George Dodson (abt. 1740 - abt. 1816)

Born about 1740 in Prince William, Virginia, British Colonial America

Ancestors

Died about 1816 at about age 76 in Pittsylvania, Virginia, United States

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Biography

George Dodson was born about or before 1740, based on George being 21 years of age in 1761 when his father, Thomas Dodson, deed land to George. George is the son of Thomas Dodson Jr and Elizabeth Rose.

George's father, Thomas Dodson Jr, deeded land in Fauquier County, Virginia to George on the 8th of May 1761. The deed reads in part as follows: ". . . 8th day of May in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty one Between Thomas Dodson Senr of the Parish of Hamilton in the county of Fauquier of the one part and George Dodson son to the said Thomas Dodson of the same Parish and County of the other part Witnesseth that the said Thomas Dodson for and in consideration of the Natural Love and affection he hath and beareth unto the said George Dodson and more Especially for the better maintainance of the said George Dodson Hath given granted and confirmed and by these presents doth give grant and confirm unto the said George Dodson and his heirs forever all that tract or tenement of land in his actual possession now being, being part of a tract of land purchased by the said Thomas Dodson of Thomas Falkner situate lying and being in the Parish and county aforesaid and bounded as followeth . . . containing one hundred acres be the same more or less Together with all houses gardens orchards, woods, waters and profits thereof . . .[signed] Thomas Dodson Senr Wit: Thomas Marshall, Thomas Dodson Jr, William Dodson At a court held for Fauquier the 28th day of May 1761 This Indenture was acknowledged by Thomas Dodson to be his act and deed and ordered to be recorded . . ."^[1]

George made a nuncupative will (an oral will that is spoken rather than written) on the 8th of January, 1816. The will reads as follows: "Pittsylvania County To Wit: Personally came before me William Dodson and Rhoda and made oath on the holy evangetical of almighty God that George Dodson called upon them at their house that the land whereon he now lived he wanted divided between his three sons to wit Thomas, George & Easley Dodson his sons after his wife's decease of his wife one cow to his said son Thomas one colt & one sow to son Easley the crop now made on the plantation to be for the use of my wife and family on the plantation & to his daughter Franky two beds & two bed steads & the furniture there belonging. One colt & one side saddle & one cow & her earthern ware one trunk & one little wheel at her mothers decease and at the decease of my wife the remainder of his estate not heretofore to equally divided between all his daughters & further sayeth not certified under our hands & seals this 8th day of January 1816 [signed] William his X mark Dodson [signed] Rhoda her X mark Dodson Was sworn to before me Jn'o Wilson At a Court held for Pittsylvania County on the 20th day of January 1817 the within written deposition of William & Rhoda Dodson purporting to be the nuncupative will of George Dodson dec'd is established by the court as the last will and testament of the said George Dodson dec'd and as such is ordered to be recorded Teste Will Tunstall CLC"^[2]

Slaves

George Dodson was a slave owner. Although there are not many documents to show the extent of his slave ownership, there are a few records that confirm he did enslave people.

He was sold an enslaved man, Joseph, by his father Thomas Dodson Jr, on February 8, 1777. Joseph was valued at that date as being £80. See images 475-476.^[3] Joseph had been recorded earlier, in 1767 a list of Tithables for Thomas Dodson Jr.^[4]

He was also a slave owner by inheritance. His father Thomas Dodson Jr gave George an enslaved female named Levina in his August 12, 1779 will. The will was proved October 21, 1783.^[5]

George made a nuncupative will that list bequest to his heirs; however, no slaves are named in the will.

Sources

1. ↑ Deed Thomas Dodson to George Dodson: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4C-93NM-S: Citing: Fauquier County, Virginia Deed Book No. 1(1759-1763) pages 223, 224 & 225
2. ↑ Pittsylvania County, Virginia Deed & Will Book No. 11 (1780-1820) pages 453 & 454; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PX-G214
3. ↑ Deed books, 1767-1901 (with wills 1767-1820) ; indexes to deeds, 1767-1934: "Deed books, 1767-1901 (with wills 1767-1820) ; indexes to deeds, 1767-1934"
   Catalog: Deed books, 1767-1901 (with wills 1767-1820) ; indexes to deeds, 1767-1934 Deed book, v. 3, 1772-1774 -- Deed book, v. 4, 1774-1778 (includes a few entries for 1779).
   Film number: 007646005 > image 475 of 581
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9PX-G59D (accessed 1 August 2023)
4. ↑ Virginia Tax Records: "Virginia Tax Records"
   First List of Tithables of Pittsylvania County, Year 1767 > image 314 of 672
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Image (accessed 1 August 2023)
5. ↑ Deed books, 1767-1901 (with wills 1767-1820) ; indexes to deeds, 1767-1934: "Deed books, 1767-1901 (with wills 1767-1820) ; 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)

• 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.

Acknowledgment

WikiTree profile Dodson-538 created through the import of Dodsons Only.GED on Nov 22, 2011 by Betty Dotson. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Betty and others.