When I began this article on Richard Dotson and his family, I really thought it would be such an easy article to write. Growing up near Greenwood, I had heard about the Dotson Land Grants my entire life. Little did I know there would be so much information (some conflicting). I decided to simply brief our interested readers on the facts as we know them. Time and space do not allow for a detailed story of this great man’s life.
First, I want to discuss the surname Dotson and its first use in recorded history. Keep in mind a surname can be derived from several origins: for example, the occupation of a person. Someone named “Smith” could be from the occupation of a blacksmith, tinsmith, and silversmith etc. It can also be derived based on the location from which you came, or even a description of a person and other influences.
The only way to be certain of your family heritage is to have your family line researched by a professional genealogist, a costly but worthy investment for those who can afford to have it done.
According to the House of Frames in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, the surname Dotson was first found in Cheshire, but “there appears to be no post-Conquest traces of the Dodeson; the modern Dodson is due to a simplification of the medial ‘dgs’ or Dodgson.” There is no doubt that the “son” suffix denoted a patronymic extension of the root name “Dodd” or “Dodge.” In the case of the former, Dodd is derived from the “Middle English personal name Dode, Dudde, Old English Dodda, Dudda, which remained in fairly widespread and frequent use in England until the 14th century.
The surname Dotson is specific to the Cornwall area, and can be traced back to 1581, with a William Dotson, who was christened in Mawgan in Meneage, Cornwall. The specific evolution to the name Dotson, in Heye, Cornwall, was awarded a family Coat of Arms, but it is important to know that there can be multiple Coat of Arms for the same surname. Some of the people with the surname Dotson later moved to Ireland and Scotland. In Scotland, those with the Dotson surname are mainly located in Lanarkshire County. In Wales, those with the surname Dotson are mainly found in the Eastern part of the country.
The Dotson English immigrants found America a popular destination. In the seventeenth century, Abra Dotson came to the United States in 1663, and landed in the state of Virginia.
Today there are approximately 35,406 individuals living in the United States with the surname Dotson. Most of those with the surname Dotson in Doddridge County can trace their lineage to Richard Dotson.
What do we know about Richard Dotson before he arrived in Doddridge County and in particular, Greenwood?
As we learned last week, Richard Dotson was living in Shenandoah County, VA (Called Fredrick at the time of his birth and changed to Dunmore County in 1778). He resided there for about 20 years until about 1772. We know that he returned there for a “few” years after his military service. About that time, approximately 1772, he married Sarah Jeanne Hollyday. However, it isn’t clear if they were married in Virginia or in Greene County, PA in 1772.
In 1774, Richard Dotson became a father for the first time with Peter. Soon after he again served a tour of duty under the command of Lord Dunmore. He was at Camp Charlotte near Chillicothe, OH at the signing of the peace treaty between the British and the Native Americans (Chief Logan of the Mingo Tribe, and Chief Cornstalk of the Shawnee Tribe, and others). After his tour was ended, he returned to his Sarah Jeanne and his family.
In 1777 (known as the year of the bloody sevens), Richard entered the U.S. Military again as a volunteer Indian Spy under the command of Capt. John Minor. He served 6 months that time and again returned home to PA. He served twice more in the service of the American Military, both in 1778 and 1779.
It was during this time that he and his wife were visiting the Smith home and encountered the terrible Indian attack that was said to have taken the lives of 2 of his children (Peter and Sarah). The account of this attack was given in last week’s article.
During the time of their marriage, 5 children were born to them. Peter, who was believed to have been killed at the Smith home by Indians; William who was about 9 years old and survived the attack; Sarah, who is believed to have been killed by the Indians who attacked the Smith home; Nancy, who was not born at the time of the attack; and Emanuel, who was born on March 1, 1798 at Greenwood, 6 years after the Indian attack. After which time, Sarah Jeanne Hollyday Dotson died between 1786 and 1792.
The Richard Dotson Genealogy is well documented, and I shall not attempt to repeat it, except to say that he was married 4 times. The following 3 wives and their children are as follows:
Mary Kesler (2nd wife) was born in VA abt. 1750. They are believed to have been married in Hampshire County, VA about 1792 or 1793. To them 4 children were born: Richard JR was born in 1794 in VA; Elisha was born in 1795 in VA; Joseph was born in 1796; and James was born in 1797. It wasn’t long before tragedy struck in Richard’s life again. Mary died sometime after the birth of her youngest child, James, which was 1797.
After the death of Mary, Richard married his 3rd wife, Amelia Miller. Nicknamed “Millie”. Richard moved his family to Maryland. While married to “Millie,” Richard fathered 6 more children. They were: Zachariah who was born 1798 in Md.; Margaret “Peg” who was also born in Md; Thomas was born in 1802; Thomas was believed to have been born in 1802 in Md. as well; Ruth born in 1803, and Elizabeth born in 1806.
Death again comes to Richard’s family as he suffers the loss of his 3rd wife, Amelia “Millie” in 1810. She was 35 yrs. old. One could not imagine such pain and suffering as this man endured, losing three wives in one lifetime.
But as fate would have it, Richard Dotson marries for the fourth time to Naomi Villers Gregg between 1806 and 1810.
Naomi Villers Gregg (4th and final wife of Richard Dotson) was married to Richard on or about 1811. She was born in 1772. Richard and Naomi had 5 children. They were Michael who was born on 1812, Ann, born abt. 1814, Naomi born 1816, Lewis, was born abt. 1819, and Lydia who was the youngest child for Richard. She was born in 1822. He would have been 70 years old that the time of her birth.
In total, Richard Dotson is said to have had 20 children between the four wives that touched his life. The first one was born to him when he was about 22 years old. When the last child was born, he was 70 years old.
Richard Dotson moved to Wood County, VA (now WV) about 1802 or 1803. (It’s important to note that the Greenwood area of Doddridge County would have been part of Wood County at that time. Then, became part of Ritchie County and ultimately part of Doddridge County as it remains today.) Documents corroborating these facts are scarce and even conflicting at times.
Hardesty’s writing in 1883, in the history of Doddridge County, Central District (though containing several errors) states:
“The first settler was Richard Dotson, who entered 600 acres of land, and in 1802 built his cabin near where Thomas Scott now resides. His earliest neighbors were James Scott, Nathan Davis, the Arnods (Arnolds), Lottridges, Haltermans, Ruddecks and Fergusons. The first white child born in this district was Ruth Dotson, a daughter of Richard and Millie Dotson…First religious discourse…1808 at house of Richard Dotson…”
Where were these acres of land, you ask? He gave 2 large tracts to his 2 older sons, William, and Emanuel. The Dotson land that makes up most of Greenwood was once a part of this Dotson Land Grant. The small stream that runs through Greenwood is named Dotson Run after Richard Dotson himself. Much of the land traveling through lower Long Run was part of the Dotson Land Grant as well as much of what if now Toll Gate.
Did you know that the first Religious discourse ever delivered in this area was by a travelling Hebrew in the year 1808, was given at Richard Dotson’s house?
I found an interesting story about Richard told by his great grandson, I. S. Dotson. I’d like to share with you.
“My great grandfather (Richard Dotson) had a friend living near Sutton. His name was Mr. Sutton and the town, Sutton, W.Va. was named for him. Grandfather went to Sutton to hunt on this tract of land. I do not know the length of his stay… but while there, he killed 63 bears. Mr. Sutton kept the bear meat for his share… grandad brought home the bear hides for his share. “Old Dobbin,” the horse, pulled the sled from Sutton to Toll Gate. Grandad and “Old Dobbin” took the hides to Parkersburg, W.Va. and sold them to a Flat Boat Man and he took them to New Orleans, La., and they were put on the world market.”
Richard Dotson died at the home of his son, James Dotson, on Arnold’s Creek known as Long Run, near Greenwood. He was almost 95 years of age.
What an amazing life…What an amazing story. I regret that space does not allow for the full details of this man’s life to be told. So many of Doddridge County’s citizens can trace their lineage to this brave, larger than life pioneer man.
If you want to know more about this man and his contributions to this area, I recommend that you read the following sources:
Dotson, James M & Barr Wilson, “Richard Dotson and his Descendants.”
Williams, Mrs. Sherman, “The Dodson (Dotson) Family of North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, VA: A History and Genealogy of their Descendants, Lucas, Silas Emmett Jr., publisher.
Wilson, Bar, “Richard Dotson and His Descendants”, 1983
The Doddridge County Historical Society has a digital copy of “Richard Dotson and his Descendants”. Please contact us at 304 873-1540 or email us at: [email protected] if you are interested in this story or would like to make corrections that you can verify. We always appreciate any and all assistance while we protect and preserve our sacred history.
God Bless.
Patricia Richards Harris