The Dodge Family of Somerset and Dorset

[Davidxmas]

A further comment.

The 1841 Census did, indeed, record that William wasn't born in county (i.e. Dorset), and this is correct. The record I have have is that he was baptised (and presumably born) 3 miles down the road in East Coker, Somerset.

[goldie61]

I've been thinking about this some more and trying to find actual evidence.

The burial of William Dodge 4 Jan 1845 in the Halstock register gives his age as 84. (born 1761)
https://www.opcdorset.org/HalstockFiles/HalstockBurs1813-1912.htm
This fits with his age on the 1841 Census.

The will of William Dodge proved 28 Nov 1845 of Liberty Farm Halstock, (on The National Archives), gives children Simon, William, Joseph, Martha (married), Julia( married), Susan (married), Sarah (married), Anne, John and Elizabeth.
You can see all their baptisms on freereg. mostly baptised at Closworth.
Although not mentioned in his will of 1845, another of William and Mary’s sons was Samuel Tasell Dodge, baptised 4 Jan 1786 at Closworth, (on freereg.org.co).
Perhaps he had already had his inheritance, or they had fallen out when the will was written.

There is also a will of William Dodge 10 July 1816 of Closworth, Somerset. He has children William, Elizabeth, Alice, Sarah, Samuel and Mary.
He has land at Closworth, and at East Coker (3 miles north of Halstock).
And Closworth Somerset is 2 miles over the border from Halstock Dorset.

His son Samuel was baptised 15 Jun 1778 at Closworth, father William, mother Elizabeth.
William Dodge married Elizabeth Tessell 23 Nov 1759 at Closworth.
So this is the generation before William that died in 1845.

The William that died in 1845 was the son of the William that died in 1816 - so not father Solomon at all.

This document from The National Archives would seem to confirm this, - an exciting find. It would be worth sending for a copy I would think.
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/96abcca6-1dcd-48e0-b070-9b3dac57c048

There are several Dodge families around this part of Dorset/Somerset at this time as you have found.
The William son of Solomon wasn't born until 1764 - a possibility, but the other William, son of William, is a much better fit given the documented ages, even if there wasn't the very strong evidence of the name Tassell continuing through the 2 families, and the document at the National Archives which gives Samuel Tassell Dodge as the grandson of the William of Closworth who died in 1816.

[Davidxmas]

Thanks for all your hard work!

I'll have to spend some time digesting all this but it does seem possible.

I'll re-post if I find anything to confirm or refute.

[goldie61]

Just to tie up a couple of loose ends.

The will of William Dodge the elder was proved 10 July 1816, but it was written 1st September 1803, and  he was buried 10th May 1804 at Closworth.
So written not long before he died.
Sometimes wills were proved years later - it could depend on a number of factors.

There is a burial at Halstock for a Henry Barge Dodge 2nd December 1829. Aged 23. So born about 1806.
This surely must have been another child of William and Mary Barge, although there doesn't seem to be a baptism for him in either Dorset or Somerset.
William and Mary had over a dozen children so it doesn't seem surprising that they missed a christening or two!

Samuel Tassell Dodge was buried 4th October 1847 at Closworth.

The marriage of William Dodge senior and Elizabeth (Betty) Tessell 23 Nov 1759 at Closworth was  by licence. It would be worth finding this as it may give more information.

Happy hunting!

[Davidxmas]

You have been absolutely fantastic!

There were two Williams born in East Coker in the 1760s, one was the one I'd been working from (born in 1764 - Parents Solomon and Joan) and the other the one you mention (born 1760 - Parents William and Elizabeth). It seems that the latter is probably correct - which is a shame because I'll now miss out on a whole load of interesting ancestors amongst the Trasks, Helyars, and Carys. Ho Hum. Such is life.

It still seems strange that there are no baptism records for Solomon Dodge, when his marriage to Joan Trask is clear.

Anyway, it would appear that the father of William Dodge Senior was Richard Dodge (born 1699 at Crewkerne) who married Jane Aston in 1732. His father would then have been Jeremiah Dodge - and once again, there are no records of his baptism.

I'd also noticed Henry Barge Dodge's burial in 1829, and I assume he must have been another child of Yeoman William. Interestingly, William's son (also William, born in 1801) had a son called Henry Barge, who was born in 1839 and died aged 1 yr and 7 months in 1841. Obviously, there was still a desire to keep the Barge name going, though it didn't appear to bring much luck to the holder!

Once again, many thanks for your help.

[Neale1961]

Considering the importance of the name “Henry Barge Dodge”, I would look at the possibility of Henry being father to Mary Barge.
Note the burial for Henry Barge in Halstock in 1792.

[Davidxmas]

Yes, Henry does seem to be up front and foremost. Thanks for commenting on it.

I have Mary's baptism at Compton Dundon, Somerset on 24 Oct 1764. If this is correct, it would make her parents Joseph and Mary, Mary probably being Mary Gooden.

I can't find any baptism records for Mary with Henry as the father, though perhaps it's just missing (like Solomon and Jeremiah).