Robert Dodgson

Will of Robert Dodgson - In the name of God, Amen. The third day of March 1676 I Robert Dodgson of Paythorne in the parish of Gisburn and the county of York yeoman being sick in body and whole in mind but of perfect remembrance God be Praised. I do make and ordain this my last will and testament in the manner and form following. First and principally I commit and bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Maker hoping by the Passion and Merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour to have free pardon and full remission of all my sins and my body to be buried in the parish church of Gisburn aforesaid at the discretion of my friends. Now as touching my worldly estate I dispose thereof as followeth. And first my will and mind is that John Dodgson my eldest son shall have the land that I had by my wife and the tenement holden by lease under Mr. Walmsley after my wife's decease. I will he shall have that in case he join with her at paying of the fine (sic). Item I give to my son Robert Dodgson all the land that I bought off Henry Hewitt and that I bought off Richard Trotter and likewise I give to my son Robert £40 in money. Item I give to Margaret and Ellen Dodgson daughters of Christopher Dodgson to whom I am grandfather either of them 50 shillings a year giving a lawful discharge to the executors for the same. Item I give to George and Ellen Wilkinson son and daughter of William Wilkinson of Horton Hall deceased to whom I am grandfather either 50 shillings a year giving a lawful discharge to the executor for the same. Item I give to Ann, Ellen, Alice and Margaret Wilkinson daughters of William Wilkinson of Nappa Flats £20 to be equally divided amongst them giving a lawful discharge to the executors for the same. Item I give to my daughter Elizabeth, wife of Richard Brown £7. Item I give to my son John Dodgson all my husbandary gear. Item I give to Ellen my wife all the reversion of my personal estate whatsoever after any just debts and funeral expenses be paid. And lastly I do ordain and make Ellen Dodgson my wife my sole executrix of this my last will and testament.

The above named Robert Dodgson did this day and year above said expressed and declared those words above mentioned or words to the same effect being then of perfect memory to be his last will and testament. Witnesses Christopher Dodgson and Robert Dodgson. So who was this Robert? It is tempting to think that he is the Robert baptised in 1605 at Gisburn, but another Robert Dodgson will from around the same time makes me think that this isn't the case. In the registers before the birth of Robert and Ellen's children, Dodgsons are usually referred to as "of Newsholme" or they have no place name ascribed to them. The only exception to this is the burial of the widow Dodgson of Paythorne dated 27th February 1614/5. The fact that she is called the widow Dodgson rather than being given a name or having her late husband's name mentioned makes me think that she had been a widow for quite some time and had perhaps long been referred to in that manner. Could she have been Robert's mother? I'm sure that Robert must tie in to the Newsholme Dodgsons but quite how is not yet clear. The early Gisburn registers are incomplete. It is interesting that the Newsholme Dodgsons seem to disappear from Gisburn. One, John, goes to Southfield in Colne but where do the others go? Subsequent Dodgsons in the Registers all descend from Robert and Ellen.