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Slaves of Elisha Dodson Jr, Halifax, Virginia

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Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Halifax, Virginia, United Statesmap
Surnames/tags: Slavery Black_Heritage Dodson
Profile manager: Suzanne Lowe private message [send private message]
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This page's purpose is to record the enslaved people owned by Elisha Dodson Jr, and attempt to connect them to their families.

Slaves

Elisha Dodson Jr is shown in the 1820 census as owning 31 slaves.[1] In the 1830 Federal census in Halifax County, Virginia, he was shown as owning 39 slaves.[2]

By 1846, Elisha Dodson Jr owned at least 50 enslaved people. He made his last will and testament on the 1st of June, 1846 in Halifax County, Virginia. The will, which named 50 separate enslaved people, outlined his very specific directions. He directed, by name, the enslaved people who would be transferred to his widowed wife, children, grandchildren and even a great-grandchild.

The will was proved and a certificate to administer the estate was given by the court in Halifax County, Virginia on the 26th of October, 1846.[3] It took several years, until at least 1853, to settle his estate. The legal challenges among and between his heirs and others affected a number of the enslaved people who were named in the 1846 will. Here is a list of those named in 1846:

“I give & bequeath to my wife Mary S. Dodson one negro woman Mariah (which I got by her in marriage) & three children Billy Sam & Henry”

"I lend to my daughter Affhia Townes during her life one negro girl Mary Ann with the increase to her special use it being my intention to secure to her individually the use & services of said girl.”

"I have loaned to my grandson Elisha D. Waller a negro man Simon (now in his possession, during his lifetime which boy Simon is not to be accounted for in a division of my estate among my grand children after my death & at the death of Elisha D. Waller I give & bequeath said negro Simon to the children of said Elisha D. Waller if any & the heirs of their bodies forever."

"I lend to my grandson John R. Waller one negro boy Lewis during his life & not to be accounted for in a division of my estate among my grand children after my death which negro Lewis I give at the death of John P. Waller to the heirs of his body if any forever."

"I lend to my grandson William J. Waller during his life a negro boy Sim & at the death of Wm J. Waller I give said negro to the heirs of his body if any, forever."

"I have loaned & delivered to my grand daughter Sally A. Oliver a negro boy Peter valued at four hundred dollars during her life to be accounted for in a division of my estate among my grand children after my death and at the death of my grand daughter Sally A. Oliver I give & bequeath the same to her children & the heirs of her body forever."

"I have loaned to my granddaughter Susan L. Boulton & delivered to her a negro boy Coleman valued at four hundred dollars to be accounted for in a division of my estate among my grand children after my death & at the death of my grand daughter Susan L. Boulton I give & bequeath the same to her children & the heirs of their bodies forever."

"I bequeath to my great grandson Henry Clay Trent a negro woman Daphne & children Mary & infant with the future increase also three hundred dollars in cash to be & remain in the hands of Wilson Oliver for the benefit of said Henry C. Trent untill he shall arrive to the age of twenty one years the & not untill then to be surrendered to him or the heirs of his body forever & I hereby appoint the said Wilson Oliver agent & quardian for the said Henry C. Trent with the instruction that should the said Henry C. Trent depart this life leaving no lawful child or children then the above bequest to be a portion of my estate for distribution."

"I bequeath to my grand daughter Nancy Dodson one negro during her life to make her equal with my grand daughters Sally A. Oliver & Susan L. Boulton & at the division of my estate among my grand children after my decease to be accounted for then I give & bequeath the same at the death of said Nancy Dodson to the heirs of her body forever."

  • “1 negro”

"In order that the instructions & acquirements in the above Item 13th may be fulfilled I hereby will & direct that the following slaves be kept together on the several plantations during the life time of my son John F. Dodson & my daughter Affia Townes or a sufficiency to cultivate the land to advantage & keep up the mill & blacksmiths shop if proper which my Executors may decide the slaves are ... any part of which may be hired out when ever the number becomes to [sic] great for the advantageous cullivation of the land & at the death of my son John F. Dodson & my daughter Affia Townes I will & bequeath the above [see the list below] lott of negroes with the increase to be equally divided among all my grand children namely Sally A. Oliver, Susan L. Boulton, Elisha D. Waller, William J. Waller, John P. Waller & Nancy Dodson.

"It is my will & I hereby bequeath to be divided at my death the following negroes namely Randolph Richard Sandy Lucy John Aggy Sena Rachel Caroline & Bird with the increase of the females after making Nancy Dodson equal with Sally A. Olive & Susan L. Boulton alloting to her one negro worth four hundred dollars the remainder I bequeath to be divided equally among all my grand children namely Sally A. Oliver, Susan L. Boulton, Nancy Dodson, Elisha D. Waller, John Pl Waller & William J. Waller during their lives & at their death I give the respective portions so allotted with the increase of the females to the heirs of their bodies forever."

Sources

  1. ↑ 1820 Census: "United States Census, 1820"
    citing Page: 67; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M33; Digital film/folder number: 005156991_004_M9X2-382; FHL microfilm: 0193690; Image number: 13
    FamilySearch Record: XHLC-V6Y (accessed 28 August 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9YYY-R92
    Elisha Dodson in Halifax, Virginia, United States.
  2. ↑ 1830 Census: "United States Census, 1830"
    citing Page: 388; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M19; Digital film/folder number: 005156033; FHL microfilm: 0029671; Image number: 768
    FamilySearch Record: XH5F-6JX (accessed 28 August 2023)
    FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYTB-S7CF
    Elisha Dodson in Halifax, Virginia, United States.
  3. ↑ Halifax County, Virginia Will Book No. 21 (1845-1847) pages 272 to 277; Will books, 1753-1903; general indexes, 1752-1949: "Will books, 1753-1903; general indexes, 1752-1949"
    Catalog: Will books, 1753-1903; general indexes, 1752-1949 Will books, v. 21-22 1845-1850
    Film number: 007645126 > image 145 of 661
    FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-99P6-LVGW (accessed 28 August 2023)

Acknowledgements

Carol Wilder's help has been instrumental in uncovering details about many of the enslaved people listed on this Free Space page and some of the individual slave profiles linked here. Her deep research experience, her keen eagle eye for deeply sourced information, and her enthusiasm for the work of connecting the ancestors of slaves is very much appreciated! I cannot thank you enough, Carol!





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Campbell-53190 Suzanne (Campbell) Lowe
As a member of the US Black Heritage Project, I have added a list of the slaves owned by Elisha Dodson Jr on this profile with categories using the standards of the US Black Heritage Exchange Program. This helps us connect enslaved ancestors to their descendants. See The Heritage Exchange Portal for more information.
posted by Suzanne (Campbell) Lowe

Categories: USBH Heritage Exchange | Halifax County, Virginia, Slaves | Halifax County, Virginia, Slave Owners