This is the version of the 1934 letter that I have. I know this particular letter has caused some confusion as I have heard from others about variations. Sharon S. makes some good comments about family recollections. I really struggle with John #5, the FALL RIVER thing and the Zephaniah Dover story. One thing at a time ... if Zephaniah was born abt 1754, the 2nd son, that means his father John was born about 1730 at the latest. John lived to be 110 and we never see him in a census? That suggests to me that he could have been born way before 1730 and dead by 1790. For reality, we've got Joshua, Francis and Hezekiah in the same area all born 1753-1764 and they are not even mentioned. Francis is referenced in Lincoln County near a John Dover who "should be" connected to the 1934 letter. I can understand an omission of names in the 1934 letter, I just don't understand the implications of dates and places with everybody connecting to a JOHN DOVER. Can't let this go ... the oldest John DOVER in 1800 anywhere is the one in Buncombe County, North Carolina ... born before 1755. The only rub here is that he has two sons born 1790-1800. He's gone by 1810. The Genealogy of the Dover Family Source: John E. Dover from letter written in 1934. JOHN DOVER, number one, from England. He was a machinist and millwright by trade. He landed at Fall River, Massachusetts, in 1765. He remained there two years. After learning of the milder climate and greater possibilities of the South he pulled out for the Piedmont section of South Carolina and located on Kings Creek. He found a fine mill site on that stream. He cut a race across a neck of the land at a short bend of the creek. He then went to the foot hills of Brown's Mountain back of the Dillingham place and got out a set of mill rocks. About that time there was an uprising of the Indians and he decided to go back to Fall River until times got better. He was gone seven years. He returned in 1774 to find another man in possession of his mill site and had a mill running. He then settled on the place now owned by Bate Hambright and went to farming. He took part in the Revolutionary War and was in the battle of Kings Mountain. He lived to be 110 years old. Buried Shiloh graveyard. JOHN DOVER had five sons: Elijah #4 Zepheniah #2 John #5 William #1 James #3 We (?) descended from John #5. He had sons: Martin John Thomas Zepheniah Asa William (b 1829 To Tenn. d 1919) Willis Of this generation your family descended from Martin and mine from John #3. The first family of Dovers, William #1 and his family, moved into western North Carolina adjct. East Tennessee. Zepheniah and his family over in Georgia. #2 #3 James located down on Broad River, hence the Morgan Dover family of Broad River. #4 Elijah lived and died near Antioch Church. I saw him once when I was a small boy. He was then over 90 years old. He died soon after that. Several of his boys, my father's cousins went to Georgia also. The above facts were gathered from my father and Abraham H. Hardin and I believe they are correct. I have no doubt that all the Dovers sprang from this one family as I could never learn of any others coming over to this country, America. Characteristics They were a carefree, fun loving, hard working people. They were great lovers of music, both instrumental and vocal. Some of them I have been told, were among the finest musicians of their day and many of them possessed very fine voices, almost instrumental in clearness and smoothness of tone. They were great lovers of hunting, trapping and fishing, made a good living and enjoyed it. No serious crime was charged against any of them. I have made my first attempt at drawing a family tree, which will help out in running the family back to the beginning in this country. I couldn't find any records of the girls in the first and second generation, their names and who they married, except one of the first generation, her name was Sallie and she married Fred Hambright of Revolutionary fame. She was his second wife. There were three daughters in the third generation. William, (son of John Dover #5), my father, was born in Yorksville, S. C. in 1829, formerly called York County. Married: Miss Mary Theresa Whitice (Whitehurst) at Dalton, Georgia, during the Civil War. He died in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1919 at age of 90 years. He was in his younger days a farmer and carpenter. Developed into a contractor and builder. Built many of the older buildings and residences in Chattanooga, Tenn. His children: 1. Adolph C. Dover. Died age 37. At the time of his death he was general manager and treasurer of Charlotte Roof and paving Co., Charlotte, N. C. Died in 1905. He was never married. 2. Will (Willie) E. Dover. Married Rosa Griffin of East Chattanooga, Tenn. Was secretary to President of Rail Express Agency, New York City. 230 Para Avenue. Had son Eugene an actor. Another son, Junior about 14 years old. 3. George L. 51 years old. Married Erma Kendal of Chattanooga, Tenn. They had no children. George is sales representative of the Mascot Stove, Mfg. Co. Chattanooga, Tenn. He lives Sheraton Hotel, High Point, N. C. 4. John E. [THE WRITER], born January 1888. Was 46 years old. married 7 October 1919 to Mary Eugenia Ruble, of Lott, Texas. Has one son 14 years old named John E. Dover, Jr. John E. a veteran of World War, was saxaphone player 56th Infantry band, 7th Div. Volunteered at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. 1917. Honorably discharged July, 1919. Now in 1934 District Representative of the American Appraisal Company, a nationally known valuation company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 5. Lulu, married Joe Tremby, contractor and builder. Her children's names are, Mary Jane, Ruth, Joe and Charles, who has a son named William Thomas Tremby, now 1934, 3 years of age. They all reside at 1008 Oak St., Chattanooga, Tenn. 6. Alice, widow of J. Gid Lovelady, a farmer of Daisy, Tenn. Resides at 411 Oak St., Chattanooga, Tenn. 7. Lillie, married J. W. Hall of Tuscumbia, Alabama. Their children named Nell (Mrs. O. T. Tindell, Signal Mt., Tenn.) Mary [?] (Mrs. R. S. Harris, Iva and Willow St., Chattanooga, Tenn.) Larrie D. Hall lives with family at Tuscumbia, Alabama. 8. Raymond M. 64 years of age. Resides Signal Mt. Tenn. Raymond H. Jr., lawyer Chattanooga National Bank Building. Three daughters of the third generation, Mahala, Fannie and Sealy. Sealy married Berry Moss and had two sons, who lived somewhere near Blackburg, S. C. The other two had no children. They were my aunts. The last two married late in life which accounts for no children. Ref: The above written in a letter to J. R. Dover, Shelby, N. C. by Phelix Dover, of Hampton, Florida. Zephaniah #2 (first generation) son of John #1. This man visited my father and mother, William and Mary Theresa Dover, in Athens, Tenn. shortly after the Civil War - about 1869. At that time he was 115 years old, driving to Athens in a covered wagon. He was alive, but helpless, He had to be cared for like a baby. 115 years deducted from 1869 shows this man born about 1754. Eleven years before John Dover No. 1 arrived at Fall River, Mass. and it is evident that he, Zephaniah was born in England and came over to America with his father, John Dover No. 1, in 1765. and was eleven years old at that time. Phelix Dover states that Zephaniah and his family moved over into Georgia. Murray Co. Ga. 1860. Elijah #4 (first generation). Lived and died near Antioch Church near Blacksburg, S. C. No record of any children. William #1 (first generation). Moved into western North Carolina and East Tennessee. No record of any children. *********** This information from: O. A. Dover 805 East Arline Gastonia, N. C.