The Iredell NC Heritage Book article authored by Marilyn M. Price states that Edward Dowda and wife Frances Anderson lived in "Fairfax" VA. This may be in error. It is more likely that they are from "Halifax" VA. Edward Dowdy is found in Halifax VA abstracts. The family of William Anderson Dowda also states that Edward was from Halifax VA. Is this Edward Dowdy/Dowda the son of William Dowdy of Cumberland VA, the son of James Dowdy- DOWDY BRANCH #10 ??

1. Edward Dowda of Halifax VA and Iredell NC b about 1790s??

+ Frances Anderson

2. James Anderson Dowda (see below)

2. William Anderson Dowda (see below)

JAMES ANDERSON DOWDA of Iredell NC

Source: Iredell NC Heritage Book

2. James Anderson Dowda b Feb 7 1815

+Mary Anne Moose b Apr 14 1808 d Jan 30 1883

3. John A. Dowdy b 1832

+Katie Moose

3. Sarah Elizabeth Dowdy b1834

+Green Reid

3. Nancy Clarinda Dowdy b 1836

+John Monroe Duke

(descendants listed extensively in Iredell Heritage Book)

3. George Dowdy b1838

+Nancy Grayson

3. Adeline Dowdy b 1840

+James Crawford

3. James Monroe Dowdy b 1844 moved to TX about 1875. Family lives near Kerrville TX

+Celia Ann Erwin of Salisbury on Aug 1 1867

3. Joseph L. Dowdy b 1845 moved to IL

3. Angeline Dowdy b 1851

+Frank Bowie

3. Martin Luther Dowdy b 1855

+Minnie Mabbit of NY

WILLIAM ANDERSON DOWDA of Iredell NC

http://www.scsn.net/users/sage/dowdagen.htm: "William Anderson Dowda and his wife, Mary Jane Slavin, were the forebears of our Dowda branch, but there are many halfs out there also. We know that William A. was born in Halifax County, Virginia, in 1804, likely the son of Edward Dowda and Frances Anderson. He migrated to Iredell Co., North Carolina, at least by 1824, and moved his family to Cherokee County, Georgia, in 1849/50 where he farmed and claimed the occupation of shoemaker. He was divorced by his first wife in 1869. He continued to be credited with siring children, he was over 65 years old, by his second wife, Sarah M. White, whom he married in March 1869. He died in 1877."

2. William Anderson Dowdy b Aug 4, 1804 in Halifax Co. VA d Aug. 19, 1877 in Cherokee Co GA

+ (1) Mary Jane Slavin in North Carolina c 1823, Mary Jane b Aug 27, 1804 in Iredell Co NC, divorced William March 5, 1869 Cherokee Co.GA d after 1880.

3. Frances M. Dowdy b 1824 Iredell Co NC, m 1844 Robert W.Smith

3. James O. Dowdy b 1825 Iredell Co. NC, m (1) Margaret ____, (2) Cisley Ruff. James O. died Oct 1880 in Cherokee Co. GA

4. Columbus b 1846 NC

4. Augustus b 1848 NC

4. Alva Pascal b 1858 NC

Source for James O. Dowdy's children: Deborah McLaughlin dam9@cdc.gov

3. William T Dowdy b 1827 Iredell Co NC, m Margaret C Smith July 28, 1850 in Cherokee Co.GA

3. Mary A. Jane Dowdy b 1834 Iredell Co. NC m John W Boatman

3. Julius LaFayette Dowdy, b Jan 27, 1838 in NC married Lucinda Reinhardt Nov. 23, 1865 in Cherokee Co. GA

3. Lauretta A Dowdy b Jan 31, 1844 married William D Page on March 25, 1858, d Dec. 24, 1909 Cherokee Co. GA

3. Margaret Catherine Victoria Dowdy b Sept 10, 1847 married David Burge Smith c 1864 died Aug 28, 1919 in Cherokee Co GA (This couple were my great grandparents.)

+ (2) Sarah M. White

3. John F. Dowdy Cherokee Co. GA married Ellemanda Mitchell (listed as son of 1st wife by Deb McLaughlin)

3. Sarah Elizabeth Dowdy b Cherokee Co. GA (listed as son of 1st wife by Deb McLaughlin)

3. Julia A Dowdy b Cherokee Co. GA

3. Nora Bell Dowdy Cherokee Co.GA

3. Octavia Palestine Dowdy Cherokee Co. GA

3. William K. (not included in list of children by Betty Mitchell)

3. Francis M.(not included in list of children by Betty Mitchell)

Source for William Anderson Dowdy data: Betty Mitchell. Email: BettyA5058@aol.com "My information is from death certificates, census, William's Last Will and Testament, Marriage records of Cherokee Co. GA. History of Cherokee Co by LLoyd Marlin."

Note from Deborah McLaughlin:

In the "History of Cherokee County", the family of James O. Dowda was supposedly from Ireland. James O. Dowda was a judge, attorney and educator in the early 19th century in Cherokee and Douglas GA. He bagan a newspaper in the 1870s.

Note from Harold Dowda (January 2009)

1. My email is now hdowda@sagecat.com .

2. According to the will of WA Dowda, William K. and Francis M. are not his children. He listed them all in his will. Also they are never listed in any census from 1850-1870.

3. In the 1840-1850 period both WA and James O. signed their names as Dowdy. I have copies of two signed deeds/mortgages with their signatures. Both men were literate. WA's signature matches the signature on his will. He signed his name Dowda as did James O when he served as executor or the estate. I also have the signature of Julius L. in his diary of the time he served with the Army of Tennessee (3rd Ga. Cav.). Exactly when and, more interestingly, why the change was made is not known to me.

4. The matter of the second wife, Sarah A. White, has been confused for some time but has become clearer recently. She is referred to as Sarah M. in WA's will and, I recall, in their marriage record. In the 1880 census she refers to herself as Sarah A. In census records she was listed as being born in both NC and SC which increased the confusion. The probate document for WA's estate lists two Whites as witnesses to the will. This included Henry White and HH White. Back tracking resulted in the identification of Henry White as the father of a Sarah A(nne) White of the correct age and another Henry White who was her brother. All from SC. Another brother, Pinkney White, was listed and in the 1880 census a Pinkney was listed with Sarah of an age to be her nephew.

5. I have photos of William T and Julius L. The identity of WT is less sure than JL. The picture of WT was in the belongings of his son Bascomb Beauregard (what a name) my ggrandfather. The image closely resembled BB. The photo was taken in Smyrna, GA. where WT lived. It was examined by a photograph expert at the SC Dept of Archives and History who authenticated the clothing as from the late 1840-1850's period and that the photographer was active in the area at that time. WT was the only Dowda in the area at that time. The photo of JL is included in his papers at the GA Dept of Archives.

PRIMARY SOURCE: William A. Dowda: Betty Mitchell BettyA5058@aol.com and Deborah McLaughlin dam9@cdc.gov. Another researcher: Harold Dowda hdowda@sagecat.com; James A. Dowda: "Heritage of Iredell County NC" article authored by Marilyn M. Price.

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