My Pioneer Families
Pioneer Dodsons in the parent county of Bedford Pennsylvania
There are records of Dodsons in Chester County PA as early as the 1720's. Some Dodson families remained in that county until the time of the Revolutionary War, when we find Dodsons migrating into Northampton County Pennsylvania and later into Luzerne County Pennsylvania, where there are many descendants. These counties are in the eastern portion of Pennsylvania. Bedford County was created in 1771. Several later counties were created from Bedford including Huntingdon in 1787. Cambria was created in 1804 from portions of Huntingdon and Bedford. Blair County was taken from Bedford and Huntingdon in 1846. Areas that later formed Blair, Cambria and Indiana counties were where the Dodsons originally settled. From census records showing birth locations for parents, as well as family histories, it appears that the pioneer Dodson settlers in this area of Pennsylvania came from Maryland. There is one earlier reference to Dodson lands in Bedford County. A patent for an Edmund Milne dated June 4, 1785 mentions a Robert Dodson in Bedford County PA. No other records of a Robert Dodson have been found in Bedford County.
In the early 1790's, when Bedford County was being settled, we find Dodsons with ties to Frederick County Maryland. Many descendants believe the tie back to Chester County seems to be through a Michael Dodson born about 1722, who was originally from Chester County. Michael married Ann Evans of Chester County and migrated about 1758 to Frederick County Maryland where he stayed until at least 1783. It's important to note that no records have been found for any children of Michael and Ann Dodson, and although many believe that this Michael Dodson was the progenitor of the Dodsons who settled in Bedford County and the surrounding area, these parent-son relationships have not been documented. Thomas Dodson, John Dodson, Michael Dodson, William Dodson and Joseph Dodson are claimed to be possible sons. A William Dodson from Maryland settled in Huntingdon County Pennsylvania which later became Somerset and later Cambria County. He served in the Revolutionary War in Maryland and may have come to Pennsylvania as early as 1788 with Michael McGuire who established a settlement later know as Loretto in Cambria County. That is where William lived and died. Whether he was a son of Michael and Ann Evans Dodson is unknown. Connections to the Bedford Dodsons is also unknown.
A history of Bedford County reports "there were few other residents until after the Revolution. Even then there were not many, but they included Henry Bennett, John Barnhart, Adam Black, the Dodson and Justice families, Henry, David, John and Joseph Walter." It has been reported that the Dodson family "came to this region in the early 1790s". And that Michael Dodson established his homestead near the head of what became known as Dodson's Run and was first assessed for taxes in the year 1792. Family tradition states that John Dodson built a log house that still stands. Some of the residents of Greenfield Township of Bedford County (now Blair) in 1798 included: John Dodson, Joseph Dodson, Michael Dodson Jr, Michael Dodson Sr, Thomas Dodson, and Nicholas Justice who married Elizabeth Dodson 27 Jan 1787 in Frederick County Maryland. In the 1800 census of Bedford County we also find those five Dodson households. The two oldest Dodsons were Thomas and John who are over age 45, born before 1755. The next two are Joseph and Michael who are showing as ages 26 to 45, being born between 1755 and 1774. Michael Jr is showing as age 16 to 26 being born between 1774 and 1784.
There is a record in Frederick County Maryland: "19 Apr. 1797, chancery, to obtain decree to sell Justices Delight, Frederick County: Joseph, John, Jesse, Griff, Nicholas & Aquilla Justice, Michael & wife Margaret Dodson, David & wife Catharine Justice, David & wife Susannah White vs. Jacob, Hanse, & William Justice & Elizabeth Burchfield, defendants all residing out of state." Nicholas Justice married an Elizabeth Dodson (documented) and Michael Dodson appears to have married a Margaret Justice.
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John Dodson shows in the1800 census of Bedford County with 1 male under 10, 1 male age 10 to 16, one male 16 to 26, 1 female under 10, 1 female 10 to 16 and 1 female 16 to 26 and 1 female age 45 and over. John Dodson, age 57, is listed as a taxable in Greenfield Township, Bedford County PA in 1814. It is not known if this is the same John who was in the Revolutionary War, who served from Maryland as a private. This is probably the John Dodson who died in 1816 in Greenfield Township in Bedford, now Blair County, PA. It is said that he is buried in the Dodson Cemetery in East Freedom Township in Blair County, but there is no marker.
WILL OF JOHN DODSON
In the name of God, Amen. I, John Dodson, Sr., of Greenfield Township, Bedford
County, Pennsylvania, being sick and weak in body but of sound and disposing
mind, memory and understanding, considering the certainty of death, and the
uncertainty of the time thereof, and being desirous to settle my worldly
affairs, and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall
please God to call me hence, do therefore make and publish this my Last Will and
Testament, in manner and form following, that is to say -
First and principal, I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God and my
body to the earth, to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executrix
hereinafter named and after my debts and funeral charges are paid I devise and
bequeath as follows.
I give and bequeath my plantation whereon I now dwell containing one hundred
and four acres and allowance to my loving wife during her life and all the
profits arising from the same during her said life and one little sorrel mare
and saddle and two cows, one ewe and lamb, two feather beds, her choice, and all
the small grain now in my possession after harvest is paid out and to keep all
her bodily clothing to herself and household furniture and two beehives and the
hay in the strait mow I also devise further after my said loving wife's decease
that my sons Michael Dodson, William Dodson and John Dodson my daughters Mary
Cassidy, Susannah Potter and Elizabeth Bridendoll, my lawful children, shall go
share and share alike in all my real and personal property, to be equally
divided by my Executrix hereinafter named.
I also further devise if my said son John Dodson shall make any building or
fencing on the place in my said loving wife's life that he does not get paid for
when it is divided among my loving children after my wife's decease, then he
shall draw pay for the same.
I also devise to my loving wife, the barrow she always called hers.
And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint John Barnhart and my son John
Dodson, to be sole executrix of this my last will and testament, revoking and
annulling all former wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this
and no other to be my last will and testament.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 29th day of
July, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifteen.
Signed, sealed, published and declared by John Dodson for the above named
testator, as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us, who at
his request, in the presence Of each other, have subscribed our names as
witnesses thereto.
Signed JOHN X (his mark) DODSON (seal)
Michael X (his mark) Dodson
John Bennet
John Barnhart renounced his Executorship on April 19, 1816 with a witness being David Mann. Also on April 19, 1816, Michael Dodson was granted Letters Testamentary. Letters of Administration de bonis non, were granted to Michael Dodson, the will having been annexed.
Source: Bedford Co., Pa. Will Book #1, page 459From another source: Said to be from a family Bible listing John'children:
Michael Dodson was Born August 177?
William Dodson Was Born September the 24 1777
Mary Dodson Was Born August the 1 1779
Thomas Dodson Was Born September the 23 1782
Susannah Dodson Was Born August the 10 1784
Elizabeth Dodson Was Born October the 8 1786
John Dodson Was Born September the 1 1788
Elijah Dodson Was Born April the 27 1790
Joseph Dodson Was Born April the 28 1792* * * *
There is a Michael Dodson appearing in the 1790 census of Frederick County Maryland with 2 males over 16 and 1 female. There are two Michaels in Bedford County, Pennsylvania in the 1800 census. One is age 26 to 45 and the other is age 16 to 26. The older Michael has 3 males ages 0 to 10 and one female over age 45. There is a third Michael Dodson born 6 September 1751 who was a Revolutionary War soldier who applied for and received a Revolutionary War pension in Greenfield Township, Bedford County, for his service in Captain Jacob Good's Company. He enlisted at Taney Town, MD. It is not known when this Revolutionary War soldier Michael came to Pennsylvania, but from his Revolutionary War pension we do have quite a bit of information about him. It is not known if or when he married or if he had children.
The younger Michael, referred to as Michael Jr was the son of John as indicated by the above records of his children. There were two other Michael Dodsons in Bedford County of about the same age; the soldier who died in Bedford County in 1830, and a second Michael born 10 May 1759 who died in 1828 in Ohio. It is not certain, but it appears that the Michael born in 1759 is the Michael in the early records of Bedford County and the soldier arrived later. The two Michaels in the 1800 census appear to be the Michael born 1759 and the Michael who was the son of John, mentioned above. It is also believed that the Michael born 1759 is probably the one who was married to Margaret Justice, but this has not been verified.
There is a Michael Dodson, farmer, age 53 listed as a taxable in 1814 in Bedford, Greenfield Township, PA.
There is record of a deed to Samuel Riddle 29 Jun 1816, for 100 acres of unseated land in the name of Michael Dodson situated in Greenfield Twp sold for county tax (25¢) (for the years 1808 and 1810) due thereon. Consideration: $5.25.Source: Treasurer Deeds, Bedford County, Common Pleas Docket 1, p. 54, Bedford County, PA. This may be the non-resident Michael, believed to be the soldier.
In a write-up in the Altoona Mirror on October 12, 1906: “The next generation was Michael Dodson, born May 10, 1759. He served in the War of 1812. He emigrated to Ohio in 1827, and died there, May 15, 1828, aged sixty-nine years and five days. Margaret Dodson, his wife, died February 15, 1834, aged seventy-four years, eleven months and thirteen days.”
It is believed that Michael went to Ohio and lived with his son Joseph about whom it is written: "Joseph Dottson, son of above, was born in Blair county, Pa., April 2, 1794, was reared a farmer, and there married Margaret Justice, a daughter of Jesse Justice. Some years after marriage the family came to Ohio and settled in Muskingum county, purchasing eighty acres in Morgan county adjoining, but, through lending his money, or by going security, Mr. Dottson lost this land and all else he possessed. He then moved to Athens county, and in October, 1853 came to Putnam county and bought a tract of eighty acres of government land in Monterey township. . . "
However, this same article may have confused the two Michaels: "Michael Dottson (as he spelled the surname), was a native of the state (or colony) named, {Maryland} and was a son of William Dottson, a native of England, who was a sailor in the merchant marine service, married to a Welsh lady and early settled in Maryland. Tradition relates that he was a man of remarkable physical strength, and could handle a burden that required the strength of four ordinary men to cope with. His son, Michael Dottson, enlisted in Maryland in the army of Washington when but seventeen years of age, fought at Brandywine and Germantown (now a part of Philadelphia, Pa.), and served through the entire war. After his return from the heroic struggle he married and became the father of five children: John, Joseph, Thomas, Samuel and Annie, all of whom, however, were born in Blair county, Pa., whither Michael moved immediately after his marriage and cleared up a farm of 200 acres; he was a captain in the state militia. Some years later he came to Ohio and lived in Muskingum county with his son Joseph, the father of our subject, and died either in Muskingum or Morgan county.
How much of this information written in 1896 is accurate is unknown. A William Dottson may or may not have been the parent of Michael. If he were, then it's possible that the other Michael born 1751 was a son of Michael and Ann Evans Dodson - or neither was a son. This William may not be the same William listed in the tax lists for Bedford County because he is the William in the 1800 census of Huntingdon/Cambria/Allegheny District showing a William Dodson with 3 sons ages 0 to 10, 1 son 10 to 16, and 1 male age 26 to 45 (born 1755 to 1774). There is also 1 female age 0 to 10 and 1 female 26 to 45.
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It is believed that the William who settled in Greenfield Township in Bedford Pennsylvania and shows in the tax listings below was the son of John Dodson listed in the Bible record above and named in his father's will. This is consistent with his age listed in 1814 as 37. From a family history: "William, better known as Red Bill on account of his red hair, was a brother to John and Thomas who lived in the Sweits, a hamlet close to the old John Dodson homestead. He was married to Rhuey Spraugh. They had children, Abisha, William, Jenny, Mary and Peggy. That is all by that union. Red Bill had an old flint lock gun which he traded to the Indians for some land. This land was bound on the west by Blue Knob, on the east by the road from East Freedom to Claysburg; from the north at John Dodson homestead on the south and east by property of Honus Ickes. This land took in all of Turkey Ridge & east, south to a great distance. He moved to a farm near the Bedford highway where he died at a very advanced age. This farm was later owned by Black Abe Dodson. Red Bill was wealthy. He would hide his money in a hollow limb of a tree. He had not been educated and had Squire Abe Lingenfelter transact all of his business. Squire Abe was a county clerk iof Blair County. He was a well known penman. His penmanship is on exhibit in the Blair County Court House (at the time of this account.) Red Bill was married a second time to Hannah Ickes (evans). They had two children John and Roxana. He was over 80 when he died and was buried at the Pressel Graveyard, near Claysburg."
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Another person claimed to be a son of Michael and Ann Evans Dodson is Joseph Dodson. There is a Frederick County land transfer dated 1784, showing Christian Champer obtained property from Joseph Dodson. However, there was another Joseph Dodson in Frederick County Maryland who was a different and older Joseph Dodson, who married a Catherine Plain and migrated to Fayette County PA between 1790 and 1800.
In the 1800 census of Bedford County, Hopewell and Woodberry Township is a Joseph who is age 26 to 44 - born between 1756 and 1774 and a female of the same age. There is also one male and one female under the age of 10. The other Joseph from Frederick County, MD is showing in the 1800 census for Fayette County, PA.In 1814 a Joseph Dodson age 48 is listed as a taxable in the twp of Greenfield, Bedford PA and a farmer and shoemaker. At age 48, his birth would be around 1766. It has been said that he died in Indiana County, PA around 1758 but no documentation of his death has been found. He is probably the Joseph Dodson in the 1850 census in Armstrong township, Indiana County, PA living with son Thomas. Joseph is showing as age 81 born in Maryland, making a year of birth as 1769.
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Thomas Dodson may be related to the other Dodsons, but it is not certain. He appears in the 1800 census of Bedford County and he is showing as over 45, born before 1755. He has 1 male under 10, 1 between 10 and 15; there is one female over 45 and 1 female age 16 to 25. In 1814 a Thomas is listed as a taxable in Greenfield Township, Bedford County. He is showing as a farmer and cooper, age 68, making his birth around 1746. A Thomas Dodson is also in the 1830 census in Greenfield Township indicating he was in his 80’s and wife was in her 70’s, which suggests this is the same Thomas. He died the 24th of May, 1831, and is buried in the Dodson Cemetery, Greenfield Township, now Blair County showing age 90 years 13 days. His children are said to be Joseph and possibly others. There is also a suggestion that this Thomas came to Bedford County from Cumberland/Franklin Pennsylvania, and his son Joseph born was born about 1792 in Pennsylvania, not Maryland. Some have claimed this Thomas to be the one who served in the Revolutionary War from Pennsylvania. Since that Thomas received a pension in Shenandoah County, VA for his service, and died in Shenandoah county over 5 years before this Thomas died, that information is incorrect.
Records of Early Dodsons in Bedford County and Vicinity
Formation of Pennsylvania Counties helps show the early counties and which counties were formed from Bedford.
Thanks to Jim Bengle for much of the research done to gather the early tax records shown below.
Notes: Generally tax lists showed white males age 21 and over. A person on a tax list would fall into one of the following categories:
1. Freeman (usually a single male who did not own land);
2. Inmate (usually a non-landowner, such as a renter),
3. Landowner with acreage with livestock listed
4. Non-resident landowner.
5. A widow of a former landowner will show in a list.
6. Elderly, poor or infirmed may not show on lists.Greenfield and Woodbury Townships of Bedford County eventually became a part of Blair County.
See an interactive map of Blair County and the location of the townships.
Date County Township Name Other Information
1798 Bedford Woodbury John Owner, House, 150 acres
Bedford Woodbury Michael Owner House 100 acres
Bedford Woodbury Michael Occupant, miller, Owner, house 150 acres
Bedford Woodbury Thomas Occupant - Miller - Owner House, 150 acres
1799 Bedford Greenfield John 150 acres, 2 horses, 2 cows
Bedford Greenfield Joseph 400 acres, 0 horse, 0 cow
Bedford Greenfield Michael Dotsen - Non resident - 40 acres
Bedford Greenfield Michael Jun 150 acres, 0 horses, 0 cows
Bedford Greenfield Michael Sen 100 acres, 30 clear, 1 horse, 3 cows
Bedford Greenfield Thomas 150 acres, 3 clear, 0 horse, 1 cow
1802 Bedford Greenfield John 150 acres warrant
Bedford Greenfield Joseph 100 acres improvements
Bedford Greenfield Michael 100 acres improvements
Bedford Greenfield Michael Jun 200 acres improvement
Bedford Greenfield Thomas 150 acres improvement
Bedford Greenfield William 200 acres improvement
1805 Bedford Greenfield John 150 acres warrant
Bedford Greenfield Joseph 100 acres improvements
Bedford Greenfield Michael Non Resident
Bedford Greenfield Michael Jun 150 acres improvement
Bedford Greenfield Michael Sen 100 acres warrant
Bedford Greenfield William 200 acres improvement
1808 Bedford Greenfield John 147 acre Patent Farmer
Bedford Greenfield Joseph No acres listed 1 horse 1 cow
Bedford Greenfield Micahel 140 acre patent Farmer
Bedford Greenfield Michael 100 acre improvement Farmer
Bedford Greenfield Thomas 150 acres improvement Farmer
Bedford Greenfield William 200 acres improvement Farmer
1809 Bedford Greenfield John
Bedford Greenfield Joseph
Bedford Greenfield Michael
Bedford Greenfield Michael
Bedford Greenfield Michael Non Resident
Bedford Greenfield Thomas
Bedford Greenfield William
1810 Bedford Greenfield Capt Michael
Bedford Greenfield John
Bedford Greenfield John Single Freeman
Bedford Greenfield Joseph
Bedford Greenfield Michael
Bedford Greenfield Michael
Bedford Greenfield Thomas
Bedford Greenfield William
1811 Bedford Greenfield Capt Michael 50 acre Patent
Bedford Greenfield John Single Freeman
Bedford Greenfield John (younger) 160 acres improvements
Bedford Greenfield John Sen 150 acres patent
Bedford Greenfield Joseph 150 acre warrant
Bedford Greenfield Michael 170 acre patent
Bedford Greenfield Thomas 150 acres improvements
Bedford Greenfield William 200 acres improvements
1814 Bedford Greenfield Capt Michael 50 patent 104 warrant
Bedford Greenfield John 150 acres patent
Bedford Greenfield John Census Returns Farmer Age 57
Bedford Greenfield John Jun 160 acres
Bedford Greenfield John Jun Census Returns Farmer Age 26
Bedford Greenfield Joseph 300 acres warrant
Bedford Greenfield Joseph Single Freeman
Bedford Greenfield Joseph Census Returns Farmer & Shoemaker age 48
Bedford Greenfield Joseph Jun Census Returns Farmer Age 21
Bedford Greenfield Michael Census Returns Farmer Age 53
Bedford Greenfield Thomas 150 acre warrant
Bedford Greenfield Thomas Census Returns Farmer & Cooper age 68
Bedford Greenfield William 200 acres improvements
Bedford Greenfield William Census Returns Farmer Age 37
1817 Bedford Greenfield John 1 horse 1 cow
Bedford Greenfield Joseph 150 a improved
Bedford Greenfield Joseph
Bedford Greenfield Michael 155 acres Patent 260 acres improved
Bedford Greenfield Thomas 150 acres improved
Bedford Greenfield William 400 acres Improved
1820 Bedford Greenfield Jno of Michael - labour
Bedford Greenfield John 104 a patent Schoolmaster
Bedford Greenfield Joseph of Thomas - farmer
Bedford Greenfield Joseph 50 a of Michael - farmer
Bedford Greenfield Joseph Sen 50 acres improved - Farmer
Bedford Greenfield Micahel 151 a Patent 260 improved
Bedford Greenfield Thomas 150 acres improved - farmer
Bedford Greenfield Widow of John Dodson
Bedford Greenfield William 300 acres improved - farmer
1823 Bedford Greenfield John 104 patent
Bedford Greenfield John Cpt Son
Bedford Greenfield Joseph Capt son 100 a improved
Bedford Greenfield Joseph S 1 cow
Bedford Greenfield Joseph Sen 70 acres - shoemaker
Bedford Greenfield Michael Capt 150 a patent 260 improved
Bedford Greenfield Nicholas Single Freeman
Bedford Greenfield Thomas 150 a improved - Cooper
Bedford Greenfield Thomas Single Freeman
Bedford Greenfield William 300 acres improved
Bedford Greenfield William Single Freeman
1824 Bedford Greenfield John
Bedford Greenfield John Capt Son
Bedford Greenfield Joseph Capt son
Bedford Greenfield Joseph S
Bedford Greenfield Joseph Sen
Bedford Greenfield Michael Capt
Bedford Greenfield Nicholas Single Freeman
Bedford Greenfield Thomas
Bedford Greenfield William
Bedford Greenfield William Single Freeman
1825 Bedford Greenfield John
Bedford Greenfield John Capt Son
Bedford Greenfield Joseph Capt son
Bedford Greenfield Joseph S
Bedford Greenfield Joseph Sen
Bedford Greenfield Michael
Bedford Greenfield Thomas
Bedford Greenfield William
Bedford Greenfield William Single Freeman
1826 Bedford Greenfield John Capt Son
Bedford Greenfield Joseph Dr 40 a improved
Bedford Greenfield Joseph S
Bedford Greenfield Michael Capt 104 a patent 260 a improved for landlord
Bedford Greenfield Nicholas
Bedford Greenfield Thomas Jr
Bedford Greenfield Thomas Sr 204 a Improved
Bedford Greenfield Widow 104 a Warrant
Bedford Greenfield William Single Freeman
Bedford Greenfield William 300 a impr 129 impr for land lord
1827 Bedford Greenfield John Capt Son
Bedford Greenfield Joseph Capt son
Bedford Greenfield Joseph S
Bedford Greenfield Joseph Sr Moved to Indiana County, PA
Bedford Greenfield Michael Capt
Bedford Greenfield Nicholas Moved to Indiana County, PA
Bedford Greenfield Thomas Jr
Bedford Greenfield Thomas Sr
Bedford Greenfield Widow
Bedford Greenfield WilliamIndiana County formed in 1803 from Lycoming and Westmoreland Counties; Cambria County was formed in 1804 from Huntingdon, Somerset and Bedford.
1827 Indiana Blacklick Nicholas Only Dodson on List
1829 Indiana Blacklick John, Michael, William single freeman and Richard
1830 Cambria Allegheny Andrew, Richard, Samuel and William
1830 Indiana Blacklick John, Michael, Nicholas, and William
1831 Indiana Blacklick John, Michael Removed, Nicholas and William
1832 Indiana Blacklick James, John, Nicholas and William
1833 Indiana Blacklick Elisabeth, James, John, William blacksmith
1836 Indiana Blacklick James, John and William, blacksmith.
1837 Indiana Mahoning Richard, Richard Sr. and William
1838 Indiana Blacklick Nicholas Only Dodson on List
1838 Indiana Mahoning Joseph, Richard, Richard Sr. and William
1839 Indiana Mahoning Joseph, Richard Sr., and William
1841 Indiana Mahoning Joseph, Richard, Richard Sr., and William
1842 Indiana Mahoning Joseph, Richard E, Richard Sr., William, blacksmith
1843 Indiana Mahoning Joseph, Richard E, Richard Sr., William Removed
1846 Indiana W Mahoning Richard