Early Doss Family History

Jesse Doss, my great great grandfather was born in Stokes County, North Carolina in 1806, and died 1870 in Sparta, Bell County, Texas.

The earliest Doss' from which Jesse descended per research that is not wholly conclusive is: John Doss (Dawe) originally found in Middlesex County, Virginia in 1661. Headrights were claimed for a Jno. Dawe and An Dawe. In the Christ Church Parish Register for Middlesex County, Virginia a John Doss married Ann Taylor 26 January, 1680. Later, an Ann Doss was listed in the same parish register as marrying Thomas Wingo on 15 July 1688.

Three (possibly four) children were born to John and Ann Doss: William christened January 1680/81 who married Katherine Woodyard in 1708. Ellenor, a twin to William was christened on the same date as her brother, and married Jeptha Edmund in 1704. Thomas, the third known child to the union of John and Ann Doss, is the ancestor from whom our family (and many, many others) descends. He was born 1687 and died after March 1759 in Goochland or Albermarie County, Virginia.

It is believed that Thomas Doss married Margaret Soss about 1705 and had 6 known sons. These six sons were: James, Thomas, Marcus, Zachariah, Azariah and Jeremiah born between 1715 and 1730 in Virginia. One note: The last name of Thomas' wife Margaret is too similar to the name of Doss, and makes me wonder if her last name was truly known or recorded incorrectly.

Note on Historical Colonial "Counties" - In almost all cases, the original counties also called Districts in some places, during the 1600 and 1700's changed their county lines numerous times. Originally, of course, there were no counties listed, only names of places, then they were divided into Districts and finally counties. The boundaries of the counties continually changed throughout the years even into the 1800's. There are books and records available to tell us where the originally recorded places used to be, and checking these is very important to find the exact locations of our ancestors.

The old parish registers, deed books and land records, a person's Will and any court or legal records is the best way to locate a person prior to the 1790 United States Census, and even then, only the heads of families were listed (primarily males unless a female was a family head), until the 1850 United States Census, when all family members names, ages and where they were born were listed. Therefore, prior to 1850, it is very difficult to trace the exact names and places of all family members.

To continue, Thomas Doss' son Zachariah was the next male in my pedigree, born about 1720 in Virginia and died before 1810 in Virginia. Records indicate that Zachariah married Elizabeth Ann Atkinson born about 1732 in Henrico County, Virginia and died about 1780 in Bedford County, Virginia. Her parents were William Atkinson (1689-1735) and Elizabeth Parker (1695-1733) both of Henrico and Goochland Counties in Virginia.

As far as we know, Zachariah II and Mary had about 9 children, one of which was my great great grandfather Jesse Doss. Zachariah, also listed as Zacheus on some records, was taxed in Bedford County, Virginia in 1782 and 1786. He was listed on the 1810 Census in Stokes County, North Carolina with 6 children (ages between 1 and 26) and a wife. The 1820 Census shows 7 males (ages between 1 and 26), plus one female between age 26-45, presumed to be either an eldest child or wife of an elder son, plus the wife was also listed.

By 1827, he was shown as living back in Montgomery County, Virginia based on tax records there along with James A, Jesse and Isom. The sons of Zacheus, Jesse, Isom, Phillip were located on the 1828, 1849 and 1830 tax records in this county. Due to many other records, the male children of this family were established: James A, Jesse, Isom, Philip, and possibly, but with only minor evidence, Henry, Thomas, and John.

At the Montgomery County, Virginia courthouse, several Arrest Warrants were found for Philip and Jesse Doss (age 23), who were charged with Breaking the Peace. These warrants were issued to the sheriff by the court commanding him to arrest Philip and Jesse. A record was found for a trial held for Philip in which he was convicted by a jury in August 1829.

These warrants continued every few months beginning in August 1928 until June 1830 when Philip paid his fine. In Jesse's case, these arrest warrants continued until December 1830 when his warrant was returned marked "no inhabitant". It was around this time that it is known that Jesse Doss began his journey from Virginia, through Kentucky, Indiana and eventually settled in Hancock County, Illinois. He was already married and one female child, Elizabeth had been born in North Carolina before they began there travels.

Locations of Virginia counties for the previous ancestors according to a 1830 Virginia map were Middlesex, located north of Jamestown, Virginia. Goochland County is located about 3 or 4 counties to the west of Middlesex County. The majority of counties mentioned in all the land, deed, court and parish records were in the mid-southern Virginia counties of: Bedford, Campbell, Franklin, Halifax, Pittsylvania and Montgomery Counties - all close to the North Carolina northern border - at that time.