Individual Details

About 1733, Thomas sold his land received from his father [he received only 5 shillings in the will of his father likely because he had previously been given this tract.] and moved to Prince William Co, the part that became Fauquier in 1759, and settled on Broad Run of Occoquan Creek. He was a founding member of Broad Run Baptist Church, 3 Dec 1762. Thomas and other relatives were later dismissed to moved to Halifax County (spring of 1766). Some of the land holdings in Halifax became part of Pittsylvania; they bounded Birch Creek.

A HISTORY OF BROAD RUN BAPTIST CHURCH, Fauquier Co VA 1762-1987, John S. Moore, 1987
Chapter Two, p.13-15
On December 3, 1762, Broad Run Church was orgainized by David Thomas and John Marks with ten members who were: Edmund Hays, Peter Cornwell, Joshua Dodson, Thomas Dodson, William Stamps, Elizabeth Hays, Sarah Cornwell, Ruth Dodson, Elizabeth Dodson and Betty Bennett. All of these ten charter members except Elizabeth Dodson were listed on the Mill Creek Church roll. [Mill Creek was one of only 3 Regular Baptist Churches in VA prior to Broad Run.]
.....At the May Court of 1763 (Fauquier Minute Book, 1763-64, p.43) the names of 41 persons including 17 members of Broad Run Church were presented by the Grand Jury "for absenting themselves from the parish church within six months past." There were: David Thomas [the pastor], Thomas Dodson, Abraham Dodson, Elisha Dodson, Joseph Dodson, George Dodson, Edmund Hays, Peter Cornwell, Obed Conwell, William Davison (Davis?), John Davis, Timothy Stamps, William Stamps, John Bennett, Joshua Dodson, John Creel and Joseph Morrison.
[Thomas, Abraham, Joshua & Elisha Dodson were brothers; Joseph and possibly George were sons of Thomas; John Creel was a son-in-law of Thomas. Timothy & William Stamps were brothers of the John Stamps who married Eleanor Dodson, dau of Elisha.]

Fauquier Co VA DB 2, p.444 26 May 1766 Thomas Dodson Sr & wife Elizabeth and Thomas Dodson Jr and wife Mary of Hamilton Parish to William Hunton ..400 acres on south run of Broad Run ...corner Joseph & George Dodson, Humphrey Brooks near REv. Mr. Stuarts line.

VAPITTSY-L@rootsweb.com; 13 Aug 2004
Posted by
Thomas Dodson to son Jesse Dodson, gift of land. Mar 1772

Pittsylvania DB 3
p.361 22 Jun 1773 Thomas Dodson to John Creel. 50£. Tract on both sides Burch Creek, 200 acres. Crossing the mill pond. Signed: Thomas Dodson Senr
Wit: Jeffery Johnson, David Dodson, Caleb Dodson
23 Sep 1773 Proved by oaths of wit
p.362: 22 Jun 1773 John Creel bound for 1000 £ to provide a place for Thomas Dodson and wife to live during their lives which shall be the place whereon they now live or such place as shall content them. Signed: John Creel Wit: Jeffrey Johnson, David Dodson, Caleb Dodson Both deeds recorded on 23 Sep 1773.

Pittsylvania Land Tax Lists, 1782. Thomas Dodson Senior, 280 acres.

Will made on Aug 12, 1779, proved Oct. 21, 1783 [Pittsylvania Wills & Deeds, B11, p.133] names grandson Thomas, son of Joseph Dodson dec'd; sons Thomas, George, William; daughters, Sarah Nevil, Elizabeth Bennett, Else [Alice] Dodson, Rhody Creel; wife Ellinor; and to the Baptists, use of the meeting house near John Creel's mill with 3 acres of land. Executors: Wife and son George.
It's interesting that the above abstract omits youngest son Jesse who is to inherit the home property. And it gives a surname for daughter Elizabeth that isn't in the Will. However, it's also interesting that the following transcription does not mention daughter Rhody/Rosannah Creel at all.

Source: Originally posted by "margaret findley" on the Dodson surname list on March 25, 2003.
>From "PARTIAL RECORDS & GEN. OF DODSON FAMILIES OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA & TENN - 1670-1939", Robert Cook Chapter, D.A.R., Nashville, TN to TENN. STATE LIBRARY & ARCHIVES--
This has been copied verbatum from a xerox copy made at the LDS library in SLC, page 260 found in THE DODSON FAMILY OF WARREN, COUNTY, TENNESSEE AND ALLIED FAMILIES by Catherine Gaffin Lynn, 1974----
Margaret Dodson Findley-- mcfindley@centurytel.net
"WILL OF THOMAS DODSON of Pittsylvania Co., Virginia - dated August 12, 1779 - Proved Oct.21,1783
In the name of God Amen this twelfth day of August in the year of our Lord 1779, I THOMAS DODSON of Pittsylvania County of the State of Virginia being in good health and perfect and sound memory.....
I give to my grandson THOMAS DODSON, son of JOSEPH deceased, the sum of one shilling Sterling.
Item-I give and bequeath to my son THO'S DODSON my whip saw.
Item-I give and bequeath to my son GEORGE DODSON a Negro LEVINA, to him and his heirs forever.
Item-I also give and bequeath to my son WILLIAM DODSON after the death of my wife the plantation and tract of land whereon I now live to him and his heirs forever.
Item-I give and bequeath to my daughter SARA NEVIL one shilling.
Item-I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth. . one shilling.
Item-I give and bequeath to ELSE DODSON. . .one shilling.
Item-I give and bequeath to my loving wife ELLINOR DODSON all my moveable Estate excepting my still and whipsaw, such as horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep with all my household and kitchen furniture provided
(this is not quite clear to me but is as copied by Court Clerk)- she will give up her join and what I had with and if not as much to be sold as will pay her and she shall have the remainder likewise I lend her the use of my Negro woman named Violet, her natural life and afterwards to
my son JESSE DODSON and his heirs forever.
Item-I also leave my still to be valued at my decease and for my son JESSE to have the still by paying his brothers and sisters their equal proportion according to the valuation of said still.
Item-I also give to use of the Separate and Regular Baptists to meet in the worship service of the Lord, the Meeting house near John Creeks Mill with three acres of land to the same more or less.
Item-I also appoint my loving wife Elenor DODSON and my son GEORGE DODSON my only and sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former will and Legacies and Executors by me in any ways before this time named, willed and bequeathed Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament, as witness whereof I have hereunto Enterligned before signed.
THOMAS DODSON
Signed, sealed and delivered by the said THOMAS DODSON to be his last will and Testament in the presence of the subscribers.
DANIEL GARDNER
HEATH GARDNER
SILVANEY GARDNER
NATHANIEL GARDNER"
*Note: A synopsis of this will is also found in THE DODSON (DOTSON) FAMILY OF NORTH FARNHAM PARISH, RICHMOND COUNTY, VIRGINIA, Vol. 2, pp. 1424-1425. Additional information on Thomas Dodson, Jr. is found in the Dodson book on pages 15-16.--gg

Marriage	3 Apr 1726	Richmond County, Virginia - Elizabeth Rose
Marriage	3 Apr 1776	Ellenor Sloan
Death	21 Oct 1783	Pittsylvania County, Virginia

Spouse	Elizabeth Rose (1706 - )
Child	Joseph Dodson (1726 - 1773)
Child	Thomas Dodson (1728 - 1816)
Child	Mary Dodson (1730 - )
Child	Sarah Dodson (1732 - )
Child	Elizabeth Dodson (1732 - )
Child	Alice "Alcy" Dodson (1734 - )
Child	Rev. William Dodson (1738 - 1832)
Child	George Dodson ( - 1816)
Child	Rosannah Dodson ( - )
Child	Rev. Jesse Dodson (1752 - 1843)

Spouse

Ellenor Sloan ( - )

Father	THOMAS Dodson (1681 - 1741)
Mother	MARY Durham (1686 - )
Sibling	George Dodson (1702 - )
Sibling	David Dodson ( - 1740)
Sibling	Greenham Dodson ( - 1777)
Sibling	Alice Dodson ( - )
Sibling	Mary Dodson (1715 - )
Sibling	Abraham Dodson (1723 - 1768)
Sibling	Joshua Dodson (1725 - 1793)
Sibling	ELISHA DODSON (1727 - 1791)