We have long searched for probates on the DODD bunch--and the CAVE bunch and this last two years or so? have also looked for Martin and McDowell and ASHLEY and Glass and Hawkins, names as well as Reid, reed and Read--for lucinda cave reid. It seems the DODD land remained lastly in Choctwaw CO alabama--and was once a part of clark and washington. The courthouse at choctaw co. did NOT have probate for any DODD by DOD or any spelling for the years 1855 through 1865. -The university of virginia at richmond is on line !!!! and they have done some DODD/Cave looking for me-but only surface. I spent one day there last year and it is a really beautiful and well managed library of old records. Found just tidbits but nothing that really helped. But, CAVE/DODD/KITE all were there--in VA, NC and SC and into Ala (kites went to GA) and down into TX by 1860. There is in the personal papers of General George Washington- letters and bills for guns made by the gunsmith JOHN DODD of Charleston town. sold to Washington and paid for personally by him and supplied to the INDIANS who he encouraged to fight against the BRITISH. (papers in Nat. archives-on line). MY JONATHAN DODD was listed as a gunsmith in 1850 and his birth year is given as 1784 NC or SC?(varies). He had a brother George who also was not a planter and in the will of their father--they are (basically) requested to let the younger brothers have the land to farm (and to not gripe about it.) We believe the younger men were half brothers-by another wife? unproven!! Anyway, I have been unable to connect John DODD of Charleston gun smith shop with my Jonathan DODD of NC (Johnston co. in 1810 tax list). Although, gun smithy was a trade taught by doing? And the elder boys could have been put out to guardianship and training? ABSOLUTELY not proven. I think the CAVE-DODD-and my KITE lines all were in the same areas--and most probably knew each other???. The Kites bounced back and forth from VA to Ala to Georgia as did the DODDs. The DODDs in Gwinnete Georgia and the KITES that were in Gwinnete Georgia--are MY LINE--but that DODD line married into the KITE line and I can not connect that DODD line to the one in old JONATHAN DODD.(to explain this more simply--my grandmother dodd had a dodd line (choctaw co. alabama) AND her husbnd joe Kite also had a DODD line(gwinette dodds of neddie) Also, a puzzle is the CAVE familys who were in MISSISSIPPI-- trying to connect them to the Alabama ones--1840-50-60 and possibly ashley and dodd's? kite? And this is the most puzzling one of all......My Ashley Haywood DODD born 1815 NC (most probably Johnston co. NC) and his brother James Riley DODD? seem to be thick together until ashley dies in 1860 and then james riley sorta stays around where his sister in law is located? --but the other DODD men in the 1850 census are vanished--and some think them to be actually MCDOWELL men raised as DODDs? 1. circumstancial evidence: In Johnston Co. NC. there was a family sirname of ASHLEY who moved into MISSISSIPPI about the time that JONATHAN DODD went into Alabama ( 1830) ish. The CAVE family also went into MISSISSIPPI. In working with the ASHLEY FAMILY on their web link---? they said they had a legend that while the ASHLEYS were in Mississippi and some DODD people came to visit? The ASHLEYS put on a huge party and invited the whole country. BUT they have forgotten the reason for the party? (oh me)-------now these ASHLEY family are in BELL CO.TX in 1880!!!! OKAY---BSOG TIME---(Best Soap Opera Guess)???COULD they have had the party when Ashley haywood dodd and james riley dodd families passed through on their way to texas? Stop over in mississippi to visit RELATIVES of their mother? HUMMMMMMMMmmmm? and Martha Louisa DODD Hairston was born in Mississippi in 1855? I THINK? Ashley Haywood DODD (born 1815) was named for his mother's people or ASHLEY family. I think James Riley DODD (born 1820) was also birthed by the ASHLEY woman??? AND POSSIBLY William and Henry,too? ----------------------------------------------------------------- this is basically the 1850 choctaw co. census--some are left out) .DOD, JOHNATHAN, 66, M, Gun Smith, SC, Lusinda, 48, F, SC did this woman-birth ashely at age 12 or 13? Wm, 32, M, Planter, AL Henry, 27, M, AL Caroline E., 11, F, AL Isaac M., 9, M, AL DODD, Ashley., 35, M, Planter, NC, Louisa, 34, F, SC (lucy ann cave rabon) Elisabeth, 13, F, AL James M., 10, M, AL Marilla, 8, F, AL L.T., 6, M, AL Amelia, 1, F, AL Henderson DODD born 1852 alabama DODD, JAMES, 20, M, Planter, AL, Sarah, 19, F, AL (sarah CAVE) Larra D., 4, F, AL Fordonia, 2, F, AL ------------------------------- ashley born 1815 James riley born 1820 Wm, born 1818 AL Henry, born 1823 AL Caroline E born 1839 AL Isaac M. born 1841 AL Dugal Dodd born 1846 Ala. in household of loucendia Dodd, choctaw co. cen. 1860 ages: 1815, 1818 1820 and 1823? then the ASHLEY MOTHER? lady dies--? about 1823 ish? Old man marries (LOUCENDIA mARTIN mCdOWELL?) and raises Caroline born 1839 and Isaac" M" born 1841 and Dugal Dodd born 1846? yep, I know its stretching....but it may help me to get past the wall??. We have not tracked any of wiliam, henry, caroline, isaac or dugal with any real success. -------------- Sure wish I knew if the CAVE family was ever tight with an ASHLEY line in MIss--? Some reason drew this bunch to Milam/Bell co. area? right? love j.