Robert Bolling Dandridge

Notes:

[Broderbund WFT Vol. 11, Ed. 1, Tree #0089]

Was told by his granddaughter Mary (Dandridge) Main that "his nanny, Aunt Easter probably spoiled him" and that he did not have any [self] discipline. This could be interpreted to mean that he drank too much or that he may have become involved with other women.

Dr. Dandridge and his wife, Susan W. Rangeley, were estranged over the last years of his life. She moved to and kept a home in Martinsville; it was stated that his daughters Una and Annie would have nothing to do with him.

Was told by Martha A. Anthony that she had heard the reasons Susan Rangeley left him was because he had a drinking problem and that there were rumors he fathered a child/children by a black mistress. Martha also said that she believed (no basis stated) that Susan left him because RBD was not supporting her in the manner she would like (this is the preferred response!). Virginia (Puckett) Hodnett said that she had not heard why RBD and SWR separated - "that sort of thing just wasn't talked about much." She, too, thought he may have had a drinking problem; but that "times were tough after the war."

Mary Main said that, after his body was discovered by his housekeeper, his sons John Robert, William (her father), and possibly Thomas, carried his body from his home to [what is now] the Horsepasture Christian church a few miles away by wagon. It was a cold and blustery February day and only a very few attended the funeral. Mary did not believe that his estranged wife or daughters attended the ceremony. As of 1981, there was no marker; RBD's final resting place was identified only in church records "Dr. Dandridge - d: 1907", there was no stone. A few years later, Mary and Martha Anthony arranged, through the United Daughters of the Confederacy to have a marker placed at his grave site.

From impressions by Virginia Puckett, there seems to have been a situation in which the girls (Annie and Una) seemed to remain close and identify with their mother.

Ltr. dtd. Nov. 27th, 1865 to Mr. [John] Rangeley:
Sir, You are probably aware that Miss Sue & myself are engaged to be married. and I feel it my duty to consult - both your wishes and your lady's. Hoping this will be agreeable to you both. I am, very Respectfully R.B. Dandridge

BIRTH-PARENTS-SPOUSE-CHILDREN: A History of Henry County Virginia, Judith Parks America Hill
Graduated in medicine at the Virginia Medical College, Richmond, 8 Mar 1860; took post graduate course at the University of Virginia,
Charlottesville. Returned to "Locust Grove" where he had an office and established a practice in the surrounding country. Enlisted for service in the Civil War 5 Jun 1861 at Lynchburg. Entered as private, Co. H, 24th Regiment, Va. Infantry, CSA. Promoted to Hospital Steward 24 Nov 1861; discharged 3 Jun 1862.

Robert married Susan Webster Rangeley in Nov 1866 in Henry County, VA. Susan was born on 30 Nov 1843 in Stuart, VA; died on 26 Sep 1936 in Martinsville, VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. William Rangeley Dandridge was born on 10 Sep 1867 in Henry County, VA; died on 13 Feb 1948 in Henry County, VA.
2. John Robert Dandridge was born on 14 Jul 1870 in Henry County, VA; died on 15 Feb 1946 in Martinsville, VA.
3. Thomas Nichols Dandridge was born on 18 Oct 1883 in Henry County, VA; died on 29 Feb 1964 in Martinsville, VA.
4. Una Denzil Dandridge was born on 31 Mar 1876 in Rangeley, Henry County, VA; died on 18 Dec 1959 in Martinsville, VA.
5. Annie Dell Dandridge was born on 15 Jan 1881 in Henry County, VA; died on 5 Apr 1964 in Gaithersburg, MD.
6. Harry Clay Dandridge was born on 23 Jan 1887 in Henry County, VA; died on 29 May 1947 in Williamson, WV.
7. John Thomas Dandridge was born about 1870.
8. Annie Dandridge

Notes:

[Broderbund WFT Vol. 11, Ed. 1, Tree #0089]

Judith Hill's "History of Henry Co." has William Alexander (Little Dover) Dandridge as born in Hanover Co. in 1812, Dying in Henry Co. in Nov. 1865.

After first wife died in 1845, he married Mary Jane Hamner (Dau. of Nancy House Hamner) from Brunswick Co. Va. in 1847 and moved to "Locust Grove" near Spencer, Virginia.

The 1850 Census Identifies the following:
William A. Dandridge 40 Farmer $1,300
Mary J. Dandridge 22
Mary J. Dandridge 16
Thomas W(est) Dandridge 14 School
Robert B(olling) Dandridge 12 School
James M. Dandridge 8 School
Henry E. Dandridge 6 School
Sarah V. Dandridge 4
Nancy Dandridge 2
Mary Dandridge 1

BIRTH-DEATH-PARENTS-SPOUSES-CHILDREN: A History of Henry County Virginia, Judith Parks America Hill
Planter and large slave owner.

William married Sarah Virginia Nicholds on 7 Nov 1832. Sarah was born in 1796/1820 in Hanover or Goochland County, VA; died after 20 Aug 1845 in Henry County, VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

DEATH-SPOUSE-CHILDREN: A History of Henry County Virginia, Judith Parks America Hill
Sister of Greenberry Nicholds

Notes:

"Dover" Dandridge Nickname may have come from Creek in Goochland Co.

William married Nancy Harris Pullium on 26 Jun 1800 in Goochland County, Virginia, USA. Nancy was born on 23 Mar 1782 in Goochland County, Virginia, USA; died on 9 May 1835 in Henry County, VA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

[Broderbund WFT Vol. 11, Ed. 1, Tree #0089

"Reportedly, The Reverend Sergeant Allen captured [on or soon after
October 19, 1781] a Cremona Violin in the redoubt at Yorktown and
presented it to William Dandridge as he was a very fine "fiddler". His brother-in-law, Patrick Henry, and Thomas Jefferson were also good violinists and they often joined him in playing the minuet at "Elsing Green" [his grandfather's home]. The violin is now in the possession of William Dandridge's Great Granddaughter (unnamed)." p.145, "History of Henry County", Judith Park Hill. This is may well be inaccurate: This William Dandridge was not born until 1750 and Unity West Dandridge, his grandmother, died in 1753; "Elsing Green" was sold shortly thereafter. A more likely possibility is that William joined with P. Henry and T. Jefferson at N.W. Dandridge's home in western Hanover Co.

According to R.B. Lancaster's Sketch of Early History of Hanover Co. p.39 "William Dandridge of Hanover, acting as commissary for the troops at Yorktown, seized 280 gallons of liquor belonging to Robert Pollard of Culpeper and conveyed it to Yorktown for the use of the Virginia troops under the command of General Nelson (Hennings Statutes, Vol. 13, p. 621, records that Pollard was reimbursed at a later date, by act of Dec 28, 1792)"

BIRTH-PARENTS-SPOUSE-CHILDREN: A History of Henry County Virginia, Judith Parks America Hill
Major of Militia in Rev. War

William married Anne Bolling on 21 Apr 1770 in Cobbs, Chesterfield County, VA. Anne (daughter of John Bolling and Elizabeth Bland Blair) was born on 7 Feb 1751/52 in Chesterfield County, VA; died after Aug 1802. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]