WILLIAM DOGGETT
(Son of Rev. Benjamin)
500 WILLIAM DOGGETT, son of Rev. Benjamin and
Jane Doggett; b. abt. 1676, Lancaster Co., VA; d. 1716/7,
Lancaster Co., VA. Married, but wife's name unknown.
Children (Doggett):
510 William d. 1772 m. Lucy Mason ?
m. Johanna Wale
520 (child)
530 (child)
540 Elmore d. 1781 m. Lucy Haydon
m. 1779 Mary Ann Hammonds
550 Jane
560 Benjamin b. 1717 d. 1760 m. Anne Emberson
William Doggett was the youngest child of the Rev. Benjamin
Doggett. He was born in Lancaster County, Virginia, about 1676.
Little has been discovered concerning his early life.
William received under his father's will recorded in Lancaster
County in 1682 a devise of 100 acres of land, being a part
of the 350 acre plantation owned by his father, on condition
that he not marry until reaching age 22. This devise was under
the same terms as the 100 acre devise to his brother Richard,
that is, that the land be improved and indentured servants to be
purchased with William's share of the tobacco belonging to
the estate. The will also provided that William should live
with his older brother Benjamin until he should be
capable to live on his own. As William was only five or six years
old when his father died, it was a number of years before he
could take possession of the land. Of course, he would be
entitled to any net profits realized by his guardian from
cultivation of the property. County records do not record any
formal appointment of a guardian, but it must be assumed that his
father's wishes as expressed in the will were followed,
and brother Benjamin acted as William's guardian.
William was married, undoubtedly after 1698, and probably before
1704 when he first appeared in a Lancaster County tax list.
However, his wife's identity is uncertain. It has been speculated
that his wife's name was Betty, and that her surname was perhaps
George, but the basis for such opinion is tenuous. The
probability of a son being named Elmore, which is a name
appearing in the George family, and not otherwise in the Doggett
family, provides some basis for the speculation. (N.B. I am not
certain whether all of the court orders in the Lancaster County
Order book have been examined, and perhaps there are some clues
that I have missed.)
William died in 1716 in Lancaster County, Virginia. His will
dated 20 Feb 1716/7, was recorded in court records on 13 Mar
1716/7. His will refers to his wife, but does not name her. The
will names his daughter Jane and his son William and refers
generally to "all my children." The will was witnessed
by William's brothers Benjamin and Richard, and by John Bell, who
was a minister who served in Lancaster County following the death
of Rev. Benjamin's immediate successor, Andrew Jackson. Elmore
George and Edwin Conway were named as executors of the will, but
it does not appear that Col. Conway served as such. The cause of
William's death is not known, but the will states that he was
"weak in body" by "unfortunate accident."
Although the will only names two of William's children, it is
known that there were six children. The will leaves the personal
estate to the widow and children. There are court proceedings in
1725 and 1728 brought on behalf of William and Benjamin, children
of William, each for one-seventh of the estate. Elmore Doggett is
universally recognized as a child of William, based on common
relationships and similarity of names, and the presumption would
seem to be correct, although no direct evidence has been seen.
Benjamin was born about the time of William's untimely death, and
may have even been born posthumously. The names of the other two
children are not known. One researcher has stated that the
children were daughters Sarah and Hannah, but no evidence is
cited in support of that statement. One possible candidate for a
child's place is Isaac Doggett who married Elizabeth Churchwell
in Richmond County, Virginia, in 1729, but no evidence can be
cited in proof of that relationship.
In August 1728, William's son William was acting as guardian of
his brother Benjamin. This would indicate that William was born
prior to 1707, and was probably the eldest son.
No information has been found documenting death or
remarriage of William's widow. Richard Boatman, a cousin,
was acting as guardian of the younger William in 1725, so it may
be that her death or remarriage occurred before that date.
510 WILLIAM DOGGETT,
son of William and Elizabeth Doggett; b. Lancaster Co., VA; d.
1772, Lancaster Co., VA; m(1) poss. LUCY MASON;
m(2) JOANNA WALE, dau. of John Wale.
Children (Doggett):
(children of first marriage)
511 Coleman b. 1736 d. 1782 m. Mary King
512 William d. 1795 m. Betty Doggett
m. Judith Robb
513 Mary Ann
514 Betty m. 1753 Josiah Carter
515 Lucy
(children of marriage to Joanna Wale)
516 Sarah m. 1763 James Cammell, Jr.
m. 1768 James Brent
517 Mildred
518 Joanna m. 1772 William Steptoe
519 Ann
51A Hannah b. 1755 m. Thomas Chowning
For descendants, see separate page.
540 ELMORE DOGGETT,
son of William and Elizabeth Doggett; d. 1781, Lancaster Co., VA;
m(1) LUCY HAYDON; m(2) 1779, Lancaster Co., VA, MARY
ANN HAMMONDS.
Children (Doggett):
521 John b. 1732 d. 1780 m.
m. Winifred Carter
522 William m. Judith Flowers
523 Elmore d. 1777
524 George m. Elizabeth Griggs
525 Elizabeth m. 1771 Hillary Curtis
For descendants, see separate page.
560 BENJAMIN
DOGGETT, son of William and Betty Doggett; b. 1717
(posthumous), Lancaster Co., VA; d. 1760, Lancaster Co., VA; m. ANNE
EMBERSON, dau. of John and Margaret Emberson, d.
1761.
Children (Doggett):
561 Betty m. William Doggett
562 Mary Ann
563 Margaret m. John Edwards
564 Emberson d. 1765
565 Leannah
For descendants, see separate page.
Updated 26 Dec 2005
© 2005 James D. Doggett