This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: DeniseLowWeso Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.dodson/1526.1.1.1.1.2.2.1.3.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Thanks for summarizing so well, mimhill54. Native Americans place a great store in oral histories; European traditions do not. Documents for a laborer like John Dodds' (and yes, the apostrophe in English shorthand of the day indicates "son") would be scanty. If he married a Native woman, probably common law, it would not be in the records. New archaeology at the Jamestown site indicate, for the first time in documented history, the presence of Native women within the settlement. Their grinding stones and other daily objects are being found. This corraborates the oral history. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.