This page covers Dobbs in Oundle and Glapthorn in particular and does identify a person who could be ‘Bozeat John’.

OUNDLE AND SURROUNDING AREA

John Dobbs was an inquest juror at Glapthorn in 1367/8. Thomas Dobbs appears in 1379/80 and I think this relates to his property in Stamford (NRS, Account Rolls of the Obedientaries).

We also know of a Thomas Dobbs who witnessed a charter conveying lands in Wermyngton and Aylington held by Joan wife of Richard Knyvet and by John the father by feoffment of William Lyvedon (Close Rolls, 1395). Aylington is now called Elton and is next to Warmington near Oundle. Lyvedon is a deserted village near Oundle. (Possible link here to Norfolk as the surname Knyvet occurred there).

A William Dobbes held three shops in Oundle situated under the Hall of Pleas in 1491/2 (Oundle Extensive Urban Survey). Perhaps the same William Dobbes was an executor to the will of a Dame Joan Wyatt in 1506 and she was one of the founders of the first ‘gyld’ school there (Walker’s History of the Oundle Schools). Perhaps the same William Dobbes was party to a covenant made in November 1506 relating to lands in Oundle (see Feet of Fines). The PRO holds the account book of William Dobbs rent collector of Oundle 1515-16 [SC6/Hen8/2777). Wyatt House is now one of the boarding houses at the School and Dame Joan was ‘a lady of the mantle and the ring’ meaning that she took vows of chastity in respect of her late husband (NRO, ML117 p21). Given that executors were often relatives it is possible that Joan and William Dobbes were related.

Agnes Dobbs of Oundle in her will of 1514 left money to the ‘gyld of our lady’. She also refers to her two husbands and her son Laurence, to a sister (name obscured) and her daughter, she refers to her mother Jone Dobbs & to Katherine Dobbs. William Chawndler was the executor. Witnesses were Sir Willm Morres, Willm (Dobbs), John Laxton and John Gybson. William Dobbs is listed as a taxpayer at Oundle in 1524/5 and was taxed on goods to the value of £27. Most people listed were taxed on goods valued in shillings or a few pounds, so he was one of the wealthier residents.

Robert Dobbs is listed as a taxpayer at Tansor, near Oundle in 1523/4 and Thomas Dobbs of Tansor appears in a list of able-bodied men of 1600. Richard Dobbs of Warmington held two shops in Oundle in 1542 and a Richard died in 1544 naming his wife Alice in his will. Peter Dobbs of Oundle was an inquest juror in 1536.

The sale of Oundle guild land in 1550 refers to a payment to Joan Dobbes and her heirs. The guild arranged with the Dobbs family who owned the land around the back of the present Wesleyan chapel for an easement of access. Drumming Well Lane in Oundle was formerly called Dobbs Yard (see Walker’s book). Also in 1550 there was a grant to Richard Heyborne and William Dalbye of the late guild or fraternity of St Mary of Oundle of lands in the tenure of Joan Dobbes which belonged to the guild. It also refers to Joan Dobbs and her heirs being linked to (and possibly owning) a tenement called ‘le Swanne’ in the parish of All Saints, Northampton in the tenure of Richard Wylkynson (Patent Rolls). This is the only evidence so far found that might be a connection between the Oundle branch and the Dobbs of Whiston. A Joan Dobbs was buried at Thurning in 1567.

A detailed Oundle field book of 1565 identifies John Dobbs as holding the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th tenements on the north side of the High St. (This is presently on the north side of West St going west from New St). They were freehold two little tenements and one large tenement, barn and close of pasture with a frontage of 98.5 feet and frontage to the north of Hill Field 111 feet, length 660 feet. A note in the book informs us that at that time John showed a deed dating from the reign of Henry VI (deposed in 1461) although whether the deed related to Dobbs is not clear.

The 1565 survey also identifies a Phillip Dobbs who held land all over the parish fields and had the 18^th and 19^th tenements going westwards along the north side of the High St (now West St). He held copyhold 2 tenements, 2 yards and 2 tofts upon which was the common oven. Frontage onto the street was 53.5 feet, frontage to the north 90.5 feet and the length of the plot was 531 feet. Phillip’s property was next to Sir Walter Mildmay’s ‘capital mansion’ and on the site of a house now known as ‘Queen Anne’s’. (I am grateful to Oundle museum for this information). A Phillip Dobbs was buried at Ringstead, 20 December 1578.

Unfortunately, the Oundle church registers do not begin until 1625 so we cannot trace baptisms, marriages and burials before then. But a document of 1613 identifies John Dobbs senior of Oundle, yeoman and John Dobbes junior and concerns a messuage or tenement and two cottages lying together in Oundle given to John senior by Joan Dobbes his mother by her charter of 10 January 1558. This looks like the same Joan as seen above.

We then have a will of John Dobbs, a baker, who died in 1638 who is probably the John junior named above. He left £20 to his eldest son William, £30 to Toby, £20 to his son John the elder, £120 to Peter, £50 plus his wood to Robert. The horses and crops in his barns were to be divided among his five younger sons. John the younger received £113-6s-8d to pay for his apprenticeship. His house and lands were left to his son Edward and 20 shillings he left to the poor of Oundle. He desired to be buried next to his two wives one of whom is assumed to be Grace who died in 1631. His children included:

• A son Francis admitted to Oundle School in 1629 aged 10. Probably dead by 1638 as he is not named in his father’s will.
• John admitted to Oundle School aged 8 in 1632, youngest son of John, baker.
• A daughter Grace who died aged four in 1631 shortly before her mother.
• Peter who was admitted to Oundle School about 1625. He went to Cambridge University in 1631; he was ordained at Peterborough in 1639 and instituted rector of West Walton, Norfolk, in 1644. He was named as the incumbent receiving tithes worth £36 p.a. in 1655 (Lambeth Palace catalogue). The West Walton registers do not begin until the 1660s but a Peter and Martha Dobbs had a daughter Elizabeth christened there in 1663. In all probability this is the same Peter and he may have started a new line there as there are sporadic Dobbs christenings, marriages and burials into the 1800s. Norfolk Record Office holds the will of Peter Dobbs, clerk of West Walton and the Clergy Database gives his date of death as 31^st December 1664.
• Robert who was admitted to Oundle School aged 10 in 1626 and a list of able-bodied men of 1638 shows Robert Dobbs, baker, at Oundle. He married Bridget Bendish at Fotheringhay in 1639. They had five children christened at Oundle; Elizabeth 1640-1640, Grace 1641, John 1643-44, Robert 1645-1704 and Peter 1647-?
• Edward who married Mary Nethercoates at Stoke Doyle in 1639 and died in 1680. He was a husbandman and had seven children including; Anne who possibly married Thomas Barnes at Titchmarsh in 1682, Edward 1642-89 who was admitted to Oundle School in 1654, John 1647-89 who was admitted to Oundle School aged 8 in 1656, Martha 1649-82 who married Henry Greene at Thrapston and who was buried at Titchmarsh, John 1647-89 is thought to have married Mary Thomson and she died three weeks after him in 1689, William 1652-? who was admitted to Oundle School aged 10 in 1662 and probably dead by 1680 as he is not mentioned in his father’s will.

Edward who died in 1680 left a will summarised as follows. All my house that I now live in with the barns, stables, orchards, gardens, yards & c to my son Edward Dobbs. To Edward the table and wainscot in the house with the irons in the chimney. Also my horses, geares, wagons, ploughs and harrows. I give the two houses and appurtenances now in the occupation of William Cosens and John Harpur situated in Oundle to my son Edward provided always that my son Edward in lieu of the two houses shall pay to my daughter Mary £50 and to my daughter Anne £50 within a year of my death. If Edward refuses to pay then the two houses revert to Mary and Ann. I give to Mary and Anne all my household stuff except my bedstead. My will is that my son John Dobbs shall equally divide the household goods between the two daughters. I give to my daughter Greene one shilling and to her two daughters one shilling each. I give to my son John all the money in my house at the time of my decease so that he may give me a decent burial. The residue unbequeathed I give to my son Edward who I appoint executor. Signed Edward Dobbs. Written 20 Aug 1680, proved 24 Feb 1681.

John (1647-89), son of Edward, was a brazier and had five children.

• John 1680-1705 admitted to Oundle School in 1692 and who is thought to be the John of Cambridge, bachelor who died intestate and whose brother Richard of Wisbech, haberdasher, made an inventory of his goods.
• William admitted to Oundle School in 1692 who is thought to be the William of Oundle who died intestate in 1702 and whose brother Richard made an inventory of his goods.
• Richard 1684-?, the Wisbech haberdasher. Admitted to Oundle School in 1693 and identified in the admissions register as the third son of John.
• Edward 1686-1747 who married Elizabeth Mantill at Oundle in 1709 and whose three children died young (or so it appears). Elizabeth’s will of 1755 does not mention any children and the people mentioned in it have not been traced.
• Mary 1688-?

John’s will of 1689 is as follows. To my eldest son John all my messuage & tenements with the close and pasture and all that cottage adjoining now in the tenure of William Cosens situated in (Acerland) place commonly called the Chap__ end provided that John pays my daughter Mary 100 marks when she is 21 and if he does not pay her then she shall have the said cottage. I give my two copyhold cottages one of which was late in the possession of my brother Edward deceased the other now in the tenure of Peter Greene carpenter to my son William.  Also to William one acre and a half of arable land in Oundle that is one acre in Howhill field and half an acre in (Pondmill) field now in the tenure of Edward Freer. I give my two cottages now in the possession of widow Farren and Thomas King to my son Richard. I give my copyhold cottage and the ___ cottage lying on the backside of Oundle and in the tenure of Laurence Dodes carpenter to my son Edward. The residue unbequethed I give to my loving wife Mary who I appoint as sole executor. Written 19 June 1689, proved 15 July 1689.

He must have felt his wife was in good health to make her the executor but she made a will soon after he died and she died shortly after that. Her will is summarised as follows.  Late husband of John Dobbs of Oundle, brazier. Refers to provisions of the will of her late husband. Desired that her sons John, William, Richard and Edward would be looked after and educated by Thomas Chambers and Peter Ashton out of the rents and profits of the premises until they are 21. Also desired that Chambers and Ashton were made guardians of the children and executors of the will. Bequeathed £40 to her daughter Mary to be paid when she is 21. Made 18 July 1689, proved 1^st August 1689. Although I’m not certain these are the same people, a Peter Ashton died in 1703 and a Thomas Chambers in 1718 so it looks as if they lived long enough to bring up the orphaned children.

Robert and Bridget Dobbs had five children including Robert 1645-1704. Robert junior married Mary and had eight children. His will is summarised thus: to my son Robert Dobbs of Glapthorne one shilling. To my son Thomas of London one shilling (this Thomas went to Oundle School in 1692 aged nine). All the rest of my real and personal estate I give to my tender loving wife Mary and my dear and loving daughter Mary Halford to be equally divided between them. Mary and Mary to be joint executors. Will written 24 December 1704 and proved 29 October 1705. An inventory of Robert’s goods totalled £32-11-0.

Robert 1645-1704 had a son Robert who lived from1669 to1713 and who was a baker. He married Editha Halls (or Hales) in 1692 and also had eight children and lived at Glapthorn. Editha Dobbs his wife died in 1714. Little is known of their children save for another Robert who lived 1696-1759. He married Ann Cole at Achurch in 1720 and they had ten children christened at Glapthorn. One of them, William 1729-92, a baker, decamped to Brigstock where he began another line that spread out from there. (It seems that the baking tradition ran through the family back at least to Phillip who owned or held the ‘common oven’ in the town in 1565). Another child, Robert 1734-74, married Ann Burbidge and had a son Robert who is thought to be the Robert, yeoman, who died in Peterborough in 1842 leaving several descendents there. Another son, John christened in 1742 married Mary Horsted at Glapthorn in 1762. They had a son John baptised there on the 28^th May 1766.

FROM OUNDLE TO BOZEAT?

Could John christened at Glapthorn in 1766 be the man who went to Bozeat? Apart from his birth year being exactly right there isn’t much else to support the possibility. So what do we know about him? There is no infant burial indicating but not proving that he survived to adulthood. There was a marriage of John Dobbs to Jane Duke at Glapthorn in 1784. There were two burials of John Dobbs at Glapthorn in 1796 and 1800 and he could have been one of these (father and son possibly). Bozeat John’s first three sons were named John which is a faint hint that his father was also called John.

If the Jane Dobbs buried at Titchmarsh in 1844 aged 88 was formerly Jane Duke then she was born about 10 years earlier in 1756. Unless she married a man about 10 years her junior then the Glapthorn marriage may not have been of the same John. There’s no evidence that her husband was a minor at the time, eg, married by licence or with the consent of parents. This could indicate that John baptized in 1766 did move away.