His family appears to be outlined on pg. 1119 of the Williams/Lucas book. He is shown as the son of John Dotson b 1788 VA m. Nancy Casey. John was son of Charlie Dotson b ca 1770 in VA who married a Pickens. Ancestry prior to Charlie is not shown. (pp 1093+ covers descendants of Charlie) The book says Charlie had a brother named Hightower Dotson. "That may offer a clue as to where this family fits into the scheme of things."