See also Sarah Young, Clement Young, George Young, Charles & Maria Hughes, Samuel Green.
A deed from 1844 refers to land which Henry Nicolls willed to Sarah Young, and in line to Rossett, Clem, and George, three of the said Sarah's children. The 1832 Will clearly states that Clem and George were Sarah's children. However, the Will did not specify the relationship between Sarah and Rosette.
The 1850 and 1860 indicate that Rosette was born between 1806 and 1810 in Maryland.
1 THH 27 - 15 March 1832 / 21 March 1832 - Will of Henry
Nicols
Item - It is my will and desire that my negro woman
called Sarah and negro girl Rosette be free at my death which I
do hereby manumit and set free.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my said negro woman
Sarah, all that lot of ground with a small house thereon and
containing about seven acres of land and lying back of the Methodist
Meeting House, and I also give and bequeath unto said
negro Sarah, a lot or parcel of land which I
purchased of Jeremiah Bramble and adjoining the lands of Morris Roach,
Henry Bradley and Daniel Sullivan, containing about 35 acres of land
more or less. All of the said parcels of land I give and bequeath unto
Sarah during her lifetime and after her
decease I give and bequeath the same to negro girl Rosette who I here
herein set free during her lifetime and after her death I give and
bequeath the same to my negro Clem and negro
George, children of the said negro Sarah, or the survivor of them
and their heirs forever.
1840 Census, New Market, Dorchester Co., MD, pg
Peter Dodson - free negroes - 3 males under 10, 1 male 36-55,
1 female
under 10, 1 female 24-36, 1 female 55-100
Rosette is first mentioned as the wife of Peter Dodson in an 1844 land record. However, she likely was the female mentioned as age 24-36 in the 1840 Census record for Peter Dodson. The female who was age 55-100 in the Dodson record was possibly Sarah Young.
2 WJ 114 - 20 August 1844 - Sarah Young, Rossett M Dodson & Peter Dodson, her husband, Clem Young & Rossett, his wife, and George Young to Jeffry Stanley, William Parker, Clem Young, Richard Moore, Peter Dodson, Charles Hughes, and Samuel Green, Trustees for the colored peoples Methodist Episcopal Church for East New Market...
Peter and Rosette Dodson moved to Baltimore by 1845.
1845 Baltimore City Directory
Dobson, Major, laborer, 35 Sugar al
Dobson, Peter, laborer, 35 Sugar al
1847-1848 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, Peter, laborer, 28 Sugar alley
In 1848 the Dodson family acquired the 7 acre lot and part of the 35 acre lot that Sarah Young was bequeathed in the Will of Henry Nicols. By 1849 they sold their part of Sarah Young's 35 acre lot to John Webster.
1850 Census, 17th Ward, Baltimore City, 29 July 1850 Dwelling #852, Household #1060 name age color occupation birthplace Peter Dodson 40 black laborer Maryland Rosetta Dodson 43 black Maryland John H. Dodson 20 black sailor Maryland Peter Dodson Jr. 18 black sailor Maryland Thomas J. Dodson 16 black waiter Maryland Harriett E. Dodson 9 black Maryland
1852-1864 Tax Record
Peter Dodson (negro) of Baltimore
House & lot 7 acres $200
1860 Census, 17th Ward, Baltimore City, 11 June 1860 Dwelling #50, Household #74 name age color occupation birthplace Peter Dodson 52 black laborer Maryland Rosetta Dodson 50 black Maryland Peter Dodson 25 black Maryland Harriett Dodson 19 black Maryland
1863 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, Peter, confectioner, 146 hill, dw 144
Dodson, Peter, Jr., 144 hill
1864 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, Peter, confectioner, 146 hill, dw 144
Dodson, Peter, Jr., 144 hill
1865 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, John, laborer, 28 slemmer's ct
Dodson, Peter, confectionery, 162 henrietta
Dodson, Peter Jr., 162 henrietta
Around 1865, the Dodson family sold the 7 acre lot once owned by Sarah Young.
1867 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, Peter, laborer, 162 henrietta
1868 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, John, laborer, 87 elbow la
Dodson, Peter, laborer, 162 henrietta
1870 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, John, laborer, 87 elbow la
Dodson, Peter, laborer, 184 s howard
1871 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, Peter, lab., Peach al nr Henrietta
1872 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, Peter, lab., 65 Leadenhall
Dodson, Mary A. laund., 65 Leadenhall
1874 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, John, laborer, 75 Iceland al
Dodson, Peter, lab., 162 Henrietta
Dodson, Mary A. laund., 162 Henrietta
1875 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, Peter, lab., 162 Henrietta
Dodson, Mary A. laund., 162 Henrietta
1878 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, Peter, lab., 1 Leadenhall
Dodson, Mary A. laund., 1 Leadenhall
Rosetta Dodson likely died before 1872 as Mary A. Dodson began appearing in directory listings with Peter Dodson. The 1880 Census provides more information about Mary Dodson.
1880 Census, 15th Ward, Baltimore City, 4 June 1880 Dwelling #96, Household #127 name rel. age color occupation birth Father Mother Peter Dodson 72 black laborer MD MD MD Mary A. Dodson wife 58 mulatto MD MD MD
1883 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, Peter, lab., 11 Leadenhall
1885 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, Peter, lab., 11 Leadenhall
1886 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, Peter, lab., 11 Leadenhall
Dodson, Peter, lab. 67 n Dallas
1888 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, Peter, lab., 810 Leadenhall
1895 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, Peter, 214 w Lee
Children of Peter and Rosette Dodson:
John H. Dodson (born ca. 1829).
It is undetermined whether John Dodson appears or can be
found in the 1860 Census. One possibility is as follows:
1860 Census - Baltimore, Maryland, Ward 16
Richard Garrett, age 32, mulatto, born in Maryland, porter
Maria Garrett, age 27, mulatto, born in Maryland, washwoman
William Garrett, age 7, mulatto, born in Baltimore
Alverda Garrett, age 1, mulatto, born in Baltimore
John Dodson, age 28, black, born in Maryland, hodcarrier?
It is also undetermined whether John Dodson appears or can be found
in the 1870 Census. One possibility is a mulatto John Dodson
age 45 in Baltimore, another is a black John Dodson, age 44 in
Charles County, Maryland. The third possibility is below.
The middle initial may help with identifying our John Dodson, but
Samuel Dodson is a surprise addition.
1870 Census - Washington, DC, Ward 3
John H. Dodson, age 45, black, born in Maryland, farm laborer
Maria Dodson, age 31, black, born in Maryland, keeping house
Ella Dodson, age 1, black, born in Washington DC
Samuel Dodson, age 18, black born in Maryland, teamster
The 1880 Census has some of the same individuals as the 1870 Census
including the following record. Could the name of a daughter
being Rose be a clue?
1880 Census - Washington, DC, Ward - Blair Road
John Dodson, age 50, black, born in Maryland, laborer
Maria Dodson, wife, age 40, black, born in Maryland, keeping house
James Dodson, son, age 30, black, born in Maryland, laborer
George Dodson, son, age 28, black, born in Maryland, laborer
William Dodson, son, age 6, black, born in DC
Rose Dodson, son, age 5, black, born in DC
John Dodson, son, age 2, black, born in DC
In the 1880 Census, there is also a black John H. Dodson, age 47, in
New York City who was born in Maryland. He is listed with
wife, Elizabeth, age 39, and daughter Elvina, age 9.
Peter Dodson Jr. (born ca. 1832). On
August 3, 1864, Peter Dodson Jr. enlisted as a Private with Company
G, 45th Regiment of the U.S. Colored Troops. He enlisted in
Philadelphia, PA for 3 years of service. He was described as
age 28, 5 feet 11 inches, black complexion, black eyes, wooly hair.
He was born in Dorchester County, Maryland and worked as a laborer.
He was present for August, September, and October 1864, but absent
in November and December due to being in the general hospital.
He was present again in January and February. "The above named
soldier was shown symptoms of a nervous affection ever since he
joined my company. He has not been able to handle the musket
properly and to march faster than a walk or to perform the common
duties of a soldier properly since he enlisted in my company.
Capt. DeWitt C. Smith. March 6, 1865" "...incapable of
performing the duties of a soldier, due to a continuous involuntary
motion of his upper extremities or shakey palsy produced by an
injury of the Spine. Said injury received by a fall. I
consider him forever unable to perform the above named duties.
Fall received twelve months ago. Paralytic Slvota. Since
enlisting totallly disabled." Discharged 19th March, 1856 at a
camp near Richmond, VA. The soldier desires to be addressed at
162 Henrietta St., Baltimore, Maryland.
There were two Peter Dodson's (father & son) listed in the 1865
Baltimore City Directory, but only the father is listed after 1865.
On May 16, 1868, the elder Peter Dodson filed for a Civil War
Pension on behalf of his son, Peter Dodson. The younger Peter
Dodson was alive at the time, but the full pension record is
currently not available online. One of the following two
Census records could be for Peter Dodson Jr. I could not find
any possible Census records for 1880 and beyond.
1870 Census - New York City, Ward 14, District 5
Peter Dodson, age 35, born in Maryland, porter in hotel
Celestine Dodson, age 28, born in New York, keeping house
1870 Census - Baltimore, 20th Ward
Lewis C. Nolan, age 26, born in Maryland, waiter
Laura L. Nolan, age 25, born in Maryland, keeping house
Cora Nolan, age 4 months, born in Maryland in January
Peter Dodson, age 28, born in Maryland, gardner
Thomas J. Dodson (born ca. 1833). I can not find him in the 1860 Census or in later Census records.
Harriett E. Dodson (born ca. 1840). She was listed with her father and mother in the 1850 and 1860 Census. She likely married in the 1860s. Without a marriage record she would be difficult to find in the 1870 Census and beyond.