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.
