Jerry Dobson: The Story of a Formerly Enslaved Centenarian
- Emma Leuschner
- Mar 28
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 26
Jerry Dobson was born December 1st, 1852 in Green Ann County, Maryland. He was born enslaved, and was separated from his parents from a young age. After the end of the American Civil War and emancipation, Jerry found work as a farmhand in Maryland before purchasing and selling his land.
By the end of the 19th century, Jerry had moved to Delaware County, settled in Thornbury, and later, in Concord Township in Ward Village. Jerry married Minnie Thompson, a native of Delaware, when he was 63 years old. Mr. Dobson's family house burned down in 1934, and he then relocated after the death of his wife to a home on Scott Road in Ward by the 1940s.
Jerry Dobson lived to be 101 years old. He passed away on January 12, 1954 due to heart disease. His obituary in the Delaware County Daily Times details his life and an unexpected reunion with his mother following emancipation.
Former Slave, 101, Dies at Ward Home
Jerry Dobson, 101, a former slave, died yesterday at his home in Scott roa, Ward, after a short illness.
During his active years Mr. Dobson worked on the old Bouser Farm in Thornbury Township. He had celebrated his 101st birthday on Christmas Day.
For some years he had made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Emmanuel Wilkerson at the Scott road address. The families are not related.
Mr. Dobson has only one survivor, an 89-year old son, Andrew Dobson, who lives on Lombard st. near 9th in Philadelphia.
Born in Princess Anne County. Maryland, Mr. Dobson was separated from his parents and sold when still a young boy and lost all contact with his family for a number of years.
Some years after slaves were freed, young Dobson was walking along one of Maryland’s roads when a horse and buggy approached.
The man in the buggy asked Dobson where he was going and the youth replied he was looking for a job. He was given a lift and his benefactor found a place for him on one of the farms.
He worked diligently and in time managed to acquire a team of oxen and a cart with which he started to make his way in the world. Still a few years later … it is not clear now just how … but he met his mother by accident.
She failed to recognize the son who was torn from her at a slave’s auction. But her son recalled incidents in the family life and there was a happy reunion. Neither the son nor the mother ever located father and husband.
In time Mr. Dobson acquired some land in Maryland and when he grew older sold it and moved to Delaware County where he worked as a farm hand and acquired a wife. She died a year ago. She was much younger than her husband.
After he settled in Delaware County Mr. Dobson became a member of Mt. Zion Lodge 61, Free & Accepted Masons., Prince Hall Affiliation.
Services will be held tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the Spring Valley AME Church, Concordville, with burial in Haven Memorial Cemetery. Friends may call this evening at the Hunt funeral home, 1424 W. 3rd. st.
—Delaware County Daily Times. 14 January 1954, p. 39
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