Enoch Dodson (abt. 1748 - 1816)

Born about 1748 in Fauquier County, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Unknown) Dodson — married about 1775 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 12 Apr 1816 at about age 68 in Abbeville, South Carolina, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Carol Wilder [send private message] and Sally Raddatz [send private message]

Biography

Enoch Dodson was born about 1748 in Fauquier Counties, Virginia. Enoch was the son of Abraham Dodson and Barbara Russell.

Enoch married about 1775 Elizabeth ( maiden name unknown), in Virginia. Enoch was living in Prince William County, Virginia in 1782 based on him appearing in the tax list at the time.

Enoch moved to South Carolina, settling in Abbeville County, sometime between 1782 and 1785, as Enoch appears as a member of the Turkey Creek Baptist Church in 1786 when his wife Elizabeth is received by baptism. ^[1]

Enoch appears in the 1790 Federal census in Abbeville County, South Carolina. Enoch's household appeared as follows: 1 male age 16 and over; 2 males under age 16; 4 females and 3 slaves. ^[2]

Enoch appears in the 1800 Federal census in Abbeville County, South Carolina. Enoch's household appeared as follows: 1 male age 10 to 15; 1 male age 26 to 44; 1 male age 45 and over; 4 females under age 10; 1 female age 16 to 25; 1 female age 45 and over; and 5 slaves ^[3]

Enoch appears in the 1810 Federal census in Abbeville County, South Carolina. Enoch's household appeared as follows: 1 male age 45 and over; 1 female age 10 to 15; 1 female age 16 to 25; 1 female age 45 and over; and 5 slaves.^[4]

Enoch made his last Will & Testament on the 23rd of April 1811, in Abbeville County, South Carolina. Enoch's will reads as follows: "In the name of God Amen. I Enoch Dodson being very weak in body but of perfect mind & memor thanks be to God for it and calling to mind what worldly goods it has been pleased God to bless me with I do make this my last Will & Testament and I do hereby renounce desannul & make void all other wills & deeds & make this my last. 1st I will my body to the grave to be buried with Christian burial nothing doubting but what I hall receive it again in the morning of the resurrection. 2nd I will that all of my lawful debts be honestly paid 3rd I will & bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth all of my worldly goods after payment of all just debts to be disposed of as by her during her life & after her death to be equally divided between my beloved children via: Nancy Barmore Wm Dodson Jas. Dodson Lucy Barmore Malinda Agnew Polly Dodson & Mahaley Dodson and I do nominate and appoint as Executors to this my last Will & Testament my wife Elizabeth my son Wm Dodson & Samuel Agnew. Signed with my own hand this twenty third day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eleven in the presence of Ezekl Nash, John Cheatham, Michal Magn [signed & sealed] Enoch Dodson"^[5]

Enoch died on the 12th of April 1816 in Abbeville County, South Carolina and was buried in Turkey Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. ^[6]

Enoch Dodson's will was proved by Ezekiel Nash the 6th of May 1816 in Abbeville County, South Carolina. See images 30-31 for the will and 63-75 for the estate inventory, sale of estate, distributions, and accounts. The estate was settled over a number of years; the last date appears to be July 1823.^[7]

Slaves

Enoch inherited, from his father Abraham Dodson's 1767 will, a male slave Tom. Enoch's father's will also directed that Enoch was to receive a female slave Alice, after his mother's death. Between 1769 and 1776, it is possible an agreement within the family had transferred the ownership of Alice from Enoch to his brother, Greenham, because Greenham, in his 1776 will, bequeathed Alice back to Enoch.

Enoch's brother, Greenham in his 1776 will, bequeathed the following slaves to Enoch: Judah; Daniel and Alice. At the time Greenham made his will in 1776, Greenham and Enoch's mother was still living. Greenham's will was probated the 25th of August, 1777. (Judah, Daniel and Alice's transfer to Enoch has not been verified by documentation.)

Enoch appears in the 1790 Federal census in Abbeville District, South Carolina as the owner of three slaves.^[2] It is likely these three slaves were the slaves Enoch inherited either from his father or his brother. Enoch appears in the 1800 and 1810 Federal census' of Abbeville District, South Carolina as the owner of 5 slaves.^[3][4]

Enoch's 1816 Inventory and appraisement of his estate list four slaves:

Forrester

Simon,

Mary

boy Fielding

The sale of Enoch's estate on the 31st of October, 1816 listed the sale of the four slaves^[8] as follows:

Forrester - sold to William Dodson - $293

Simon - sold to Moses Smith - $899

Mary and child (assumed to be the boy Fielding) - sold to Peter Barmore - $901

Sources

1. ↑ Page 60, 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; ISBN 0-89308-349-6; Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 88-60291
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "United States Census, 1790", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKN-KQT : Fri Jul 21 00:44:41 UTC 2023), Entry for Enoch Dodson, 1790.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "United States Census, 1800", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRH-JBZ : Thu Jul 20 18:06:54 UTC 2023), Entry for Enoch Dodson, 1800.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "United States Census, 1810", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH2S-H8G : Thu Jul 20 22:25:33 UTC 2023), Entry for Enock Dodson, 1810.
5. ↑ Abbeville District, South Carolina Wills and Estate Records - Enoch Dodson Box 25 Package 564; "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-F896-28?cc=1911928&wc=MPPN-JWL%3A190566901%2C190568402%2C190566903%2C190883801 : 21 May 2014), Abbeville > Probate Court, Probate records > 1782-1958 > Box 025, Packages 559-580 > image 68 of 205; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.
6. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, Memorial #13249866; FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVPM-PLVY : 7 July 2020), Enoch Dodson, 1816
7. ↑ Will of Enoch Dodson, Abbeville County Will Book 2, page 12; Estate Packet Box 25 Pkg 564; Abbeville County, South Carolina.; "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-F896-28?cc=1911928&wc=MPPN-JWL%3A190566901%2C190568402%2C190566903%2C190883801 : 21 May 2014), Abbeville > Probate Court, Probate records > 1782-1958 > Box 025, Packages 559-580 > image 68 of 205; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.
8. ↑ Image 72 of 869; "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-F896-28?cc=1911928&wc=MPPN-JWL%3A190566901%2C190568402%2C190566903%2C190883801 : 21 May 2014), Abbeville > Probate Court, Probate records > 1782-1958 > Box 025, Packages 559-580 > image 68 of 205; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.

Research Notes

From the collected notes of Don Holden:

Enoch is listed on the tax rolls of Prince William County from 1782 to 1787. He was in the 1790 census of Abbeville District and was granted 261 acres in Old 96 District, Abbeville County, in 1798.

Enoch and his family were members of the Turkey Creek Baptist Church in Abbeville County. He signed the church covenant when it was constituted in January, 1785. The church was admitted to the Charleston Association the following year. Many of the members were relatives. Enoch was apparently an active member, being appointed clerk in 1794. His name appears frequently in the church minutes for being involved in various activities right on up to the time of his death. On several occasions, he, along with others, was sent to discipline wayward members.

Acknowledgement

• WikiTree profile Dodson-585 created through the import of Dodsons Only GED on Nov 22, 2011 by Betty Dotson.

• Carol Wilder for her research and addition of records found in Abbeville District South Carolina.