Ancestors

Richard Dodge

Richard Dodge came to Massachusetts from East Coker, in Somerset, and settled in the Salem and Beverly country. He and his brother William are the source of the Dodge families of Essex County. They are not kin to the Dodges of Block Island, who descend from an unrelated Tristram Dodge. His parents were John Dodge of Somersetshire and Margery, and his father never came to America. Richard was probably born as early as 1602, reckoning back from his wife's age at death.

He had come to East Coker from St Budeaux in Devon, about four miles from Plymouth, about 1616. The manor of Helyar at East Coker had come to a Devonshire family named Helyar in roughly the same year. In 1633 Richard Dodge was admitted as tenant by entry hold of lands in Helyar manor. His wife was Edith. The East Coker parish register, examined in 1881, has the baptisms of their children and of his brother Michael's. Richard son of Richard was baptised in 1628. Margery was baptised on 7 September 1630 and buried the following February. John was baptised on 29 December 1631, and Marie, daughter of Richard and Edith, on 19 April 1635.

A will of John Dodge of Middle Chinnock, made 2 April 1635 and proved that October, sits in the same country. It names sons Michael, William and Richard, and a wife Margery who was to hold a tenement of about ten acres in the parish of Halstock in Dorset for her natural life.

In 1638 Richard appeared at Salem and "desired accommodation". Newcomers were admitted only on application to the town, so the family came that year. The King was obstructing emigration at the time, and it is probable he left England without royal permission. After living a while on his brother William's land he settled on Dodge Row in North Beverly, not far east of Wenham Lake.

In 1653 a list of subscribers went round for Harvard College. His name stands first of the twenty one, and the next largest sum was only a quarter of his. He set aside a piece of his farm as a burying ground, now the cemetery on Dodge Row. In February 1730/1 the three sons of his son Edward confirmed the grant by deed to their relatives and neighbours.

He made his will "the fourteene of the nine month 1670" and signed it with a mark: "The mark of Richard + Dodge". Isaac Hull and William Dodge witnessed it. His sons John, Richard and Samuel each got a farm valued at over 100 pounds. Edward and Joseph got the home farm, valued at 1,000 pounds, and the residue, as joint executors. His daughter Mary Herrick got one ewe, "having given her portion allready", and each of her five daughters fifty shillings at marriage or twenty one. His daughter Sarah got five pounds, and her daughter five pounds on the same terms. The overseers were his brother William Dodge Sen. and Mr Henry Bartholomew Sen. of Salem, at twenty shillings apiece.

He still owned land in England, let to his brother Michael for four pounds a year. The will reads: "I doe hereby acquit my brother from all dues and demands concerninge the said rent during my life but after my desease I give and bequeathe to my wife and my son John the said rent."

He died at Beverly on 15 June 1671, leaving an estate valued at 1,764 pounds 2d, and the will was proved on 28 June. No gravestone discloses where he or his wife lie.

If Richard Dodge is in your family, start your own tree.

Cite: Heirology, "Richard Dodge (1602-1671)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/richard-dodge-1602-1671-2e597a.