Return to primary lineage page for Thomas Dowdy of Rocky River, Chatham NC >>

2. Thomas DOWDY, Jr. born 2 Oct 1759 AlbemarleParish, Sussex Co., VA. Thomas was christened 2 Mar 1760 in Albemarle Parish by Rev. William Willie. His sponsors were Benjamin and William Seaborn and Aggy Woodward; moved to Anson County NC sometime before 1789 (possibly located in an area under dispute with next door Chesterfield District SC at the time) Thomas Dowdy Jr. of Anson County NC sold land inherited from his brother William to their father Thomas Dowdy Sr. in 1789.

1789 Chatham Co NC - Deed Bk. E, pg. 106-107 "This Indenture made this 4th day of December, 1789, between Thomas Dowdy, Junior of the County of Anson, NC, planter, of the one part and Thomas Dowdy Senior of Chatham Co NC, Yoeman, of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Thomas Dowdy JR for an in consideration of the sum of 30 pounds to him in hand paid by the said Thomas Dowdy SR, doth hereby acknowledge. All that tract or parcel of land (112 acres) lying & being in the said County of Chatham, on Nicks Creek, it being part of a larger tract or parcel (212 acres) granted to William Dowdy, deceased, by a grant bearing date 23 day of September 1785, and registered in the Registers office in Book D, pg. 328-319, recourse being thereunto will more fully appear. With the said William Dowdy, dying without issue, his brother Thomas Dowdy JR, by heirship became solely entitled to the said land, etc, etc. Witnesses were Berkley Dowdy and Josiah Rogers. Proved during November session 1790 by Josiah Rogers."

married ?Ann_____________; an Ann Dowdy appears as head of household in the Chesterfield SC 1820 census with teenage children, the same census Thomas Dowdy suddenly disappears.

THOMAS DOWDY OF CHERAW/CHESTERFIELD CO SC

It is clear to the website editor that the Thomas Dowdy of Rocky River (b Albemarle Parish Sussex VA in 1759) is the same person who lived in Chesterfield SC in the early 1800s. The 1789 deed places Thomas Dowdy "of Anson" into the Rocky River family. And it is well known to researchers that many families of Chesterfield SC appeared (partially due to border disputes) at various times in next door Anson NC. He is clearly not the same Thomas Dowdy who appears in the southern part of Chatham NC around the Deep River area of the county, as has been theorized by Dowdy researchers for decades.

Thomas Dowdy's family is gone from South Carolina in 1830 census. The SC Dowdys simultaneously show up in Lauderdale AL.

The following Lauderdale families have been assigned to Thomas rather than to brother George because George's boys are all gone from his South Carolina HH in 1810 and the Lauderdale families don't seem to move to Alabama until about 1820. Therefore, the boys would still need to be in father's household. For example, the theorized sons, David and Thomas would be too young to be on their own in 1810.

3.i daughter DOWDY - listed in the 1790 census HH of Thomas DOWDY, Jr.

3.ii daughter DOWDY - listed in the 1790 census HH of Thomas DOWDY, Jr.

3.iii daughter DOWDY - born 1784 to 1794; untraced

3.iv James DOWDY (theorized) - born 1790 in SC; He volunteered in Chesterfield Dist SC and served as a private in Capt John McNeill's Co of infantry, Col Rutledge's 3rd Regt, S. Carolina Militia, from 29 Jun 1812  to 30 Oct 1812; lived in the Rocky River area of Chatham NC in the 1820 census following his marriage to his1st cousin; migrated to Lauderdale County Alabama with his brothers and SC cousins; He applied for bounty land from Lauderdale Co Feb 1856 from Lauderdale Co Al, he received BL Wt 133307-80-55. On 1 Aug 1871 he applied for a pension from Lauderdale  and received cert. no. SC 14468; died 12 Aug 1872 Lauderdale Co AL

"I was mustered into service in Jun 1812 at Long Bluff SC was marched to Headrells Point near Charleston SC and was there dischargedf for this service. I rec'd two land warrants of 80 acres each. My PO is Florence Ala." signed James x DOWDY,  1 Aug 1871. Attest: John COOPER and Chapman SEGO.

1878 Sept 7 - Inventory Record Book G pg 105-6 - James Dowdy Estate. The undersigned administrators of the estate of James Dowdy late of said county of Lauderdale deceased, respectfully alleges that his said intestate died seized and possessed of the following described lands lying and being situate in said county in of Lauderdale and state aforsaid (legal description of land)....containing about 316 acres more or less...He further alleges that the following named persons are the heirs at law and distributees of the estate of his said intestate (to wit). Mary Dowdy aged about 60 years, Rebecca McCorkle wife of John McCorkle aged 58 years, Sarah McCorkle aged about 56 years, James T. Dowdy aged about 57 years, John T. Dowdy aged about 47 years, Lavinia E. Farris aged about 45 years, Martha P. Lumsden aged about 43 years. The children of Jerimiah Dowdy to wit Kissie Jane Dowdy aged 22 years, James L Dowdy aged 19 years and John L Dowdy aged about 16 years, all of the above named heirs and distirbutees reside in Lauderdale County state of Alabama. The children of Ann Young deceased who was the wife of Spencer Young to wit Elvira Young, Elizabeth Young, John Young, Mary Young, Jane Young, and Joanna Young all of whom are over the age of 21 years, but petitioner does not and cannot ascertain their precise ages after deligent inquirey for that purpose. Said heirs and distributees reside as petiioner is informed in the Parish of Carroll in the State of Lousiiana. And the child of Catharine Rodgers (to wit) Mattie Rodgers, who resides in Hardin County State of Tennessee who is 14 years of age, all of said heirs and distributees are of sound mind and no guardians for the minor heirs known to your petitioner. ...lands cannot be equitably divided amongst said heirs without a sale of the same. John T. Dowdy, Administrator Sept 17 1878.

married Catherine TERRY, Feb 1813 in Chatham Co NC daughter of James TERRY of Rocky River area of Chatham NC and his wife, Hannah WHITEHEAD, widow of John DOWDY of Rocky River in Chatham NC; John Dowdy was James DOWDY'S uncle from Chatham NC.; Catherine applied for a pension on 1 Jul 1876 and received cert. no. WC 6812. In order to prove her marriage to James Dowdy, her brother, John Terry of Chatham NC testified that James Dowdy asked his (and Catherines') father "for his sister, then pulled her up behind him on a sorrel horse and rode off in the direction of the justice of the peace. They afterward lived in peace and hamony as married persons should do"

4.i Catherine DOWDY b abt 1822 AL (in 1850 census HH of father)

married John W. RODGERS on July 12, 1860 in Lauderdale Co. AL

5.i Mattie RODGERS, of Hardin County Tennessee; 14 years of age in 1878

4.ii Mary DOWDY b abt 1818 aged about 60 years in 1878; unmarried

4.iii Rebecca DOWDY b abt 1820 aged 58 years in 1878

married John MCCORKLE

4.iv Sarah DOWDY b abt 1822 aged about 56 years in 1878

married William MCCORKLE

4.v James T. DOWDY b abt 1823 aged about 57 years in 1878

4.vi John T. DOWDY b abt 1831 aged about 47 years in 1878

4.vii Lavinia E. DOWDY b abt 1833 aged about 45 years 1878

married _______FARRIS

4.viii Martha P. DOWDY b abt 1835 aged about 43 years in 1878

married Thomas W. H. LUMSDEN on December 12, 1859 in Lauderdale Co. AL

4.ix Jerimiah DOWDY deceased before 1878

5.i Kissie Jane DOWDY b abt 1856 aged 22 years in 1878

5.ii James L DOWDY b abt 1859 aged 19 years in 1878

5.iii John L DOWDY b abt 1863 aged about 16 in 1878

4.x Ann DOWDY deceased before 1878

married Spencer YOUNG

5.i Elvira YOUNG,

5.ii Elizabeth YOUNG,

5.iii John YOUNG,

5.iv Mary YOUNG

5.v Jane YOUNG

3.v son DOWDY born 1790 - 1794; untraced

3.vi Jerimiah DOWDY (theorized) - possibly born 1790 to 1794 in SC; assigned to this family because he shows up in 1812 muster rolls for SC. James Dowdy of Lauderdale AL had a son named Jerimiah named after his ?brother. Both James and Thomas (Jr) fought in the War of 1812 (family thing)

3.vii daughter DOWDY - born about 1794 to 1800; untraced

3.viii David DOWDY (theorized) - born about 1799 in SC; migrated to Lauderdale AL; died after appearing in 1866 Lauderdale AL census

married Mary REEVES on October 3, 1825 in Lauderdale County AL

4.i daughter DOWDY appears in 1830 census of father

4.ii son DOWDY appears in 1830 census of father

4.iii James Madison DOWDY born 1829 in Lauderdale AL; living in parent's HH in 1850

4.iv Sarah DOWDY born 1832 in Lauderdale AL; living in parent's HH in 1850

4.v William DOWDY born 1837 in Lauderdale AL; living in parent's HH in 1850

4.vi David DOWDY Jr. born 1839 in Lauderdale AL; living in parent's HH in 1850

4.vii Mary DOWDY born 1843 in Lauderdale AL; living in parent's HH in 1850

 

3.ix Thomas DOWDY (theorized) - born about 1800 in SC; died 28 Jul 1841, Lauderdale co AL; served as a private in Capt Willima Welch's Co, Maj Field's 39th Regt, So Carolina Militia from 24 Sep 1814 to 12 Mar 1815.

married Margaret BROWN 23 March 1823; The widow applied for bounty land on 21 Jan 1851 in Lauderdale AL and received BL wt 21916-80-50. She applied for additional bounty land on 19 Jul 1855 and received BL Wt 42233-80-55. On 6 Nov 1878 she applied for a pension in Lauderdale AL and received WC 24238.

4.i Thomas DOWDY b: 1827 in Alabama; living in mother's HH in 1850 Lauderdale census

4.ii Joseph DOWDY b: 1829 in Alabama; living in mother's HH in 1850 Lauderdale census

4.iii Mary DOWDY b: 1834 in Alabama; living in mother's HH in 1850 Lauderdale census

4.iv Margaret Ann DOWDY b: 16 Jul 1837 in Lauderdale County,Alabama; living in mother's HH in 1850 Lauderdale census

Marriage 1 Abel WOODWARD b: 23 Mar 1830 in Wayne County,Tennessee; Married: 2 Jul 1855

5.i Sarah Elizabeth WOODWARD b: 18 Jul 1856 in Tennessee
5.ii William Franklin WOODWARD b: 5 Aug 1859 in Tennessee
5.iii Mary Bell WOODWARD b: 20 May 1861 in Tennessee
5.iv Rosa Lee WOODWARD b: 5 Feb 1865 in Hardin Co.,TN
5.v Amanda WOODWARD b: 1 Jul 1868
5.vi John Wiley WOODWARD b: 7 May 1870 in Tennessee
5.vii James Leander WOODWARD b: 27 Feb 1874 in Tennessee
5.viii Thomas Walter WOODWARD b: 22 Sep 1876 in Tennessee
5.ix Jesse Porter WOODWARD b: 29 Sep 1879 in Tennessee

4.v William DOWDY b: 1840 in Alabama; living in mother's HH in 1850 Lauderdale census

4.vi Andrew Jackson DOWDY b: 1842 in Alabama; living in mother's HH in 1850 Lauderdale census