John DODGE

Family/Spouse: Margery ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

"Genealogy of the Dodge Family": RICHARD DODGE appeared at Salem in 1638, and "desired accommodation." It was learned in 1881 from the Parish register of East Coker Somersetshire, England, that in 1628, Richard, son of Richard, was bapt. date missing. Sept. 7, 1630, Margery, dau. of Richard, was bapt. Feb. 2, 1630-1, Margery, dau. of Richard, was buried. Dec. 29, 1631, John, son of Richard was Baptized. April 19, 1635, Marie, dau. of Richard and Edith was baptized.
As immigrants were admitted to the colony only by applying to the town and obtaining leave, it is quite certain that Richard and his family came in 1638, and as the King was at that time obstructing emigration, it is probable that he left England without royal permission.
After living awhile on land of his brother William, he settled on "Dodge Row" in North Beverly, not far east of Wenham Lake. The house he built stood probably where M. Lucius B. Dodge lately lived very near the present north line of Beverly, or possibly where Mr. H.W. Dodge now lives, a few rods farther east. The farm lately owned by Mr. Lucius B. Dodge was inherited from his father Richard, the son of Deacon Richard b. 1783, who bought it of his father-in-law, Jacob Edwards, b. 1746, by deed dated 23 April 1819. Apparently the same land was bought by John Edwards, of Edward Dodge, cordwainer, Beverly, 15 March, 1781.
It had been held in the male line from the death of Richard. Mr. Lucius B. Dodge says the house now occupied by Mr. H.W. Dodge was formerly used as a cabinet shop by his father Richard, and by him turned partly around and converted into a dwelling. It is unlikely that either house is as old as 200 years.
Richard the immigrant, evidently gave his attention more to farming and the care of his domestic affairs, than to town or church business; although he was a loyal church member, and one of the most liberal contributors to the support of the church. He and his wife Edith were members of the Wenham church before 1648 according to its records, John Fiske being pastor.
He also had a high appreciation of the value of education, for in 1653, in a list of twenty-one subscribers to Harvard College, his name ranks first, while the next largest sum was only one-fourth as much as his. He dedicated a piece of his land to a burying ground, which is now known as the Cemetery on Dodge Row. It was probably inherited by his son Edward, who died in 1727, for in February, 1730-1, the three sons of Edward, by a deed, confirmed the grant to their relatives and neighbors. The near neighbors of Richard were Zachary Herrick who married his daughter Mary, Peter Woodberry who married Sarah, John and Humphrey Woodberry and John Galle. he died 15th June, 1671, leaving an estate valued at the large sum of L1764 2s. he gave his sons John, Richard and Samuel each a good farm, valued in his inventory at over L100 each. To sons Edward and Joseph he gave the home farm, valued at L1000. To his wife Edith he gave certain appropriate personal property, "to be her own absolutely", and gave her "the sole and proper use of the parlor & chamber over it in my now dwelling house", and made liberal provision for annual payments to be made to her by her five sons. She outlived him seven years, dying 27th June, 1678, at the age of 75. From this it is probable that Richard may have been born about 1602, and was about two years older than William. Edith, before her death, also made a will, and the inventory discloses a very comfortable state of worldly affairs. No grave stones, however, disclose their resting place.

Family/Spouse: Edith COKER. Edith was born in 1603; died on 27 Jun 1678 in Beverly, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Emigration: 1629, To Salem, Massachusetts in the "Lion's Whelp"

Notes:

"Genealogy of Dodge Family": A deposition of William Dodge, made in February, 1678-9, says "aged about 70 years". Another deposition made by the same, 28th September, 1680, says "aged about 76 years." The latter is believed to be the more correct. hence, his birth may have been as early as 1604. William Dodge came to Salem in 1629... A tradition was handed down by Col. Robert Dodge to his son Francis, of Georgetown, DC that Farmer William came to America when about 21 or so to see how he liked it, and returned to England, telling his father that he had determined to settle in America and asking him for some present. His father said, "get married and I will give it." William is said to have met with two refusals before he succeeded, but he got married and got his present, a pair of bulls.
The name of his wife is not known. It has been called Elizabeth Haskell; but Elizabeth haskell was wife of "Coker" William, of which there are several proofs. Farmer William died between 1685 and 1692, as shown by deeds of land. During his lfetime only one deed shows the name of a wife; that was Mary, the wife of "Captain" William. She was a Conant, and at the time of her marriage to William Dodge was widow of John Balch....

Name:
William Dodge emigrated to Salem, Mass., in 1629 in the "Lion's Whelp", and was a frequent holder of public offices there. He is called, in some records, "a skillful husbandman, from Dorsetshire." By his wife, whose name is not known, he had issue of John, William, Hannah, and possibly Josiah, the last of whom was killed in the Narragansett War in 1675 and died without issue.

Family/Spouse: ? UNKNOWN. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]