Fortunatus Dodson circa 1704 - 1737

6th Great Grandfather Paternal Side
I hope this makes it easier to understand whom I am writing about each week and for those following along. I will try to update older posts to reflect this arrangement.

I hope you don't think I am slacking off after the first 3 weeks, this is all that I have on old "Fort" (yes, I just made that up and I am cracking up over it!). I shouldn't joke since it is an old biblical name. Grandfather Fortunatus also could have been named after a favorite poet of Charles, Jr. & Anne Stone Dodson (See Source 1), these are just one of the many mysteries that we may never know.

Fortunatus was of the second generation born in the Virginia Colony. His parents lived on a Richmond, VA plantation previously owned by Col. Rawleigh Travers.(See Source 2). In his father's will, Fortunatus is left "all land below my spring" (See Source 5 & 6). While his exact birth date is not known he did marry Alice Goad on 9 September 1726 in North Farnham Parish, Virginia (See Source 3).

It is speculated that he died on his 11th anniversary though I can find no proof at the time of this writing. He must have died suddenly because no will was written but letters of administration on his estate were granted to Alice Dodson on 1 May 1738 (See Source 4). He was in his 30's which is rather young even although it was the early 1700's.

There were six children born to this union:

1. Samuel Dodson 1727-1788; married Polly King
2. Lucy Dodson 1728-1730
3. James Dodson 1730-1753
4. Ann Dodson 1732-1807, 1st married Moses Cornelius; 2nd married George Phillips (her younger sister's widower)
5. Alice Dodson 1734-1802 married Mr. Dale
6. Hannah Dodson 1737-1805, George Phillips 

Sources:

1. The Dodson (Dotson) Family of North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia: A History and Genealogy of Their Descendants, Volume One. By Mrs. Sherman Williams
2. Richmond Co. Deed Bk 11, page 141
3. Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649-1800, Page 110
4. Richmond County Will Book 6, pages 324-325
5. Richmond County Wills and Inventories, 1709-1717, page 250
6. Virginia Wills and Administrations 1632-1800 by Compiled by Clayton Torrence; Genealogical Publishing Company, 2008