Richard Dobbs (abt. 1634 - abt. 1701)

Born about 1634 in Ireland

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1701 at about age 67 in Ireland

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Biography

Richard Dobbs was born in 1634 in Tyrone, Northern Ireland and his parents were Magdalene (West) and Hercules Dobbs (1613-1634).

His father, Hercules Dobbs, died prematurely at 21 years of age from unknown reasons. Therefore at the age of three months, as an infant Richard Dobbs inherited the property at Castle Dobbs together with a portion of land at Ballynure. It would seem that young Richard was reared by his mother’s kinsfolk in County Down, Ireland. ^[1]

Richard Dobbs married on 02 Jan 1655 at St.Mary, Newington, Southwark, Surrey, England to Dorothy Williams (daughter of Brien Wills, Clints Hall, York County ^[2] and they had five children in 11 years.

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, Ireland.

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

In 1671 he was elected Mayor of the town of Carrickfergus, Ireland, an honour bestowed on him on four later occasions (1683, 1688, 1689, and 1690). At that 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. 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.

In the spring of 1683, Richard Dobbs undertook the task of conducting a survey of County Antrim, Ireland and reporting his findings to Mr. Molyneaux in Dublin, Ireland. ^[3] This documentary record 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. ^{[4] [5]}

It is evident from the Dobbs’ papers that he was widely travelled in England and Scotland.

Upon his retirement from public life, he continued to live at Castle Dobbs. He maintained regular contact with his relations in Dublin, Ireland through correspondence with his cousin; and made occasional journeys to Dublin, Ireland, on horseback, to visit them.

In his later years he 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.

His 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, Ireland and became converted to that faith. John subsequently returned to England to study medicine and eventually settled in Ireland as a practising physician in County Cork where he died in 1739. This chain of events was not well received by his father, who promptly altered his Will, so that his younger son, Richard Dobbs (Jr.), inherited the family estate. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Macdonnells p378, 383.
2. ↑ London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials 1538-1812 Parish Register for Richard Dobbs, m: 02 Jan 1655 St.Mary, Newington, Southwark, Surrey, England
3. ↑ Macdonnells p376 with his letter to Molyneaux on 14 May 1683
4. ↑ "A Brief Description of County Antrim" by Richard Dobbs, b: 1634
5. ↑ "Richard Dobbs 1634-1701 Author" on ancestry.com
6. ↑ UK, Extracted Probate Records 1269-1975; collection: Northamptonshire, Rutland; Calendar of Wills 1510-1652; volume: Wills Relating to the Counties of Northampton & Rutland (now deposited at Northampton) 1510 to 1652; chapter: Book AE, part#1, 1602, 1603, 1617-1620; book: Marriage Allegations 1660; for Richard Dobbs, res: Rushden, Rutland, England; Text: Richard Dobbs, Rushden 7

• Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Ireland" by Bernard Burke

• "Richard Dobbs 1634-1701 Author" on ancestry.com

• Glynns v11 in 1983

Acknowledgments

• Dobbs-314 was created by Peter Byers