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Elisha Dodson's exact date of birth is not known, but it is believed he was born in the late 1750's, in Fauquier county, Virginia.[1] An estimated birth year of 1753 is listed for Elisha. Elisha was the son of Lazarus Dodson and Alice Dodson.
Elisha married Rachel Henry.[1] The date and location of their marriage is unknown.
Elisha left Virginia and received land grants from the state of North Carolina for land that was eventually in the state of Tennessee. One of the grants was in Hawkins county, Tennessee. Elisha sold the land in Hawkins county, Tennessee on the 20th of October 1795 to Hugh Larimore. The deed reads in part: "This Indenture made this twentieth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five Between Elisha Dodson of the county of Hawkins and Territory South of the river Ohio of the one part and Hugh Larimore of the county and Territory aforesaid . . . in consideration of the sum of two hundred pounds . . . a certain tract or parcel of land containing two hundred acres be the same more or less lying and being in the County of Hawkins on the north side of Holston river opposite to the Chimney Rock . . .". While the land is described as being in Hawkins county, Tennessee the deed for the sale of the land is recorded in the Grainger county, Tennessee deed records.[2]
Elisha purchased 514 acres of land in Williamson county, Tennessee for $2,000 from Lewis Roberts on the 22nd of November 1804.[3]
Elisha purchased from John C. Irwin land described as "Lot of land No. 186 in the plan of the town of Franklin" for $150; on the 7th of May 1805. Elisha held this lot and sold it on the 10th of October 1809; to Anthony Sharp for $360.[4]
Elisha purchased on the 12th of October, 1809; 320 acres of land in Williamson county, Tennessee described as "lying on waters of West Harpeth [river]" from Guilford D. Reid for $384.[5]
Elisha purchased an additional 62 acres of land in Williamson county, Tennessee on the 8th of January 1810 from Abram Maury for $200.[6]
Elisha sold 64 acres of his land for $1 dollar to his son in law Henry Petty on the 8th of January 1810. The deed reads in part: ". . . that for and in consideration of the sum of one Dollar paid to the said Elisha Dodson and the natural love and affection which the said Elisha Dodson bear toward the said Henry Petty son in law the said Elisha Dodson doth give and grant unto the said Henry Petty . . ."[7]
Elisha sold 360 acres of his land in Williamson county, Tennessee to Beverly Reece on the 8th of October 1813 for $2,520.[8]
Elisha sold 73 acres of land in Williamson county, Tennessee to Reuben Dodson for $1 dollar. There is no wording in this deed which refers to Reuben as the son of Elisha.[9]
Elisha moved to Giles county, Tennessee sometime before November 1819. Elisha sold the last of his land in Williamson county, Tennessee on the 16th of November 1819 to his son Lazarus Dodson for $1 dollar. The deed reads in part: ". . . Elisha Dodson of the County of Giles and state of Tennessee of the one part and Lazarus Dodson of Williamson county, Tennessee of the other part . . . sum of one dollar paid to the said Elisha Dodson and the natural love and affection which the said Elisha Dodson, bore toward the said Lazarus Dodson his son . . ."[10]
Elisha appears in the 1820 Federal census in Giles county, Tennessee. Elisha's household appears as follows: 1 male age 45 and over; 1 female age 45 and over; and 12 slaves.[11]
Elisha and his son Samuel H. Dodson received a land grant for 320 acres of land in Giles county, Tennessee from the State of Tennessee on the 4th of September 1821. The wording of the land grant reads in part as follows: "State of Tennessee Grant to Elisha & Samuel H. Dotson for 320 acres of land in Giles county on Pidgeon roast creek Registered 4th September 1821 - State of Tennessee No. 15371 To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting know ye that by virtue of Certificate No. 3232 dated the 25th day of November 1818 issued by the Register of West Tennessee to the heirs of Robert Alexander for 320 acres and entered on the 15th day of December 1820 by No. 174, there is granted by the state of Tennessee unto Elisha & Samuel H. Dotson assignees of the said heirs of Robert Alexander a certain tract or parcel of land, containing three hundred and twenty acres by survey bearing date the 17th day of December 1820 lying in the seventh District in Giles county in the first range and fourth section and bounded as follows to wit [follows a long legal description of the land] , . . . Recorded in the Registers office of West Tennessee 11th May 1821."[12]
Elisha purchased on the 19th July 1824 three tracts of land containing 100 acres of land in Giles county, Tennessee from Samuel Montgomery for $700. The land was described as " . . . all those three tracts or parcels of land lying on the waters of Robertsons fork of Richland creek . . ."[13]
Elisha and his son Samuel H. Dodson divided the 320 acre tract into two parcels of 160 acres each with each man making a deed on the 2nd of February 1824, recording the division of the land.[14]
Elisha was in Williamson County, Tennessee in February 1828. Elisha gave a deed of gift to his daughter Nancy Blackly that reads as follows: "Know all whom it may concern that I Elisha Dodson of Williamson county and State of Tennessee for and in consideration of the sum of four hundred Dollars (they being accounted to her as so much of my estate) do this day give and convey to my Daughter Nancy Blackly of the county of Maury and state aforesaid my negro woman Caroline and her child and all future issue reserving the use of said negro to myself During my natural life to be hers during her life and her childrens after her death. If in the division of Estate after my death it should appear that this valuation amounts to more than would be her equal share of my estate she shall not pay back anything to the other heirs but retain all here in conveyed for her own and her childrens use. Given under my hand this 29th of February 1828 in Presence of James W. Trurson & John D. Fleming [signed] Elisha Dodson". This Deed of Gift is recorded not in Williamson county, Tennessee but is recorded in Maury county, Tennessee where Nancy Blackly was living. [15]
Elisha was back in Giles county, Tennessee by the 3rd of January 1829 when he sold to Alexander Black a negro girl. The deed reads in part as follows: "Know all men by these presents that I Elisha Dodson of the County of Giles and State of Tennessee for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred dollars to me in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have sold, and do by these presents sell and convey unto Alexander Black of the same county & state a negro girl named Martha . . . In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 3rd day of January 1829 signed sealed & delivered in presence of Charles G. Wilcox, Sterling H. Lester [signed] Elisha Dodson"[16]
Elisha apparently died sometime in 1829, as Elisha sold a slave in January, 1829; however, Elisha does not appear in the 1830 Federal census, and there are no further deeds recorded for Elisha in either Williamson or Giles County, Tennessee. No will or estate records have been located.
Elisha was mentioned on a memorial with a death date of 1829.[17]
[1] Elisha Dodson #A032905.
Elisha Dodson was a slave owner. As noted above, he was shown as owning 12 slaves in the 1820 US Census.[18]
Although no verified will or probate documents have been found, Elisha Dodson deeded slaves to others in his lifetime. They were specifically named and in some cases, valued. In Tennessee, they were:
Ancestral File Number 5DQ9-QBC
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Deb Roberts