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Ancestors of Charles Hines Dorsey

Generation No. 5


      16. Edward Dorsey, born May 4, 1762 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland; died August 5, 1804 in Jefferson County, Kentucky. He was the son of 32. Vachel Dorsey and 33. Ruth Dorsey. He married 17. Susannah Lawrence February 21, 1786 in Baltimore, Maryland.

      17. Susannah Lawrence, born May 4, 1769 in Maryland; died June 21, 1818 in Jefferson County, Kentucky. She was the daughter of 34. Benjamin Lawrence and 35. Urath Randall Owings.

Notes for Edward Dorsey:
The American progenitor of the Dorseys, who were puritans, emigrated from Darcy, England, to Virginia in 1635, and thence to Maryland in 1649 where they were prominent in public affairs. Two Dorsey women presided over the mansion at Annapolis as wives of Maryland governors. Edward, the ancestor of the Jefferson County Dorseys , married Susannah daughter of Benjamin Lawrence and moved in 1802 to Kentucky together with his family and the family of Benjamin Lawrence. Edward Dorsey settled on a tract of land at what is now O'Bannon, Kentucky, where he built a substantial stone house. Although weather-beaten and in need of minor repairs, the house is still structurally sound and is occupied today by the present owner of the farm. The Dorsey scions claim that it was the first stone house built in Kentucky. There are locust trees on the lawn four feet in diameter. When one of them fell recently in storm the owner cut cross-section and counted two hundred fifty rings.

Edward Dorsey died on August 8, 1804 at the age of forty-two, just two years after his arrival in Kentucky. His wife, Susannah, who later married John Williamson, died on January 21, 1818, at the age of forty-nine. They are now buried in the Hobbs family graveyard at Anchorage to which they were moved when their grandson, Edward Dorsey Hobbs, bought the property. Basil Nicholas Hobbs, father of Edward Dorsey Hobbs, married Mary Ann, better known as Polly, the daughter of Edward and Susannah Dorsey.

After the death of Edward Dorsey his estate, which included lots in Middletown and several hundred acres on which he lived, was divided among his heirs: Susannah widow and relict, and five children Polly Hobbs, Leaven Lawrence, Elias L., Urith, and Matilda. Samuel Luckett, husband of Edward's daughter Patience, then deceased, received her share and brother's in law, Leaven and Samuel Lawrence were also made beneficiaries among the Middletown lots which Edward bought from Charles Quirey and Catherine, his wife, on April 23, 1802 were nos. 51 and 52 on which were located a store, a tavern, and a dwelling house, all joined by partitions. The dwelling occupied by Leaven Lawrence; the store was operated by Samuel, and the tavern was rented by John Ballard. In the settlement of the estate, which was made by the Jefferson County Court in 1807, Leaven Lawrence was allocated his kitchen and the room he was then living in and the ground on which it stood. Samuel became the owner of the storeroom, the chamber above it, and the cellar and the ground it occupied. This odd practice of dividing the rooms of a house among several persons was not unusual one hundred fifty years ago.

It is interesting to note that in 1803 Edward Dorsey gave bond to Leaven Lawrence in the sum of 1,500 Spanish gilded dollars to sell to him one-third of all houses and lots which Edward owned in Middletown.

Elias and Leaven Lawrence Dorsey I were born in Maryland in 1797 and 1799 respectively and came with their parents to Jefferson County.

Leaven Lawrence I married Susan O'Bannon, daughter of Isham O'Bannon, and had several children including: Eveline, Mary, and Bushrod. He owned a tract of six hundred acres which he named "Kitchen Garden Farm." It was located at what is now Armsby Station and was a part of "Eden". There he erected a large and elegant residence.

Elias Dorsey married [Martha] Booker and had a large family. He owned "Eden" the valuable stock farm of 1,200 acres inherited from his Grandfather. His son, Leaven Lawrence II was born in the Middletown precinct on February 17, 1818, and was educated in the private schools of Middletown under the tutelage of Lawrence Young. He married Lydia Phillips had the following children: Rosa, Nannie, Clark, Hattie, Robert and Lydia. He inherited his father's estate on which he raised highbred trotting horses. "Eden" was owned by the Dorsey family from 1814 until about 1880.

Dorsey Way is a lane on the western confines of Middletown leading to the home of the late Leaven Lawrence Dorsey III a grandson of Leaven Dorsey I. His daughter Louise, lives in the paternal home. Other Dorsey scions include Sally Dorsey of Louisville, who is the granddaughter of Bushrod Dorsey. The married Charles O. Fust and his two daughters, Marie Louise and Elizabeth Herndon.

Unknown source of Kentucky Biographies, circa 1880
_________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY OF WILL OF EDWARD DORSEY

Dated: May 2, 1804
Probated: November 5, 1804.

Wife Susanna; to daughters Anne (Polly), and Matilda Dorsey, at the age of sixteen, and to sons Elias, Leaven Lawrence and Benjamin Lawrence, at the age of twenty-one, $1,200.00; daughter Patience Luckett to have $10.00.

Executrix:Wife Susanna Dorsey.
Witnesses: Ben and Leavin Lawrence, Willis Hord.

[Jefferson County, Kentucky, Will Book 1, page 151.]


More About Edward Dorsey:
Burial: Hobbs Cemetery, Anchorage, Kentucky

More About Susannah Lawrence:
Burial: Hobbs Cemetery, Anchorage, Kentucky as Susannah Williamson (John Williamson 2nd Husband)
     
Children of Edward Dorsey and Susannah Lawrence are:
  i.   Urith Dorsey, born December 24, 1788; died in Died young.
  ii.   Patience Dorsey, born April 23, 1789; died Bef. 1807; married Samuel N. Luckett February 4, 1803 in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
  iii.   Mary Ann "Polly" Dorsey, born September 13, 1791 in Maryland; died September 25, 1833 in Kentucky; married (1) James Hobbs; married (2) Basil Nicholas Hobbs April 19, 1808 in Jefferson County, Kentucky; born April 24, 1786; died July 21, 1837 in Jefferson County, Kentucky.
  More About Mary Ann "Polly" Dorsey:
Burial: Hobbs Cemetery, Anchorage, Kemtucky

  iv.   Matilda Dorsey, born 1794; died 1881 in Illinois; married Nimrod Dorsey June 15, 1809 in Jefferson County, Kentucky; born 1789 in St. Thomas, Garrison Forrest, Baltimore, Maryland; died 1845 in Illinois.
  8 v.   Elias Dorsey, born June 7, 1796 in Maryland; died March 2, 1872 in Bunker Hill, Macoupin County, Illinois; married (1) Martha R. Booker February 22, 1815 in Shelby County, Kentucky; married (2) Sarah Henrietta Mayo January 20, 1838 in Baltimore County, Maryland.
  vi.   Susannah Dorsey, born August 22, 1798; died in Died young.
  vii.   Levin Lawrence Dorsey, born December 19, 1799 in Maryland; died 1882 in Jefferson County, Kentucky; married Susannah W. O'Bannon January 24, 1820 in Shelby County, Kentucky; born 1802 in Virginia.
  viii.   Benjamin Lawrence Dorsey, born February 28, 1802 in Jefferson County, Kentucky; died August 21, 1880 in Bunker Hill, Macoupin County, Illinois; married (1) Nancy M. Booker November 19, 1829 in Shelby County, Kentucky; born January 21, 1811 in Shelby County, Kentucky; died November 14, 1846; married (2) Ellen North Felming July 12, 1848 in Madison County, Illinois; born Abt. 1816 in Maryland.
  More About Benjamin Lawrence Dorsey:
Burial: Bunker Hill Cemetery, Macoupin County, Illinois

  More About Nancy M. Booker:
Burial: Bunker Hill Cemetery, Macoupin County, Illinois

  ix.   Urith Owings Dorsey, born October 5, 1804 in Jefferson County, Kentucky; died March 27, 1867 in Logan County, Illinois; married John Boswell Hundley; born August 14, 1795 in Kentuxky; died June 12, 1847 in Middletown. Illinois.


      18. Colonel Richard Marot Booker Jr., born July 30, 1771 in Virginia; died August 24, 1845 in Shelby County, Kentucky. He was the son of 36. Richard Marot Booker Sr. and 37. Elizabeth Palmer. He married 19. Tabitha Fuqua February 2, 1795 in Charlotte County, Virginia.

      19. Tabitha Fuqua, born 1777 in Virginia; died March 6, 1834 in Shelby County, Kentucky. She was the daughter of 38. Samuel Fuqua and 39. Hannah Bates.

Notes for Colonel Richard Marot Booker Jr.:
Military Service: Colonel in the Richmond - Washington Volunteers and the 20th Regiment, U.S. Artillery during the war of 1812.

_________________________

Richard Booker Will

Will Book 16 Page 230 a & b Shelby County Court House Shelbyville, KY

Know all men that I Richard Booker of the County of Shelby and the State of Kentucky being of sound & disposing mind and knowing that death is the lot of all do make & declare this to be my last will & testament. Item: My will & purpose is that an equal distribution be made of my property amongst all my children the shares of my deceased children (towit) Martha and Harriet to go to their issue.

Item: My will is that the share of my property which under the foregoing clause may fall to my deceased daughter Harriet's children remain in the hands of my son Richard M. Booker if he survives me as trustee for the children until they respectively attain the age of twenty one or marry and in the event of the death of my son Richard M. Booker whom I have constituted trustee for the children of my daughter Harriet before my own, then I constitute and appoint my son in law John Hornsby trustee for them to receive and manage their property until the period above designated and shall I survive them then I appoint my son in law James George to act as their trustee it being my fixed purpose that none of the property which they may take under this will shall ever reach the hands of their father.

Item: My further will & purpose is that my daughter Julia shall have my Negro woman Matilda with her issue. Likewise two beds bedsteads and their furniture to be selected by herself all this is given in addition to her equal share of property of which I may <die seized and possessed it being about the amount of property of which I have given to my other children upon their leaving me. In the last place it being my anxious desire and intent to make my children all equal recipients of my earning they having equal claims upon my paternal regard. I enjoin it upon my son Richard M. Booker John Hornsby and James George as my executors, to act jointly or separately as it may suit their convenience to carry into execution this my last will in its true spirit and meaning In testimony where of I have subscribes my name and affixed my seal in the presence of these witness this eighteenth day of April eighteen hundred and thirty eight.
Attest
William Waters

Richard Booker (seal)

John Waters Eleanor Waters

A codicil to the foregoing will it having accured to me that it might be difficult to carry into effect without empowering my Executors to sell my property of every kind Now my further will is that my executors or such of them as take upon them the Execution of my will do sell my property real and personal of every kind if deemed either necessary or expenient by them in order to distribute my property among my children as directed in my will. In Testimony whereof I Have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal in thy property among my children as directed in my will In Testimony whereof I Have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal in these presence of these witnesses this 14 day of July 1842

2 Witnesseth William Waters Jos A. Moore J. F. (?) Moore

Richard Booker (Seal)

Shelby County SCT

September Term 1845

A writing purporting to be the last will & Testament of Richard Booker Dec,d and codicil thereunder written was produced to the court & the will was proven by the oaths of Wm. Waters Eleanor Waters & the codicil was proven by the oaths of Wm. Waters & Jos A. Moore and ordered to be recorded and thereupon James W. George & Richard M. Booker the Exors named is said Will came into court & took upon themselves the brethren of the Execution thereof & having taken the oath required by Law and entered into bond with Andrew I White John A. Hornsby & Wm Waters their securities in the penalty of forty thousand dollars conditioned as the Law directs probate of said will is granted them in due form of Law
att
Ja L or S Whitaker clk Shelby County Court


More About Colonel Richard Marot Booker Jr.:
Burial: Willow Brook Farm, Shelby County, Kentucky

More About Tabitha Fuqua:
Burial: Willow Brook Farm, Shelby County, Kentucky
     
Children of Richard Booker and Tabitha Fuqua are:
  i.   Francis A. Booker, born in Shelby County, Kentucky; married James W. George October 11, 1827 in Shelby County, Kentucky.
  ii.   Richard Marot Booker III, born in Shelby County, Kentucky; died 1857.
  9 iii.   Martha R. Booker, born August 13, 1796 in Shelby County, Kentucky; died September 20, 1836 in Jefferson County, Kentucky; married Elias Dorsey February 22, 1815 in Shelby County, Kentucky.
  iv.   Harriet Booker, born June 13, 1807 in Shelby County, Kentucky; died July 26, 1833 in Jefferson County, Kentucky; married (1) William Williams May 17, 1822 in Floyd County, Indiana; died October 30, 1823; married (2) Moses Fuqua October 19, 1824 in Shelby County, Kentucky; born October 27, 1793.
  Notes for Harriet Booker:
Married Moses Fuqua her second cousin.

  More About Harriet Booker:
Burial: Lawrence Family Cemetery, Jefferson County, Kentucky (on Campus of Univ. of Louisville, Shelbyville)

  v.   Nancy M. Booker, born January 21, 1811 in Shelby County, Kentucky; died November 14, 1846; married Benjamin Lawrence Dorsey November 19, 1829 in Shelby County, Kentucky; born February 28, 1802 in Jefferson County, Kentucky; died August 21, 1880 in Bunker Hill, Macoupin County, Illinois.
  More About Nancy M. Booker:
Burial: Bunker Hill Cemetery, Macoupin County, Illinois

  More About Benjamin Lawrence Dorsey:
Burial: Bunker Hill Cemetery, Macoupin County, Illinois

  vi.   William F. Booker, born November 19, 1812 in Shelby County, Kentucky; died September 25, 1834 in Shelby County, Kentucky.
  vii.   Julia Ann Booker, born 1815 in Shelby County, Kentucky; died 1869; married John Allen Hornsby October 22, 1838 in Shelby County, Kentucky; born 1811; died 1887.


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