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Sunday, August 11, 2013

Leonard Dozier: Separating fact from fiction

One of my earliest American ancestors is Leonard Dozier, a Huguenot (allegedly) who came to Virginia as early as 1673. There have been many genealogists interested in the Dozier family through the years, some more responsible and careful than others. One of the challenges in genealogy is always to try to "separate fact from fiction," so here's my attempt to do so with regard to Leonard and his children:


Dozier Family: Separating Fact from Fiction

Leonard Dozier 1.  The immigrant, Leonard Dozier, is known to have been in Virginia by 20 Aug. 1673, on which date he purchased three hundred acres of land “in forrest between Rappahonock Creek and Nominy River” from Morgan Jones for 8,000 pounds of tobacco.  [Westmoreland co. VA Deeds & Patents, pp. 162a-163]  Leonard Dozier became a naturalized citizen of Virginia on 28 Jan. 1683/84.  [Westmoreland co. VA, Records and Inventories #1 p. 147; I have photocopy]  The naturalization document indicates that he was born in France, that he was a Protestant, and that he had taken the oath of allegiance and paid the appropriate fees.
Dozier is also mentioned in a deed between Thomas Collinsworth and William Moxley in January 1683/84 (the land adjoined his).  He was still living 25 Mar. 1692 when he brought suit against the estate of Thomas Collingsworth; and in May, 1692, when judgment was granted him against Jane Collingsworth, executrix of Thomas.

He apparently died within a year or so of this date, for on 26 July 1693 “Eliza Dozier, relict of Leonard Dozier” was granted administration of Leonard’s estate, along with Richard Dozier and Thomas Browning.  She returned an inventory, in which she is named Elizabeth Dozer, on 27 Sept. 1693.  [Westmoreland co. VA order Book Part II, pages 100 and 105]

The Compendium of American Genealogy 5:225 alleges that Leonard Dozier’s wife was Elizabeth Depuy. This work is badly flawed, and should not be accepted as accurate unless information is substantiated elsewhere. I have seen no record that would substantiate the maiden name of Leonard’s wife Elizabeth.

There is also no evidence which indicates whether Leonard and Elizabeth married in France or Virginia; whether she was his first and only wife; or whether she was, in fact, the mother of any or all of his children. She apparently married, after Leonard’s death, Nathaniel Garland of Cople Parish, Westmoreland co. VA, in 1702.

Some claims have been made regarding the birth date of Leonard; I have seen it stated both as 13 May 1627 and ca. 1643. The former date apparently was given in a letter of H. L. Dozier to L. Dozier Willis which was relayed by the latter to Miss H. C. Dozier in letter of 18 June 1930; this according to the late Jessie Thomason. There appears to be no documentary evidence for this date. There is also no evidence for the occasional claim as to his date of death; obviously he died prior to 26 July 1693 but after May 1692.

There is, unfortunately, no document which provides a clear list of the children of Leonard Dozier. There is documentary evidence for his son, Richard Dozier, who in January 1734 petitioned the court to admit a copy of the naturalization paper of his father to record (for reasons that are not clear to me). One Frances Dozier apparently brought suit in 1713 against Richard Dozier, her brother, to recover part of her father’s estate; this establishes that she was a daughter of Leonard 1 (and indicates an approximate birth date of 1673, since the document here states she is forty years old). [Richmond co.? Will Book 6, p. 207] There is also circumstantial evidence for the fact that Leonard had a son named Leonard Dozier, for a man by that name appears to continue to own property matching the description of Leonard 1’s land, but after Leonard 1’s death. It is thought that Leonard also was the father of John Dozier and William Dozier.

Regarding each of his children:

Richard Dozier was married by 5 Oct. 1699 to Elizabeth [or Mary?] Hudson/Hodgson [Westmoreland co. Will & Deed Book #3, p. 37]. His will, dated 5 May 1750 [unsure of date, obvious typographical error in my source] and proved 21 Nov. 1751 lists wife Elizabeth, and name her executrix; also son-in-law Thomas Templeton, grandson Dozier Templeton; sons Richard, Thomas and William; daughters Margaret Templeton, Elizabeth Wilson, Sarah Dozier, Hannah Muse, Martha Bellefield, Mary Dozier; granddaughter Elizabeth Bellefield. [Richmond co. Will book 11, p. 328.] I have seen a 1668 birth date given for Richard, but with no apparent justification.

Frances Dozier was b. ca. 1673, and was still unmarried when she filed suit against her brother in 1713.

William Dozier listed by one researcher as b. ca. 1677 but with no further information; only source seems to the Thornton family history.

John Dozier apparently married twice, first to Sarah ---- and second to Susannah Jacobus (widow of Robert Davis).  There is a William Dozer, son of John and Sarah, b. 27 Jan. 1723/24 in Richmond co. Lunenburg parish.  John and Susannah buy land 1 Mar. 1725 [Richmond co. Deed Book 8, p. 10]; they are involved in a suit in Chancery Court 6 May 1746 [Order Book 10, p. 541]  Apparently he was dead by 7 Mar. 1747, when an inventory is filed of his estate [Will Book 5, p. 541].

Leonard Dozier 2. Leonard (who is my ancestor) married Elizabeth Ingo, the daughter of John and Mary Ingo and the widow of Thomas Ascough. Her father John died in 1701, at which time she was named as Elizabeth Ascough [Richmond co. Wills & Inventories 1699-1709, p. 27].  Her husband Thomas also died that year, leaving a will [Will Book 2, p. 32] naming a son Christopher Ascough and a daughter Anne (who married Richard Doggett).

Leonard 2 died intestate in Richmond co. in 1733 [Wills & Inventories Bk. 5, p. 207].  His wife died testate and left a will dated 7 May 1748, proved 4 July 1748 [Will & Deed Book #5, p. 558 and 554-555]. In this will she names son James Dozier; granddaughter Elizabeth Doggett (whose mother had apparently died); children John Dozier, Leonard Dozier, Mary Jones, Elizabeth Thornton, Sarah Jeter, Peggy Baker, Susannah Bragg.


12 comments:

  1. I like using land records, too. They can untangle some family mysteries. You did some good source analysis with these records trying to sort things out!

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  2. I am a Dozier descendant as well. I did a military history that includes James Seaborn Dozier. You will find a picture of the marker, where his name is included, located in Warrenton, Georgia.

    https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7812030962162817191#editor/target=post;postID=266132887714422996;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=1;src=postname

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  3. Richard, I'm wondering if you have any info as to the parentage of John Ingo. In particular, could his father have been Edward Mozingo? Maybe John shortened the surname to Ingo. Leonard Dozier II was a witness to the will of Edward Mozingo in 1712.

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    1. Interesting. No, I don't have any info that would shed light on this. Thanks for the comment!

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  5. Thank you for putting together this Blog. It has been very helpful to me in my research.

    I am interested in learning more about the Dozier family and how they connect to the Marks family of early Richmond, VA. I think some members of the Marks, Fennell, Thornton, Newman, Dozier family left VA and migrated to Bute/Granville/Warren/Franklin counties, NC.

    I have several DNA matches with these names listed in their family trees and am trying to connect all these families together. My main focus being on the Marks family that 'magically' appeared in Chatham County, NC in 1800 - that's my line, but I have no idea where they came from.

    1797: Estate file of Francis Thornton - https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:2:77T6-MR4?wc=Q6WY-8PG%3A185353701%2C183403501%2C193314001&cc=1911121

    1750s to 1780s: Bute/Granville/Warren/Franklin, NC Land records for John Dozer, Dozer Thornton and other Thorton's - www.nclandgrants.com

    Some history and back ground:
    https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/49405/FLHG_WillsRichmondCnty-0094/117662
    The will of John Marks
    John Marks Sr., Lun Par., will; 23 mar 1786, 4 Apr 1791
    sons James, William, John, Elias, Fennell
    wife Hannah
    daus Betty Bruce, Frances Bragg, Penelope Carter, Mary Wilson, Hannah Bruce, Sarah Crask, Susannah Crask, Anne Newman (dec)
    grdau Jane Newman (dau of Anne Newman)
    grson William Marks (inheirted in lieu of son Fennell Marks)
    ex son Elias and s-i-l. Daniel Wilson
    wits Shelton Wilson, Griffin Crask, James Crask

    https://www.geni.com/people/Elias-Finnell/6000000018501396895
    John Marks suppsodely married Hannah Eidson, the step-daughter of Elias Fennell who married her mother, Penelope, after her father, Edward Eidson died. The will of Elias Finnell was probated Jan.7,1740 but lists no natural heirs. Instead, his will lists the family of John Marks, John's sisters Ann Dozier and Frances Thornton

    Will Book 5 page 340 October 26,1739 To my loving wife Penelpoe Feniel all my lands on this side of the main road that I now live on and all that land on that side of the Coach road joining to Richard Barnes during her natural life. I give all the rest of my land on the other side of the Main and coach road to John Marks, and the above lands after my loving wife Penelope Feniels death to him and his heirs lawfully begotton and for want of such heirs then I give all my lands to Ann Dozier and Frances Thornton to be equally divided between them and thie heirs lawfully begotton. I give to francis Davis my young gray mare that’s now in Mulbery Island forever. I give to Boyce Eidson my gun forever. I give to John Marks my Buckenier gun forever. I give to my wife Penelpoe Feniel my two negros Tobey and Jamey to her and her heirs forever and also all my personal estate forever excepting after her death one feather bed, furniture and bedstead and my large Cubard to John Marks. In case my wife should die before my horse Codey id dead or my servant man is free named David Man, then I give the said horse and servant to John Marks. My horse Codey I give to my wife and not John Marks. My wife Penelope Fenil to be my executor. Witness’s Richard Barnes, William Brockenbrough and David Twindale. In the inventory of Elias finnell estate David Man is identified as a shoemaker, and two other servants were named Philip Thomas and William Woodbern.

    August 4,1735 the will of William Marks was written in Richmond county Virginia, it named as executor Elias Fennell, friend and John Deane. Witnesses William Dickson, Edmond Hazle and Creighton davis. Elias’s father John had witnessed the will of this William Marks father who was also a William Marks in 1706.

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  6. Under Leonard 2, the will of Thomas Ascough, 1701, does not establish that he had a daughter named Anne. It mentions his dear mother Anne, his wife Elisabeth and his son Christopher. More is needed to verify that Elisabeth Ascough became the wife of Leonard Dozier. See the will on familysearch.org, under probate records for Richmond County, Va. Film 007646142, images 32-33 (Wills and Inventories, Vol. 1, pp. 32-33, images 36-37.)

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    1. You are correct. However, Anne Ascough is established as a daughter of Elizabeth (Ingo) Ascough by a deed of gift between Elizabeth Ascough to Ann Ascough, her daughter dated 19 Mar 1701/2. Also, Henry Seagar leaves a bequest to Christopher and Anne Ascough, son and daughter of Thomas Ascough, in his will dated 26 Feb 1717. Finally, Ann Doggett, wife of Richard Doggett made a deed in 1727 where she is referred to as the only daughter of Thomas Ascough and sold land Thomas Ascough had previously willed to Christopher Ascough, her brother, who apparently had died without any other heirs and left her as heir (this is supposed and not in the deed).

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  7. Thanks for this. It is interesting that the will of Elizabeth Dozier (widow of Leonard II) doesn't mention Christopher Ascough, her alleged son by her alleged first husband. Of course he could have predeceased her.

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  9. Great article, but I must correct you on one thing. I am a descendant of Thomas TempleMAN, not Templeton. Thomas did marry Margaret Dozier.

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