Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Richard Dotson

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Descendants of Richard Dotson

Generation No. 1

1. RICHARD¹ DOTSON^1,^2,^3,^4,⁵ was born October 23, 1752 in Shenandoah Co, now Frederick Co, VA ⁶, and died 1847 in Tyler Co, VA buried in Arnold Creek cemetery. He married (1) MARY Abt. 1775 in information unavailable; estimated date. She was born Abt. 1755 in unknown location; estimated birthdate, and died Bef. 1800. He married (2) UNKNOWN Bef. 1800. He married (3) AMELIA "MILLIE" MILLER Bef. 1800. She died Aft. 1810. He married (4) NAOMI VILLERS⁷ Bef. 1816. She died Bef. 1830.

Notes for RICHARD DOTSON:
10/23/1752 Richard was born in Shenandoah (now Frederick Co,) VA and lived there 20 years by his own statement. The best information regarding the whereabouts of Richard in the early years of his life is found in his Rev War pension application.

Application for Revolutionary War Pension by Richard Dotson
National Archives Number S 5364

State of Virginia
Tyler County to wit:
      On this 10th day of June 1833, personally appeared in open Court before Robert Gorrell; William Bond; John D. Wells; & James G. West, Justices of the Peace, constituting the County Court of Tyler County, now sitting. Richard Dotson, a resident of said County and State of Virginia, aged 81 years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832, that he was born in Shenandoah County (now Frederick) State of Virginia and continued to reside there until he was about 20 years of age, he then removed to Greene County State of Pennsylvania, that in the year 1774 he served a tour of duty under Lord Dunmore against the western Indians, that he marched to Fort Charlotte near the place where Chillicothe now stands, in the State of Ohio, from whence he returned to his place of residence in the State of Pennsylvania where he continued to live until after the close of the Revolutionary war, that in the spring of the year 1777 he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer Indian Spy under Captain John Minor and served six months of that year, that in the years 1778 & 79, he also served the United States six months each year as an Indian Spy under Captain John Minor entering the service in the spring and leaving in the fall, making in all he served as an Indian Spy the term of eighteen months or more that services consisted in watching movements of the Indians examining their trails and giving information of their approach to the settlements that he principally served in Greene and adjoining Counties, that his headquarters were at Jenkinses Fort in said County of Greene and Jarard Fort about three miles from the former that the said Captain John Minor was the commandant of these stations, that in the summer of 1777 or 8 he and four of his companions had a skirmish with about the same number of Indians, that one of his party (to wit) John Nichols was killed and one of the Indians was also killed by Richard Hall. This skirmish took place near Jarard Fort on Big Whiteley and that he has no recollection of having received a discharge. He further says that after the close of the Revolution he returned to Shenandoah County, Virginia after remaining there a few years (the precise number he cannot recollect) he removed to Landon (Loudoun) County, Virginia and continued there about two years, from Landon (Loudon) he removed to Hampshire Co., Va, where he lived about six years from thence he removed to Wood Co, Va, since which time he has continued to reside alternately in Wood and Tyler Counties until the present time that he now lives in said County of Tyler. He further says he has a record of his age and that he was born on the 23rd day of October 1752.
      He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
His Mark X Richard Dotson
Notes: John Ripley, a clergyman and William Wells certified that they were well acquainted with Richard Dotson and were of the opinion that he was a soldier.

Ann Reddick said in support of Richard's application that she was 95 and that she lived in 1777, 1778 and 9 in Greene County, PA during which time she was well acquainted with Richard Dotson and that he served as an Indian Spy. She also said that she and Dotson were frequent inmates of Jenkin's Fort at the same time.

A note in "The Tenmile Country and Its Pioneer Families" says a letter dated Jun 10, 1774 refers to an Indian massacre led by Logan near the site of a fort just lately built on Dunkard Creek and identifies it as Garard's Fort.

The Bertha Sellers Dotson information, Barr Wilson and the Franks Family history say that Richard married a Sarah Jeanne Hollyday about 1772. No documentation of this marriage has been found, nor has she been documented as parent to any children for whom we have record. However, there was a Holliday's Fort in area of PA where Richard relocated in 1772. When Richard's son William, born about 1776, died, his parents were listed as Richard and Mary. Probably around 1797, Richard married Amelia "Millie" Miller. However, Zachariah b. 1798, a son of Richard and Amelia, is shown as a half-brother to Richard Jr., born 1795 suggesting a wife between Mary, mother to William born in 1776 and Zachariah born in 1798. A fourth wife, Naomi Villers Gregg has been documented.

More about Richard's Whereabouts:
1772 Left Shenandoah Co to go to what is now Greene Co, PA

1774 served in "Lord Dunmore's war" against the western Indians and marched to Ft. Charlotte (Chillicothe, OH). Lord Dunmore's troops were raised in Frederick, Dunmore (now Shenandoah) and adjacent counties. Gov. Dunmore's troops were to go the Northwest route over the Braddock trail, by way of Fort Pitt, and thence down the Ohio River to meet up with General Lewis at the mouth of the Kanawha River.

In what is now Greene Co, PA, at that time considered to be part of Virginia, Richard served as Indian spy from 1774-1779 under Capt Minor on the VA & PA frontiers. Capt John Minor was commandant of Ft. Jenkins and Fort Garard on the Big Whitely, an eastward flowing tributary of the Monogahela River. (Both Henry Franks--dgtr married Richard's son, William -- and Richard Dotson fought under Capt., later Col. John Minor who is called the "father of Greene Co, PA". Capt John Minor's Rev War pension file is Nat'l Archives S 2840 and was for service as a captain under Col Zackquell Morgan in April 1777.). James Morgan, born around 1770, was the son of Zack Morgan, founder of Morgantown, WV. James Morgan was acquainted with Richard Dotson and reported the episode with the Indians shown below.

1776-1782 Richard probably lived on Big Whitely River in what is now Greene Co, PA. Greene Co was created from Washington Co, PA in 1796. Henry Franks (father to Richard's son's wife) states he (Henry Franks) lived there in his Rev War pension application, and Richard Dotson was recruited from that area in 1782

From: The Tenmile Country and Its Pioneer Families by Howard L. Leckey:
One of the first men to make a permanent settlement in what is now Greene County was Colonel John Minor. His family says he was on Big Whiteley Creek as early as 1765, and there are no records to dispute this claim. From the first he seems to have been a leader in the settlement and defense of the frontier. Few references are made to him in which he is not honored by some title such as Colonel, Judge, Squire, or Justice John Minor. Colonel John Minor died December 5, 1833, and his estate is in File 752 in Greene County, Pennsylvania. Pension file of Colonel John Minor is in National Archives S2840, and was for service as a captain under Colonel Zack Morgan in April 1777, along with other services mentioned. It gives his birthplace as Winchester Virginia.

(Draper Mss., 3-NN-128-30) While serving as a Captain in 1777 John Minor commanded a Co of men listed in Col Zach Morgan's regiment of Monongalia Co, VA. He later became a Col in his own right. Was active in the suppression of Tories.

In Richard's Rev War pension application he said he principally served in Greene and adjoining Counties, that his headquarters were at Jenkins Fort in Greene County and Jarard (Gerard) Fort about three miles from the former, that the said Captain John Minor was the commandant of these stations.

From: The Tenmile Country and Its Pioneer Families by Howard L. Leckey:
Aaron Jenkins had bought other tracts in the vicinity of Big Whiteley, including the one at Pierceville where he maintained a fort during the revolution.

From The History of Berkeley County, Virginia: . . The tract of land known as "Garard's Fort" was warranted in the name of Jonah Garard, on October 28, 1785, but patented later by Peter Myers.

In 1779, Richard was involved in an episode with Indians near what is now Fairmont, WV near Decker's Creek and some of his children were murdered. This article was dictated to Joseph H. Powell by James Morgan, son of Col. Zackwell Morgan, on James' eightieth birthday in 1850.

"The Indian Attack of the Smith Home"

Seventeen and seventy-nine was the year my father moved his family from the house where I was born to Deckers Creek. I was nine then, being born in 1770. I went along with the years. Father sold his homestead land where Rivesville now is, in four parcels. I forget who the buyers were. I remember John and William Merrill got pieces. I think Bob Shearer got some. Father owned about 2500 acres there, joining Henry Batten at Longwell Spring Run.

Everybody asks me where Longwell Spring Run was. This name for that little dreen seems to be lost. It was the first dreen that emptied into the river below Pharaohs Run. At first father had all the land around there. Then he sold Mr. Duthett a parcel and Duthett didn't pay and he sold the same piece to Casper Bunner. He let uncle Dave (Morgan) have a thousand acres for moving here from Pennsylvania and uncle Dave took up a lot besides, in his own right after he moved in. Father let Mattie Hoult have about four hundred acres. The Merrils got their first land here from father and uncle Dave. There was some blood tie with the Merrills that began in Delaware. I've heard uncle Dave say that William Merrill married a Morgan cousin of ours. She's the woman that settled the hash for those Indians in Nelson County (Kentucky). I was to visit them once. They always called her 'Miff' and to save my life, I can't recall her given name. I'd ask other Morgans, But nearly all the old Morgans are gone, and the coming on Morgans don't remember nothing. The year we moved in late February or early March, onto the LeMaster land at Deckers Creek (Morgantown) was a bad year. Uncle Dave fought the Indians that year, April 13, I think it was. It was about a month later, those dirty boogers tried to get Steve and Sally. (Uncle Dave's Children)

Father and the Cochrans and the Evanses and others built our blockhouse on the first rise below Deckers Creek, and that was our new home. Every body called it "Morgan's Fort", but it was just a big log house with loopholes in the walls to see and shoot from.

Just before we moved to Deckers Creek, John Bozarth and family went down to Cheat River to visit Mrs. Bozarth's sister's family. named Smith. The Bozarths first owned the land where Fairmont is. They sold out to Tom Barns and moved to the head of the west fork river, but John's family still lived on there Fairmont land in the year I'm telling about, 1779. The Bad year for all of us around. George, John's boy, and I were good friends. Mrs. Bozarth was there at Smith's home when the Indians raided on Cheat. I heard uncle Dave say there was about thirty of them, broken in little bunches. Jacob Prickett had a brother settled in that country, and his boy Elias was at the Smiths' that day. He was about twenty years old I think.

The children were playing outside right after dinner, and yelled that the Indians were coming. Elias Prickett ran outside and was shot in the hip. He fell back into the door. The Indian ran inside. Dick (Richard) Dotson was in there, and he jumped the Indian and threw him down on the floor, yelling for something to kill him with. Mrs. Bozarth picked up an ax and chopped open the Indians head. Another Indian ran in yelling and shot Dick Dotson. It's been in the papers and in books, that Dotson was killed, but he wasn't. It's been in the papers and in books that the Bozarths lived on Duckard Creek but they didn't. Just like about Uncle Dave's fight with the Indians here, a pack of lies has been told and printed about that trouble there on Cheat.

Mrs. Bozarth hit the Indian that shot Dotson, in the head and knocked him down and chopped his belly open and his entrails went dragging after him as he crawled out of the cabin. One of the Indians that was helping his friends murder the children in the yard, ran to help the hurt one and Mrs. Bozarth axed him, splitting his head open to the chin.

Elias Prickett became conscious and got a gun and ran to the door and shot at the Indians who were then running for the woods. If he did any damage, it wasn't known. I have read stories that say that the people stayed shut up in the house with the dead Indians and Dick Dotson for several days but this isn't true. The house was relieved within the hour, I've heard Uncle Dave and Jacob Prickett say, and John Ice was with those who relieved it, and helped bury the dead children of the Smith's, Dotson's and Bozarths, six in all.

(From Minnie Kendall Lowther's History of Ritchie County): Valentine Bozarth and his wife, Mrs. Rebecca Hall Bozarth, came from Harrison county and went to Iowa, here their brief history ends. The Bozarths were brave Indian fighters, and their thrilling adventures with the red men are recorded on the pages of "Border Warfare".

(From Linda Fluharty, a Prickett descendant) Jacob Prickett was born about 1722 served with General George Washington in Braddock's 1758 campaign against the Indians in the Monongalia Region The Jacob Pricketts (father and son), with David Morgan, son of Col. Morgan Morgan, among the first settlers of WV, , settled near present-day Fairmont, just before the American Revolution. When in 1774 the Indians began to menace them), these families built Fort Prickett.

From Penna Archives, Series VI, Vol 2 pp 18-19 & pg 271: 1782 1st Battalion, Washington County, Recruited in Whiteley and Greene Twnships (now Greene Co) a few from Dunkard:
John Guthrey Captain; Eleazer (may be Alexander) Clegg, Lieutenant; Richard Dotson, Sergeant; Gideon Long, Ensign, John Roberts, Sergeant; Mathew Hanon/Hennen, Sergeant; Some privates were: Peter Yoho;Isaac Bozarth;Henry Yoho; John Sayer; etc. Note says: These men also served tours with Capt John Guthery; Samuel Swindler, Cecil Davis, John Minor and John Shipman. Richard states in his Rev War pension application that he served under Capt. John Minor. (Also ref "The Tenmile Country and Its Pioneer Families" by Howard L. Leckey page 38: PA Militia Year 1782)

Source unknown: (recorded in Bertha Sellers manuscript) "Grandfather Richard served in Revolutionary War. The war was nearing the end. Grandfather and some other soldiers were in a fort. His horse began to wander off, and he left in pursuit of the horse and unexpectedly spotted a small number of Indians. He fired and killed one Indian. He ran back to the fort for the other soldiers, and they joined in at once and killed two more of the Indians."

1/4/1784 Hugh Johnson (Capt Jno. Guthrey's Class Roll) 2nd Sgt Richard Dotson; Others were Isaac Bozarth, Henry & Peter Yoho and Jonothan Seryer

After Rev War moved back to and lived in Shenandoah Co, VA for a few years. In tax records in Shenandoah Co for 1784-86. Other Dotsons or Dodsons appearing were Thomas, Thomas Jr. Samuel, William and Peter.

He moved to Loudoun for two years probably around 1790. In 1792 a Jesse Dodson sold 260 acres in Hampshire County where Richard moved around 1792. Richard is on personal property tax lists for Hampshire 1795,1797, 1798, 1799
(From Hampshire County Site): FREDERICK / HAMPSHIRE COUNTIES, VIRGINIA Hampshire County was formed in 1753, as Old Frederick County was broken down into smaller, more manageable geographic units. In earlier days, the area was a hunting ground for the Native Americans who lived there. The Welsh frontiersman Morgan Morgan, and the German, Joist Hite are among the first known European settlers to the area. Part of the county was included in a land grant given to Thomas Lord Farifax, and later surveyed by George Washington. Today Frederick County is in Virginia, and since 1862, Hampshire County is in West Virginia.

About 1801 Richard came to Toll Gate, VA area (now Doddridge Co). 2 sons William and Emanuel were about 25 & 26 and are showing as heads of households. We know Indians killed some of the children of Richard and Mary Dotson. Some have said Indians killed Mary also, but we have no record of that. It is believed he married Amelia Miller before coming to Doddridge County.

1801purchased 250 acres on Hughes River

1802 Built cabin and was first settler in Central District of Tyler (then Wood) County

Hardesty's History of Doddridge Co., Central District Vol 2, p. 13 "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 Arnolds, Lottridges,altermans, Ruddecks and Fergusons. The first white child born in the district was Ruth Dotson, a dughter of Richard and Millie Dotson."

June 06, 1803- Richard & Amelia-600 acres in Clay District Ritchie Co. Low gap between Buck Run & Yeager Run following Buck Run to right hand fork. Believe he gave Emmanuel and William a portion of this land. Until WWII owned by Richard Dotson's descendants.

From Barr Wilson write-up: On 7 September 1801, Joseph Spencer sold Richard Dotson, 250 acres of land on waters of Hughes river. Part of Lot No. 21. This land is now owned by the Carnegie Natural Gas Company and Homer Dotson, Richard Dotson did not stay here long but moved to Middle Island Creek, sometime after 1810. He was one of the appraisers, of the estate of George Gregg Junior who resided at the "Jug". and died in 1823, On 6 June 1803, Richard Dotson sold James Marsh 250 acres of land. Part of Lot No. 21 , Richard Dotson signed this dead with his mark. It was also signed by Amelia Dotson. When James Marsh bought this land, he must have built a cabin, This the cabin that is pictured in the History of Ritchie County. The Marshes moved this cabin, about 1840, to the North Fork of Hughes river. The site where the cabin stood is now covered by the waters of the Pennsboro reservoir.

Around 1803, James Marsh was another very early settler on this river in the Tollgate vicinity. Near the beginning of the nineteenth century, he came from Baltimore, and purchased (of Richard Dotson) the farm that is now owned by J. M. Wilson, near one-half mile east of Tollgate, and took up his residence here, where he died in 1810. (Minnie Kendall Lowther History of Ritchie Co).

23 Aug 1804 Wood County Grants No. 53, p. 317.      300a. On a drain of Hughes River adjoining Isaac Pryon's survey.

1808 Religious discourse at home of Richard by a "traveling Hebrew" (Hardesty's History)

August 15, 1809 Hampshire County Virginia Land Deeds; Book 16, Page 233.
Richard Dotson and James & Nancy Scott (Richard's daughter) sold to Henry Barnhouse 90 acres on New Creek adjoining tract sold to them June 3, 1805 for $90.00.

1 Aug 1817 Wood County Grants No. 66, p. 451 200a. (See Triplett, Hedgman & Dotson, Richard)

15 June 1821 Wood County      Grants No. 70, p. 168. 100a. Beginning and extending corner to Land, claimed by George Richards, senior, a west corner extending in the head of a drain of Long run.

Written by I.S. Dotson, age 75, on 4/16/1931(recorded in Bertha Sellers manuscript)
"My great grandfather (Richard Dotson) had a friend living near Sutton. His name was Mr. Sutton and the town was Sutton, W.Va, and was named for him. Grandfather went to Sutton to hunt on his tract of land. I do not know the length of the stay -- but while there, he killed 63 bears. Mr. Sutton kept the bear meat for his share. Grand dad brought home the bear hides for his share. "Old Dobbins", the horse, pulled the sled from Sutton to Toll Gate. Grand dad and Old Dobbins took the hides to Parkersburg, W.Va, and sold them to a Flat Boat man, and he took them to New Orleans, Louisiana and they were put on the world market." (Notes re: Sutton from Braxton Co Website ) John D. Sutton, who had visited the site of Sutton in 1798 returned to the Elk country in 1809, exchanging his home in Alexandria, Virginia, for the new wilderness cabin. On his previous visit he had examined 7,000 acres lying on Granny's Creek and the Elk River which his father John Sutton, a London merchant, had purchased out of the John Allison survey. The beauty of the area appealed to him and finally brought him back to the Elk to found the town that now bears his name.In 1810, John D. Sutton moved to the present site of Sutton, which, at the time, was known as Newville.The first meeting of the county court took place on April 11, 1836 at the home of John D. Sutton. Sutton, the county seat, had been chartered as a town by an act of the Virginia General Assembly on January 27, 1826. Originally located in Nicholas County, it had been known as Newville and later as Suttonville. The town's name was changed to Sutton on March 1, 1837 and it was incorporated on February 20, 1860. A few years later his father came from Alexandria and lived with his son until his death in 1825. The founder of the town died 14 years later at Sutton.

July 18, 1833 Receiving $60/year pension Rev War Indian spy (Rev War pension records).Area where the family lived was first Wood, then Ritchie in 1843, then Doddridge in 1845.
On June 1, 1840 Richard Dotson was age 88 and living with James Dotson (Census).

11/27/1843 Richard Dotson Senior of the County of Tyler sold land to Edmond Taylor for $10. This was land patented to Richard Dotson senior on the 15th day of June 1821. This was land in the head of a drain of Long Run and adjacent to land owned by George Richards Sr.

April 17, 1847 Last Rev War pension payment made. $30 for 6 months pension from 4th day of September 1846 to 4th day of March 1847. So, it is assumed he died after 4/14/1847 and before September 1847. He is buried in the Arnold Creek Cemetery.

(From Carla Underwood): To find the gravesite: Exit at the Greenwood Exit off of Route 50. Go down a hill into the community of Greenwood. At the bottom of the hill, turn right onto a road that turns back toward the Interstate. This is Long Run Road. Follow it for approximately 2 or 2 1/2 miles. On the right side of the road there is a creek. Across the creek and up on the hill, you will see the cemetery. It is behind a farm. I think it is the farm of Bill Robinson. It is called Arnold Creek Cemetery, but there is no sign anywhere. The church is about another mile or so further on the left. Just past the church is where Long Run Road meets the Deep Valley community.

Neither Richard Dotson's ancestors nor documentation on his first two wives has been located. It has been reported in several places that Richard descends from Abraham Dodson and Elizabeth Dameron, with family names of Smoot, Minor, Hollyday and Washington intermarrying with Richard or his ancestors. Several researchers believe this information may have come from someone selling fraudulent genealogies.

In 1987, Gladys Pearl Cyphers Wilson of Fairmont WV contributed a version of Richard's ancestry to the authors of "The Dodson (Dotson) Family of North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia". She also donated all her genalogical records to the Genealogical Library in Fairmont WV. Walter Dotson examined some of her documents in October 1999. Mrs. Wilson reported that Samuel Dotson b abt 1675 married Sarah Smoot, sister of William Smoot. She says they came on the ship Assurance to America from England. She also claimed Abraham Dotson b 1/13/1690 in England was his son and that Abraham m. Elizabeth Dameron b. 4/18/1692. Their son Thomas Dotson b. 11/4/1731 m. Frances Minor and they had two sons, Thomas and Richard. She also stated "According to a Monongalia history, Richard Dotson had a family by his first wife, all of whom, except William who was away visiting, were killed by Indians. The first family of children were Peter, Sarah and John R killed by the Indians and William b 1777 Green Co., PA who married Mary Franks." However, when examining her records, Walt Dotson could find no source documents.

Two researchers who gathered a tremendous amount of accurate Dotson lineage, Barr Wilson and Bertha Dotson Sellers both published the above information. In 1992 Barr Wilson explained that hewas unable to document the information and that he also believed it originated from a person selling fraudulent genealogy. Apparently Bertha Sellers received this information from a Hazel Seevers (another Dotson descendant) who had intended to publish her findings but, instead, turned them over to Bertha Sellers.

According to Jim Dotson, co-author with Barr Wilson of "Richard Dotson 1752-1847 and his Descendants" (1992),known Dodson/Dotson males living in Frederick/Shenandoah Co at time of Richard's birth who could be his father are John, Peter, Charles, Samuel, William, David and Thomas Sr. (Dodson would probably have been last name for all). There are "clues" that suggest Richard's ancestors may have been descendants of Charles Sr. Dodson of Farnham Parish, Richmond Co, VA; -or- of Thomas Dodson m. Katherine Savill of NJ and later MD -or- of Thomas and son Michael Sr. Dodson of PA.

None of the above theories on Richard's ancestry has been documented to date.
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Notes for MARY:
The ONLY information suggesting her name is from son, William's death records, when William's son reported that his father's parents were Richard and Mary. This is on Book 3, page 8 of the Doddridge Co death records.

More About RICHARD DOTSON and MARY:
Marriage: Abt. 1775, information unavailable; estimated date

More About RICHARD DOTSON and UNKNOWN:
Marriage: Bef. 1800

Notes for AMELIA "MILLIE" MILLER:
Bertha Dotson Sellers reports in her manuscript the following: "Trenchers were plates and were made of wood. Pewter dishes and spoons were considered elegant. Kate (Seevers) Rinear wrote that grandmother Nancy Ann (Carey) Dotson's mother-in-law, Amelia "Millie" (Miller) Dotson gave Joseph and her a set of pewter dishes. Being young and unknowing, Nancy used a pewter plate for a lid on a pot, and the lid became partially melted from the heat. She scraped the plate and told Millie that a mouse chewed it."

More About RICHARD DOTSON and AMELIA MILLER:
Marriage: Bef. 1800

Notes for NAOMI VILLERS:
In Leckey's "The Tenmile Country and Its Pioneer Families" page 272 and in Jim Dotson's "Richard Dotson" book page 21, a "scenario" is created for the ancestry of Naomi Villers and George Gregg.

John Villiers received a patent to a tract of land in 1794 in PA and his will was probated May 25, 1826. He is buried near Jefferson, PA as are both of his wives. He was at Ft Pitt (as was Richard Dotson) during the Rev War and served in Lt William Wither's Rangers. He claimed VA allegiance when the land was disputed between PA & VA. His first wife was Mary who died 10/22/1807 at age 64. His second wife was Elizabeth who remarried after John's death to Archibald Ewart.

Jim Dotson says that information suggests that Naomi Villers Gregg, widow of George Gregg was Eleanor Villers (single), a daughter of John Villers. He says her daughter, Mary Villers, b 1794-1800, mentioned in the will of George Gregg, is an illegitimate daughter.

Leckey names a dgtr of John Villiers as Eleanor Villiers and as marrying George Gregg and having two sons, George and John. He also says she died before her father (he died 1826). Jim Dotson mentions that 1825 was the last deed that her name appears upon. Leckey makes no reference to a later marriage to Dotson, but he also gives little information about her.

George Gregg, son of John and Susan Curie Gregg, according to Leckey was born 4/26/1747; married in 1769, Ruth Gregg. They "removed to WV". George Gregg served in Capt William Crawford's Militia Company.

Naomi/Eleanor probably was born around 1776 (probably no earlier than 1770 nor no later than 1780 based on child born 1800 and child born1819, so she would have been much younger than this George. But, she was probably 20-25 years younger than Richard also.

None of the above lineage has been proved and is only speculation at this point.

5/2/2000 from Stella Cotrill (Email: sr_cotrill@yahoo.com):
I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH ANOTHER VILLIERS RESEARCHER. SHE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SENDING ME SOME INFORMATION ON THE VILLERS.

JOHN HAD ANOTHER FIRST WIFE THE NAME OF VICTORIA McELROY/MUCKELROY. SHE WAS MOTHER OF HIS FIRST THREE KIDS. SHE BORN 1734,MARRIED JOHN IN 1754. THEY WERE BOTH BORN IN ENGLAND IN 1734,AT SUSSEX. LIVED AT CUMBERLAND,PA.,VICTORIA DIED BEFORE 1765.
MARY DAKEN IS JOHN'S SECOND WIFE'S NAME. SHE HAD 8 KIDS. HIS THIRD WIFE IS ELIZABETH EWARD. MARY DAKEN WAS BORN IN IRELAND,BORN ABT.1743. JOHN WHOLE NAME WAS JOHN DeVILLIERS. HIS FATHER WAS JOHN JACQUES DeVILLIERS,SUSSEX,ENGLAND.

More About RICHARD DOTSON and NAOMI VILLERS:
Marriage: Bef. 1816

Child of RICHARD DOTSON and MARY is:

WILLIAM² DOTSON, b. June 1776, probably what is now Hampshire Co, WV 1850 Census says PA; d. January 08, 1865, Doddridge Co, WV Book 3, page 8 "of old age".

Children of RICHARD DOTSON and UNKNOWN are:

3.	ii.	EMANUEL² DOTSON, b. Abt. 1784; d. Bet. 1833 - 1840.
4.	iii.	NANCY DOTSON, b. Abt. 1784.
5.	iv.	RICHARD JR DOTSON, b. Abt. 1793, Probably in Hampshire Co, VA; d. Aft. 1870, Possibly in Pleasants Co, WV.

Children of RICHARD DOTSON and AMELIA MILLER are:

6.	v.	ELISHA² DOTSON, b. Abt. February 22, 1793, VA; d. August 30, 1871, Wood Co, VA (77 yrs 6 mo 8 days) of dropsy.
7.	vi.	JAMES DOTSON, b. 1796, PA or VA (death cert says PA); d. April 12, 1869, Doddridge Co, VA death records Bk 3 page 16.
8.	vii.	JOSEPH DOTSON, b. 1796, Virginia; d. April 11, 1839, Greenwood, (W)VA Arnold Creek Cemetery.
9.	viii.	ZACHARIAH DOTSON, b. 1796, MD per 1850 census of Doddridge Co, VA & age 52; d. July 23, 1863, Buried in Greenwood Cemetery Doddridge Co, WV.
	ix.	MARGARET "PEG" DOTSON, b. 1801; m. PHILLIP BRITTON.

Notes for MARGARET "PEG" DOTSON:
In Harrison Co records there is a deed from Joseph Dotson to Richard Dotson dated 1824 for 65 acres on Simpson Creek, and on 7/8/1825 Deed Bk 17. pg 417 65 acres on Simpson Creek deed by Richard Dotson to Phillip Britton.

10.	x.	THOMAS J DOTSON, b. 1802, OH according to report of son in census (maybe Ohio Co, WV?); d. December 28, 1847, Buck Run Cemetery Ritchie Co, VA.
11.	xi.	RUTH DOTSON, b. 1803; d. Bef. 1853, Central Station, WV.
12.	xii.	ELIZABETH DOTSON, b. 1806.

Children of RICHARD DOTSON and NAOMI VILLERS are:

13.	xiii.		MICHAEL² DOTSON, b. 1812, Greenwood Cemetery Tombstone shows this date; d. November 30, 1851, Doddridge Co, WV.
	xiv.		ANN DOTSON, b. 1814; m. JOHN COWSON, March 12, 1833, Tyler Co, VA by Moses Tichenell.

Notes for ANN DOTSON:
Jim Dotson is not sure Ann is a daughter of Richard

An Ann Dotson married John Cowson 3/12/1833 in Tyler county.

More About JOHN COWSON and ANN DOTSON:
Marriage: March 12, 1833, Tyler Co, VA by Moses Tichenell

14.	xv.		NAOMI DOTSON, b. January 16, 1816, Doddridge Co,VA; d. March 18, 1882, Ritchie Co, WV Ritchie Co Death Records Vol 3 page 36.
	xvi.		LEWIS DOTSON, b. 1819; m. MARGARET ROBBINS, May 30, 1844, Tyler Co, VA by Jacob Yeater.

Notes for LEWIS DOTSON:
Jim Dotson says "Note; Relationship of Lewis to Richard is questionable; Lewis does not show in Census Index for Virginia (or WV) for years 1850, 1860, or 1870."

More About LEWIS DOTSON and MARGARET ROBBINS:
Marriage: May 30, 1844, Tyler Co, VA by Jacob Yeater

15.

xvii.

LYDIA DOTSON, b. 1822, VA.

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