Dobbs Notes
E.J.Ladd's book Gone to Alabama


Links to other websites with Dobbs Info:

http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.dobbs/1012/mb.ashx




I found a John Dobbs, Jr. in the book "Some Georgia Records" Volume I in Columbia County, Ga. which was taken from the northern part of Richmond County (Augusta) in 1790. Columbia County Deed Book B Sept. 9, 1794. Moses and Mary Marshall and Benjamin Garrison and John Doss to Wm. Beckham of Columbia County for 80 pounds, 160 acres on Green Briar Creek, part of 250acres granted to Wm. Chandler Aug. 1, 1769 and conveyed to Benj. Burns then to four children "Rebecca Garrison-Mary, Benj., Sarah and Danesly by gift of deed Sept 10, 1777. Wit. "John Dobbs, Jr.," Alex. Johnston and Sherm Buggs JP.

The other record for John Dobbs, Jr. was in Elbert County June 25, 1810 in the Deed from Moses Haynes, Jr. to Moses Haynes, Sr. for $300 in sd. co. on a small branch on N. side of Cedar Creek near Mirey Branch, etc. 110 acres in fee simple. signed Moses M H Haynes, Jr. wit. Stephen Haynes, "John Dobbs, Jr." and Joseph Kelly. Proved by John Dobbs, Jan. 16, 1819, Patrick McMullian, JP Rec. 1 Feb. 1819.

This is the same description of John Dobbs, Sr.'s property and Moses Haynes was John Dobbs, the son of Josiah Dobbs, father in law. I don't know what happened to John Dobbs, Jr. after 1810?

Also looked up Land Lottery of 1806 and John Dobbs, Lott Dobbs, and Peter Dobbs won 202 and a half acres in Baldwin County, Ga. Baldwin County was home of Milledgeville, the new state capital. Nathaniel and Lucy Dobbs won land in Wilkinson County but none of them moved there. It was $12.15 per 202 and a half acres, maybe they sold to someone else?

I also found James Armstrong and William Armstrong in Franklin County in Capt. Keltons District along with James Dobbs, Lott Dobbs and Peter Dobbs. James Dobbs married Anna Armstrong and Burrell Dobbs married Margaret Armstrong. Not sure if this is Col. James Armstrong? Col. James Armstrong had a brother, I believe, who was named Martin Armstrong? Martin Armstrong was also a Colonel in the Rev. War. Anna and Margaret Dobbs had a brother, Martin W. Armstrong and James Dobbs lived next door to him in 1850. In 1840 Martin W. and William Armstrong were living in Hall County in the same GMD. Martin W. Armstrong had three females on the 1840 census besides his wife. One was 50-60, one was 60-70 and one was 70-80. On the 1850 census there is a Mary Armstrong aged 60 living with him. Burrell and Margaret Dobbs had a son named Martin W. Dobbs.

One final thing there is a Samuel Scott on tax records for Elbert County for 1801. A Samuel Scott was next door to Fortune Dobbs on the Abbeville SC 1790 census. I don't know what that means but Fortune Dobbs was probably in Tennessee at this time? I believe there was a James Steele, son of Aaron Steele on the census in Tennessee with Jeremiah Dobbs. Aaron Steele's wife Elizabeth may have been Fortune's sister? Have a good evening Bobby L.

I found one more book about Land Grants in Georgia it listed six Dobbs that had received land grants in Ga. Burrell Dobbs Franklin Co. in Bk. Q 5 page 566 53 acres in 1832. Jesse Dobbs Bk. Q 5 page 642 14 and a half acres 1832. John Dobbs Elbert Co. QQQ page 322 67 acres 1788. Joseph Dobbs Franklin Co. PPPP page 731 802 acres in 1795. Nathan Dobbs Franklin Co. DDDD page 232 200 acres 1801. Robert Dobbs L 5 page 484 300 acres 1817. Land grants could be up to 1000 acres and after 1785 they were free. Before then there was a fee. Ga stopped making land grants in 1917! Bobby L.

I found another book "Land Deed Genealogy of Bedford County, Tennessee 1807-1852." Most of the info has already but placed on Dobbs website but I did want to comment on a few of the deeds. Joseph Dobbs received 75 acres from assignee of Sampson Williams 12 Oct. 1807. I found a Sampson Williams on the 1790 SC census from Edgefield County, SC.

July 23, 1814 Joseph Steele to Hugh McBride 14 Feb. 1814. Joseph Wilson, John B. Gibson, James C. Wilson, James S. Wilson and John Wilson. Duck River (Part
3,000 acre tract granted to John Wilson)

8 July 1817 Joseph and Ann Dobbs to heirs of William Lemon. 50 acres on waters of Rich Creek. "Ann Dobbs was formerly Ann Wilson." Borders Newman, Nathan G. Pinson. Wit. Joseph Neil and John Buchanan.

8 Oct. 1816 Joseph and Ann Dobbs to John Wilson 100 acres. Part of 400 acres granted to Ann Wilson. Borders Alexander Robertson, Rich creek. wit. Joseph Neil and Joseph Davis.

I found Joseph Steel and a John Wilson on the 1790 census for Union County, SC. (I also found several John Wilson's on the 1790 census even one from Abbeville, on the census close to Fortune Dobs.) I then checked Anson County, NC 1790 census as they were nearby Union County, SC and got into the Dabbs family but it appears that George Dabbs got a land grant on the PEE Dee River and these are really Dabbs. Same names as Dobbs but our Nathaniel Dobbs, Jr. would have been 5 in 1790 and probably not on this census. Anson County website says "George Dabbs gave land grant to his son, Nathaniel Dabbs." There were still Dabbs there in 1860's in Confederate Army(another John Dabbs) and I believe on the DNA they were not related? John, Josiah, Nathaniel Sr. and Jr. and William and they must have been all Dabbs? Hard to believe!

Some other deeds I noted in the book. On May 30, 1832 Linsey Dobbs and others to Jeremiah Dobbs. Lindsey Dobbs, John White and Willis Coplin are joint heirs. Edward Steveson, John Bryeans, Benjamin Penn for division of estate of William Dobbs. Then: Willis and Elizabeth Copeland to Linsey Dobbs. Willis Copelan and John White 50 acres. wit. William Gant and Jeremiah Dobbs. 2 June 1832.

Then there were several transactions after Jeremiah Dobbs died and land was passed to James N. Neeley (not sure about his relationship to Jeremiah Dobbs?) by his children in the 1840's. Bobby L.


From Jan Dobbs:

-1760 - Nathaniel born in Henry County. Henry County would have been Pittsylvania County in 1760 since Henry wasn't formed from Pittsylvania until 1776. Henry County is just over the line from North Carolina.

-1763 - Mary Dobs found near Statesville (Fort Dobbs).

-1764 - John Dobbs listed in VA Land Entries in Pittsylvania County

-1774 - John on record from Tyron County Court Minutes (Rutherford County where John's son, Fostin, lived in 1790, was taken from Tyron in 1779).

-1778 - John and Lodowick neglected to take the Oath of Allegiance to Rowan County, North Carolina and most likely it was since John had already taken it in 1777 in Henry County, VA.

-1778 - Fortune was listed in Guilford County, NC (Guilford County was taken from Rowan in 1771) ,as selling his land improvements

-1778 & 1780 -John was on the Henry County Tax List, but not listed in Henry County after 1780

-1778 - John Dobbs - Surry County - single pole tax. Surry taken from Rowan in 1771. This is confusing?

-1780 - John and Fortune on document for John's son, Fostin, in Henry County, VA

-1782- 1787 Tax Book - William Dobbs listed in Henry County, VA as taxpayer (per another researcher and says it is on P. 36 )

-1782 -John and Lodowick were on a Tax List in Wilkes County, NC

-1782 - John paid Fortunatus Dobbs for a cow in 1782 during Rev. War in SC and also for duty as a horseman.

-Sept. 30 17 93 Johnj Dobbs - "late a soldier in 1st Reg. of VA Lt. Dragoons, commanded by Col. Geo. Baylor, Power of Attorney to Thomas P. Carnes of Richmond, Co. VA to demand and re-receive all arrearages of pay, bounty of land, etc. due to me as a soldier from the United States of VA.'"

Hi Sue,

I claim to be related to James Montgomery Dobbs although this might take some explaining. I suppose I have been doing Dobbs research longer than anyone else in the family covering the past 47 years. Of the four major Dobbs researchers prior to 1970, I was friend and correspondent with three of them. The one I did not meet was Dr. Carey Dobbs, a chemistry professor at Delta State College in the Mississippi Delta. He may have begun doing research in the late 1920's and had published his findings by the late 1930's.

He was a descendant of Lodowick Dobbs through his son, Rev. Silas Dobbs, a Baptist minister who eventually settled in Choctaw Co., MS.

Carey Dobbs developed a theory that Fortunatus Dobbs moved into SC from NC and was the father of all the other Southern Dobbs who are found in early census records. But I and David Smith of Wheaton, IL, also a descendant of Lodowick Dobbs through his son, Lodowick Jr., began to seriously examine and challenge Carey Dobbs theory back in the 1970's.

We noted that Lodowick has never showed up in the same county as Fortunatus at any time. We started tracking Lodowick in the late 1770's or early 1780's in NC with a John Dobbs. And I eventually proposed a new theory by 1980 that Lodowick was the son of John Dobbs rather than Fortunatus. And no piece of evidence has led me away from that theory in the past 29 years.

John and Lodowick were neighbors of the Cleveland family in Wilkes Co., NC through about 1785 and then both families moved to near the SC - GA line about that time. John received a grant on the Savannah River in Pendleton District, SC but moved across the river to Wilkes Co., GA around December of 1786 and remained there until his death around 1795 in Elbert Co., GA which was taken from Wilkes County in 1790.

Young Dobbs males who began paying taxes on Cedar Creek in Elbert County were Josiah Dobbs, Silas Dobbs, Lott Dobbs, and Peter Dobbs. Josiah died in Elbert around 1810, but the other three eventually moved to Franklin Co., Ga. My interest in the family comes from the fact that I descend from Lott Dobbs through his third son, Burrell Dobbs who moved to Cherokee Co., GA and remained there until his death around 1870.

Over the years I have also developed the theory that Lodowick was the oldest son of John and that Josiah, Silas, Lott, and Peter were all younger brothers of Lodowick. A few years after Lodowick Dobbs died in Pendleton Dist., SC, his widow, Sarah Dobbs, came over to settle in Franklin County, GA on the same creek where Silas, Lott, and Peter Dobbs lived - Hunter Creek.

And there Lodowick Jr. married one of Peter Dobbs' daughters. As you may have noticed, marrying first cousins was a fairly common thing back then.

So, according to my theory, your John Dobbs, son of Lodowick, and my Burrell Dobbs, son of Lott, were first cousins.

Now I think we have enough documentation to support the fact that Fortunatus Dobbs and Nathaniel Dobbs, were related to John Dobbs, father of Lodowick, Josiah, Silas, Lott, and Peter. And we are hoping that DNA testing will provide the support that we are all looking for.

I am sure others have better credentials than I do, but I know no one else who has been thoroughly involved with Dobbs history for 47 years.

I have taught genealogy in one venue or another at the University of Alabama since 1973 and have worked as a Professional Genealogist since 1978. I served ten years as President of the Tuscaloosa, AL Genealogical Society and have published five family histories. I have seen the Dobbs genealogy as a major challenge through the years and am aware that the best genealogists make mistakes. I am also aware that DNA has no family names written in the genetic code. But with the use of DNA testing and really good research, I believe we may be able to solve some of the problems that we have explored for many years.

It is nice to have you as a part of our group.

R. L. Guffin

1 John DOBBS b: 1575 d: 1622+ Margaret DELAWAY d: 6 Nov 1620
2 Hercules DOBBS b: 1613 d: 1634+ Magdalene WEST
3 Richard DOBBS b: 1634 d: 1701+ Dorothy WILLIAMS
4 Richard DOBBS b: 1660 d: 1711+ Mary STEWART
5 Richard DOBBS b: 1695+ Mary ELIZABETH d: 9 Mar 1733
6 Fortunatus DOBBS b: 1727 d: ABT. 1792+ Mary ADAMS b: 1735 d: 1794
7 Lodowick DOBBS b: 1759 d: 3 Jun 1814+ Sarah ADAMS b: 1767 d: 1838
8 John DOBBS b: 7 Mar 1792 d: 7 Sep 1860+ Sara JACKSON
9 James DOBBS b: 24 Mar 1813 d: 28 Sep 1881+ Elizabeth JARREL
10 Sarah Dobbs + William Purdy
11 Emily Jane Purdy + Hiram Wesley Carlisle
12 Audie Kinley + William C Kinley

ID: I0235
Name: Fortunatus Dobbs
Sex: M
Birth: 1727 in Carrickfergus, Antrim, Ireland, UK
Death: 1792 in Abbeville, SC
_FA1: Inventor of the Dobbs Apple - Chester, MS
Military Service: 1776 Guide Cav., SC
Residence: 1790 96 District, Abbeville County, SC
Residence: 1773 Guildord County, NC
Note:

The family Dobbs in Ireland was established by John Dobbs who built Dobbs Castle in 1596. He is thought to have been the grandson of Sir Richard Dobbs, Lord Mayor of London. A great-grand son of John Dobbs was high Sheriff of the County of Antrim in 1694 and died in 1711. Arthur, his son, who succeeded him, was for many years Member of Parliament for Carrickfergus. He was appointed Engineer and Surveyor General of Ireland. He was appointed Colonial Govenor of North Carolina in 1754 and served in this position for approximately 10 years. Dobbs County, North Carolina, now a part of Green and Lenoir Counties, was named in honor. " the Media Research Bureau" Washington, DC.

Fortune Dobbs b. Abt. 1727 in Ireland came to this Country about 1750 and settled in NC. With Fortune came his Forlin, his twin brother and another brother, William. The brothers settled on the estate of Gov. Arthur Dobbs in Guilford County. They hoped to receive a grant from their kinsman, Gov. Dobbs.

It was in this section of the country that the first Rev. contention arose. They were Tories in sympathy and Fortune felt it would be to the interest of himself and family to make a change of residence, so he moved to Abbeyville County, SC. It was here that he gave up his Tory Sentiments and became actively interested in the cause of the colonies. He was too old to serve in the line of battle, however, records show that he was paid by the State for beef and service as a horseman.

Fortune was interested in fruit growing and developed the Dobbs apple which was considered a great delicacy in those days. It was about a year after he arrived in the colonies that Fortune met and married Mary Adams.

"Why it is so hard to trace the Dobbs roots?" The problem is that we were the Milosoviks of the 16th Century. Our ancestor John Dobbs came to Antrim as a conquering officer in Queen Elizabeth's army. He built Dobbs Castle and removed the native population. The result of this occupation was a partition of Ireland into Protestant Northern Ireland pledging allegiance to England, and The Irish Republic, which is the south and west 2/3 of the island, and of the Catholic faith. That is Ireland, to the Irish. I am of the opinion, and have been told that the NY Dobbs/Dobs are of Dutch
extraction. That throws another possibility into your research. Most of the Dobbs of Dobbs Castle came to NC. where Arthur, was promoting colonization of his 400,000 acres in NC. He had to have a given number of settlers, or he faced the possibility of losing his patents. It is written that, brought over several of his poorer relatives, but, they never identify these relatives by name. According to E.J. Ladd, Fortune and Forlin DOBBS (Twins) b.1727 Carrickfergus, Antrim, Northern Ireland, are allegedly related to Arthur, but, no one has been able to document the connection. The importance of this is that While Arthur's son Edward Brice DOBBS returned to N.I and left no descendants in

------------------------LETTER-----------------------
I am a descendent of Thomas Jefferson Dobbs who married Mary Malone.
That couple is continuously confused with and mixed up back and forth, children and all, with Thomas Dobbs and Artelia Malone. MY gg grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Dobbs was born 1842, and was the brother of your ancestress, Sarah Dobbs Purdy.

I was reared by Bennett Dobbs' son and daughter-in-law, Thomas Jefferson Dobbs II b. 1889, Hood Co, TX and Minta McIver Dobbs. My Grandparents were Minta and Jeff Dobbs. Gran kept a handwritten journal with names and dates. Bennett's parents were certainly NOT
Thomas, son of Martin Dobbs, and Artelia! I do believe they were all "cousins" and maybe some of them were half-brothers.

Personally, I have almost come to believe Lodowick Dobbs, himself, was James Montgomery Dobbs father--this, through the process of elimination! Also, reviewing old records 1733-1910 Alabama at the
Huntington Beach Genealogical Library here in Org. Co, CA, I find a number of references about brothers
Devereaux & Micah Jarrett. Devereaux Jarrett's wife was a Creek Indian girl, Elizabeth Tanksley, and their daughter Elizabeth b. 1816, married JMD in 1830, at age 14.

I hope you are not shocked--I have been researching Alabama, the Creeks, etc. for years, and this is what seems most likely to me. Bennett Dobbs married a girl, Frances Louisa Butler, whose mother, Sarah Elizabeth Butler, was part Creek Indian, living in Franklin Co, ALA. Not that that means anything, but I think they all knew each other...

Would love to hear from you and find out where you got your information--again,which seems pretty good to me!

Thanks for your time and let me know--come visit in beautiful WET Caifornia!

Lue J. Allred
Austin, TX
Org. Co, CA
----------------------------------------------------

Bevers, Hadaway, Wheeler & Griggs Families
Entries: 64163 Updated: 2009-08-23 09:09:23 UTC (Sun) Contact: stan

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This is the story of my Georgia family. Most of my ancestors first settled in Virginia, but some initially came through Maryland, Pennsylvania or Massachusets. These early Colonists migrated south and established farms in the Carolinas. When land became available in north Georgia in the 1790's and early 1800's, three of my grandparents' families settled in this newly opened wilderness, though one remained in central NC. We are truly a proud Southern Family.

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ID: I61806
Name: Fortunatus DOBBS 1
Sex: M
ALIA: /Fortunatus/
Birth: 1727 in Carrickfergus, Antrim, Ireland 1
Death: BET 1792 AND 1795 in Abbeville Co, SC 1
Event: Relocated to NC 1750 2
Note:
Fortunatus Dobbs is listed as the father of many Dobbs sons, although not proven. Lodowick (1759) has been listed very often as being a son of Fortunatus, although modern research throws doubt to that claim. For now, I am calling Fortunatus the father of Nathan (still not proven), but not Lodowick, Lott or Silas. However, early DNA testing shows a possible delineation between Lodowick's line and Nathan's, so I am assigning Nathan to Fortunatus by default.

On the other hand, a Fortunatus N. Dobbs (1805; GA) is thought to be a son of Nathan. If so, then such an uncommon name passed along by Nathan to a son would certainly suggest his own close connection to the elder Fortunatus.

Lodowick, Lott and Silas are apparently the sons of John, whereas the DNA from probable descendants of Nathan show a slightly different DNA pattern on allele # 449.



The Dobbs DNA Project will help sort all of this out.

www.ftdna.com/public/dobbs

================


NOTES from Debbie Bailey ( debbailey@yahoo.com ) :

The family Dobbs in Ireland was established by John Dobbs who built Dobbs Castle in 1596. He is thought to have been the grandson of Sir Richard Dobbs, Lord Mayor of London. A great-grand son of John Dobbs was high Sheriff of the County of Antrim in 1694 and died in 1711. Arthur, his son, who succeeded him, was for many years Member of Parliament for Carrickfergus. He was appointed Engineer and Surveyor General of Ireland. He was appointed Colonial Govenor of North Carolina in 1754 and served in this position for approximately 10 years. Dobbs County, North Carolina, now a part of Green and Lenoir Counties, was named in his honor.

Fortune Dobbs b. Abt. 1727 in Ireland came to this Country about 1750 and settled in NC. With Fortune came Forlin, his twin brother, and another brother, William. The brothers settled on the estate of Gov. Arthur Dobbs in Guilford County. They hoped to receive a grant from their kinsman, Gov. Dobbs. It was in this section of the country that the first Rev. contention arose. They were Tories in sympathy and Fortune felt it would be to the interest of himself and family to make a change of residence, so he moved to Abbeville County, SC. It was here that he gave up his Tory Sentiments and became actively interested in the cause of the colonies. He was too old to serve in the line of battle, however, records show that he was paid by the State for beef and service as a horseman.

Fortune was interested in fruit growing and developed the Dobbs apple which was considered a great delicacy in those days. It was about a year after he arrived in the colonies that Fortune met and married Mary Adams.

"Why it is so hard to trace the Dobbs roots?" The problem is that we were the Milosoviks of the 16th Century. Our ancestor John Dobbs came to Antrim as a conquering officer in Queen Elizabeth's army. He built Dobbs Castle and removed the native population. The result of this occupation was a partition of Ireland into Protestant Northern Ireland pledging allegiance to England, and The Irish Republic, which is the south and west 2/3 of the island, and of the Catholic faith. That is Ireland, to the Irish. I am of the opinion, and have been told that the NY Dobbs/Dobs are of Dutch extraction. That throws another possibility into your research. Most of the Dobbs of Dobbs Castle came to NC. where Arthur, was promoting colonization of his 400,000 acres in NC. He had to have a given number of settlers, or he faced the possibility of losing his patents. It is written that he brought over several of his poorer relatives, but, they never identify these relatives by name. According to E.J. Ladd, Fortune and Forlin DOBBS (Twins) b.1727 Carrickfergus, Antrim, Northern Ireland, are allegedly related to Arthur, but, no one has been able to document the connection. The importance of this is that while Arthur's son, Edward Brice DOBBS, returned to N.I and left no descendants in the U.S., a brother (Rev. Richard DOBBS) came to VA, and is responsible for the Kedar DOBBS tree in VA. Chesley DOBBS shows up in both NC, and VA. However, he doesn't appear in the Kedar tree. It would appear to me that Chesley came independently to VA and most likely from the many DOBBS that were still in England, around London, and other counties in England.

Meanwhile, Fortune, one of the twins, accounts for the majority of the Dobbs surname in the U.S. today. E.J. Ladd's two volumes, Gone to Alabama document only one of Fortune's seven sons, (and three daughters) His book covers the descendants of Lodowick Adams DOBBS, only. There are at least six other brothers, all of which have extensive trees. I am of the Josiah tree, (fourth son of Fortune) which is unpublished.

***(From the notes of Debbie Bailey [debbailey@yahoo.com}***

=================

Fortune DOBBS- 1860 Census of Pendleton District, South Carolina

By Clarence Adams, as posted on Ancestry.com Message Boards, 8 Aug 2004

QUOTE: ******************

I hope this is of some help to the list members in their research. I only wish that I had the complete citation for this article. The citation that I have is: "Page 92," and the page is titled: "1800 Census of Pedleton District, South Carolina". The following is as it appears in the publication.

"1048. Lodwick Dobbs 50110-03100-00"

Fortune Dobbs was living in Abbeville District in 1790 and there was at that time a family in Newberry District, but none was found in the Pendleton census. Lodwick Dobbs, born 1756-1765, probably in Virginia, was living in Franklin County, Georgia, 30 Dec 1797, when he bought of William Martin 400 Acres on the Tugaloo River in Pendleton. Loddy (Lodowick) Dobbs and his wife Sarah sold 500 acres of this tract 28 Dec 1798 to Larkin Cleveland, adjoining land of William Cleveland and William Brooks, (nos. 377, 398 above) with Benjamin and N. (Neel) Cleveland as witnesses. In 1800, Nathaniel Dobbs was in Greenville District (p. 39, Census) near William Cockram (Cockerham) (see John Cockran, No. 495, Col. Brown's Regiment, Pendleton 1800 census). By 1810 Lodowick Dobbs was enumerated as 43211-10201-00, still living near the Clevelands, and William Winn Cockerham had moved from Greenville and was a neighbor in Pendleton (pps. 207, 203; 145a, 143a, 1810 census). The children of Cockerham, who was from Henry County, Va., included three daughters: Mary, married 3 May 1817, Rev. Silas Dobbs, who was born 4 May 1793; Kitty married Charles, brother of Silas Dobbs; and Harriet, born 25 Dec 1823, who married 3 Feb 1839, Loddy Dobbs, all in Pendleton. By 1820, Nathan Dobbs, a Revolutionary soldier (Pension S-16370) born 1760 Henry County, Va. was living in Gwinnett County, Ga., along with Nathaniel Jr., Silas, Austin, John, Morman, Thomas A., William, and Jesse Dobbs. Jesse Dobbs lived next door to Absalom Stewart, who had moved to Pendleton District c. 1801 to Jackson, Morgan, Jasper and eventually Gwinnett County, Ga. Some members of the Stewart family moved to Alabama c. 1815-1817, and in 1820, the St. Clair County, Ala. census shows (p. 4) Silas Dobbs living next door to Elisha Cockerham, believed to be Elisha, son of William Winn Cockerham, born 12 Jan. 1796, and brother of the three girls who married Dobbses in Pendleton. Elisha married Polly Harrison, and one William Harrison was living next door to Silas Dobbs in 1820, in St. Clair County. The Dobbs family was found variously in Hall, Elbert, Franklin and Wilkes Counties, Ga., in this period, Silas Dobbs and wife Lucy of Harris County, Ga., are said to have come from Pendleton District. The Stewarts who intermarried with the Cockerhams are not known to be related to Absalom Stewart."

This seems to fit as the children named in Lodowick Dobbs' will are: Jessay (Jesse), David, John, Silas, Charles, Peter, Nancy, Jane, Lucy, Lewis, Dotia, Lodowick, Stephan, William, and James. This is the first time I found where Lodowick was called Loddy.


END QUOTE: *******************


I have included the above article to connect Nathaniel to Fortune.

******

Stan Bevers

scbevers@comcast.net



Ancestry Hints for Fortunatus DOBBS

1 possible matches found on Ancestry.com



Father: NC to GA DOBBS

Marriage 1 Mary C. ADAMS b: 1733 in MA
Married: ABT 1751 in Guilford Co, NC 2
Children
Nathaniel "Nathan" DOBBS b: 1760 in Henry Co, VA

Sources:
Title: SOURCE: Dalian Moore Database - All Rights Reserved. Please credit the author and the publisher of these web pages when reproducing evidence found he
Title: Mimi Dobbs.ged
Repository:
Media: Other
Text: Date of Import: 5 Dec 2005



Chauga [Baptist] Church Records
Chauga was organized in 1795 in Georgis. It was known as Shoals Creek
Baptist Church. The membership moved across the Tugaloo River to Oconee
Co., SC. The church was renamed Chauga for the river of the same name.
(Names in South Carolina, V:VI Winter 1959, p. 17, pub. by Dept. of
English, University of South Carolina.)
First date I noted was 1796, Headings: Mail [sic] [members] & Fee male
[members] Men were listed left of page, women on right. Men & women
share the same number but not necessarily their wife's. Comments written
to right of some names i.e. ex [excluded], dead, dist [dismissed]. Many
pages & names illegible.
11. Godfy Isbill
19. Penelton Esbill ex
28. John Kees dead ex 28. Annee Kees dead
32. Robart Isbill ex
33. Salley Isbill dis
40. Elijah Kees ex
46. Elesebth Cotharn
94. Moses denman
140. William Baker
164. Elisebeth
Denman
226 members in full fellowship which has not been dismist this 30 day of
January 1808.

The church met according to appointment and after exertation and prayr
set in ch order recvd the report from Vans Creek Church that they find
our sister Jane Jordin in sin for which they excumunicate hir and we say
amen. And the Lord have mercy upon hir...26 February 1796 the church
met... Brother Moses Denman (mentioned).
Minutes of meetings monthly through October 22, 1796. On that date
Brother William Cleveland informs the church that himself an Brother
John Kees had according to appointment have cited Brother Lee(?) Alin.
Monthly meetings continue...
forth Saturday January 1797 met public worship.
Mar 25 1797 Brother John Kees comes and informs this church that he had
been out of duty by Liequer(?) for which he is very sory the church
__(?) and simpethy with him
Friday 8 Apr 1798...a complaint against Robert Isbill for dancing the
church cites him...
4th Sat May 1798.
[Meetings continue monthly through Jan 1800.]
Feb 1800 Sat before the Lords Day church met Brother William Baker
complains of temporal dealings between him and brother John Kees
Dec 1800 Elige Kees & William Cleveland sin of drunkness excluded
19 Nov 1801 citing Cleveland & Elige Keys.
[Second list] 6(?) Nov 1813.
#1 Lodwick Dobs #1 [or 19] Sary Dobs
#22 [or 41] Jerusha Cockram dist
#282 Nancy Cockram (wife of William Winn Cockerham?)
[3rd list-undated]
List of servants names
Cockrams Hannah
[4th list Mar 1843(?)]
Brother Lodwick Dobbs departed this life 16 Nov 1813 he being deacon Dec
27 1806
Saturday before 4th Lords Day in June 1806. Church is informed that
Bro. John Kees out of duty by drinking too much spirits...to cite him to
attend next meeting.
(Partial church records of Stephen M. Brown, who shared his copy 1994.
Reproduced from the microfilm of the original minutes. Furman
University Library. )
Directions to Dobbs Cemetery.


Re: [SPAM]Re: [Dobbs_Genealogy] RE: Nancy C. Murchison


As I promised I went to the Old Dobbs Cemetery today. Things have changed a lot in this area. Lots of growth in this area. I got out my handy instructions and got lost and then finally got Robert Bowman to go with me.
Here goes again from Atlanta go north on I-85 to Hamilton Mill Road keep right and then immediately turn left onto Braselton Hwy.which is Hwy. 124. Go two or three miles turn left onto Sprout Springs Road and go two miles and turn right on the second road on the right which is Flowery Branch Road (the first road is old flowery branch road) go about one mile on Flowery Branch Road to the Willow Leaf S/D which is on the left the enter the S/D in the second entrance on Apple Grove Road and keep right on Apple Grove Road go to the second side street and turn right in front of house # 5621 down the second street until it ends in a cul-de-sac facing I-85. The path to the cemetery is to the left into the woods and it is marked. It goes to the left of I-85 into the woods and follows the fence and the marked passway for about 700 feet and the cemetery is on the left. You can follow the flags. The cemetery is almost on the freeway. The only grave with writing is Nathaniel's, the rest are rock markers. If the Willow Leaf S/D is ever developed it may be a problem getting there but this is probably not going to happen soon. The walk is not difficult but in the woods and there is a trail but look out for ticks, etc. I have better instructions now and will act as guide if needed. Bobby L. Dobbs, Buford, Ga. Send me an e-mail and I will meet you.



Richard Dobbs 1634 – 1701. Author of: “A Brief Description of Co. Antrim.”
J.S. Montgomery

Introduction

As 1983 marks the tercentenary of Richard Dobbs’ now famous work, 'A brief description of County Antrim’, it is perhaps fitting that this edition of The Glynns should salute the memory of the man Richard Dobbs.

When in the spring of 1683, Richard Dobbs undertook the task of conducting the survey and reporting his findings to Mr. Molyneaux in Dublin, he provided a documentary record, which has since proved to be an invaluable source of information for local historians. His work may be one of the most widely quoted references used both in lectures and materials published by the Glens of Antrim Historical Society. Details of Dobbs’ work are available in several places. A transcript copy of his survey to Molyneaux is held in the library at Trinity College Dublin. A further transcription of the Dublin copy is published as an appendix in Hills’ The Macdonnells of Antrim. Thirdly, the original manuscript of Dobbs’ preparatory notes is held in the Northern Ireland Public Records Office.1 The latter was the subject of an article by Jimmy Irvine in the 1979 edition of The Glynns. 2

Lineage

Richard’s grandfather was John Dobbs, 3 a settler who arrived in Ireland around 1596. Seven years later he married Margaret Dalway, the only child of John Dalway4 a landowner who by grant of King James I, held lands in Kilroot and Ballynure and so, on the marriage of his daughter, he granted her and her husband a freehold lease of a portion of his lands in Kilroot, where John proceeded to build a residence which was called Castle Dobbs.

John and Margaret had two sons, the elder named Foulk and the younger named Hercules. It was therefore natural that in making his will in 1610, that John Dalway nominated his grandson Foulk5 as his heir. However a family row developed which led to a dramatic sequence of events concerning the Dalway’s estate.

On the death of his first wife John Dalway remarried a widow named Jane Norton, and, as sometimes happens, Margaret Dobbs was destined to quarrel with her new Stepmother. This resulted in the second wife prevailing on her husband to make a new will in favour of a nephew.

John Dalway’s death in 1618 signalled the beginning of a protracted legal battle in which John and Margaret Dobbs claimed the estate on behalf of their son Foulk. At the first hearing, the court ruled in favour of John and Margaret, but their opponents challenged this ruling. In consequence, John and son Foulk set off to London to petition the King and succeeded in obtaining His Majesty’s Grant to the lands of the late John Dalway.

An unfortunate tragedy befell the pair on their return journey, and both John Dobbs and his son Foulk were drowned at sea, when their ship perished off the bar at Chester in the year 1622. In consequence, the legal confrontation continued in the name of the younger brother Hercules. The law suit was eventually settled when referees appointed by the Lord Chancellor ruled that Hercules Dobbs be awarded the lands at Castle Dobbs and Ballynure, and the rights to tenement in Carrickfergus. The remainder of the estate was awarded to Dalway’s nephew.

Hercules married Magdelene West of Ballydugan Co. Down in 1633. They had only one son, Richard born in 1634. Hercules died in the same year. The reason for his premature death at 21 years of age is not known. Therefore at the age of three months, the infant Richard Dobbs inherited the property at Castle Dobbs together with a portion of land at Ballynure.

Early Life.

It would seem that young Richard was reared by his mother’s kinsfolk in Co. Down. It is interesting to note in his survey that he makes two references to having been born and reared in Co. Down, 6 and his survey included a recollection of his boyhood days at Saul and Downpatrick, accompanied by a fascinating description of Struell Well and its associated customs. At 21 years of age, he married Dorothy Williams, daughter of Bryan Williams of Clints Hall, Yorkshire. The wedding took place in London. It is evident from the Dobbs’ papers that he was widely travelled in England and Scotland. Among these is a manuscript, which describes a journey from Scotland to London and back to Liverpool. 7This paper runs to fourteen pages and give a topological description of the Scottish and English countryside. It describes the highways, towns, the people and their produce. It might well be described as a ‘Practice Run’ for the Co. Antrim survey, which was to follow fourteen years later. 8 One significant aspect of these papers is the distinctive character of Dobbs penmanship. Though perhaps not always in best copperplate, the same hand can readily be identified in various letters and manuscripts etc. 9

After his marriage, Dobbs settled in his estate at Carrickfergus where he set to work effecting improvements to his house and gardens at Castle Dobbs.

He also built a ‘House of stone and lime with a slated roof’ on his land at Castletown, Ballynure. From his own letters and reports and other records we learn that he was a man of many and varied interests including horticulture, natural history, riding and hunting. He had a keen interest in poetry and had an arrangement with his cousin who lived at Dublin, to keep him supplied with the latest verses from London and Dublin.

The Civic Officer.

On settling at Kilroot, Dobbs soon became involved in civil affairs and in 1664 he was appointed High Sheriff of County Antrim, an Office which would involve considerable travel throughout the county and provide the opportunity to meet with legal dignitaries and the landed gentry.

A few years later in 1671 he was elected Mayor of the town of Carrickfergus, an honour bestowed on him on four later occasions i.e. 1683 (the year of the survey) 1688, 1689, and 1690.

In Dobbs’ time, the office of the Mayor was one of considerable significance as Carrickfergus was then rated as one of the four most important towns in Ireland. Administration of civic affairs was in accordance with the charter granted by King James I. 10 By this constitution the freemen of the town elected 41 burgesses to form an assembly or Town Council. Of these, 17 were Aldermen who became eligible for election to higher stations such as Mayor, Recorder, Town Clerk, etc. As Chief Executive, the mayor was also the judge of the Assizes and presided over other minor courts. On public occasions he would process through the town wearing his scarlet robe, being preceded by the bearers of the mace and sword.

The old records of Carrickfergus show that the mayor enjoyed many prerequisites. Among these was the stipulation that tenants of the corporation were required to ‘furnish the mayor with a number of fat hens at Christmas or a specified sum in lieu.’ Again another byelaw required that ‘the owner of West Mill was bound to grind all such grain as shall be sent from the Mayor's house, toll free.’ As Governor of the market, the Mayor was entitled to tax (the mayor’s fee) on all goods sold in the market place.

From his ‘Description of the town of Carrickfergus’ it can be readily seen that Richard Dobbs was very proud of the town, its charter, and its recent history. At the end of first term as mayor, he left a note in the Town Records, which tell us that:

In the year of his mayoralty, the way out of the north street was first paved; the walls that brings the water through the churchyard was built, and the town pump was set up by benevolence. The Sword and Standard in the church was refurbished, and money was ordered for recasting the bell. 11

We are fortunate that Richard Dobbs had developed the habit of leaving ‘notes for the record’, as they give us some indication of his sense of duty and dedication, towards the town and townspeople that he served. He left a brief report of his experience when Duke Schomberg’s Army besieged the town of Carrickfergus in 1689. Dobbs account of the siege runs as follows:

“...when King William’s Army under General Schomberg invested this towne (being possessed by
the Irish) the 20th August 1689, I was upon the first appearance of the army committed prisoner in the vault next to the mayn guard, and the next day committed to the common Gaole, into which I had this book and towne chest, (wherein all the Record Deeds and Charters of the Towne were), brought into the gaole where they remained till the towne was delivered on the 27th, and the English entered; next day I delivered the Sword (which was hid by my Serjant) to General Schomberg, in the market place, whoe was pleased to restore it unto mee, and I continued (as mayor) till the 29th September 1690.”
Richards Dobbs mayor. 12

Again, amongst the Dobb’s papers is a list of the mayors of Carrickfergus 1607-1687. The manuscript is written in a fine legible script and runs the full length of the sheet. In the right hand margin is a note in Richard Dobbs inimitable hand, which runs as follows:

“1687.88.89 Richard Dobbs Mayor.
King Will’m landed at the Key of Carrickfergus 14th of June 1689. Neyther Recorder or Aldermen
except me being present. The rest eyther dead or absent by the ruggedness of ye times.” 13

Although these two notes relate to military circumstances it would seem that Dobbs’ involvement was simply that of a civil officer attending to his duty, as there is little evidence to suggest that he had any interest in military affairs. On the contrary, his County Antrim survey is far more indicative of a man with an eye on trade, commerce and civilian matters.

From the Survey.

Quite apart from the descriptive aspects of Dobbs’ Co. Antrim survey, his reports also gives us some insights as to the author's personal interests. For example, he tells us of his unfruitful attempts at coal mining at Kilroot and his aspiration to develop his estate at Castle Dobbs. His personal contact with Lord Chichester and the Earls of Antrim is much in evidence. Indeed, his mention of the hunting amenities enjoyed at Glenarm would suggest he was well received at Glenarm Castle.

It is also evident that Dobbs was not an Irish language speaker, and the survey gives several examples of his low esteem of ‘the Scotch and Irish inhabitants’ of Carrickfergus and Larne. His attitude to the local populace did, however seem to mellow as he moved northward in the County as, in his notes pertaining to the Glens, he describes the inhabitants as ‘Highlanders and Irish,’ and he gives the opinion that the Irish people are more civilised by the present Earls living at Glenarm. Throughout his survey Dobbs does reflect a keen interest in folklore and folk tradition, and his reports are well punctuated with a variety of local yarns and tales.

Later Years.

On his retirement from public life, Richard Dobbs continued to live at Castle Dobbs. He maintained regular contact with his relations in Dublin through correspondence with his cousin; he made occasional journeys to Dublin, on horseback, to visit them. Some of his cousin’s letters, in reply, are preserved with the Dobbs Papers in the Public Records Office. From these letters it is evident that Dobbs was beset with a health problem which his cousin described as ‘that most unwelcome and painful distemper – the gout’. This illness seemed to be recurring up to the time of his death in 1701.

The Dobbs Family.

Richard and Dorothy Dobbs had five children, 2 sons and 3 daughters. The eldest son, John was educated at Eton College, as his father had intended him for a career in the church. However, it transpired that young John went to a Quaker meeting in Carrickfergus and became converted to that faith. He subsequently returned to England to study medicine and eventually settled in Ireland as a practising physician in Co. Cork where he died in 1739. This chain of events was not well received by his father, who promptly altered his will, so that John was bequeathed the sum of £10 per annum, and the younger brother Richard inherited the family estate.

Unlike his father, young Richard was very much interested in military affairs and was among the first of the Co Antrim men to enlist in Duke Schomberg's army and fight in the Williamite Wars. He married Mary Stewart of Ballintoy and prior to his father’s death, lived in a house at Castletown, Ballynure.

These were the progenitors of the illustrious Dobbs family. A family that was destined to produce a distinguished line of politicians, statesmen, soldiers, barristers, churchmen, naval officers; the list seems endless. They carried the name Dobbs and Castle Dobbs across the entire face of the globe and, in their turn, several members of this family played their own invaluable part in the affairs of the Glens of Antrim.

A Memorial.

Although no tablet of stone can be found to honour the memoryof Richard Dobbs, his own work, conducted during those few weeks in the spring of 1683 now serves as our memorial to the man. Perhaps Richard Dobbs’ own words do provide and appropriate epitaph. When in writing to Molyneaux, he likened his report to a small craft. He wrote:

“I have voluntary committed my little boat where others would not venture with their ships, I hope you will not let her perish on your coasts, and rather excuse her weakness than condemn her of rashness: if the commodity she brings be either too much for the market or not edible, take no more than is fit, and leave the rest in pledge for the duty . . .”

Acknowledgements

The extracts and references from the Dobbs’ papers are reproduced by kind permission of the Deputy Keeper of the Records at the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.

The author wishes to express his thanks and appreciation to Messrs J. Irvine and W. Stewart for their encouragement and interest during the preparation of the above article.

Notes

1. The Dobbs papers D162 PRONI.
2. The Glynns, Vol. 7 p. 35.
3. John Dobbs’ grandfather was Sir Richard Dobbs. Lord Mayor of London in 1551, and a founder of Christ's Hospital, London.
4. Dalway’s wife was Jane O’Byrne, granddaughter of Hugh O’Neill, Earl of Tyrone (McSkimin's History of Carrickfergus).
5. In 1610 Foulk was his only grandchild, as Hercules was not born until 1613.
6. Macdonnells p. 378 and p. 383.
7. D162/4 PRONI.
8. In his letter to Molyneaux on 14th May, 1683, he points out “this being only my second venture of this kind”. Macdonnells p. 376.
9. See The Glynns, Vol. 7, centre pages.
10. Among the Dobbs papers is a copy of the charter, written in English and Latin D162/1 PRONI.
11. From McSkimin's History of Carrickfergus.
12. From McSkimin's History of Carrickfergus.
13. From D162/1 PRONI.


This article appeared in Volume 11 of the Society's annual publication, The Glynns, printed in 1983. Copies of The Glynns may be purchased though the society's bookshop.