Ned Dodson (bef. 1846)

Born before 1846 in Virginia, United States [uncertain]

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Biography

Ned Dodson is a part of US Black heritage.

Ned (or possibly later calling himself Edward) was part of a group of enslaved people named in the 1846 will of his owner Elisha Dodson Jr. Ned's age was not described in the will.^[1]

Ned (Edward) was bequeathed with all the others named in the following quotation. Elisha Dodson Jr wrote: "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 Affhia 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 Jerry Deck Fanny Gabe Mack Joe Fellony Charles Henry (Wagoner) Andrew Tom Miller Peggy Jesse Isaac Smith Sally & son Joe Hal Reubin Anderson Martha Saan Bob Ned & Crilly any part of which may be hired out when ever the number becomes to 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 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 to be held by them during their life time & at their death I give the above named & allotted negroes to the heirs of their respective bodies & their heirs forever with the future increase."

After Ned (Edward) was bequeathed to John F. Dodson & Affhia Townes in 1846, it is likely he was transferred to a member of Elisha Dodson Jr's family.

Slave Owners

Ned was owned by Elisha Dodson Jr and after 1846, jointly by John F. Dodson and Affhia Townes. After the death of John F Dodson and Affhia Townes, ownership of Ned and the other enslaved people named in his group was to be divided by Elisha Dodson Jr's six grandchildren: Sally A. Oliver, Susan L. (Waller) Bolton (1813-1869), Nancy Annie F. (Dodson) Roddin (abt.1827-aft. 1900), Elisha Dodson Waller (abt.1817-aft.1865), John P Waller & William J. Waller.

Research Notes

There were many people enslaved by Elisha Dodson Jr who ended up being enslaved later than 1846 by other members of his extended family. The following surnames were searched for alternate last names, and who had birth years before 1846, for Ned (Edward) Dodson: Oliver, Boulton and Waller. The search focused on locations near Virginia (especially those contiguous to southern Virginia), like North Carolina, or within a reasonable distance to Halifax.

For 1870, a search was conducted for a formerly enslaved Black man named Ned or Edward Dodson who was living in the southern Virginia area. They include a 50-year-old man who was living in Halifax Virginia. His wife was Julia. This man would have been born in about 1820 and thus would have been 26 in 1846 at the time of being named in Elisha Dodson Jr's will.^[2] In Pittsylvania, Virginia, this Edward Dodson, called Ned and still with a wife named Julia, is shown in the 1880 census. He was enumerated as being 55 years old (thus born in 1815).^[3] This person could very well have been the Ned mentioned in Elisha Dodson Jr's will. After 1880, this Ned (Edward) disappears from the records.

There was another Edward Dodson living in Pittsylvania County, Virginia in 1870. This man was listed as being 40 years old, thus born in 1830. He was listed with several others in his household, but not a wife. This Edward Dodson would have been about 14 when he was named in Elisha Dodson's 1846 will.^[4] Further records about this man have not been found. It is unclear if this man was the one named in the 1846 will.

There was yet a third Edward Dodson found, this time in the 1880 census records for Dinwiddie Virginia. He was 50 years old, and had a wife named Martha Dodson.^[5] Namozine is about 90 miles from Halifax Virginia. It is unclear if this man was the one named in the 1846 will.

Research was conducted to find men who were named Ned or Edward Waller. A Black man named Edward Waller was found living in Richmond Virginia in the 1870 census. His wife was named Mary. He was 35 years old (birth year would be 1835) and thus would have been about 11 years old in Elisha Dodson Jr's 1846 will.^[6] In 1880, he was found as a 48-year-old man (born in 1832) still living in Richmond. This time his wife's name is spelled Marietta (same woman?).^[7] This man could easily have been the one named in Elisha Dodson Jr's 1846 will.

More research needs to be undertaken to discern who was the man named Ned (or Edward) Dodson or Waller and who was enslaved by Elisha Dodson Jr.

Sources

1. ↑ 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 29 August 2023)
2. ↑ 1870 Census: "United States Census, 1870"
   citing Page: 34; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M593; Line: 29; Digital film/folder number: 004268503; FHL microfilm: 000553149; Image number: 132; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01493-6
   FamilySearch Record: MFGS-F8T (accessed 11 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-69G3-3WD
   Edward Dodson (50) head of household in Birch Creek, Halifax, Virginia, United States. Born in Virginia.
3. ↑ 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1880; Census Place: Dan River, Pittsylvania, Virginia; Roll: 1384; Page: 235C; Enumeration District: 170
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6742 #19071608 (accessed 11 October 2023)
   Ned Dodson (55), married, Farm Hand, head of household in Dan River, Pittsylvania, Virginia, USA. Born in Virginia.
4. ↑ 1870 Census: "United States Census, 1870"
   citing Page: 12; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M593; Line: 10; Digital film/folder number: 004268802; FHL microfilm: 000553170; Image number: 128; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01496-7
   FamilySearch Record: MFG1-LCB (accessed 11 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HT-6W9W-3BQ
   Edward Dodson (40) head of household in Pittsylvania, Virginia, United States. Born in Virginia.
5. ↑ 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1880; Census Place: Namozine, Dinwiddie, Virginia; Roll: 1362; Page: 161D; Enumeration District: 082
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6742 #13354865 (accessed 11 October 2023)
   Edward Dodson (50), married, Farm Laborer, head of household in Namozine, Dinwiddie, Virginia, USA. Born in Virginia.
6. ↑ 1870 Census: "United States Census, 1870"
   citing Page: 308; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: M593; Line: 30; Digital film/folder number: 004268785; FHL microfilm: 000553153; Image number: 748; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01495-0
   FamilySearch Record: MFGN-GS7 (accessed 11 October 2023)
   FamilySearch Image: S3HY-DYD3-YPH
   Edward Waller (35) head of household in Richmond, Henrico, Virginia, United States. Born in Virginia.
7. ↑ 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1880; Census Place: Richmond, Henrico, Virginia; Roll: 1371; Page: 115C; Enumeration District: 081
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6742 #13621713 (accessed 11 October 2023)
   Edward Waller (48), married, Hand In Mill, head of household in Richmond, Henrico, Virginia, USA. Born in Virginia.