This page links to the Whiston page in continuing the Dobbs’ line in Northants

MEARS ASHBY

A detailed field book identifying everyone holding land in the parish in 1577 does not mention any Dobbs so it looks as if they appeared there after then. The first mention is Thomas Dobbs of Mears Ashby, husbandman, who died in1624/5. His will made 24^th October 1624 was as follows. To my eldest son John Dobbs £50, to Thomas Dobbs my youngest son 20 marks when he is 25 years old and I give to Thomas 40 shillings to the binding of him as an apprentice. To Agnes Dobbs my eldest daughter £20 to be paid when she marries. To Agnes a covorlett a paire of new blankets and a coffer…… To my daughter Isabell Dobbs 20 marks. To Isabell four ewes (two) lambs ….. two hogrells ….. I give her a table that I bought of Richard Norman ….. brass kettle and other kettle ….20 shillings in money ……. a pair of new blankets and a new linen …… All the rest I give to my son Tobias Dobbs whom I make sole executor to see my sister Alice well and …… kept …provided for… Overseers Edward Grove and William Pratt. Probate 23 April 1625.

A list of able-bodied men shows Thomas Dobbs, husbandman, at Mears Ashby in 1638. This is probably the Thomas who benefited from the will above.

There is also a very short administration dated June 1640 for a John Dobbs of Mears Ashby deceased. The note grants the administration to Thomas Oakley who is referred to as ‘maxi natu fratri’ or ‘fratri maxi natu’ which means something like eldest brother which could have been brother-in-law.

The court rolls for Mears Ashby identify Tobias Dobbs there from 1639 to 1648 when the rolls end. We then have a 1662 will of Tobias Dobbs the son of Thomas as follows.

In the name of God Amen the twentieth day of August Ano Dom 1662. I Tobias Dobb of Meeres Ashby in the county of North’ton yeoman being sicke of body but of good and perfect memory doe make and constitute this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First of all I do give and bequeath my soul into the hands of almighty god my creator and redeemer and my body to the ground to be buried in the church yard of Meeres Ashby _____ing thorough the merits and bloud shedding of Jesus Christ my saviour and redeemer to receive a joyfull resurrection at the last day of. And as for my worldy goods I dispose of. Imprimis I do give and bequeath unto my welbeloved wife my best bedstead with soe much good bedding as will furnish a bed. Item I do give and bequeath unto my eldest son Thomas Dobb of Orton the sum of twelve pence. Item I do give and bequeath unto my son Steven Dobb the sum of five pounds of good and lawful money of England to be paid him by my executor within a year and a half next after my decease. Item I do give and bequeath unto my son Richard Dobb the sum of (twenty) shillings of good and lawful money of England. Item I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Alce Worlidge of Wellingborough the sum of twelve pence. Item I doe give and bequeath unto my son William Dobb the remainder of the lease of four yard lands with the house I lately did live in and also the closes and also all the benefits & p(erquisites) belonging unto the said four yard lands. Item I give and bequeath unto my son William Dobb all my crops of corn and peas and also all my hay. Item I do give and bequeath unto my son William Dobb all my horses all my beasts all my sheep all my hogs and also all my hovills and other goods in my yard & house provided always & upon this condition my will is that my said wife shall have her maintenance both for food and apparel and also house harbour with my said son William and my will is that he shall be obedient unto her and allow her peaceabley and quietly to live with him and in a reasonable manner not to see her want. But if in case that it shall so happen that if my said wife & my said son William shall have some causes of difference that they cannot live lovingly together then my will is that my said son William Dobb shall pay to my said wife the sum of twenty pounds of lawful money of England (                                  ) and ___ to provide for her self as for all my other goods cattell and chattels whatsoever unbequethed I do make my son William to be executor of this my last will and testament desiring him to pay all my debts and legacies and to see my funeral expenses discharged and also I do appoint my welbeloved friends Mr William (Garrit) & William Farrow of Meeres Ashby overseers of this my last will and testament. Item I do give & bequeath unto my son (William) a warming pan with all my wearing apparel & a peece of ______ about six yards in witness hereof I have set to my hand & seal this day and year first above written. sealed and published in the presence of John Simcoe the mark of George Moulton. The mark of Tobias Dobb.

Tobias refers to his son Thomas of Orton. This Thomas started another line in Rothwell which survived through the 1700s into the 1800s. That line is very messy to piece together but there is no sign of a John who could have been the right age to marry in Bozeat in 1790.

Tobias’s son William appears in the court roll for 1663 but he died in that year, just a year after his father. His will was as follows. In the name of God Amen for as much as I know not the day of my death and am desirous to leave peace and quietnese amongst my frends that shall survive mee. I William Dobs of Meers Ashbee in the countie of North’ton husbandman being sick and weake in body but of perfect mind and memorie. This fourteenth day of January in the yeare of our Lord God 1663 doo make ordaine and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First and principalie I commit my soule to the mercie of my Redeemer Jesus Crist and my body to decent and Christian burial and for my worldly state I thus dispose of it. Imprimise I give and beequeth unto my mother Elizabeth Dobs the some of twentie pounds to bee paid to her within six months after my decease. Item I give to my brothers Thomas Dobs Richard Dobs and Steeven Dobs to each of them twelve pence a peece. Lastly I doe make and ordaine William Worlidge of Wellingborow my brother in law sole executor of this my last will and testament. This I publish as my last will and testament revoking all former wills whatsoever to them which I have sett my hand and seale the day and yeare above written. In the presence of Thomas Cox Samuell Fisher. The marke of William Dobs.

William’s will was proved just 14 days later and is unusual in that it omits a legatee to whom the residue of his estate is bequeathed, as is normal after bequests have been made. His will is accompanied by an inventory taken 30 January 1663 which lists; five work  horses and three colts, five cows (three two year old and two younger), eight score and odd sheep, remainder of the lease of four yard land with appurtenances, corn hay and other grain at the time of his death, carts ploughs and other things belonging to husbandry, hovill timber and other wood, his grain store and the tithes, wearing apparel and money in his purse, in the parlour two beds with bedding, one chest two barrels and one tub one (forme) and a little ‘ladar’, in the hall one bedstead with the bedding one cupboard two chests one forme and three stools, in the kitchen one pan one cupboard one (cymnill) one salting trough one old barrel one ____ one iron bar, all the brass and pewter and linen, one malt mill three tubs and one table, things omitted. Total £172-10-0. Since he only bequeathed £20 and three shillings there was £152 and seven shillings unaccounted for.

Court rolls of the manor identify Thomas Dobbs who is named in the rolls from 1664/5 to 1670/1. Once again, Mears Ashby is a place where the early register has not survived making it hard to reconstruct who was who. The first register begins in 1670 but it is incomplete particularly in respect of marriages and burials. This Thomas might be the same Thomas Dobbs of Meers Ashby who married Elizabeth Peercivall of Irtlinborow 26 March 1652 at Abingdon.

The first appearances in the register occur in the 1690s when Stephen and Jane Dobbs had children christened at Mears Ashby (Thomas, John and Elizabeth). Their last christening entry in 1699 also tells us that Stephen, a shepherd, had died.

We then have a set of wills in the early 1700s showing that there were six brothers some of whom still lived there. From Tobias’s will it seems that the brothers were most likely descended from either Stephen or Richard Dobbs. They were;

• Stephen (died 1730), a weaver, married to Susanah. No children mentioned in his will.
• John, a weaver, married Elizabeth Smith of Overstone in 1718 and had five children; Mark 1718, Elizabeth 1721, Anne 1723, Joseph1726 and Mary 1726. One odd feature of these christening entries in the register is that the space where John’s wife would be named is left blank. Once is not uncommon but to happen several times for the same father is puzzling. Of John’s children, Mark is certainly the same Mark who married Jane Tomalin from Hitchin at Gt Oxendon in 1743 after which they decamped to begin a new line in Hitchin that continues to this day. (‘Sister Dobbs is mentioned at the Baptist church in Hitchin in 1771). When Elizabeth of Mears Ashby (born 1721) married Robert Achurch of Rushden at Strixton in 1747 surety was provided by a Humphrey Bettel of Bozeat. Bozeat court rolls suggest there were several generations of Humphrey Bettle at Bozeat and I think they were fairly well-placed – this might just indicate a link between land owners in Bozeat and Mears Ashby.
• Benjamin, a weaver, married Elizabeth Hall of Rushden in 1736 by licence. Surety was given by Joseph Dobbs of Hardingstone, weaver. Benjamin died in 1743 and did not mention children in his will.
• Joseph who is presumably the Joseph who married Ann Cox of Hardingstone in 1734. Ann Dobbs was buried there in 1743 and later that year Joseph Dobbs “a grown up person”, was christened at Mears Ashby. If this is the same Joseph who lost his wife then it may indicate that none of the brothers was christened as an infant – and thus why I can’t find them in the registers. We know Joseph had a son Benjamin who was alive in 1743 when his brother died. The admissions register of Northampton hospital shows that in 1760 Joseph Dobbs of Hardingstone aged 50 was admitted for an inflammation of the face – this is useful to approximate his birth year. (It cleared up).
• William who died in 1734 and did not mention children in his will
• Gregory, mentioned in his brothers’ wills died of ‘old age’ and was buried at Mears Ashby in 1781 a pauper. There is a settlement certificate for him in Kettering dated 1741 which refers to him as a ‘singleman’. There is no trace of a later marriage or of children. (A Gregory Dobbs was buried at Desborough 26 April 1696 and Gregory son of Thomas and Anne was born 14 March 1704 at Desborough).

There is also a marriage of a Joseph Dobbs to Mary Gillett of Whiston in 1744 and they had William christened in 1745. I cannot tell which Joseph this was but my guess is Joseph the younger christened in 1726.

A Joseph Dobbs aged ‘about 22’ was executed at Northampton for housebreaking and burglary on 26^th August 1750 but it is not clear who he was.  The only candidate that fits is Joseph christened in 1726, son of John.

The wills of the brothers are as follows:

Stephen Dobbs (in full). In the name of God amen I Stephen Dobbs of Mears Ashby weaver being weak of body but of disposing mind praised be the almighty God for the same do make this my last will and testament in manner and form as followeth. That is to say I give and devise unto Susana my wife the house that I live in and orchard and wood and barn and all the other cottages and ground belonging thereunto during her life and after her decease I give and bequeath the house I live in and wood and barn excepting (one bay at the west end) and gardens and yard as far as to the little house and to the barn door to my brother William Dobbs and his heirs forever. And if my brother William should die before my wife and have no heirs then I give the same to my brother Beniamian Dobbs and his heirs and if he dieth before my wife and has no heirs then I give the same to my brother Joseph Dobbs and his heirs forever: and I give unto my brother Joseph and his heirs forever the little house and yard as far as the little house end and as far as to the barn door and one bay of the great barn and if  my brother Joseph should be dead then the little house and yard and the bay of the barn shall go along with the other house from heir to heir according as I have disposed of it thus I have disposed of my houses and what is belonging thereunto. Now concerning other movables I give unto my brother William Dobbs the loom that I myself work in the loom that he himself worketh in and mill and rings and bars and all other materials belonging to the trade and my brother William he shall pay to my brother Beniamin one pound out of those things. I do give also to my brother William the loom that my brother Joseph worketh in and William shall pay to my wife ten shillings and pay also to my brother Grigory Dobbs ten shillings And I give to my brother Joseph Dobbs the loom that my prenties (apprentices) worketh in. Item my brother Joseph and his heirs shall have free passage in at the gates for what conveniences that they may have to bring in or to carry out. Item if my brother William should live to posses the house and other things belonging to it then my brother William he shall give out of the house to my brother Beniamian 2 pound and to my brother Grigory Dobbs 2 pound. Item all the rest and residue of my goods and chattels whatsoever after the payment of my debts and funeral charges I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Susana Dobbs whom I appoint sole executrix of this my last will and testament. Witnesses Isaac Munden, Daniel Jackson and Palmer Pratt. Signature and seal of Stephen Dobbs. Made 25 Jan 1729/30 and proved 6 March 1729/30.

William Dobbs (summary). To eldest brother Gregory 20 shillings. To brother Joseph the little house and yard and one bay of the barn. If Joseph dies before his sister in law Susannah Brown the late wife of my brother Stephen deceased the house and bay of the barn to brother Benjamin. To brother Joseph £15 and the best bed and bedding. To brother Joseph my loom which he works. To my brother John’s children £1 and 5 shillings to be divided between them 5 shillings a piece. To my brother Benjamin my house in which I live during the life of sister in law Susannah Brown. All my apparel to my three brothers Gregory, Benjamin and Joseph. Made 23 July 1734. Proved 9 September 1734. Signed and sealed, William Dobbs. An inventory dated 9 September 1734 lists; grain of half a quatern land, wood and bushes, a cow, two sheep, hay, the goods in the house, shop things, 2 looms and 2 wheels, and his wearing apparel totalling £11-3-6d. (Inventory made by Isaac Munden & Palmer Pratt).

NB – John who is only mentioned in this will could be John buried at Mears Ashby in 1728. His last child was christened in 1726 and he isn’t mentioned in any of his brothers’ wills made after that date. This would also explain why his five children were given a bequest in their Uncle William’s will.

Benjamin Dobbs (summary). To eldest brother Gregory one shilling. To brother Joseph my house, barn and orchard and my weaving tackle, my brass two bellmettle porridge pots, the bed and bedding in the chamber over the shop. To brother Joseph’s son Benjamin all my sheep and bee hives. Appointed his wife Elizabeth as the executor. Proved 29 November 1743.

In none of these wills did the testators name any children of their own. Given that brother Joseph was born about 1710 and that brother Gregory died of old age in 1781 it looks as if they were all born around 1700. If so then the three will makers died young. The court rolls from 1673 to 1724 do not mention any Dobbs. As we know they were there at that time it looks as if they had left the land and taken up weaving for a living. Stephen Dobbs of Mears Ashby, weaver, took Daniel Jackson as an apprentice in 1722.

CONCLUSION

The Mears Ashby line seems to die out and move away and there is no evidence of a John who could be ‘Bozeat John’. But the line is not completely accounted for. Benjamin who was mentioned in the will of Benjamin 1743 has not been traced, for instance, and it is possible that descendents of this branch lived on somewhere locally.

Before leaving Mears Ashby it is worth noting another line at Denton that might be linked. The link might come through the Thomas who was mentioned in his father’s will of 1624/5 who we know was under 25 at the time. Thomas and Jennet Dobbs had John christened at Earls Barton in 1643 and then several children christened at Denton. Also a John & Elizabeth Dobb had a child christened there in 1648 and that could be Thomas’s brother. We then have a Thomas and Winifred Dobb having children there in the 1670s along with a John & Mary. Winifred died in 1728. Again, they seem to have died out in Denton in the early part of the 1700s. Denton registers consistently describe them as Dobb not Dobbs which may or may not be significant.

The other group that appears in the records of early Northamptonshire were clustered in and around Oundle, see separate page.