William Merring Dotts (abt. 1897)

Born about 1897 in Florida, United States [uncertain]

Biography

William Dotts is a part of US Black heritage.

William was born about 1897.

Notes

His draft registration card lists his nearest relative as a sister, Viola McIntosh, living in Bradenton, Florida.

His draft registration card lists his employer as J. P. Perry, who may be his (future) father-in-law.

Notes

His 1918 draft registration card gives his birth date as 31 Jul 1899.
His 1919 marriage record gives his age as 22 for an estimated birth year of 1897.
The 1920 census gives his age as 20, for an estimated birth year of 1900.

His 1919 marriage record gives his birthplace as Florida.
The 1920 census gives his birthplace as Georgia.

Sources

WWI Draft Registration Card

Name: William Merring Dotts
Event Type: Draft Registration
Event Date: 1917-1918
Event Place: Ocoee, Orange, Florida, United States
Sex: Male
Birth Date: 31 Jul 1899
Citizenship Place: United States
Employer: J. P. Perry
Nearest Relative: Viola McIntosh (sister), Bradentown, Florida.
Date of Registration: 12 Sep 1918

"United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K35X-2WH : 22 February 2021), William Merring Dotts, 1917-1918.

Marriage to Bessie Perry

Note: There are two marriage records with different dates, one 18 Mar 1919 and the other 28 Apr 1919; neither has an image on FamilySearch.com. The earlier date is likely the date of the license, the later the date of the actual marriage.

Name: Willie Dotts
Name Note: Ocoee, Fla.
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 18 Mar 1919
Event Place: Orange, Florida, United States
Sex: Male
Age: 22
Marital Status: Single
Race: B.
Birth Year (Estimated): 1897
Birthplace: Fla.
Spouse's Name: Bessie Perry
Spouse's Sex: Female
Spouse's Age: 18
Spouse's Marital Status: Single
Spouse's Race: B.
Spouse's Birth Year (Estmated): 1901
Spouse's Birthplace: Fla.

"Florida Marriages, 1837-1974", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FW9P-23D : 11 January 2020), Willie Dotts, 1919.

Name: Willie Dotts
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 28 Apr 1919
Event Place: Orange, Florida, United States
Sex: Male
Spouse's Name: Bessie Perry
Spouse's Sex: Female
Spouse's Marital Status: Single

"Florida Marriages, 1837-1974", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWWY-LLN : 11 January 2020), Willie Dotts, 1919.

1920 US Census

Name: William Dotts
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1920
Event Place: Ocoee, Orange, Florida, United States
Sex: Male
Age: 20
Marital Status: Married
Race: Black
Birth Year (Estimated): 1900
Birthplace: Georgia
Father's Birthplace: Georgia
Mother's Birthplace: Georgia
Relationship to Head of Household: Head

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
William Dotts Head M 20 Georgia
Bessie Dotts Wife F 20 Florida

"United States Census, 1920", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MNB7-GMZ : 1 February 2021), William Dotts, 1920.

Birthplace Addition. Please note that During the WikiTree US Black Heritage Project’s first weekend sprint event in September 2022, this person’s profile's unknown [ Birthplace ] is set as: Florida, United States because: his marriage license is from that state. (The actual birth state is not listed or unknown in the recorded documents.)