Unknown (Unknown) Dodson (abt. 1795 - bef. 1824)

Died before 1824 before about age 29 in Switzerland County, Indiana, United States

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Biography

William Dodson's first wife was born about 1795. At this time, her name is not known with certainty, although it may have been "Rachel Harmon" (see Notes below).

She and William were among the early settlers of what later became Indiana and likely married around 1812 in Jefferson County in Indiana Territory. They later lived in Switzerland County, which was formed from the eastern portion of Jefferson County in 1814. In Dec 1816, Indiana was admitted as the 19th state of the United States.

She and William had at least 4 children:

• Elizabeth (c1813-1840)
• James (c1814-<1840?)
• Rachel (c1815->1880)
• Peter (c1820-1849)

She likely died sometime after Peter's birth and before 1824 in Switzerland County.

Research notes

Date of birth/death and children

The 1820 US federal census for Jefferson Township in Switzerland County, Indiana^[1] indicates that William Dodson is living with a woman (presumably his wife described here) who was aged 16-25. They have 4 children (2 boys and 2 girls) all under age 10. Their oldest child was probably Elizabeth, who was born in 1813, so her mother was probably born around 1795.

William Dodson married his second wife, Elizabeth Smith (Moredock) on 15 Apr 1824, and their first child Isaac was born on 24 Dec 1824. Therefore, his first wife seems to have died sometime before 1824.

The 1830 US federal census for Randolph Township in Dearborn County, Indiana^[2] indicates that William Dodson has 2 sons aged 5-9 years old. One of these is apparently Isaac, so the other appears to be the son of William Dodson's first wife.

It therefore appears that William and his first wife had at least 5 children (3 sons and 2 daughters). According to Lilian Hays Oliver, the names of 4 of these children were: Peter, Rachel, Betsy (Elizabeth) and James.^[3]

Name

According to Lilian Hays Oliver, the name of William Dodson's first wife was "Rachel Harmon".^[4] No specific source is provided for her name, although the information Oliver gives relating to William Dodson is generally attributed to Mrs. Newton Pedigo, a descendant of William Dodson and his second wife Elizabeth Smith. It should be noted that William Dodson and his first wife had a daughter named Rachel, who married James Harmon, and therefore would have been known as "Rachel Harmon". [Note: There are a number of discrepancies in the information Oliver relates about William Dodson and his family, so the name she attributes to his first wife may not be accurate.]

Sources

1. ↑ 1820 U.S. Federal Census, Jefferson Twp, Switzerland Co IN.
2. ↑ 1830 U.S. Federal Census, Randolph Twp, Dearborn Co IN.
3. ↑ Lilian Hays Oliver, Some Boone Descendants and Kindred of the St. Charles District (Chedwato Service, 1964), p. 292.
4. ↑ Oliver, Some Boone Descendants, p. 295.

• Wife of William Dodson (FamilySearch).