Source: History of the Pan-Handle West Virginia 1879
Page 340

     Philip Doddridge was the second son of John Doddridge, who as a native of Maryland, born there in the year 1745, where on the 22nd of December, 1765, he married Mary, the daughter of Richard Wells, of that State. The emigrated from Maryland to Bedford county Pennsylvania; and them, Philip as born on the 17th of May 1772. In the spring of 1773, they removed to Washington county, PA There is still standing near Middletown, in the county, an old church, known as the "Doddridge Chapel", on the farm where John Doddridge then settled, and where he continued to reside until he died, in April 1791. It was built by himself for the use of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and it is said to have been the first chapel erected for that denomination west of the Allegheny mountains

     At that time this place was within the jurisdiction, and was supposed to be in the territory, of Virginia. But afterwards, when Mason and Dixon's line was established, and the western boundary of Pennsylvania was drawn due north from the western terminus of Mason's and Dixon's line, the residence of the Doddridge family was included, by a short distance, within the territory of Pennsylvania.

     The writer has been furnished with what purports to be "an extract from the records of the Doddridge family" in which it is alleged that "John Doddridge was the son of Joseph and Mary Doddridge." There is reason to doubt the correctness of this statement. There sill remains in possession of a niece of the subject of this sketch. (Mrs. Polsley, wife of Hon. Daniel Polsley of Point Pleasant, West Virginia,) and old book "Hall's Meditations" printed in London in 1617, which appears to have been a kind of heir-loom in the family. On the title page of this book, there is a memorandum in the hand writing of John Doddridge as follows::

      "Once the property of John Charlton, of Fredericktown, Maryland. After his decease, the property of Joseph Doddridge, of the same place. After his decease, it became the property of Philip Doddridge, son of Joseph Doddridge. Written by me, January 1st in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven.

John Doddridge

     Judge Polsley, from whom we make this extract, adds. "This John Doddridge, although he does not say so, was the son of the older Philip, and the father of our Philip". It is possible, however, that this John Doddridge, although he does not say so, may have had a brother named Philip, who was the last named proprietor of the book.

     The first ancestor of the family in this country, came from England, and settled in the colony of New Jersey. He was of the same stock as the celebrated Philip Doddridge, author of "The Rise and Progress of Religion in the Soul". And was said to have been nearly related to him.

     During the minority of young Philip, the facilities for acquiring an education were very meager in the vicinity of his residence. There was neither colleges nor academies there; and the common schools were of an inferior character.

     Indeed, there were few schools of any grade. Nor did the circumstances of his parents enable them to send him to distant seats of learning. Until he was seventeen years of age, he as kept at home, working upon the farm; receiving, however, from his father, who was a "good English scholar" such instruction, as the intervals of their toil permitted the one to give, and the other to receive. At the age of seventeen, he was placed at school in Charlestown (now Wellsburg, Brooke county West Virginia) under the tuition of gentleman by the name of Johnson. Here he remained a short time, devoting himself principally to the study of Latin language.

     In 1799 Mr. Doddridge married Miss Juliana P. Musser of Lancaster, PA, who survived him twenty - seven years. She died at Liverpool Fulton County, Ill. in the year 1859.

     The records show that at the first court held in Brooke county, Tuesday, May 23, 1797, Philip Doddridge was admitted to practice as an attorney in said court. Having thus established himself in life as well as in the profession he had adopted, he pursued it with little intermission until the autumn of 1829.

     Mr. Doddridge, died in the maturity and full vigor of his wonderful intellect at the time when his eminent abilities and distinction in the chief council chamber of the nation had so attracted and commanded the public attention and confidence, as to presage for him a higher and still more illustrious career. More then forty-two years have, in vain awaited a competent biographer. Until there shall appear a pen more worthy of the sacred task, this imperfect sketch is here recorded by one who has reason to cherish his memory.

     (Please note. The book has a much longer bio. Of this man. You can stop at the library for further details.)