Person:Daniel Dobyns (3)

DANIELI DOBYNS (EDMUNDH, DANIELG, RANDALLF, WILLIAME, GUYD, GUYC, JOHNB, GUYA) (from ¶20) was, by strong circumstantial evidence, the emigrant to Essex Co. Va., whose descendants are traced in the following chapters. The emigrant spelled his name "DOBYNS", a spelling which seems to have been used by only about one fourth of the English families of the name at the time. In addition to the name "DANIEL" being the same, there are other similarities. The emigrant, DANIEL DOBYNS, named his three oldest sons RICHARD DOBYNS, DANIEL DOBYNS and EDMUND DOBYNS. RICHARDH DOBYNS [Begin original page 22] was the oldest uncle of DANIELI DOBYNS. As DANIEL's father EDMUND apparently died fairly young, his uncle RICHARD may have been partially responsible for his upbringing. Thus, if DANIELI DOBYNS was the emigrant, he had good reason for naming his oldest son RICHARD DOBYNS. EDMUNDH DOBYNS was the father of DANIELI DOBYNS, and EDMUNDI DOBYNS was his brother. Thus, if DANIELI DOBYNS was the emigrant, he would have had good reason to name his third son EDMUND DOBYNS. And, in addition to being his own name, DANIEL DOBYNS was the name of his own relatively well-known grandfather DANIELG DOBYNS, giving good reason for naming his second son DANIEL DOBYNS.The great-grandfather RANDALLF DOBYNS and great-uncle PHILIPG DOBYNS of DANIELI DOBYNS were lawyers, and the grandfather DANIELG DOBYNS of DANIELI DOBYNS was a Member of Parliament. Thus, if DANIELI DOBYNS was the emigrant, he had some reason for seeking public office and a possible inclination toward the law. DANIEL DOBYNS the emigrant was a Justice of the Peace of Essex County, at a time when the office of Justice of the Peace was an office of some influence requiring more than a casual knowledge of the law.Furthermore, a diligent search of the records has shown no trace of DANIELI DOBYNS in England after 1664. It seems a reasonable conclusion, although based upon circumstantial evidence, to hold that DANIELI DOBYNS of Kidderminster, Worcestershire, was the same DANIELI DOBYNS who emigrated to Essex Co. Va about 1675, and who appears in ¶22 <ddcv02.htm> of Chapter II following.

DANIEL DOBYNS THE EMIGRANT TO VIRGINIA AND HIS EARLY DESCENDANTS¶22 DANIELI DOBYNS, the emigrant from England to Virginia, was the founder of that branch of the American Dobyns family traced in this book. His birth date is unknown, but he was probably of age when he first appeared in the records of Old Rappahannock Co. Va. on 27 Jan 1675 as witness to a property deed of THOMAS BOWLER. (fn 56 <ddcvfn.htm>) Therefore, he may have been born about 1653 or 1654. Public records which relate to DANIEL DOBYNS appear in Old Rappahannock Co. Va. until 1692 when that county was divided to form the two counties of Essex and Richmond. After 1692 his records appear in Essex Co. Va. DANIELI DOBYNS was married three times, each time to a wife named ELIZABETH. His first wife was probably the daughter of ANDREW DUDDING. This conclusion is based largely on the will of ANDREW DUDDING written on 18 Feb 1708 and recorded on 13 Aug 1713. (fn 57 <ddcvfn.htm>) Bequests were made to godchildren THOMAS BROOKES son of RICHARD BROOKS, WILLIAM CHENEY son of JOHN CHENEY, and SUSANNAH DIKE daughter of JOHN DIKE. There were also bequests of one shilling each to Mr. DANIEL DOBYNS Sr. and to his children (vizt) RICHARD, DANIEL, ELIZABETH, CATHERINE, WILLIAM and CHARLES DOBYNS. The remainder of his estate both real and personal was left to his housekeeper MARY RICHARDS.The three older children of DANIELI DOBYNS named in the will of ANDREW DUDDING were presumably DUDDING's grandchildren; however, it is likely that the name ELIZABETH is the result of a clerk's error and should read EDMUND. The clerk may have confused the name of DANIELI DOBYNS's wife ELIZABETH with that of his son EDMUND. Essex Co. records prove that EDMUND (named in the will of his father DANIEL DOBYNS as his third son) lived, married, and died in Essex Co. Va. No other record has been found of an ELIZABETH2 DOBYNS, daughter of DANIELI DOBYNS.ANDREW DUDDING had married EASTER DIKE, the second wife and widow of JOHN DIKE, according to DIKE's will written on 24 Mar 1677, recorded 9 Jan 1678. (fn 58 <ddcvfn.htm>) EASTER was apparently ANDREW DUDDING's second wife, and not the mother of ELIZABETH DUDDING. There seems to have been a close personal relationship as well as a father-in-law and son-in-law connection between DANIELI DOBYNS and ANDREW DUDDING. This is shown in one way by a series of land transactions between the two men. On 25 Apr 1687, EASTER DUDDING attempted to convey 200 acres of land which she had inherited from her first husband JOHN DIKE, Sr. to her second husband ANDREW DUDDING. (Fn 59 <ddcvfn.htm>) Although it does not specifically appear in the records, such a conveyance between husband and wife was impossible under the common law then in force in Virginia. Someone must have informed the DUDDINGs of the effect of this law, because on 15 Nov 1700, ANDREW and EASTER DUDDING joined in a deed to convey these 200 acres to DANIELI DOBYNS. (fn 60 <ddcvfn.htm>) This conveyance was no longer between husband and wife and was thus valid. Then on 2 May 1701, less than six months later, DANIEL DOBYNS and his then wife ELIZABETH SMITH conveyed these 200 acres to ANDREW DUDDING and EASTER his wife (fn 61 <ddcvfn.htm>) This also was not a conveyance between husband and wife, and was thus valid to make ANDREW DUDDING and EASTER his wife joint owners (tenants by the entirety). All that was required was the use of an intermediary who could be trusted to reconvey the property. The use of DANIEL DOBYNS by ANDREW DUDDING and his wife EASTER to accomplish indirectly what they could not accomplish directly shows that they trusted him implicitly. Although by this time, ANDREW DUDDING's daughter ELIZABETH was dead and DANIELI DOBYNS was married to ELIZABETH SMITH and had three children by her, the mutual regard of the two men apparently remained. This attitude may have changed by 18 Feb 1708, depending upon one's interpretation of the bequest in the will of ANDREW DUDDING of one shilling to DANIELI DOBYNS.ELIZABETH (DUDDING?) DOBYNS had borne three sons and was dead before 1 Feb 1688, the [Begin original page 24] date by which DANIEL DOBYNS married the second time. The second wife of DANIELI DOBYNS was ELIZABETH SMITH, widow of Major HENRY SMITH. It is not completely clear who were the parents of ELIZABETH SMITH, although it seems possible that she was the daughter of Dr. PETER GODSON and his wife SARAH. (fn 62 <ddcvfn.htm>) If so, she was born shortly after 11 July 1666. (fn 63 <ddcvfn.htm>) SARAH, the wife of PETER GODSON, may have been born SARAH HODGKINS.The mother of ELIZABETH (GODSON?) SMITH DOBYNS was a HODGKINS, as proved by a deposition of DANIELI DOBYNS in Richmond Co. Va. on 1 Sept 1703, when he answered affirmatively the question "whether or no you have not heard your late wife M'rs ELIZ'A DOBBINS In discourse by your selves as also the demandant M'r SAM'LL PEACHEY was present at other times owne and declare that the said M'rs ELIZABETH DOBBINS and the aforesaid SAM'LL PEACHEY were first Cousins that is that their mothers were owne Sisters and that M'r WM HODGKINS dec'ed was their owne Brother and to the best of your Remembrance you were fully satisfied in the premises." This deposition was one of a series taken in a court case in Richmond Co. Va. which involved the HODGKINS, PEACHEY, and SMITH families. (fn 64 <ddcvfn.htm>) Further evidence that the mother of ELIZABETH SMITH DOBYNS was a HODGKINS is to be found in the will of SAMUEL PEACHEY, drawn on 24 June 1711 in Richmond Co. Va. (fn 65 <ddcvfn.htm>) He left a gold ring to Mr. DANIEL DOBYNS and a legacy to each of the children of DANIELI DOBYNS by his wife ELIZABETH SMITH, then deceased, they being KATHERINE, WILLIAM and CHARLES DOBYNS. SAMUEL PEACHEY was also one of the overseers of the will of Major HENRY SMITH, the first husband of ELIZABETH SMITH DOBYNS. (fn 66 <ddcvfn.htm>) The mother of ELIZABETH SMITH DOBYNS was definitely a HODGKINS and probably was SARAH GODSON.SARAH GODSON was the wife of Dr. PETER GODSON of Lancaster Co. Va., who later moved to Old Rappahannock Co. Proof of this marriage exists in two Lancaster Co. Va. deeds. The first one, dated 18 July 1658, conveyed 50 acres of land from WILL THOMAS to PETER GODSON, and was signed by WILL and JOANE THOMAS. The second deed was by PETER GODSON, assigning the right to the bill of sale of this land to WILL THOMAS, and was recorded on 1 Apr 1659 (fn 67 <ddcvfn.htm>) and was signed by PETER GODSON and SARAH GODSON. SARAH GODSON was a widow by June or July 1670, at which time she married Dr. PETER HOPEGOOD of Old Rappahannock Co. Va. Just before the marriage, she executed a deed of gift dated 21 June 1670, giving some personal property to her daughters, named in decreasing order of age, SARAH, MARY FRANCES and ELIZABETH GODSON, all under the age of eighteen and unmarried. Immediately after the marriage, PETER HOPEGOOD signed the deed, on 6 July 1670, to confirm the gift. (fn 68 <ddcvfn.htm>) PETER HOPEGOOD died about 1679, leaving a will (fn 69 <ddcvfn.htm>) which left everything to his "daughters-in-law" (that is, stepdaughters) FRANCES and ELIZABETH GODSON, both under sixteen and unmarried at the time the will was written on 28 May 1678. ELIZABETH GODSON was left in the care of THOMAS ROBERTS until 1680 to be kept in school, and FRANCES GODSON was left in the care of Mr. HENRY SMITH until 1680. Overseers of the will were Mr. HENRY SMITH, Mr. WILLIAM YOUNG, and THOMAS ROBERTS. When FRANCES GODSON died unmarried in 1686, she left a will (fn 70 <ddcvfn.htm>) written on 27 Jan 1685/6 and proved 7 Apr 1686 in which she left her money to be divided between HENRY SMITH and TOBY SMITH (sons of Major HENRY SMITH), her land to HENRY SMYTH and the rest of her property together with "what may come out of England from my Unkle" to Mrs. ELIZABETH SMITH. Thus it is possible that Mrs. ELIZABETH SMITH was the former ELIZABETH GODSON, sister of FRANCES GODSON. If so, she was not the first wife of Major HENRY SMITH named ELIZABETH, as ELIZABETH SMITH, wife of HENRY SMITH, appeared in court to release her dower in land sold by her husband to THOMAS HARWAR on 26 Apr 1675. (fn 71 <ddcvfn.htm>) Therefore, it could not have been this ELIZABETH who released the dower. However, there are so many interrelated family connections and so many legal and personal associations between the GODSON, SMITH and HODGKINS groups that it seems unlikely that ELIZABETH SMITH was not a GODSON. [Begin original page 25]Major HENRY SMITH, the first husband of ELIZABETH (GODSON?) SMITH, was the son of TOBY SMITH of Nansemond plantation in Old Rappahannock Co. Va. (fn 72 <ddcvfn.htm>) and his wife PHEBE FONTLEROY. Major HENRY SMITH drew his will in Old Rappahannock Co. Va. on 15 Apr 1684, designating (without naming) his wife and naming his sons TOBY and HENRY. Executors of the will were his wife and EDWARD ADCOCK, husband of Major HENRY SMITH's sister ELIZABETH. Overseers of the will were Col. WILLIAM LOYD and Mr. SAMUEL PEACHEY, first cousin of ELIZABETH (GODSON?) SMITH. ELIZABETH SMITH and EDWARD ADCOCK did not get along well together as executors, and she finally sued to force him to "desist from his abusive language toward her". The will was proved on 4 June 1684. (fn 73 <ddcvfn.htm>) ELIZABETH (GODSON?) SMITH was married for the second time to DANIELI DOBYNS before 1 Feb 1688. (fn 74 <ddcvfn.htm>)That ELIZABETH SMITH married first Major HENRY SMITH and second DANIELI DOBYNS is proved by the following extract from a deed of gift by DANIELI DOBYNS of certain property previously belonging to HENRY SMITH, son of Major HENRY SMITH:

"...I DANLL DOBYNS of Essex County in ye Colony of Virginia Send Greeting in our Lord God Everlasting Whereas I the said DANLL DOBYNS for the Consideracon of a Certain Estate falen into my hands by ye Decease of HENRY SMITH Son to my present wife ELIZABETH whom Shee had by Majr HENRY SMITH her former husband of Rappa County Deced which said Estate upon Contract of Marriage to be Consumated with the said ELIZABETH my now wife I the said DANLL DOBYNS did Give Confirm & make over unto the said HENRY SMITH her son by a Deed acknowledged in Rappa Court bearing date the ffirst day of ffebruary 1688...Now Know Yee that I the said DANLL DOBYNS Have Given granted assigned Sett & made over unto my three Children hereafternamed whome I have by ELIZABETH my said wife (vizt) WILLIAM (,) CHARLES & KATHERINE DOBYNS the above Estate...the above Estate to be paid & made good out of my Estate unto my three Children afore nominated when they shall Attain to the Age of Twenty one Yeares But if my said daughter KATHERINE Should marry before ye age above...In Witness whereof I have Sett my hand & Seale the 8th Day of Augst 1701... DANLL DOBYNS (Seale)" This deed was acknowledged by DANIELL DOBYNS in Essex Co. Court on 11 Aug 1701. (fn 75 <ddcvfn.htm>)The previous deed of 1 Feb 1688 (fn 76 <ddcvfn.htm>) from DANIELI DOBYNS to HENRY SMITH, son of Major HENRY SMITH, referred to in the deed extracted above, enumerated the several properties both real and personal conveyed to HENRY SMITH. It further stated that HENRY SMITH was under the age of sixteen years, and that he was the son of ELIZABETH SMITH and her husband Major HENRY SMITH.ELIZABETH SMITH DOBYNS died before 1 Sept 1703, on which date she was described in Richmond Co. Va. court records as "the late M'rs ELIZ'A DOBBINS." (fn 77 <ddcvfn.htm>)The third wife of DANIELI DOBYNS was ELIZABETH BILLINGTON, daughter of JOHN BILLINGTON of Essex Co. Va. DANIELI DOBYNS and JOHN BILLINGTON were Overseers of the estate of GEORGE SUGGETT, (fn 78 <ddcvfn.htm>) whose daughter MARY SUGITT probably married EDMUND2 DOBYNS, son of DANIELI DOBYNS.Proof of the marriage of DANIELI DOBYNS to ELIZABETH BILLINGTON is found in an Essex Co. Va. deed dated 14 July 1737 by which GRIFFIN2 DOBYNS of Essex Co. Va. sold to ABRAHAM MONTAGUE 120 acres of land in the lower part of Essex Co.being one half of a dividend of 240 acre divided by AUGUSTINE SMITH between DANIEL DOBBINS (father of the said GRIFFIN) and WILLIAM HUDSON, the said land coming to them by their intermarriage with ELIZABETH and JUDITH, daughters of JOHN BILLINGTON of this county, deceased. (fn 79 <ddcvfn.htm>)That ELIZABETH BILLINGTON was the third wife of DANIELI DOBYNS is proved in his will by the designation "mother-in-law" (i.e. stepmother) to my "son CHARLES DOBYNS". CHARLES was the son of ELIZABETH (GODSON?) SMITH, the second wife of DANIELI DOBYNS. ELIZABETH BILLINGTON DOBYNS was alive on 11 Feb 1713, the date of the appraisal of the estate of her husband DANIELI DOBYNS; the date of her death is unknown.The activities of DANIELI DOBYNS in both Old Rappahannock and Essex Counties were many and varied. As examples, he appears as a witness in many land transactions in Old Rappahannock Co. Va. from 1675 to 1704. (fn 80 <ddcvfn.htm>) On 27 Dec 1682 he purchased cattle and goods from ROBERT SMITH. (fn 81 <ddcvfn.htm>) He conveyed 23,430 pounds of tobacco to EDWARD THOMAS on 4 Oct 1688, (fn 82 <ddcvfn.htm>) and made other conveyances. He served as Constable of Old [Begin original page 26]Rappahannock Co. Va. in 1685 (fn 83 <ddcvfn.htm>) and as Surveyor (thereby allotting lands, an important office) in 1687. (fn 84 <ddcvfn.htm>) He was a Justice on the "Commission for the Peace for Essex Co." by 10 Aug 1699 and a month later, on 11 Sept, was appointed Presiding Justice. This Commission served directly under the Governor of Virginia, who was FRANCIS NICHOLSON through 1705 when DANIEL DOBYNS ceased to be a member. (fn 85 <ddcvfn.htm>) On 21 Sept 1708 THOMAS CROW of Essex Co. Va. drew his will (fn 86 <ddcvfn.htm>) in which he left Mr. DANIEL DOBYNS a ring of twenty shillings value. DANIEL DOBYNS, NICHOLAS SMITH Jr and JOHN POWELL witnessed and proved the will, the latter on 11 Oct 1708. The home plantation of NICHOLAS SMITH adjoined that of DANIELI DOBYNS. (for which, see ¶24)The will of DANIELI DOBYNS (fn 87 <ddcvfn.htm>) was drawn as follows in Essex Co. Va. in Sept 1712:

"In the name of God Amen I DANLL DOBYNS of Essex County being Sick in body but of perfect memory thanks be to God and knowing that all flesh is born to die do make this my last will and Testament in form following Vizt Impri-- I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God who gave it to me in Sure and certain hopes of Salvation through the merits of my blessed Saviour and Redeemer Jesus Christ and my body to the Earth to be buried in Such Devout Manner as my Exectx shall see fit, and all my worldly goods I give as followeth, that is to Say, I desire that all just debts due to any person from my Estate be fully paid and Satisfied within a year after my Decease"Item I give and bequeath unto my five Sons /vizt/ RICHARD, DANLL, EDMUND, WILLIAM and CHARLES DOBYNS Twenty Shillings a piece or to Each of them to buy them Rings"Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter CATHERINE DOBYNS one fether bed bolster blanketts and Rugg"Item I give and bequeath unto my three younger Sonns that is to Say GRIFFIN (,) DRURY and ISAAC DOBYNS Ten pounds Sterling a piece when they attain to ye age Twenty One years, and if Either of them Should happen to die before he attains that age then his part to be divided between the two survivors"Item It is my will and desire that my son CHARLES DOBYNS remaine with his Mother in law [i.e. stepmother] till Xmas come Two years and that the Negro Woman Bess remain with my wife the term of time her Master CHARLES Stays"Item I do give and bequeath unto my dearly and well beloved Wife ELIZABETH after all my debts Legacies are fully paid and Satisfied, all the rest of my Estate both goods and Chattels and do hereby appoint my Wife ELIZABETH to be my whole sole Exectx of this my last will and testament as Witness my hand and Seale this (sic) day of Septembr 1712(signed) DANLL DOBYNS Senr (Seal)testJOHN H HOSKINS (his mark)THOMAS t ffITSJEFRES (his mark)ROBT LUMPKIN"At a Court held for Essex County ye 12th day of ffebr 1712 This will was proved by the oaths of ELIZABETH DOBYNS Extx and of JOHN HOSKINS and THOMAS ffITSJEFFRIES two of the witnesses hereto and was ordered to be Recorded, and is Recorded Test Richard Buckner ClCur"

• • • The estate of DANIELI DOBYNS was appraised before 11 Feb 1713/4 by NICHOLAS SMITH, Jr., JAMES EDMUNDSON and ISAAC WEBB, and was presented in Court by ELIZABETH DOBYNS, Executrix. The total value of the personal estate was approximately £80, including four silver spoons at £2/0/0, a silver tobacco box at £1/10/0 and an old sword at £0/0/6.The CHILDREN of DANIELI DOBYNS by his first wife, who was probably ELIZABETH DUDDING, wereRICHARD2 DOBYNS (See ¶23)DANIEL2 DOBYNS (See ¶24)EDMUND2 DOBYNS (See ¶25)The CHILDREN of DANIELI DOBYNS by his second wife ELIZABETH (GODSON?) SMITH wereWILLIAM2 DOBYNS (See ¶26)CHARLES2 DOBYNS (See ¶27)KATHERINE2 DOBYNS (See ¶28)The CHILDREN of DANIELI DOBYNS by his third wife ELIZABETH BILLINGTON wereGRIFFIN2 DOBYNS (See ¶29)DRURY2 DOBYNS (See ¶30)ISAAC2 DOBYNS (See ¶31)--------------------------------[Begin original page 27¶23 RICHARD2 DOBYNS (DANIELI) (from ¶22) was born in Essex Co. Va. about 1680. His mother, the first wife of DANIELI DOBYNS, was probably ELIZABETH DUDDING. RICHARD2 DOBYNS married ELIZABETH BATTEN, daughter of JOHN BATTEN and his wife ELIZABETH. This ELIZABETH may have been the second wife of JOHN BATTEN, as there is a recorded will of MARY BASKERVILLE of York Co. Va. (written 12 July 1693, proved 25 June 1694), indicating that JOHN BATTEN married MARY BASKERVILLE, daughter of JOHN and MARY BASKERVILLE. (fn 88 <ddcvfn.htm>) Although the dates are logical and no other JOHN BATTEN has been found, it cannot be said with certainty that the same JOHN BATTEN married (1st) MARY BASKERVILLE and (2nd) ELIZABETH BATTEN.The will of JOHN BATTEN was drawn in Richmond Co. Va. on 3 May 1712 and was proved on 3 Sept 1712. (fn 89 <ddcvfn.htm>) In this will, bequests were made to his wife ELIZABETH, his daughter ELIZABETH DOBYNS and his granddaughter PHILLIS LUCAS. The bequest to PHILLIS LUCAS was coupled with a restriction that if the testator's "son-in-law" FRANCIS LUCAS, father of PHILLIS, takes her away, she would not have the bequest. The executors of this will were the testator's wife ELIZABETH, his daughter ELIZABETH DOBYNS, and his granddaughter PHILLIS. PHILLIS to become an executor when she reached the age of sixteen. In May 1711, (fn 90 <ddcvfn.htm>) FRANCIS LUCAS had married ANN SMITH. They moved to Prince William Co. Va., where FRANCIS died intestate in 1739. (fn 91 <ddcvfn.htm>) annotation <lucas.htm> The bond for the inventory of JOHN BATTEN's estate was given by "ELIZABETH DOBYNS, wife of RICHARD DOBYNS", and the administrator's bond on the same day was signed by FRANCIS LUCAS, RICHARD DOBYNS and WILLIAM SMITH. (fn 92 <ddcvfn.htm>)The name of ELIZABETH, wife of JOHN BATTEN, does not appear on either bond. She had married JOHN WILLIAMS in July 1712 in Richmond Co. Va., only a few weeks after her husband JOHN BATTEN died. Her daughter ELIZABETH DOBYNS was the surety for the bonds. On 1 Nov 1712, JOHN WILLIAMS and his wife ELIZABETH of Richmond Co. Va. conveyed to JOHN NAYLOR "one third part of a messuage formerly belonging to JOHN BATTON who purchased it from HENRY LUCAS on the North side of the Rappahannock River, (i.e. Richmond Co.) which the said ELIZABETH claymes as her Right of Dower as being the widow & relict of the said JOHN BATTEN". The deed of conveyance was signed by JOHN WILLIAMS and ELIZABETH (X) WILLIAMS and was recorded on 6 May 1713. (fn 93 <ddcvfn.htm>) JOHN WILLIAMS died intestate in Richmond Co. in 1715. (fn 94 <ddcvfn.htm>) His widow, ELIZABETH BATTEN WILLIAMS may have married for the third time WILLIAM STOKES of Essex Co. Va. who drew his will on 8 Dec 1719. The will was proved 16 Feb 1719. (fn 95 <ddcvfn.htm>)RICHARD2 DOBYNS, by deed of gift on 8 Dec 1713, "for natural affection & brotherly love which I have & bear unto my well beloved brother DANIEL DOBYNS" gave DANIEL 50 acres "part of the tract whereon I now dwell," in Essex Co. Va. "ELIZABETH, wife of RICHARD DOBYNS" relinquished her dower rights to the land conveyed. The deed was recorded on 14 Jan 1713/14. (fn 96 <ddcvfn.htm>)RICHARD DOBYNS died intestate before 21 June 1726, on which date bond was given by his widow ELIZABETH DOBYNS for administration of his estate. (fn 97 <ddcvfn.htm>) The bond was acknowledged on 21 June 1726. The inventory of this estate was made in obedience to an order of court dated 21 June 1726 and returned on 19 July 1726 by WILLIAM BROOKE, HENRY HUDSON, and JOHN CHENEY, and was signed the same day by ELIZABETH DOBYNS. (fn 98 <ddcvfn.htm>)Only one child of RICHARD and ELIZABETH DOBYNS has been proved with certainty, although other children probably existed. Their son wasJOHN BATTEN3 DOBYNS (See ¶32)--------------------------------[Begin original page 28]¶24 DANIEL2 DOBYNS (DANIELI) (from ¶22) was born in Essex Co. Va., possibly about 1682, the son of DANIELI DOBYNS and his first wife, who may have been ELIZABETH DUDDING. (fn 99 <ddcvfn.htm>) He probably married ELIZABETH BOWLER, daughter of JAMES BOWLER and his wife MARJORY GRAY, who was the daughter of WILLIAM GRAY. The will of WILLIAM GRAY, drawn in Rappahannock Co. Va. on 20 July 1673 and proved on 3 Sept 1673, names sons JOHN, WARWICK, WILLIAM and ABNER GRAY, daughter MARY GRAY and grandchild ELIZABETH BOWLER. Executors were his wife MAUDLIN and his son-in-law JAMES BOWLER. (fn 100 <ddcvfn.htm>) JAMES BOWLER was the son of THOMAS BOWLER who drew his will in Rappahannock Co. Va. on 17 Mar 1678/9 (fn 101 <ddcvfn.htm>) naming son JAMES BOWLER (not yet 21) and daughters ELIZABETH BOWLER and ANNE BOWLER. His wife TABITHA and son JAMES BOWLER were executorsThe will of JAMES BOWLER (spelled BOULWARE in will) was drawn in St. Anne's Parish, Essex Co. Va. on 13 Dec 1713. It names children JAMES, MARK, BENJAMINE, JOHN, WILLIAM and MARY, but does not name daughters SARAH or ELIZABETH. They were probably married by this date and had already received their portions as marriage settlements. He devised to sons JOHN and WILLIAM the land "I bought from WARWICK GRAY" (his brother-in-law). (fn 102 <ddcvfn.htm>) WARWICK GRAY drew his will in Essex Co. Va. on 14 June 1699. He bequeathed his plantation to be equally divided among his son WILLIAM GRAY, his son ABNER GRAY and SARAH BOWLER, the daughter of JAMES BOWLER, "when ABNER and WILLIAM GRAY become of age 20." (fn 103 <ddcvfn.htm>) Other BOWLER wills of this immediate family are on record in Rappahannock and Essex Co. Va.There was apparently a close association between DANIELI DOBYNS and his son DANIEL2 DOBYNS on the one hand and THOMAS BOWLER and his son JAMES BOWLER on the other hand, adding some circumstantial evidence that DANIEL2 DOBYNS married ELIZABETH BOWLER, daughter of JAMES BOWLER. In 1663 THOMAS BOWLER acquired land on the south side of the Rappahannock River and built a house on it by 1669. On 21 June 1721, DANIEL2 DOBYNS gave bond for the license of EBENEZER ADAMS to operate "Bowler's Ferry" across the river at this point. (fn 104 <ddcvfn.htm>) In 1675, THOMAS BOWLER bought 1460 acres of land in several tracts north of "Bowler's" and three miles back from the river, and called the plantation "Mary Gold." Two hundred acres of the tract were purchased from JOHN WEBB. DANIELI DOBYNS and RICHARD BROOKE witnessed the deed of sale from JOHN WEBB and his wife ELIZABETH to THOMAS BOWLER on 27 Jan 1675, and also the power of attorney from JOHN WEBB and his wife ELIZABETH to EDWARD CRUSH. On 5 Feb 1675, they witnessed ELIZABETH WEBB's renunciation of her right of dower. Part payment was recorded by THOMAS BOWLER to JOHN WEBB on 16 Feb 1675, as attested by DANIELI DOBYNS (fn 105 <ddcvfn.htm>)On 12 Aug 1714, NICHOLAS SMITH Jr of Essex Co. Va. received a gift of 500 acres in Essex Co. Va. from his father NICHOLAS SMITH Sr. of Gloucester Co. Va., (fn 106 <ddcvfn.htm>) which land was originally patented by THOMAS BOWLER and was "adjacent to the plantation that my son now lives on." (fn 107 <ddcvfn.htm>) This property adjoined the "land whereon DANIEL DOBYNS Sen'r last lived", according to the deed of sale of this same land by RICHARD2 DOBYNS, eldest son of DANIELI DOBYNS to his brother WILLIAM2 DOBYNS on 4 Mar 1723. (fn 108 <ddcvfn.htm>) Thus it is seen that THOMAS BOWLER, his son JAMES BOWLER, DANIELI DOBYNS, his sons RICHARD2 DOBYNS and WILLIAM2 DOBYNS, NICHOLAS SMITH Jr., and THOMAS CROW lived on adjoining plantations.When WILLIAM2 DOBYNS died in 1730, this same DOBYNS plantation was inherited by his son ABNER3 DOBYNS who mortgaged it to NICHOLAS SMITH Jr. on 27 Jan 1753, (fn 109 <ddcvfn.htm>) then sold it to HENRY VASS on 15 Apr 1755. (fn 110 <ddcvfn.htm>) Thus NICHOLAS SMITH Jr. was associated with three generations of the DOBYNS family. He signed the Inventory and Appraisal of the estate of DANIELI DOBYNS on 14 Jan 1713/4, (fn 111 <ddcvfn.htm>) he was one of the appraisers of [Begin original page 29] the estate of ANDREW DUDDING on 13 Aug 1713, he was one of the subscribers to the division of the estate of WILLIAM2 DOBYNS, and he joined with ABNER3 DOBYNS in selling his inheritance received from the estate of his father WILLIAM2 DOBYNS. He also appears in other DOBYNS documents.DANIEL2 DOBYNS died before 17 Jan 1748, on which date his will was proved. (fn 112 <ddcvfn.htm>) He was an adult by 11 Dec 1705, when he was designated as DANIEL DOBYNS Jr., in an Essex Co. Va. court order designating him as one of the appraisers of the estate of JAMES COTTON. (fn 113 <ddcvfn.htm>) From this time on, he appears in many Essex Co. Va. records, in settlements of other estates, in land transfers, and in other types of documents with the signature DANIEL DOBYNS Jr. (fn 115 <ddcvfn.htm>)The will of DANIEL2 DOBYNS of Essex Co. Va. was dated 6 Oct 1748 and proved 17 Jan 1748/9. (fn 116 <ddcvfn.htm>) It gave sons BOWLER and RICHARD his dwelling plantation to be divided between them; to friend EDWARD BOMAR, four acres; to son RICKINS a negro girl Judy. Executors were his sons THOMAS and BOWLER DOBYNS, who gave bond to serve in Essex Co. Court on 17 Jan 1748.CHILDREN, presumably born in Essex Co. Va., wereBOWLER3 DOBYNS (See ¶38)THOMAS3 DOBYNS (See ¶40)RICHARD3 DOBYNS (See ¶42)WILLIAM3 DOBYNS (See ¶43)possibly DANIEL3 DOBYNS (See ¶513 <ddcv10.htm>)--------------------------------¶25 EDMUND2 DOBYNS (DANIELI) (from ¶22) was the third son named in the will of his father DANIELI DOBYNS. EDMUND's mother was the first wife of DANIEL. The birth date of EDMUND DOBYNS is unknown, but he was born before 1 Feb 1688, the date by which his father married his second wife, ELIZABETH SMITH. EDMUND's wife was named MARY and was probably MARY SUGGETT, daughter of GEORGE SUGGETT and his wife ELIZABETH. EDMUND DOBYNS died intestate in Feb 1720. (fn 117 <ddcvfn.htm>) His widow MARY DOBYNS, with JAMES SUGGETT and EDGCOMB SUGGETT, gave bond for the administration of EDMUND's estate on 7 June 1725 (fn 118 <ddcvfn.htm>) which was acknowledged the same day. The inventory of the estate by MARY DOBYNS was recorded on 5 July 1723. (fn 119 <ddcvfn.htm>)The will of JOHN SUGGETT, written on 24 Sept 1689, proved on 2 Apr 1690, (fn 120 <ddcvfn.htm>) and probated in Essex Co. Va. court for June 1693, (fn 121 <ddcvfn.htm>) names his sons JAMES, EDGCOMB, THOMAS, and JOHN (JOHN apparently being the eldest) and his wife SARAH. SARAH SUGGETT, wife of JOHN, was a daughter of JOHN EDGCOMB, as shown by a deed of gift (fn 122 <ddcvfn.htm>) dated 4 May 1694 from SARAH SUGGETT to her four sons JAMES, EDGCOMB, THOMAS and JOHN of lands inherited from JOHN EDG., father of the said SARAH.The will of GEORGE SUGGETT, written 11 Dec 1692, (fn 123 <ddcvfn.htm>) proved June 1693, mentions his daughters MARY SUGGITT and ANNE SUGGETT, and his wife ELIZABETH. In this will, G

1. ↑ History.

   22 DANIELI DOBYNS, the emigrant from England to Virginia, was the founder of that branch of the American Dobyns family traced in this book. His birth date is unknown, but he was probably of age when he first appeared in the records of Old Rappahannock Co. Va. on 27 Jan 1675 as witness to a property deed of THOMAS BOWLER. (fn 56) Therefore, he may have been born about 1653 or 1654. Public records which relate to DANIEL DOBYNS appear in Old Rappahannock Co. Va. until 1692 when that county was divided to form the two counties of Essex and Richmond. After 1692 his records appear in Essex Co. Va. DANIELI DOBYNS was married three times, each time to a wife named ELIZABETH. His first wife was probably the daughter of ANDREW DUDDING. This conclusion is based largely on the will of ANDREW DUDDING written on 18 Feb 1708 and recorded on 13 Aug 1713. (fn 57) Bequests were made to godchildren THOMAS BROOKES son of RICHARD BROOKS, WILLIAM CHENEY son of JOHN CHENEY, and SUSANNAH DIKE daughter of JOHN DIKE. There were also bequests of one shilling each to Mr. DANIEL DOBYNS Sr. and to his children (vizt) RICHARD, DANIEL, ELIZABETH, CATHERINE, WILLIAM and CHARLES DOBYNS. The remainder of his estate both real and personal was left to his housekeeper MARY RICHARDS. The three older children of DANIELI DOBYNS named in the will of ANDREW DUDDING were presumably DUDDING's grandchildren; however, it is likely that the name ELIZABETH is the result of a clerk's error and should read EDMUND. The clerk may have confused the name of DANIELI DOBYNS's wife ELIZABETH with that of his son EDMUND. Essex Co. records prove that EDMUND (named in the will of his father DANIEL DOBYNS as his third son) lived, married, and died in Essex Co. Va. No other record has been found of an ELIZABETH2 DOBYNS, daughter of DANIELI DOBYNS.

2. ↑ .

   Details: Footnote: DANIELI DOBYNS was married three times, each time to a wife named ELIZABETH. His first wife was probably the daughter of ANDREW DUDDING. This conclusion is based largely on the will of ANDREW DUDDING written on 18 Feb 1708 and recorded on 13 Aug 1713. (fn 57) Bequests were made to godchildren THOMAS BROOKES son of RICHARD BROOKS, WILLIAM CHENEY son of JOHN CHENEY, and SUSANNAH DIKE daughter of JOHN DIKE. There were also bequests of one shilling each to Mr. DANIEL DOBYNS Sr. and to his children (vizt) RICHARD, DANIEL, ELIZABETH, CATHERINE, WILLIAM and CHARLES DOBYNS. The remainder of his estate both real and personal was left to his housekeeper MARY RICHARDS. _FOOT: DANIELI DOBYNS was married three times, each time to a wife named ELIZABETH. His first wife was probably the daughter of ANDREW DUDDING. This conclusion is based largely on the will of ANDREW DUDDING written on 18 Feb 1708 and recorded on 13 Aug 1713. (fn 57) Bequests were made to godchildren THOMAS BROOKES son of RICHARD BROOKS, WILLIAM CHENEY son of JOHN CHENEY, and SUSANNAH DIKE daughter of JOHN DIKE. There were also bequests of one shilling each to Mr. DANIEL DOBYNS Sr. and to his children (vizt) RICHARD, DANIEL, ELIZABETH, CATHERINE, WILLIAM and CHARLES DOBYNS. The remainder of his estate both real and personal was left to his housekeeper MARY RICHARDS.

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 International Genealogical Index. ( The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint, 1999-2008).