Little is known about William Dorris. The land and census records show that he lived in both Carroll and Cherokee Counties in Georgia. He may have been in Hall or Jackson County as early as 1827: There are records for a William Dowis listed in Francis Andoe's store ledgers as early as January of 1827. The Andoe store was located along the Chestatee River near the present day border of Dawson and Hall Counties. This area is now under Lake Lanier.
1850 Census
He is listed in Cherokee County (Division 15), Georgia and his age is shown to be 60 (born 1790 in SC). He is household #1520. The following children are living in his household: They could be his children or more likely the children of one of his deceased children.
Betsy, age 25, born SC
Jane E, age 12, born GA
William Augustus, age 10, born GA
John , age 4, born GA
Samuel, infant, born GA
His nephew, William C. Dorris, the son of James, is living adjacent to him, household #1521. His brother James (household #1534) and his mother Elizabeth and sister Margaret (household #1535) are close by.
1840 Census
He could possibly be the William Dorris shown living in Heard County, Georgia age 40-49. If this is him, with 8 boys under the age of 8 living in his household, some of them would certainly have been his grandsons or renting families.
1830 Census
He is probably the William Dorris shown living in Carroll County, Georgia. age 30-39. His brother Rev. John M. Dorris is shown living in Carroll County on this census as well - John is on page 229 and William is on page 225.
There is a very interesting neighbor of Williams indicated on the 1830 census for Carroll County, Georgia: Benjamin Humphries.
Benjamin Humphries is shown as living directly adjacent to William. Benjamin's descendants can be found involved with the mysterious Pelham Humphries and the Spindletop oil field scandal of Texas.