Four Dodge Families From Pelham, Massachusetts
 
In Pelham, Massachusetts, in the early to mid-1800s, there were three Dodge families. They were the families of John Chester Dodge who married Louisa Childs; Daniel Dodge who married Esther Brown; and Elison Dodge who married Esther Bartlett. Over the past year we have been trying to find a connection between these three families. We knew that the father of John Chester Dodge was Nathan/Nathaniel/Nethaniel. His father's name was spelled all three ways in Massachusetts VRs.

Chuck Dodge, (see Personnel page) a member of the Dodge Family Association took it upon himself to try to prove a connection between these families. He was successful and now, we can tie them, not only to each other, but also to Caleb Dodge who married Miriam Gilbert.

Caleb (Joshua, Antipas, Samuel, Richard) left the area of Salem, Massachusetts with his Wife, Miriam, and migrated towards the western part of Massachusetts. In the process of moving westward, the first three children, Nathaniel, Mercy, and Zebulon were born. For some reason, the only one of these three names that was picked up by past researchers of this line, was Zebulon. This is an uncommon name in the Dodge family, so this was our first clue as to the parentage of these three children. The records to which we have access, listed only one parent, a Caleb Dodge.

When looking at our William/Richard data base, we found that Caleb Dodge who married Miriam Gilbert, had a son Zebulon, born on the same date. He also had a son, Daniel. This made us believe that the Daniel who lived in Pelham, Massachusetts might be related.

The one other Dodge family that lived in Pelham at the same time was that of Elison (Alason) Dodge. Because we had a member seaching for an Alanson Dodge, this name also intrigued us and we wondered if there was some relationship between this family and the families of John Chester, and Daniel. If we could find a connection, then perhaps we could clear up the Alanson Hamilton Dodge mystery also.

Enter here, Chuck Dodge and following is what he found out about these families. We DO have the descendants of John Chester, Dodge, Daniel Dodge, and Elison (Alason)Dodge and what about Alanson Hamilton Dodge? That is ANOTHER story!

Caleb Dodge, JTD#408 (Joshua, Antipas, Samuel, Richard) m.4 Apr 1757 Miriam Gilbert, dau of Josiah Gilbert/Mary Goss of Brookfield. The IGI and Brookfield VRs list Mercy, Nathaniel and Zebulon. There is also a dau, Hannah b.~1757/8 listed in the Decendants of Thomas Low on FTM. user/j/o/n/Frances-J-Joneslory. Zebulon, JTD #758c matches the 1764 son of Caleb.

Caleb's son, Nathaniel m.Jun 1786 Anne (Anna) Hill @ Mendon, MA., she the dau of Daniel Hill/Elizabeth Pulcipher of Mendon. Their children all in the IGI are:

Daniel b. 7 Dec 1786 Mendon
John Chester b. 28 Dec 1788 Mendon
Elison b. 1791 Brookfield
Jonas b. 16 Aug 1793 Spencer
Achsah b. 1799 Pelham

Here you can see how this family moved to Pelham...last child, a girl with the unique name born there.

Daniel m. Esther Brown 27 Mar 1812 @ Pelham. She is the Esther born to
Robert Brown and Lydia Dewey Brown..

Elison m. Esther Bartlett, b. Mar 1796 to Solomon Bartlett/Rebecca Halifax of Brookfield. .

John Chester, Chester in most records m. Louisa, Lovisa, Levica Childs. This marriage listed as Lovica of Enfield & Chester Dodge, int. 7 Mar 1824. As you know, Enfield is under Quabin Res. Their children include:

Achsa Maria, Otis, Ora, Lorinda and Frances.

Elison, Ester, Nancy, Lewis and Hollis are in the 1850 census, Pelham

Chester, Lovisa, Achsa M., Lorinda and Frances are in the 1850 census, Pelham