Slaves of Thomas Dodson Jr, Virginia

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Pittsylvania, Virginia
Surnames/tags: Slavery Black_Heritage Dodson

This page's purpose is to record the enslaved people owned by Thomas Dodson Jr, and attempt to connect them to their families.

Slaves

Thomas Dodson owned numerous slaves. In the list of Titables of Pittsylvania County Virginia, 1767, he is shown as being taxed for eight enslaved people.^[1] Their names were, in order shown, Peter, Adam, Joseph, Dinah, Sall, Winny, Lucy and Nora.

Two of these enslaved people -- Winny and Lucy -- appeared in the 1795 will and 1799 estate inventory of Lazarus Dodson, who was Thomas Dodson's son-in-law through Lazarus's marriage to Thomas's daughter Alice Dodson. Thomas Dodson Jr was also Lazarus's uncle because he was brother to Lazarus's father George Dodson Sr.

The other enslaved people were not named in either Thomas Dodson Jr's 1779 will or the 1799 inventory of Lazarus Dodson.

• Peter, who was earlier called "my negro man Peter" in the 1740 Will of Thomas Dodson Jr's brother David Dodson. Peter was valued at 30 pounds.^[2]
• One enslaved male named Adam, named as a "negro boy" in the 1740 Will and inventory of David Dodson. He was valued at 12 pounds. It is possible that Adam was the son of Dinah. ^[2] He was again mentioned in the 1767 Tithables list, is likely NOT the same Adam who was mentioned in Lazarus Dodson's 1799 inventory. The ages don't match up.
• Joseph. Joseph was not mentioned in Thomas Dodson Jr's will because he was sold in 1777 to George Dodson.
• Dinah,
• Sall
• Winny She was referenced in 1767 and again in 1799 documents. She was owned by two generations of Dodsons (at least).
• Lucy Also later known as "Old Lucy." She was referenced in 1767 and again in 1799 documents. She was owned by two generations of Dodsons (at least).
• Nora

In 1777, Thomas Dodson bought an enslaved female named Vilet for £100 from his son George.^[3]

Also in 1777, he sold a "negro girl" named Susannah to his son Jesse Dodson for £60.^[4]

In Thomas's 1779 will, he gave two enslaved females to his heirs:

• "a negro girl" Levina, given to his son George Dodson "and his heirs forever."
• "my negro woman Vilet, "I lend [my wife Ellenor] her the use of my negro woman named Vilet her natural life and after words to my son Jesse Dodson and his heirs forever provided the wench should breed in my wife [wife's] life the said child or children to return with their mother to my son Jesse Dodson and his heirs for ever."

Presumably these orders were carried out after Thomas Dodson Jr died. The will was proved on October 21, 1783.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ 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 31 July 2023)
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Prince William County, Virginia Will Book C (1734-1744) pages 259 & 260; General index to wills, 1734-1951; wills, inventories & accounts, 1734- 1872: "General index to wills, 1734-1951; wills, inventories & accounts, 1734- 1872"
   Catalog: General index to wills, 1734-1951; wills, inventories & accounts, 1734- 1872 Wills, inventories & accounts, Vol. C 1734-1744 Wills, inventories & accounts, Vol. G 1778- 1791
   Film number: 007645737 > image 140 of 584
   FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L9PX-FQP8 (accessed 13 August 2023)
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 515 of 581
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9PX-GP2S (accessed 1 August 2023)
4. ↑ 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 466 of 581
   FamilySearch Image: 3Q9M-C9PX-G53P (accessed 1 August 2023)
5. ↑