was the minister of Cascade Creek Church in 1780. William Dodson is also credited with organizing Arbor Baptist Church in 1785, and Millstone Baptist Church in 1789, both in Halifax County, Virginia (Halifact by Dr. W.B. Barbeer Danville Va 1941).

William is probably shown on Hailfax County, Virginia Tax list from 1782 to 1789.

From 1790 to 1795 William Dodson is found on the Tax Lists of Pittsylvania County. He lived on cascade Creek near his son in law Elijah Dodson-Dotson. Cascade Creek is the extreme Southwest part of Pittsylvania County and flows across the State line into North Carolina. It is possible William Dodson was preaching in North Carolina churches before he moved his residence there.

William moved to North Carolina soon after 1795 as in April 1799 he entered 200 acres on the Bushy Mountains in Wilkes County North Carolina and in 1800 he entered 300 acres on Beaver Creek. He sold 200 acres to Thomas Phillips on 1801 May 4th (Wilkes County Deeds & grants 1797-1805 pg 4). The Brushy Mountains lie against the present border of Wilkes and Iredell County North Carolina. However William Dodson and his son William Dodson are on the tax lists for Wilkes County in 1805, taxed for 300 acres and 100 acres in Capt. John Carne's District.

William appears in the 1810 Federal census in Wilkes county, North Carolina.^[7] William's household appeared as follows:

1 male under age 10

1 male age 16 to 25

1 male age 26 to 44

1 male age 45 and over

1 female age 16 to 25

1 female age 45 and over

1811 Dec 9, William Dotson received a North Carolina grant for 50 acres on the waters of Little Lower River, Burke County North Carolina (Now Alexander County, North Carolina) and on 1812 Nov 28, he received another grant for 50 acres on Lamberts Fork of Lower Little River ( Wilkes County Deeds G/H-394 and G/H-479 ( some of these might be for his son William Dodson).

William's church activities in North Carolina are noted in Johnson J. Haynes "The land of Wilkes 1962". Mr. Haynes says that "Among the arms of Flat Rock Church constituted in 1783 May, was Warrior Church constituted in 1799 May" and now called Zion Hill Church, located at Boomer on the waters of Warrior Creek, a Southern Branch of the Yadkin River which rises in the Brushy Mountains.

The name Zion Hill church was constituted in 1814 April with William Dodson as Pastor. He also served as Pastor at King's Creek Church between 1800-1810.

William appears in the 1820 Federal census in Wilkes county, North Carolina.^[8] William's household appeared as follows:

1 male age 16 to 25

1 male age 26 to 44

1 male age 45 and over

1 female age 26 to 44

1 female age 45 and over

Fishing Creek Church located on old Highway 60, is about 4 miles East of Wilkesboro, and was constituted in an arm of Brier Creek church, the result of a petition filed by members of Brier Creek church who lived some distance from the church. The Petition was signed by William W. Wright, clerk dated the first Saturday in March 1822 and was authorized by Brier Creek and its Pastor. William Dodson and William Gilliam formed the presbytery who constituted it on 1822 Aug. 4. These were Baptist Churches.

The Present Alexander County, North Carolina (formed 1846) where Elder William Dodson spent his latter years was composed of the older counties of Iredell, Wilkes and Burke. The Central portion of Alexander County has had a checkered history because the three older counties met there between 1789 to 1841 and the county lines between these three counties shifted back and forth.

William is believed to have died in Iredell County, North Carolina on 6 May 1832. William is buried in the Three Forks Baptist Church, in Alexander county, North Carolina that was once part of Wilkes county. William's grave is marked with a stone that says: "Rev. Wm Dodson April 1737 - 1832; which may indicate this is a modern stone possibly erected by some descendants or by the church . . ."^[9](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64466610/william-dodson: accessed 10 March 2023), memorial page for Rev William Dodson (Apr 1737–6 May 1832), Find a Grave Memorial ID 64466610, citing Three Forks Baptist Church Cemetery, Taylorsville, Alexander County, North Carolina, USA; Maintained by Kathy S. (contributor 46944127).

Sources

1. ↑ Pages 38, 39 & 40, 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 Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr., Publisher; Southern Historical Press, Inc., Easley, South Carolina, 1988.
2. ↑ Prince William County, Virginia Deed Book E (1740-1741) pages 40, 41, 42 & 43; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSL6-Y9RQ-B
3. ↑ "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XR8X-B94 : 6 August 2020), William Dodson, 1762.
4. ↑ Page 38; 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 Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr., Publisher; Southern Historical Press, Inc., Easley, South Carolina, 1988.
5. ↑ Original Wills - Wilkes County, North Carolina - Jeffery Johnson; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99GC-N3KV
6. ↑ Pittsylvania Deeds & Wills No. 11 (1780-1820), pages 133 & 134; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PX-G2LV
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2V-ZX5 : accessed 6 July 2022), William Datson, Wilkesborough, Wilkes, North Carolina, United States; citing p. 902, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 43; FHL microfilm 337,916.; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2V-ZX5
8. ↑ 1820 Federal Census Wilkes County, North Carolina, household of Rev. William Dodson. National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M33 Roll 83 page 541.
9. ↑ Page 40; 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 Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr., Publisher; Southern Historical Press, Inc., Easley, South Carolina, 1988.