Dodge Family History: Wilson Dodge (1829-1897)

WILSON⁸ DODGE (James⁷, Benjamin⁶, John⁵, Thomas⁴, Josiah³, ‘Lt.’ John², Richard¹) Yeoman & Carpenter, born 3 Feb 1829 in Salem, Somerset (later Franklin) County, Maine. He married Betsey D. Burton. She was born 25 Apr 1824 in Wilton, New Hampshire to John Burton & Sarah Dale. Betsey d. 10 Jun 1886 in Auburn, Maine. Wilson died on 6 Feb 1897 in Auburn, Androscoggin County, Maine.

Wilson was living in 4^th Plantation (later Perkins Plantation) with his parents and siblings in the 1850 census. Wilson was listed as a farmer along with his father James and his brothers James Harvey and Asa Dodge. He is also listed as having attended school within the past year. He married Betsey Burton sometime around 1854. Betsey was born in Wilton, New Hampshire and moved to Maine with her family in the 1840’s.

On June 7, 1858 (recorded March 10, 1859), Wilson Dodge, living in Plantation #4 (later Perkins Plantation), bought ‘lot numbered five in the fourth range of lots in Plantation #4,’ which contained 160 acres of land from Lafayette Perkins for $200. (Franklin County Records vol. 42, page 220). Wilson sold half of this lot; ‘together with all of the house on said lot and an undivided half of the other buildings on said lot,’ to his father James Dodge on April 1, 1859 (recorded March 5, 1881) for $500. (Franklin County Records vol. 90, page 59). The other half of this lot of land ‘with all the buildings thereon, excepting the house now standing on said land and heretofore conveyed to James Dodge with the other undivided half of said lot,’ he mortgaged to his brother Stephen Curtis Dodge on December 3, 1859 (recorded December 21, 1859) for $260 (Franklin County Records vol. 43, page 188). On December 23, 1859 (recorded June 5, 1860), Wilson sold this mortgage to A.E. Houghton for $260 (Franklin County Records vol. 40, page 211)

On Nov. 23, 1858 (recorded Jan. 19, 1859), Wilson purchased a 12-acre parcel of land from John & Sarah Burton, his in-laws, for $800. As part of the mortgage agreement, Wilson was ‘to support and maintain in a suitable and proper manner…John & Sarah Burton…with all…attendance necessary for their comfort and convenience in sickness and health during their natural lives,’ (Franklin County Records vol. 41 pg. 10). On Mar. 10, 1859 (recorded Mar. 10, 1859), Wilson applied for ‘An Act to Exempt Homesteads from Attachments and Levy or Sale on Execution’ on the property he had purchased from John & Sarah Burton. The exemption was granted on Oct. 26, 1860 (Franklin County Records vol. 22 pg. 26). The loan and obligations of this agreement were fulfilled on Jan. 14, 1861 and the land reverted back to John Burton (Franklin County Records vol. 46 pg. 538).

In the 1860 Census, Wilson was living in Weld with his family. He was listed as a Farmer. His wife Betsey was listed as a Housewife. His real estate was valued at $1,000 and his personal estate was valued at $600. In the 1870 Census, Wilson is listed as a House Carpenter in Weld. His wife is listed as Keeping Home and his children were attending school. His personal estate was valued at $175. On March 1, 1876 (recorded November 6, 1876), Wilson, now living in Turner, bought a four-acre parcel of land from Ulmer Perry for $125. (Androscoggin County Records, vol. 85, page 296). The next day (recorded November 6, 1876), Wilson purchased a ½ acre parcel of land ‘together with the buildings standing thereon,’ from Julia A. Francis for $300. (Androscoggin County Records, vol. 85, page 295). He then mortgaged the two parcels of land to Rachel Dodge, his mother, for $400, on March 6, 1876. (recorded Nov. 6, 1876 – Androscoggin County Records vol. 86 pg. 178).

When his parents died, Wilson was appointed administrator of their estate. As administrator, Wilson was responsible for making an inventory of all real estate, account for all goods & effects, collect all credits and pay all debts that were in his parents’ name. He paid his siblings $900 for their parents’ property ($120 for each brother & $100 for each sister) (recorded Jan. 15, 1878 – Androscoggin County Records vol. 90 pg. 547). Wilson was also under obligation, as administrator, to pay the Probate Judge $2,200 if he did not execute his duties as administrator. He received $56 for his share of his parents’ personal estate as well as $52.52 for his services as administrator.

On August 17, 1877 (recorded February 19, 1878), Wilson Dodge, along with Thomas J. Owen, purchased a ¼ acre parcel of land in Turner from Zenas Land for $25. Wilson sold his share of this land to Hiram J. Pratt for $10 on October 1, 1878 (recorded February 25, 1880 – Androscoggin County Records vol. 99, page 239). In the 1880 Census, Wilson is listed with his wife Betsey in the town of Turner. Wilson is listed as a House Jockey, which is another term for Carpenter. On Aug. 13, 1884 (recorded Aug. 13, 1884), Wilson, applied for ‘an exemption from attachment and levy on execution’ on his 4-½ acre property in Turner (Androscoggin County Records vol. 99, page 239). On December 7, 1886 (recorded January 21, 1889), Wilson sold his 4-½ acre of land and home to Maria L. Winship for $200. This is the same land that Wilson had purchased from Ulmer Perley and Julia A. Francis and had mortgaged to his mother, Rachel Dodge, back in 1876. Wilson eventually moved to the town of Auburn where he passed away on Feb. 6, 1897 at the age of 68. Wilson and Betsey are both buried at Mount Auburn Cemetery in Auburn, Maine.

Children:

i. Laura Frances Dodge; b. 1856, Perkins Plantation, Maine; d. 1933, Auburn, Maine. She m. Herbert Addison Whitman 25 Dec 1880. They had seven children.

ii. Edgar B. Dodge; b. Aug 1859, Weld, Maine. He m. (1) Edith M. McKenney 19 May 1883; (2) Mary Avis Ford 5 Jul 1893. He had six children from his second marriage.