Lazarus Dodson (1728 - bef. 1799)

Born 7 Oct 1728 in Richmond County, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Alice Dodson — married about 1750 in Prince William County, Virginia

Descendants

Died before 16 Sep 1799 before age 70 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia

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Biography

Reverend Lazarus Dodson performed Patriotic Service in Virginia in the American Revolution.

Lazarus Dodson is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A032917.

Lazarus Dodson was born 7 Oct 1728 in North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia, son of George Dodson and his wife Margaret Dagord.^[1] (als: Dagood, Daggett etc.)

It is not known when he was married, but sometime around 1750 Lazarus was married to his cousin Alice Dodson, daughter of Thomas Dodson^[2], probably in Prince William County as that is where she was raised and lived. Lazarus was listed in the 1751 tax list of the Elk Run and Vicinity, Hamilton Parish, Prince William County.^[3] The area in which they lived was near the Broad Run of the Occoquan. This part of the county became Fauquier County in 1759, then in 1763 they joined the Broad Run Baptist Church there. The Broad Run Baptist Church had been organized only the year before. They were both baptized there 9 Oct 1763.^[4] About 1766 Lazarus and Alice moved to Halifax County settling in the area of Sandy Creek of the Bannister River in the eastern part of what would become Pittsylvania County in 1767.

Lazarus was a minister at the Little Sandy Creek Baptist Church as early as 1781 when he and other ministers appeared in Pittsylvania County Court in June with recommendations from the Elders of the Baptist Church as ministers of the Society and granted power to perform marriages.^[5] This order was reiterated in September, 1785, when Lazarus paid a 500 Pound bond and this Day produced Credentials of his Regular ordination in the Communion of the Society of Christians called Baptists & obtained a Certificate to empower him to perform the Rites of Matrimony.^[6] Perusal of the marriage bonds of Pittsylvania County will show that he performed many of the marriages in that county up until his death.

He is said to have taken the oath of allegiance for the Revolutionary War, but future DAR applicants must provide further details to prove his service. ^[7]

Lazarus wrote his will on 2 May 1795 in Pittsylvania County.^[8][9]

Lazarus Dodson being weak and infirm but of perfect mind and memory.

To my well beloved wife Alce Dodson a negro woman called Young Lucy and a negro Marjory, the use of my house and plantation, as much of my household furniture as she desires during her lifetime.

To my son George Dodson my land and plantation after the death of his mother.

To my daughter Margaret Dodson a bed and furniture, a flax wheel, mare and saddle which is called hers.

I give the remainder of my personal estate equally, between my seven children: Elisha Dodson, George Dodson, Elisabeth Ingram, Rachel Mading, Rhoda Dodson, Tabitha Dodson, and Margaret Dodson.

Appoint my son George Dodson executor.

Lazarus (X) Dodson

Witness: George Dodson, Robert (X) Mading, Larkin Ingram

George Dodson, Robert Clopton, and Robert Madding security for the executor

Lazarus' will was admitted for probate on the 16th of September, 1799, in Pittsylvania County, Virginia.^[10]

A lawsuit by Lazarus' heirs was filed in Pittsylvania county, Virginia court against George Dodson as Executor of Lazarus' will. The hearing of the court case reads as follows: "November Court 1799 . . . Elisha Dodson, William Ingram & Elizabeth his wife, Thomas Madding and Rachel his wife, William Dodson and Rhoda his wife, Micajah Dodson and Tabitha his wife and John Creel and Margret his wife } Plaintiffs against George Dodson Executor of Lazarus Dodson Deceased Defendant } In Chancery On hearing the Bill of the plaintiffs and the answer of the Defendant confessing the Equity thereof, It is decreed and ordered, that the said Defendant as Executor as aforesaid, do proceed to sell to the highest bidder on twelve months credit after giving reasonable notice of the times and plan for that purposes, all the personal estate of the said Testator specific legacies excepted, taking bond with approved security of the purchasers and it is further ordered and decreed that Jeremiah White, John Shelton Gideon Ragland, and Selvang Gardner Gent or any three of them being first sworn, do divide the bonds taken on such sale, among the plaintiffs and defendant George Dodson, allotting unto each, his or her equal part agreeable to the will of the said decedent and report thereof to the Court in order to a final decree."^[11]

He died sometime before September 1799, when his will was proved. Although a grave has not been found, there is a memorial for him on FindAGrave.^[12]

Slaves

Lazarus Dodson was a slave owner. In his will, written May 2, 1795, he named two enslaved people. They were:

• Young Lucy, a "negro woman" willed to his wife " Alcy." Because she was listed separately from another "Old Lucy" in the October - December 1799 inventory, one can assume this "Young Lucy" is the same "negro woman Lucy" named in his inventory. She was valued at $300.
• Marjory, a "negro woman" also willed to his wife " Alcy." Marjory was not named in his October-December 1799 inventory. The inventory is shown at the bottom of digital page 371 (both left and right sides) and the top left side of digital page 372 of 777.^[13]

Others were named in his inventory, which was recorded December 16, 1799. They were:

• "a Negro woman Winney," valued at $300.
• "a Negro woman Margaret and child," valued together at $350.
• "a Negro woman 'Old Lucy,'" valued at $140.
• a Negro boy Adam," valued at $200.
• a Negro man Catoe," valued at $340.^[13]

Research Notes

Lazarus Dodson likely inherited some of the above named enslaved people from his relatives including his father-in-law (and uncle) Thomas Dodson Jr, who was his wife (and first cousin) Alice's father. In the list of "Tithables of Pittsylvania County, 1767," for Thomas Dodson, a few of their names are shown: " Winny," "Adam," and "Lucy." ^[14] Based on geography, his age, and the connection to Alice Dodson, this person is likely Thomas Dodson Jr.

Sources

1. ↑ George Harrison Sanford King, Compiler & Publisher, The Registers of North Farnham Parish 1663-1814 and Lunenburg Parish 1783-1800 Richmond County, Virginia , p.48
2. ↑ Rev. Elias Dodson 1807-1882; Manuscript outlining the history of the Dodson family. Rev. Elias was the grandson of Alice's brother Joseph.
3. ↑ The Account Book of Capt. John Crump, Sheriff of Prince William County; printed in the Prince William County Genealogical Society Newsletter, V.10, No. 6, Dec 1991, pp.43-45
4. ↑ John S. Moore; A History of the Broad Run Baptist Church, Fauquier Co VA 1762-1987 Chapter 2, pp 13-15, 1987
5. ↑ Maud Carter Clement; The History of Pittsylvania County, Virginia; J.P. Bell Company, Lynchburg, VA; 1929; p 129
6. ↑ Pittsylvania County Deed Book 7, p 510
7. ↑ Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, Volume 23, February 1985, p 4.
8. ↑ Last Will and Testament of Lazarus Dodson; Pittsylvania County Will Book 1; pp219/220; written 2 May 1795; proved 16 Sep 1799, Pittsylvania County, Virginia
9. ↑ Probate: "Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
   Deed Books, 1767-1901 (With Wills 1767-1820) ; Indexes to Deeds, 1767-1934; Author: Virginia. County Court (Pittsylvania County); Probate Place: Pittsylvania, Virginia
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #796367 (accessed 25 July 2023)
   Lazarus Dodson probate on 2 May 1795 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA. See digital pages 120-121.
10. ↑ Last Will and Testament of Lazarus Dodson; Pittsylvania County Will Book 1; pp219/220; written 2 May 1795; proved 16 Sep 1799, Pittsylvania County, Virginia
11. ↑ Pittsylvania County, Virginia Court Records No. 8 (1795-1798) page 194; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSL6-B3Y1-5
12. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
    Find A Grave: Memorial #102042146 (accessed 26 July 2023)
    Memorial page for Elder Lazerus Dodson (7 Oct 1728-16 Sep 1799); Maintained by Shawn Sweeney (contributor 47165319).
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1} Accounts current, inventories, etc., 1767-1949; general index to accounts current, inventories, etc., 1767-1949: "Accounts current, inventories, etc., 1767-1949; general index to accounts current, inventories, etc., 1767-1949"
    Catalog: Accounts current, inventories, etc., 1767-1949; general index to accounts current, inventories, etc., 1767-1949 Accounts current, no. 1, 1770-1788 -- Accounts current, no. 2, 1788-1797 -- Accounts current, no. 3, 1797-1805 -- Accounts current, no. 4, 1805-1812.
    Film number: 007646033 > image 371 of 777
    FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9PX-G9ZW-L (accessed 25 July 2023)
14. ↑ “Tithables of Pittsylvania County, 1767 (Continued).” The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 23, no. 4, 1915, pp. 371–80. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/4243469. Accessed 26 July 2023.

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• Sources include: Birth, marriage, and death certificates and can be found here: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LX32-36Z?1=1&parents=LHDB-5N3_LZG8-3DZ