Fourth Generation

58. Rev. Jesse DODSON⁶⁷ was born on 22 November 1752 in Prince William County, Virginia.⁶⁷ He died on 22 November 1843 at the age of 91 in McMinn County, Tennessee.⁶⁷

Jesse married his first cousin, Ruth, in the early 1770's. Ruth was a daughter of Elisha. Jesse is not found on personal property tax rolls in VA after 1785. He was a member of the Holston River Baptist Church in Hawkins Co TN as early as 1785. Jesse and Ruth were members of Big Spring Baptist Church in Claiborne County [formed from 1801 from Hawkins] and he was chosen pastor in Nov of 1801. They were dismissed by letter in Oct of 1806 and resettled in White/Warren County area of TN. Jesse assisted in organizing several Primitive Baptist Churches in this area. In April of 1822, Bro Dodson was called to preach at Big Spring Church on Mouse Creek in McMinn County.

[email protected]; 13 Aug 2004
Posted by <[email protected]>
Thomas Dodson to son Jesse Dodson, gift of land. Mar 1772

Pittsylvania Co VA DB 7
p.132 14 Dec 1782 Jesse Dodson to George Dodson. 60£. Tract on Jeremiahs Fork of Birches Creek. 250. Begin John Madings Corner; crossing Jeremiahs Fork, head of a hollow, pointers on Maddings line. Signed: Jesse Dodson. Wit: George Dodson, Thomas Shelton, Elisha Dodson, John Bennett, Charles Lewis
21 Dec 1783. Ack by Jesse Dodson
[This would seem to indicate two George Dodsons living in Pittsylvania Co at this time - one would be Jesse's brother, the other George, the brother of Fortunatus & Lazarus, all sons of George & Margaret Dodson. This deed may be about the time when Jesse left Pittsylvania Co.
George later sold this land. p.378 5 Oct 1784 George Dodson to Thomas Hill. 100£. 250 acres. Begin John Madings corner, crossing Jeremiahs Fork. Signed: George Dodson. Wit: Reuben Hill, Moses Hanks, Anne (X) Dodson.
15 Nov 1784 Ack by George Dodson
p.134 Thomas Dodson to Jesse Dodson, one Negro Livernah and her increase for 50£. Signed: Thomas (X) Dodson. Wit: Rawley Dodson. 19 Aug 1783.
21 Oct 1783. Ack by Thomas Dodson

Jesse does not appear on the tax lists of Pittsylvania after 1785. He was found later in Hawkins Co TN.

Buried in Matlock Cemetery, McMinn Co TN.
"In memory of Rev. Jesse Dodson; born November 22, 1752; died November 22, 1843. A minister of the gospel sixty years." (Tombstone record, Estanalle Church.)

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=24933653
"The deceased was born in Halifax County, Va. His first settlement in Tennessee was in Claiborne County. From there he went to Middle Tennessee. In 1819 he came to the Hiwassee Purchase, making a settlement in McMinn County, a few months before the county was "erected." On the Eastanallee is a house still standing, I believe, built ninety-eight years ago by Jesse Dodson.
Soon after his settlement in the Hiwassee district he began pioneer work. He and seven others constituted themselves into the Eastanallee Church. He and Silas Witt organized New Hopewell. He and James Courtney founded the Hiwassee Church. Salem Church was organized by him and Richard Wilson, while he and John Short were co-founders of the Friendship Church. He was preacher to and pastor of these and other churches for many years.
He was of Welsh extraction and had the Welsh fire. He was not trained to methodical sermonizing or systematic exposition of Scripture, but was earnest and fervent in exhortation, and was successful in revivals.
His wife was Ruth Dodson, of the same family lineage of Dodson pastors. Together, Jesse and Ruth raised 12 children whom all followed in their faith.
He lived to preach and exhort sinners to repentance about sixty-one years, and on his 91st birthday died in the triumph of a living faith."

Dodson Family Genealogy Forum
The Rev. Jesse Dodson and his wife Ruth are very well chronicled in the Williams/Lucas book and several other shorter manuscripts. They can be followed into Hawkins/Grainger/Claiborne Cos. of TN about 1800, then to Warren Co. by 1807, and on into McMinn Co. in 1822 where both are buried. Many of their children followed them to McMinn Co. while some chose to stay in Warren Co.
Daughter Elizabeth married Obadiah Jennings
It is said he preached for 60 years and owned 300 acres in the heart of the Eastanolle Valley. He owned 10 slaves which he freed.

There is an undated petition to the Court of McMinn Co, TN. "....Jesse Dodson respectfully showeth that he is the owner of the following negro slaves, whom he is desirous of setting free, that is to say: Cato, Jane, Joshua, Henry Alfred, Fanny, Milley, Lettie and Harriett as the act of assembly requires ...that he has long been impressed with the injustice of slavery, that his negroes, at least those who are adult have always conducted themselves in a manner entirely satisfactory to him. That in the ordianry course of events he cannot remain long on the earth and cannot fortell what manner of masters his said negroes might have after his death...
Two of the slaves named in the will of Ruth's father that were to be divided among eight of his children were Milley & Lettey. In the 1850 Census, McMinn, TN is Letty Dotson, age 33, with Mary, age 3 and Emile, age 1 - all marked as Black. This could not possibly be the slave mentioned in the 1791 will, although it is likely the slave freed by Jesse.

Rev. Jesse DODSON and Ruth DODSON were married.⁵³ Ruth DODSON¹, daughter of ELISHA DODSON and SARAH EVERETT, was born on 25 December 1754 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. She died on 22 November 1828 at the age of 73 in McMinn County, Tennessee. She was buried at Matlock Cemetery in Athens, McMinn County, Tennessee.⁶⁸

Married Jesse Dodson, son of Thomas.

Find A Grave Memorial# 24933657
Buried Matlock Cemetery, Athens, McMinn Co, TN

Twin sons, Elisha and Elijah were born 27 Sep 1785. Elijah died 1858 and is buried Reliance Cemetery, Polk Co, TN - although it says he died in Warren Co, TN. Elijah's wife was Sallie McGregor, b. 1792, d. 1862, Warren Co TN.
Find A Grave Memorial# 39465785

Rev. Jesse DODSON and Ruth DODSON had the following children: