See also Sarah Young, Clement Young, George Young, Charles & Maria Hughes, Samuel Green.
Since Henry Nicols refers to Rosette as a negro girl rather than woman in his Will. Since she was to immediately gain her freedom while others in the Will were not, she is thought to have been at a certain age, such as 16, or 21. Henry Nicols freed several slaves in his Will. Since Rosette is closely associated in the Will with Sarah Young and her sons, Clem and George, Rosette is thought to have been closely related to Sarah Young.
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
1864 Baltimore City Directory
Dodson, Peter, confectioner, 146 Hill, dw 144
Dodson, Peter, Jr., 144 Hill
Peter Dobson Jr. enlisted with Company G of the U.S. Colored Infantry and served in the Civil War from 3 August 1864 to 14 July 1865. He fought in battles at Chapin's Farm and Hatcher's Run, Virginia.
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.
I could not find the Dodson family in the 1870 Census. Rosetta Dodson must have died before 1880 as Peter Dodson remarried by the time of the 1880 Census.
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