Descendants of Kedar Dobbs
1 Kedar Dobbs 1747/48 - 1816
... +Mary Willoughby 1750 - 1820
. 2 Willoughby Dobbs 1782 - 1829
....... +Rachel Edmonds 1784 - 1846
.... 3 William Drewery Dobbs 1816 - 1886
.......... +Martha Ann Leslie 1822 - 1872
....... 4 [1] Charles E W Dobbs 1840 - 1916
............. +Florence Hull Dobbs 1852 -
.......... 5 Clarence Hull Dobbs 1887 - 1918
....... *2nd Wife of [1] Charles E W Dobbs:
............. +Mary Elizabeth Barrett 1841 - 1884
.......... 5 [2] Charles Dobbs 1871 - 1928
................ +Clara Landolt 1873 - 1966
.......... *2nd Wife of [2] Charles Dobbs:
................ +Katharine Burns Whipple 1861 - 1935
............. 6 George Whipple Dobbs Sr 1896 - 1971
................... +Anna Helen White 1895 - 1976
................ 7 George Whipple Dobbs Jr. 1921 - 1990
...................... +Rosina Juanita Wastaferro 1915 - 1997
.................... 8 [3] Rosemary Helen Dobbs 1950 -
.......................... +Charlie Perticari 1948 -
.................... *2nd Husband of [3] Rosemary Helen Dobbs:
.......................... +Steven George Oakley 1946 -
....................... 9 [4] Adrienne Lynn Oakley 1970 -
............................. +George Riley Charles 1968 -
.......................... 10 George McKinley Charles 2000 -
....................... *2nd Husband of [4] Adrienne Lynn Oakley:
............................. +Richard Dean Anderson 1964 -
.......................... 10 Brenner Dean Anderson 2006 -
....................... 9 Allison Marie Oakley 1971 -
............................. +William Joseph Goldstein 1965 -
.......................... 10 William Aric Goldstein 1997 -
.................... 8 Gilbert Charles Dobbs 1951 -
.................... 8 John Heriot Dobbs 1953 -
.......................... +Janet Vermillion 1955 -
....................... 9 [5] Melissa Renee Dobbs 1979 -
............................. +David
.......................... 10 Caylee Dobbs 1998 -
....................... *2nd Husband of [5] Melissa Renee Dobbs:
............................. +Matthew Armstrong
.......................... 10 Matthew Jake Armstrong 2008 -
....................... 9 Emily Rose Dobbs 1984 -
.................... 8 George Whipple Dobbs 1954 -
.......................... +Karen Fesq 1953 -
....................... 9 Brian Corey Dobbs 1981 -
....................... 9 Kimberly Mae Dobbs 1983 -
............................. +Enoch Chan 1977 -
.................... 8 Carl Matthew Dobbs 1955 -
.......................... +Mary Evelyn Bird 1962 - 2006
....................... 9 Thomas Matthew Dobbs 1987 -
....................... 9 Zachary George Dobbs 1991 -
....................... 9 Erica Joy Dobbs 1993 -
................ 7 Katharine Elizabeth Dobbs 1919 - 2006
...................... +Rogers L Hansel 1914 - 1975
.................... 8 Anna Katharine Hansel 1941 -
.......................... +Jay Michael 1941 -
....................... 9 David Michael 1965 -
....................... 9 Steven Michael 1967 -
.................... 8 Meredith Dianne Hansel 1943 -
.......................... +Peter Harrison
....................... 9 Nancy Harrison 1982 -
............................. +Olmstead
....................... 9 Catherine Harrison
.................... 8 [6] Rebecca Hansel 1947 -
.......................... +James R. Outten 1947 - 1987
....................... 9 Kimberly Outten 1965 -
............................. +Michael Tylar
.......................... 10 Zachary Tylar
.......................... 10 Jennifer Tylar
.......................... 10 Melanie Tylar
....................... 9 Mark Outten 1970 -
............................. +Sallie
....................... 9 Sheryl Outten 1975 -
............................. +Walter Klauer 1962 -
.......................... 10 Reese Klauer
.......................... 10 Rhett Klauer
.......................... 10 Wade Klauer
.................... *2nd Husband of [6] Rebecca Hansel:
.......................... +Glassell Scott 1933 - 2008
.................... 8 Margaret Colyer Hansel 1949 -
.......................... +David C Huckabee 1949 -
.......... 5 Willoughby Barrett Dobbs 1861 - 1931
................ +Mary Ready Ragland 1862 - 1917
............. 6 Hugh Barrett Dobbs 1885 - 1944
................... +Alma F Hemrich 1893 - 1972
................ 7 Barrett Willoughby Dobbs 1908 - 1963
...................... +Doris Mae 1909 - 1972
................ 7 Carolyn Mary Dobbs 1918 - 2007
...................... +Jack F Ray 1918 -
.................... 8 Carol Lynne Ray 1941 -
.................... 8 [7] Jacquelyn M Ray 1945 -
.......................... +Shephard
....................... 9 Kevin C Shephard 1966 -
.................... *2nd Husband of [7] Jacquelyn M Ray:
.......................... +Thomas Selleck 1945 -
................ 7 Milton H Dobbs 1905 - 1994
...................... +Dorothy M. Dobbs 1905 - 1996
.................... 8 Harold Dobbs 1930 -
....................... 9 Gillian Dobbs 1967 -
....................... 9 Melissa B Dobbs
....................... 9 Jodie Lee Dobbs
.................... 8 Dorothy Dobbs 1932 -
............. 6 Paul W Dobbs 1887 -
................... +Cecile Dobbs
............. 6 Carl Charles Dobbs 1889 -
................... +Mary Agnes Daugherty 1896 -
................ 7 Charles Edwin Willoughby Dobbs 1923 - 1960
.................... 8 Boy Dobbs 1946 -
.................... 8 Boy Dobbs 1959 -
................ 7 Arthur Dobbs 1927 - 1994
...................... +Helen
................ 7 Willoughby Barrett Dobbs 1935 - 2002
...................... +Jean
.................... 8 Willoughby Barrett Dobbs 1960 -
.................... 8 Gail Frances Dobbs 1964 -
.................... 8 Laura Dobbs 1962 -
............. 6 [8] Mary Ruth Dobbs 1892 - 1987
................... +David Elliot Moir
............. *2nd Husband of [8] Mary Ruth Dobbs:
................... +Gordon James Simpson 1894 - 1974
................ 7 Gordon Willoughby Simpson 1922 -
...................... +Jean Wiley - 1965
.................... 8 Gordon Wiley Simpson 1950 -
.......................... +Kim Masters
....................... 9 Wiley Jean Simpson 1986 -
............................. +Boomer
.......................... 10 Cody Wiley Simpson 2007 -
.................... 8 Jill Simpson 1952 - 1965
.................... 8 Rebecca Simpson 1954 - 1965
............. 6 Willoughby Barrett Dobbs 1896 - 1947
................... +Elizabeth M Dobbs 1896 - 1988
................ 7 Mary Ruth Dobbs 1921 -
...................... +Richard F. Harrington 1920 - 2008
.................... 8 David Harrington 1963 -
.................... 8 Charles Harrington 1967 -
.................... 8 Boy Harrington 1972 -
.................... 8 Boy Harrington 1974 -
................ 7 John Richard Dobbs 1923 - 1993
...................... +Rita Helen Long 1926 - 2003
.................... 8 [9] Willoughby Barrett Dobbs 1948 -
.......................... +Ernestine Syre
.................... *2nd Wife of [9] Willoughby Barrett Dobbs:
.......................... +Lucinda K Sensenig 1957 -
....................... 9 Kristin Elizabeth Dobbs 1983 -
....................... 9 Willoughby Barrett Dobbs 1992 -
.................... 8 Leslie Ann Dobbs 1952 -
....................... 9 Matthew Dobbs Sweeney
.................... 8 John Edward Dobbs 1955 -
.......................... +Cynthia Anne Hart 1956 -
....................... 9 Brittany Taylor Dobbs 1982 -
............................. +William Skylar Evans
....................... 9 Kerby Morgan Dobbs 1985 -
............. 6 Theodore Roosevelt Dobbs 1900 - 1960
................... +Elsie Stacey 1891 - 1987
................ 7 Theodore Dobbs
...................... +Marion
................ 7 Billy Dobbs
................ 7 Dolly Dobbs
................ 7 Bruce Dobbs
............. 6 Margaret Dobbs 1901 - 1937
................... +John Fogle 1900 -
................ 7 Betty Jane Fogle 1927 - 2002
...................... +Bruce Rodman Ferguson 1922 - 1970
.................... 8 Bonnie Jean Ferguson 1949 -
.......................... +Joseph L. Biagiotti 1949 -
....................... 9 Joseph Louis Biagiotti 1981 - 1998
....................... 9 Christopher Bruce Biagiotti 1985 -
.................... 8 [10] Bruce Smith Ferguson 1953 -
.......................... +Susan Rogas
....................... 9 Kerry Ferguson 1986 -
....................... 9 Bruce Barrett Ferguson 1989 -
.................... *2nd Wife of [10] Bruce Smith Ferguson:
.......................... +Maura
.................... *3rd Wife of [10] Bruce Smith Ferguson:
.......................... +Vanessa
.................... 8 David Andrew Ferguson 1964 -
................ 7 Paul Fogle
................ 7 Robert Fogle
................ 7 John Fogle
............. 6 [11] Elizabeth Dobbs 1903 - 1999
................... +Alger J Ewald 1894 -
............. *2nd Husband of [11] Elizabeth Dobbs:
................... +Harry E Williams
.......... 5 [12] Leslie Edwin Dobbs 1864 - 1922
................ +Nettie Hurlbut 1865 - 1894
............. 6 Helen V Dobbs 1887 -
................... +Otto S Miles 1884 -
................ 7 Harold N Miles 1909 - 1978
................ 7 Mary C Miles 1913 -
............. 6 Florence Dobbs 1890 - 1925
................... +Fred W Maas 1884 -
................ 7 Caroline Maas 1913 - 2007
................ 7 Gerald Maas 1915 -
............. 6 Gilbert Dobbs 1891 -
.......... *2nd Wife of [12] Leslie Edwin Dobbs:
................ +Lola E Buchanan 1869 - 1935
............. 6 Charles M Dobbs 1897 - 1977
................... +Goldie 1893 - 1978
............. 6 Edna Mable Dobbs 1900 - 1984
................... +Alva Kenneth McKee 1900 - 1984
................ 7 Helen McKee 1925 -
...................... +A C January 1926 -
.................... 8 Ace January
.................... 8 Katherine January
.......................... +James Skelton
....................... 9 Casey Skelton
............................. +Karl Czyz
.................... 8 Susan January
.................... 8 Buddy January
................ 7 John McKee 1927 -
................ 7 Roy McKee
...................... +Darlene
.................... 8 Theresa McKee
.................... 8 Debra McKee
.................... 8 Kayla McKee
.................... 8 Boy Missionary McKee
.................... 8 Boy maybe McKee
............. 6 Leslie Dobbs 1907 - 1938
................... +Zeta Mae 1908 -
................ 7 [13] Howard Leslie Dobbs 1932 - 1977
...................... +Doris
................ *2nd Wife of [13] Howard Leslie Dobbs:
...................... +Patricia Louise Thompson
.................... 8 [14] Phillip Leslie Dobbs 1954 -
.......................... +Anita Diane Johnson 1951 -
....................... 9 Ashley Dolores Dobbs 1983 -
....................... 9 Leslie Aaron Dobbs 1981 - 2003
....................... 9 Matthew Bryan Dobbs 1983 -
.................... *2nd Wife of [14] Phillip Leslie Dobbs:
.......................... +Shannon L Dobbs 1953 -
.................... 8 Terry Ray Dobbs 1958 -
.......................... +Peggy Francis Miller 1961 -
....................... 9 Brandon Cody Dobbs 1978 -
....................... 9 Brandy Win Dobbs 1980 -
....................... 9 Candice Rae Dobbs 1983 -
....................... 9 Joshua Daniel Dobbs 1985 -
................ 7 Dorothy Mae Dobbs
............. 6 John Jasper Dobbs 1908 - 1991
................... +Isla Alberta Hanna 1909 - 1990
................ 7 Juanita Joyce Dobbs 1929 -
...................... +Marion Davis Williams 1927 - 2008
.................... 8 Marion Davis Williams 1947 - 1999
.......................... +Carol
....................... 9 Wendy Williams
....................... 9 Craig Williams
.................... 8 D Cecil Williams 1957 -
.......................... +Cindy Weber
....................... 9 Justin Williams
....................... 9 Whitney Williams
....................... 9 Alexandra Karen Williams
.................... 8 [15] Kyle Williams 1961 -
.......................... +Sharon
....................... 9 Roxanne Williams
.................... *2nd Wife of [15] Kyle Williams:
.......................... +Christy
................ 7 Joann Frances Dobbs 1947 -
...................... +Tommy Gene Tompkins
.................... 8 [16] Johnathan Ty Tompkins 1969 -
.......................... +Michelle Lee Killeen 1972 -
....................... 9 Tia Frances Tompkins 1994 -
.................... *2nd Wife of [16] Johnathan Ty Tompkins:
.......................... +Michelle Marcum
.......... 5 Gilbert C Dobbs 1867 - 1941
................ +Eula Jones 1873 - 1945
............. 6 Esther Dobbs 1893 - 1972
............. 6 Nelson Barrett Dobbs 1907 - 1992
................... +Mary Agnes Jackson 1913 - 2005
................ 7 Nelson Barrett Dobbs 1942 -
...................... +Marion Frances McNamera 1942 -
.................... 8 Matthew Barrett Dobbs 1969 -
.................... 8 Amy Dobbs
.......................... +Jack Kennedy
....................... 9 Maggie Kennedy
....................... 9 Lin Kennedy
................ 7 Frances Eleanor Dobbs 1945 -
...................... +William Ross Marler 1944 -
.................... 8 Martha Jane Marler 1972 -
.......................... +William Russell Cahill 1965 -
....................... 9 Jackson Reid Cahill 2004 -
....................... 9 William Jace Cahill 2007 -
.................... 8 William Barrett Marler 1975 -
.......................... +Kristin Cummings 1968 -
....................... 9 Lillian Barrett Marler 2004 -
....................... 9 WilliamTate Marler 2006 -
....................... 9 Adeline Grace Marler 2008 -
................ 7 Infant Dobbs 1938 - 1938
.......... 5 Ann Elizabeth Dobbs 1874 - 1944
.......... 5 John Dobbs 1877 - 1886
.......... 5 Martha Ann Dobbs 1870 - 1891
....... 4 Anne Eliza Dobbs 1842 -
............. +B E Smith
....... 4 William W Dobbs 1844 - 1855
....... 4 [21] Martha A Dobbs 1845 - 1871
............. +[20] Thomas E Dobbs 1841 - 1922
....... 4 George H Dobbs 1847 - 1885
............. +Mollie Muth
....... 4 Virginia Dobbs 1854 - 1855
....... 4 Mary Dobbs 1852 -
............. +John Fricker 1850 -
....... 4 Elizabeth Dobbs 1857 -
....... 4 Claudius E Dobbs 1858 - 1887
............. +Annie L Dobbs 1864 -
.......... 5 William Drewery Dobbs 1881 -
................ +Lana 1885 -
............. 6 Kathreen Dobbs 1904 -
............. 6 Annie Dobbs 1906 -
............. 6 Elizabeth Dobbs 1906 -
............. 6 Bertha Dobbs 1910 -
.......... 5 Claudius Eugene Dobbs 1882 - 1923
................ +Emma Gertrude McAleer 1880 - 1947
............. 6 Edward L Dobbs 1904 - 1954
................... +Margaret 1905 -
................ 7 Edward L Dobbs 1938 -
............. 6 Claudius Eugene Dobbs 1906 - 1986
................... +Evelyn Thompson 1910 -
................ 7 Claudius Eugene Dobbs 1955 - 2006
...................... +Patricia Szamski
.................... 8 Sean Ryan Dobbs
.................... 8 Shannon Kathleen Dobbs
................ 7 Leo C Dobbs 1958 -
.................... 8 Nicole Dobbs
.................... 8 Colin Dobbs
............. 6 William Drewery Dobbs 1909 - 1991
................... +Bertha Gallagher 1907 - 1985
............. 6 Ruben A Dobbs 1913 - 1984
................... +Margaret G Schilling 1914 - 1990
................ 7 Ruben Anthony Dobbs 1942 - 1986
................ 7 Doris Dobbs
...................... +Bunky Williamson
.................... 8 Michael Williamson
................ 7 Robert Dobbs
................ 7 Joseph Dobbs
...................... +Patricia
............. 6 John Joseph Dobbs 1915 -
................... +Dorothy K Thompson 1915 - 1995
................ 7 Claudette Dobbs 1945 -
...................... +Felix Guinto
.................... 8 Dorothy Guinto
.......................... +Kenny Fowler
....................... 9 Kyle Fowler
.................... 8 d Guinto
.................... 8 Felix Guinto
................ 7 John Dobbs 1936 - 1987
...................... +Victoria Gorski
.................... 8 Jacqueline Dobbs 1962 -
....................... 9 Baby Dobbs
.................... 8 John Dobbs 1964 - 1995
................ 7 [17] Regina Elizabeth Dobbs 1939 - 2006
...................... +John Grainger
.................... 8 John Grainger
.................... 8 Gina Grainger
................ *2nd Husband of [17] Regina Elizabeth Dobbs:
...................... +Joseph Cusimano
.................... 8 Joseph Paul Cusimano 1968 -
............. 6 Joseph Thomas Dobbs 1919 - 2007
................... +Mary L Meek 1922 -
................ 7 Joanne F Dobbs 1941 -
...................... +Melvin Sharp 1940 -
.................... 8 Melvin Sharp
.......................... +Joanne
....................... 9 Matthew Thomas Sharp 2003 -
....................... 9 Andrew Sharp 2003 -
............. 6 Mary Veronica Dobbs 1924 - 2005
................... +John Carl Twele 1917 - 1981
................ 7 [19] Beverly Ann Twele 1948 -
...................... +Thomas George Shuda 1948 -
.................... 8 [18] John Edward Twele 1973 -
.......................... +Buffy Lynn Pyle
....................... 9 Isabella Rose Twele 2001 -
.................... *2nd Wife of [18] John Edward Twele:
.......................... +Deborah Mitchell 1965 -
................ *2nd Husband of [19] Beverly Ann Twele:
...................... +Richard DeWeese 1943 -
................ 7 Veronica AnitaTwele 1942 -
...................... +Frances LaVerne Carrington 1941 -
.................... 8 Denise Ann Carrington November -
.......................... +Rick Wood
....................... 9 James Wood
....................... 9 Christopher Mark Wood
.................... 8 David LaVerne Carrington April -
....................... 9 Douglas Carrington
.................... 8 Doreen Lynn Carrington December -
.......................... +Gene William Conklin
....................... 9 Jennifer Lynn Conklin
....................... 9 Gene William Conklin
....................... 9 Joshua Conklin
....................... 9 Lynn Nicole Conklin
....................... 9 Samantha Conklin
.................... 8 Daniel Frances Carrington December -
.......................... +Sue Ann
....................... 9 Mallissa Sue Carrington
.................... 8 Dennis John Carrington April -
.......................... +Kimberly Sue Christopher
....................... 9 Megan Carrington
....................... 9 Logan Carrington
.......... 5 Edward L Dobbs 1886 -
....... 4 Joseph E Dobbs 1862 -
............. +Maranda W Groton 1862 -
.......... 5 Mable Dobbs 1885 -
.......... 5 Joseph Harold Dobbs 1887 -
.......... 5 Martha Dobbs 1891 -
.......... 5 Ethel V Dobbs 1895 -
................ +Warren Clark Donnelly 1894 -
............. 6 Warren H Donnelly 1921 - 1999
............. 6 Edmund H Donnelly 1924 - 1997
............. 6 Ethel V Donnelly 1926 -
.... 3 Joseph Edward Dobbs 1819 - 1850
.......... +Alethea Scott 1808 - 1852
....... 4 Henry James Dobbs 1841 - 1915
............. +Annie Quarles
....... 4 [20] Thomas E Dobbs 1841 - 1922
............. +[21] Martha A Dobbs 1845 - 1871
....... *2nd Wife of [20] Thomas E Dobbs:
............. +Adeline Duvall 1844 - 1910
.......... 5 Mary C Dobbs 1878 - 1918
....... 4 Mary S Dobbs 1847 -
.... 3 Girl 1 Dobbs 1806 -
.... 3 Girl 2 Dobbs 1808 -
.... 3 Girl 3 Dobbs 1811 -
.... 3 Girl 4 Dobbs 1820 - 1850
.... 3 Girl 5 Dobbs 1826 -
.... 3 Boy 3 Dobbs 1828 -
.... 3 Boy 4 Dobbs 1823 -
. 2 Nancy Dobbs 1789 -
....... +David Manning 1787 - 1818
.... 3 Elizabeth Manning 1811 -
.... 3 Frederick W Manning 1815 -
.......... +Catharine A 1828 -
....... 4 Maria S Manning 1838 -
....... 4 William T Manning 1840 -
....... 4 Isabella R Manning 1845 -
....... 4 Clifton B Manning 1850 -
.... 3 William Manning 1818 -
.......... +Margaret Beale 1819 -
....... 4 Elizabeth Manning 1840 -
....... 4 William H Manning 1842 -
....... 4 George W Manning 1843 -
....... 4 Robert Manning 1848 -
. 2 Child Dobbs
Friday, May 15, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Disappearance of Mary Barrett's Grave
This story is a little unsettling, although very true.
Mary was buried in Springdale Cemetery in Madison, Indiana.
http://www.myindianahome.net/gen/jeff/records/cemetery/sdindex.html
The friendly librarian did a thorough job for me and gently let me know that Mary's gravestone was not found after the big flood and most likely her casket had floated downstream with many others.
Mary was buried in Springdale Cemetery in Madison, Indiana.
It was located in what is now John Paul Park. As Crooked Creek, which ran on the north side of the Old Third Street Cemetery, was prone to floods, and during one such flood in the late 1880's had washed away some of the bodies, the cemetery ceased to be used. The surviving stones were later moved to higher ground at the Fairmount Cemetery (on Michigan Road, North Madison) and also to the Springdale Cemetery which is located on the north side of the Crooked Creek.
http://www.myindianahome.net/gen/jeff/records/cemetery/sdindex.html
The friendly librarian did a thorough job for me and gently let me know that Mary's gravestone was not found after the big flood and most likely her casket had floated downstream with many others.
CEW's first wife - Mary Elizabeth Barrett
C.E.W. Dobbs married Mary Elizabeth Barrett in 1860. He was 20 and she was 18. The Barrett's were a well rooted Virginia family. Her father was George Barrett, a lawyer and Baptist minister and her mother was Mary Foster, a very lively woman from a musical family. The Fosters owned and operated a shipping fleet that carried goods and people across the Atlantic ocean for at least a century.
We don't know too much about Mary Barrett because I have nothing of hers - no letters that she wrote, no diary, and very little said about her in her sons' letters. Last summer, I managed to locate her obituary with the help of a very friendly librarian in Marion, Indiana.
The Evening Courier
Madison, Indiana
July 2, 1884
Entered Into Rest
After a long illness, Mrs. Mary E. Dobbs, wife of Rev. Dr. C.E.W. Dobbs, the pastor of the Vine Street Baptist Church, died at her residence in this city at 12:20 o'clock this morning. Her disease was uterine cancer, which caused insanity the past four months. She was born in Portsmouth, Va., Nov. 1, 1841, and was the youngest child of the Rev. Geo. W. Barrett, a Baptist minister of that city. She was left an orphan when only ten years of age. She became a Christian and united with the Baptist Church at fourteen. July 18, 1860, she was married to Rev. C.E.W. Dobbs, who with seven children, survive. The Dr. and his children have the sincere sympathies of the community in their great affliction. The funeral will occur from the church at nine o'clock tomorrow morning.
We don't know too much about Mary Barrett because I have nothing of hers - no letters that she wrote, no diary, and very little said about her in her sons' letters. Last summer, I managed to locate her obituary with the help of a very friendly librarian in Marion, Indiana.
The Evening Courier
Madison, Indiana
July 2, 1884
Entered Into Rest
After a long illness, Mrs. Mary E. Dobbs, wife of Rev. Dr. C.E.W. Dobbs, the pastor of the Vine Street Baptist Church, died at her residence in this city at 12:20 o'clock this morning. Her disease was uterine cancer, which caused insanity the past four months. She was born in Portsmouth, Va., Nov. 1, 1841, and was the youngest child of the Rev. Geo. W. Barrett, a Baptist minister of that city. She was left an orphan when only ten years of age. She became a Christian and united with the Baptist Church at fourteen. July 18, 1860, she was married to Rev. C.E.W. Dobbs, who with seven children, survive. The Dr. and his children have the sincere sympathies of the community in their great affliction. The funeral will occur from the church at nine o'clock tomorrow morning.
C.E.W. Dobbs in the Baptist Encyclopedia
Dr.C.E.W. Dobbs
Ninteenth and early Twentieth Century Baptist Leader
Charles Edwin Willoughby Dobbs was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, August 12, 1840. He became a member of the Southern Baptist Church in Greensborough, NC in 1859 and entered the SBTS(Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) in 1860. He received the D.D. degree from Baylor University in 1878. He served as pastor of Court Street and Fourth Street Baptist Churches in Portsmouth, VA until 1866 when he moved to Kentucky, serving as pastor of Providence, Bryans Station, Richmond First and Tates Creek churches among others from 1866 - 1873. He was Clerk of Tates Creek Association in 1868 and 1869.
Dobbs served as pastor of Bowling Green First Baptist from 1874 - 1880 and the First Baptist Church of Madison, IN from 1880-1884. He was pastor of the Baptist Church in Col,umbus, MS 1885-1890 and served as Associate Editor of the Baptist Church of Cartersville, GA 1892-1893; South Street Church, Indianapolis, IN 1894-1897; FBC, Washington, IN 1898. He served as Secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention 1878-1881. He was recording secretary of the Kentucky Baptist Convention 1871-1881. He became pastor of the Key West, FL Baptist Church beginning in 1912. Author of Studies on Baptism, a compilation of articles by nineteen nineteenth-century Baptist ministers on the subject of baptism; and a variety of additional pamplets dealing with the subject of baptism. He died in Louisville, Kentucky September 28, 1916.
Ninteenth and early Twentieth Century Baptist Leader
Charles Edwin Willoughby Dobbs was born in Portsmouth, Virginia, August 12, 1840. He became a member of the Southern Baptist Church in Greensborough, NC in 1859 and entered the SBTS(Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) in 1860. He received the D.D. degree from Baylor University in 1878. He served as pastor of Court Street and Fourth Street Baptist Churches in Portsmouth, VA until 1866 when he moved to Kentucky, serving as pastor of Providence, Bryans Station, Richmond First and Tates Creek churches among others from 1866 - 1873. He was Clerk of Tates Creek Association in 1868 and 1869.
Dobbs served as pastor of Bowling Green First Baptist from 1874 - 1880 and the First Baptist Church of Madison, IN from 1880-1884. He was pastor of the Baptist Church in Col,umbus, MS 1885-1890 and served as Associate Editor of the Baptist Church of Cartersville, GA 1892-1893; South Street Church, Indianapolis, IN 1894-1897; FBC, Washington, IN 1898. He served as Secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention 1878-1881. He was recording secretary of the Kentucky Baptist Convention 1871-1881. He became pastor of the Key West, FL Baptist Church beginning in 1912. Author of Studies on Baptism, a compilation of articles by nineteen nineteenth-century Baptist ministers on the subject of baptism; and a variety of additional pamplets dealing with the subject of baptism. He died in Louisville, Kentucky September 28, 1916.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Rev. Dr. Charles Edwin Willoughby Dobbs - Generation 4
The story of Charles Edwin Willoughby Dobbs begins on August 12, 1840 when he was born as the first son of William Drewery Dobbs and Elizabeth Lesley. He died on September 28, 1916 in Louisville, Kentucky at the home of his son Charles Dobbs on Thrush Rd. in Audubon Park. He had been scheduled to be the guest preacher at one of the local Baptist churches, but while he was getting dressed in the morning, he died of congestive heart failure due to an enlarged heart.
CEW Dobbs, as he was most commonly referred to, lived an amazing 76 years. He was a charismatic, dynamic, well-spoken, well-educated go-getter of his time. If you google on CEW Dobbs, you will find an abundance of information, which is quiet an honor to someone who was born 169 years ago!
Buried in the treasures sent to me by Gordon Simpson was a fine biography of CEW that was written for the occassion of his 50th anniversary in the Ministry. Frances Eleanor Dobbs Marler sent me the memorial card that goes with it. All of this has come together in the last month, and I am excited to share these things with you now.
On the memorial card, there are two pictures. On the left side is a picture of CEW on March 6, 1864 when he was ordained at the Court Street Baptist Church in Portsmouth, VA. On the right hand side is a picture of CEW on March 6,1914 when he was the pastor of Eaton St. Baptist Church in Key West, Florida. On this card, CEW wrote the following: "I am a soldier under orders, fighting the good fight of faith."
Before he joined the ministry, CEW was a soldier of another sort. He was a member of a Virginia Militia, The National Grays. He served at Harper's Ferry during John Brown's raid in 1859. He was 19 at the time. At some point, he ended up being captured by the Union Army. I have a handwritten document sent to his wife Mary E. Dobbs by the Union Army's Field Commander stating that CEW would be released into her custody if he promised not to print anything bad about the United States of America. This made more sense to me when I read the following biography and discovered that he had been trained in printing and newspaper work.
I don't know which newspaper printed this story because all I have is the clipping. That is research for another day.
The Local Hall of Fame
When a man has spent practically fifty successful years in the ministry, expounding and spreading the word of Jesus Christ, it is sufficiently evident that in his line of endeavor he has been what the world terms a "successful man". Such a man is Dr. C.E.W. Dobbs, pastor of the Eaton street Baptist church of this city, who accepted the call to this church more than five years ago. He is the oldest minister in years and in point of service in this city. Dr.Dobbs is seventy-five years of age today.
Dr. Dobbs was born in Portsmouth, Va., and is a descendent of one of the fine old families of that state. During his early years he attended the schools of Portsmouth and Norfolk. He afterward graduated from the Virginia Collegiate Institute of Portsmouth. Still later he attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary whe that institution was located at Greenville, S.C. He was in active newspaper work for a time, being connected editorially with Portsmouth and Norfok papers. He began his career as a minister in Kentucky, serving the Bowling Green Church for seven years. He was afterward pastor of churches in Columbus, Miss., Cartersville, Ga., Madison, Indian, (hole in paper)...five years. He came to Key West from Fernandina, Fla.
During his career as a minister Dr. Dobbs has taken an active part in the editing of various denominational and other journals. For several years he was editor of the Indiana Baptist and was associate editor on several state denominational papers. He has done a vast amount of writing for religious and other journals, and is an exceptionally gifted writer.
During his stay in Key West Dr. Dobbs has won the confidence and esteem not only of his own church members, but of all the people of Key West who have had the privilege and pleasure of knowing him. In his quiet, earnest manner he has always taken the deepest interest in anything and everything that seemed to be for the betterment of the city. And so, Key Westers have come to regard him as one of themselves, even though he has not lived here a great number of uears. He is a most entertaining conversationalist and a man of high intelectual attainments. His sermons are logical, forceful and convincing. His manner is very cordial and he is in every respect a typical Southern Gentleman.
The End
CEW Dobbs, as he was most commonly referred to, lived an amazing 76 years. He was a charismatic, dynamic, well-spoken, well-educated go-getter of his time. If you google on CEW Dobbs, you will find an abundance of information, which is quiet an honor to someone who was born 169 years ago!
Buried in the treasures sent to me by Gordon Simpson was a fine biography of CEW that was written for the occassion of his 50th anniversary in the Ministry. Frances Eleanor Dobbs Marler sent me the memorial card that goes with it. All of this has come together in the last month, and I am excited to share these things with you now.
On the memorial card, there are two pictures. On the left side is a picture of CEW on March 6, 1864 when he was ordained at the Court Street Baptist Church in Portsmouth, VA. On the right hand side is a picture of CEW on March 6,1914 when he was the pastor of Eaton St. Baptist Church in Key West, Florida. On this card, CEW wrote the following: "I am a soldier under orders, fighting the good fight of faith."
Before he joined the ministry, CEW was a soldier of another sort. He was a member of a Virginia Militia, The National Grays. He served at Harper's Ferry during John Brown's raid in 1859. He was 19 at the time. At some point, he ended up being captured by the Union Army. I have a handwritten document sent to his wife Mary E. Dobbs by the Union Army's Field Commander stating that CEW would be released into her custody if he promised not to print anything bad about the United States of America. This made more sense to me when I read the following biography and discovered that he had been trained in printing and newspaper work.
I don't know which newspaper printed this story because all I have is the clipping. That is research for another day.
The Local Hall of Fame
When a man has spent practically fifty successful years in the ministry, expounding and spreading the word of Jesus Christ, it is sufficiently evident that in his line of endeavor he has been what the world terms a "successful man". Such a man is Dr. C.E.W. Dobbs, pastor of the Eaton street Baptist church of this city, who accepted the call to this church more than five years ago. He is the oldest minister in years and in point of service in this city. Dr.Dobbs is seventy-five years of age today.
Dr. Dobbs was born in Portsmouth, Va., and is a descendent of one of the fine old families of that state. During his early years he attended the schools of Portsmouth and Norfolk. He afterward graduated from the Virginia Collegiate Institute of Portsmouth. Still later he attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary whe that institution was located at Greenville, S.C. He was in active newspaper work for a time, being connected editorially with Portsmouth and Norfok papers. He began his career as a minister in Kentucky, serving the Bowling Green Church for seven years. He was afterward pastor of churches in Columbus, Miss., Cartersville, Ga., Madison, Indian, (hole in paper)...five years. He came to Key West from Fernandina, Fla.
During his career as a minister Dr. Dobbs has taken an active part in the editing of various denominational and other journals. For several years he was editor of the Indiana Baptist and was associate editor on several state denominational papers. He has done a vast amount of writing for religious and other journals, and is an exceptionally gifted writer.
During his stay in Key West Dr. Dobbs has won the confidence and esteem not only of his own church members, but of all the people of Key West who have had the privilege and pleasure of knowing him. In his quiet, earnest manner he has always taken the deepest interest in anything and everything that seemed to be for the betterment of the city. And so, Key Westers have come to regard him as one of themselves, even though he has not lived here a great number of uears. He is a most entertaining conversationalist and a man of high intelectual attainments. His sermons are logical, forceful and convincing. His manner is very cordial and he is in every respect a typical Southern Gentleman.
The End
Newfound Dobbs Cousins
Since my last post in November, I have been busy finding living descendants of William Drewery Dobbs, the subject of my last posting. I have been quite successful.
Bev DeWeese is a descendant of Claudius E Dobbs (CEW Dobbs's younger brother), born in 1858 through his son, Claudius E Dobbs, Jr. born in 1882. Claudius,Jr. had a daughter named Mary Veronica who was born in 1924. She is Bev's mother. Bev was born in 1948 and her sister, Veronica, was born in 1942. They live in Harford, Maryland about an hour north of Baltimore. She has provided me with as many relatives names as she can remember. She has also been a great source of Dobbs stories which I will blog about in the future. We are planning to meet soon and visit William Drewery Dobbs's grave in the Old Baltimore Cemetery on North St.
Gordon Willoughby Simpson, born 1922,is the son of Mary Ruth Dobbs, born 1892, daughter of Willoughby Barrett Dobbs, Sr. born in 1861. Gordon lives in Spokane, Washington with his 2nd wife Fern. His first wife, Jean Wiley, died in 1965 along with their daughters Jill and Becky, in a tragic car/train accident. Gordon has a surviving son, Gordon, Jr. born in 1950, two granddaughters, Leigh and Wiley, and three great-grandchildren. Gordon's family saved everything - pictures, greeting cards, letters, newspaper clippings, awards, wallet contents, dog tags, and more. He was so happy that I found him because he wants his history preserved and he knew his son wouldn't be as interested in saving all the items that were carefully collected over 100 years. He has sent me eight boxes of family treasures, which not only gave me insight into his family, but provided me with many more names of relatives to post to my growing list on Family Tree Maker. The most treasured item is a picture of Willoughby Barrett Dobbs, Sr. at the age of ten in 1871.
Juanita Dobbs Williams, born in 1929, is the descendant of Leslie Edwin Dobbs, born in 1864 through his son, John Jasper Dobbs, born in 1908. She also has a sister, Joanne Dobbs Traylor, born in 1947. They both live in Garland, Texas where her family owns the Williams Funeral Home, a business that has been owned and operated by the family for over 100 years. Juanita has provided the names of as many relatives as she can remember along with some very colorful stories. Juanita is now 80 years old and recently lost her husband. We speak on the phone frequently and she's very lively with a great sense of humor.
Frances Eleanor Dobbs Marler, born in 1945, is a descendant of Gilbert Dobbs through his son, Nelson Barrett Dobbs, born in 1907. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia and currently lives in Humble, Texas with her husband Bill. She found me through this blog and we have spoken on the phone a few times and exchanged pictures and genealogy information. She will be visiting the DC area in October, 2009, and we have made plans to hook up and swap more information. She has been a valuable source of information for her branch of the family which has been the most elusive so far since there are so few descendants.
Willoughby Barrett Dobbs, III, born 1948, is a descendant of Willoughby Barrett Dobbs, Sr, born 1861, through his son Willoughby Barrett Dobbs, Jr. born in 1882, and his son, John Richard Dobbs, born in 1924. Will lives in Connecticut and we met a year ago in April of 2008 when he was visiting his daughter who attends law school in DC. I call him every time I find a new exciting bit of information about his branch of the family and about every new cousin I find. He has been a valuable source of information for his branch of the family and he plans to visit in July to see all of the Dobbs artifacts that Gordon Willoughby Simpson has been so gracious to bestow upon me.
Now that I have contacts with descendants of all four Dobbs brothers, Willoughby, Leslie, Charles, and Gilbert, I have a much more complete genealogical picture to share with all of you. There are many interesting characters in this Dobbs clan. Stay tuned. You may find yourself in some of the stories.
Bev DeWeese is a descendant of Claudius E Dobbs (CEW Dobbs's younger brother), born in 1858 through his son, Claudius E Dobbs, Jr. born in 1882. Claudius,Jr. had a daughter named Mary Veronica who was born in 1924. She is Bev's mother. Bev was born in 1948 and her sister, Veronica, was born in 1942. They live in Harford, Maryland about an hour north of Baltimore. She has provided me with as many relatives names as she can remember. She has also been a great source of Dobbs stories which I will blog about in the future. We are planning to meet soon and visit William Drewery Dobbs's grave in the Old Baltimore Cemetery on North St.
Gordon Willoughby Simpson, born 1922,is the son of Mary Ruth Dobbs, born 1892, daughter of Willoughby Barrett Dobbs, Sr. born in 1861. Gordon lives in Spokane, Washington with his 2nd wife Fern. His first wife, Jean Wiley, died in 1965 along with their daughters Jill and Becky, in a tragic car/train accident. Gordon has a surviving son, Gordon, Jr. born in 1950, two granddaughters, Leigh and Wiley, and three great-grandchildren. Gordon's family saved everything - pictures, greeting cards, letters, newspaper clippings, awards, wallet contents, dog tags, and more. He was so happy that I found him because he wants his history preserved and he knew his son wouldn't be as interested in saving all the items that were carefully collected over 100 years. He has sent me eight boxes of family treasures, which not only gave me insight into his family, but provided me with many more names of relatives to post to my growing list on Family Tree Maker. The most treasured item is a picture of Willoughby Barrett Dobbs, Sr. at the age of ten in 1871.
Juanita Dobbs Williams, born in 1929, is the descendant of Leslie Edwin Dobbs, born in 1864 through his son, John Jasper Dobbs, born in 1908. She also has a sister, Joanne Dobbs Traylor, born in 1947. They both live in Garland, Texas where her family owns the Williams Funeral Home, a business that has been owned and operated by the family for over 100 years. Juanita has provided the names of as many relatives as she can remember along with some very colorful stories. Juanita is now 80 years old and recently lost her husband. We speak on the phone frequently and she's very lively with a great sense of humor.
Frances Eleanor Dobbs Marler, born in 1945, is a descendant of Gilbert Dobbs through his son, Nelson Barrett Dobbs, born in 1907. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia and currently lives in Humble, Texas with her husband Bill. She found me through this blog and we have spoken on the phone a few times and exchanged pictures and genealogy information. She will be visiting the DC area in October, 2009, and we have made plans to hook up and swap more information. She has been a valuable source of information for her branch of the family which has been the most elusive so far since there are so few descendants.
Willoughby Barrett Dobbs, III, born 1948, is a descendant of Willoughby Barrett Dobbs, Sr, born 1861, through his son Willoughby Barrett Dobbs, Jr. born in 1882, and his son, John Richard Dobbs, born in 1924. Will lives in Connecticut and we met a year ago in April of 2008 when he was visiting his daughter who attends law school in DC. I call him every time I find a new exciting bit of information about his branch of the family and about every new cousin I find. He has been a valuable source of information for his branch of the family and he plans to visit in July to see all of the Dobbs artifacts that Gordon Willoughby Simpson has been so gracious to bestow upon me.
Now that I have contacts with descendants of all four Dobbs brothers, Willoughby, Leslie, Charles, and Gilbert, I have a much more complete genealogical picture to share with all of you. There are many interesting characters in this Dobbs clan. Stay tuned. You may find yourself in some of the stories.
Friday, November 28, 2008
William Drewery Dobbs - Generation 3
William Drewery Dobbs is my great-great-great grandfather. Little by little, I have been able to piece together some facts of his life. I'm hoping that his other descendants will see this and will be able to add to the story.
William Drewery Dobbs makes his first appearance in the Census in 1820 in Norfolk, Virginia as the second son of Willoughby Dobbs and his wife, Rachel Edmonds. According to the genealogy data handed down to me by Nellie West Dobbs, the granddaughter of his brother Joseph, William was born in 1816.
I often wondered how he was named. Who was the Drewery from whom his middle name is derived? This is what I found...
It is curious to note that several lines below Willoughby’s listing in the 1820census is a listing for a man named William Drewery. He is a single man and is listed in the same age grouping as Willoughby. My speculation is that Willoughby named his son after this man. Was he a friend or a relative? Could he have been the child’s godfather? We may never know. I can’t find any other records of the name Drewery being used in any other Dobbs family members, although Drewery, Drewry, Drury were common names in the Norfolk area during the time of his birth.
According to the 1820 and the 1830 census, William had three brothers and five sisters. I know the name of only one of his brothers (Joseph, the grandfather of the aforementioned Nellie) who I will write about in another posting. Do any of you other Dobbs descendants reading this know who the others are?
In the 1840 Census, William is living in Portsmouth, VA with the following household composition – 1 male between 20 and 30, 1 male between 30 and 40, 1 female between 10 and 15, 1 female between 15 and 20, and 1 female between 50 and 60. My guess is that he is the male between 20 and 30 and his wife is the female between 15 and 20. The other male and female may be a brother and sister. The older female may be his mother Rachel Edmonds Dobbs. She passed away in 1846.
William’s first child, my grandfather, Charles Edwin Willoughby Dobbs, was born on August 12, 1840. On his death certificate, his son, Charles Dobbs from Louisville, KY, listed his father’s name as William D. Dobbs and his mother’s name as Elizabeth Lesley. My best guess is that Elizabeth died in childbirth and William married Martha Anne Leslie soon thereafter. Charles Edwin Willoughby (a.k.a.Reverend CEW Dobbs, Baptist Minister) ) is shown as being 11 years old in the 1850 census and is living with William (age 34) and Martha (age 28).
I haven’t solved this mystery of the two mothers yet. Why are there two different spellings of Lesley/Leslie? Could they have been sisters or relatives? Were their family ties in Baltimore? When I entered Elizabeth Lesley into my Ancestry search engine, there were several of them in Baltimore.
William's wife, Martha Ann Leslie died on October 23, 1872 at age 50 according to her obituary that appeared in the Baltimore Sun on October 25, 1872. That means she was born in 1822 and in 1840, she would have been 18. William would have been about 24.
In the 1850 Census, William and Martha Ann are living in Norfolk, VA with the following children: Charles – 11, Anne – 9, William W – 7, Martha A – 5, and
George H. – 3. William’s occupation is shown as carpenter.
In 1855, tragedy struck Portsmouth with a Yellow Fever epidemic that killed a substantial portion of the population. Two of William’s children died on August 10, 1855– William W. age 12, and Virginia, age 2.
In the 1860 Census, the family is living in the Jefferson Ward of Portsmouth. William is 44, still a carpenter, with a personal estate worth $200.00. His children are Ann E – 18, George H. – 10, Mary – 8, Elizabeth – 3, Claudius E. – 2, Martha A. – 13. Also living with him are William C. Sheppard, age 26, a carpenter (possibly a boarder) and Thomas E. Dobbs, age 19, carpenter’s apprentice.
I will digress a little from the census to say a few words about Thomas because for the longest time, I couldn't figure out who he was just from seeing him in the census records. It was only after I conducted a thorough reading of all of Nellie's letters to Charles that I was able to decipher the mystery.
Thomas E. Dobbs is William’s nephew, the son of his brother Joseph. Thomas was a twin. His brother was Henry Joseph Dobbs, who, as a confederate soldier, carried the colors next to General Armistead during Pickett’s Charge in the Battle of Gettysburg. His daughter, Nellie West Dobbs, wrote this to my great-grandfather, Charles Dobbs, in a letter that I have in my possession. She also wrote that both Thomas and Henry had married first cousins and that both of them lost their wives in childbirth. I have been able to confirm this in Thomas's case. He married William’s daughter, Martha Ann. They are shown in the 1870 Census, married and living with William in Baltimore. She died on October 29, 1871 at age 24. When she died, Thomas bought 4 plots in the Old North Cemetery in Baltimore where he laid her and the child to rest.
The Gravesite in the Old North Cemetery
I actually visited there and found them in Area AA, Lot 99. Martha Ann is the only one with a headstone which shows her nickname as “Mattie”. It’s very worn and unreadable. Next to her stone is an obelisk, maybe to mark her child’s grave.
Martha Anne is in the first plot and was buried on November 1, 1871.
Her mother, Martha Anne is in the second plot and was buried on October 25, 1871. She died of a severe and lingering illness.
George H, age 36,one of William’s and Martha’s sons, is in plot three. He died of consumption.
There are a couple small children there as well. Emma Dobbs, a 6 month old child, was buried there on April 9, 1883. Charles Dobbs, a 3 month old child, was buried on November 8, 1874.
And finally, William D. Dobbs was buried there on May 22, 1886. He died of medullary cancer.
I don’t know who the children belonged to as of yet. Maybe some of you can help me.
Thomas Dobbs Remarriage
Thomas E. Dobbs remarried on the 25th of November 1873 to Adeline (Addie) Duvall. The Duvall’s were a prominent family in Anne Arundel County, Maryland from the early 1600’s. The original founding member of this family was a Huguenot named Mageen Duvall. Funny enough, Barack Obama’s mother is a descendant of this same family. Thomas and Adeline had one daughter, Mary, who died unmarried in 1918, maybe from the flu epidemic.
Back to the census
In the 1870 Census, the family has moved from Portsmouth, VA to Baltimore, MD. I searched in the City Directories to find out when William moved. The first time I can find him is in the 1867 City Directory. He is living at 228 Saratoga St as a boarder in the home of Mrs. Adeline Duvall, his future wife’s mother!!! I found no listing for him in 1868 or 1869. He reappears with his entire family in the 1870 census in Ward 7 of Baltimore, MD.
The children listed as living with him are Ann Eliza – 27, Elizabeth -14, George H, - 20, Claudius – 12, Joseph – 8, Martha – 22 married to Thomas – 29, and Mary – 18 married to John Fricker – 22.
In 1880, William is living alone at 208 German Street with his occupation listed as “Peddler.” He died in 1886 of medullary cancer.
A few comments about the Civil War...
I found a reference to William Dobbs in Footnote.com. There is a record that shows him enlisted in Company C, 3 Va. Reserves, in Booker’s Regiment of the Virginia Reserves. It lists him as a Private in 1864. There is another document that shows he was discharged from military duty before the organization of the company but was not known to have commanded any of the C Company in 1864. So, it looks like he never actually had to participate, perhaps because of his age and number of dependents.
Thomas E. Dobbs served as a Private in Captain William Richardson’s Company of the 9th Regiment of Artillery, Virginia Volunteers. It shows he was born in Portsmouth, VA and was 21 years old. It shows he was 5’ 6 ½” tall with a dark complexion, black eyes and black hair. He was a carpenter by trade. He enlisted on April 27, 1861 for 1 year. He was discharged by special order #72 on April 1, 1862 and was paid $11 as his final pay.
Since the Portsmouth area was devastated during the war and the economy was in shambles, I assume that the family moved to Baltimore because the economic conditions were much better for house builders. The common method of travel back then was by boat from the Port of Portsmouth to the Port of Baltimore. The roads were muddy and in disrepair after the war.
Summary
Our ancestor, William Drewery Dobbs, appears to have been a very hard working family man. His own father, Willoughby, died while he was still a young teenager. He must have had to work hard to help support his brothers and sisters and his mother. After his marriage, he endured many hardships, including the deaths of many loved ones - a spouse in childbirth, two children from yellow fever, his second wife from a long and lingering illness, and his daughter,Martha Ann’s from childbirth. Then there was the Civil War, a relocation to Baltimore, and his eventual death from medullary cancer at age 70.
He outlived two wives and several of his children. When he died in 1886, he was living alone and working as a peddler to support himself. He was buried in an unmarked grave next to his family members. Nobody would even know that he was there if they walked by. But I know he’s there and how important a role he played in our existence. I walked on his grave in quiet awe as I thanked him for his hard work and a life well spent.
William Drewery Dobbs makes his first appearance in the Census in 1820 in Norfolk, Virginia as the second son of Willoughby Dobbs and his wife, Rachel Edmonds. According to the genealogy data handed down to me by Nellie West Dobbs, the granddaughter of his brother Joseph, William was born in 1816.
I often wondered how he was named. Who was the Drewery from whom his middle name is derived? This is what I found...
It is curious to note that several lines below Willoughby’s listing in the 1820census is a listing for a man named William Drewery. He is a single man and is listed in the same age grouping as Willoughby. My speculation is that Willoughby named his son after this man. Was he a friend or a relative? Could he have been the child’s godfather? We may never know. I can’t find any other records of the name Drewery being used in any other Dobbs family members, although Drewery, Drewry, Drury were common names in the Norfolk area during the time of his birth.
According to the 1820 and the 1830 census, William had three brothers and five sisters. I know the name of only one of his brothers (Joseph, the grandfather of the aforementioned Nellie) who I will write about in another posting. Do any of you other Dobbs descendants reading this know who the others are?
In the 1840 Census, William is living in Portsmouth, VA with the following household composition – 1 male between 20 and 30, 1 male between 30 and 40, 1 female between 10 and 15, 1 female between 15 and 20, and 1 female between 50 and 60. My guess is that he is the male between 20 and 30 and his wife is the female between 15 and 20. The other male and female may be a brother and sister. The older female may be his mother Rachel Edmonds Dobbs. She passed away in 1846.
William’s first child, my grandfather, Charles Edwin Willoughby Dobbs, was born on August 12, 1840. On his death certificate, his son, Charles Dobbs from Louisville, KY, listed his father’s name as William D. Dobbs and his mother’s name as Elizabeth Lesley. My best guess is that Elizabeth died in childbirth and William married Martha Anne Leslie soon thereafter. Charles Edwin Willoughby (a.k.a.Reverend CEW Dobbs, Baptist Minister) ) is shown as being 11 years old in the 1850 census and is living with William (age 34) and Martha (age 28).
I haven’t solved this mystery of the two mothers yet. Why are there two different spellings of Lesley/Leslie? Could they have been sisters or relatives? Were their family ties in Baltimore? When I entered Elizabeth Lesley into my Ancestry search engine, there were several of them in Baltimore.
William's wife, Martha Ann Leslie died on October 23, 1872 at age 50 according to her obituary that appeared in the Baltimore Sun on October 25, 1872. That means she was born in 1822 and in 1840, she would have been 18. William would have been about 24.
In the 1850 Census, William and Martha Ann are living in Norfolk, VA with the following children: Charles – 11, Anne – 9, William W – 7, Martha A – 5, and
George H. – 3. William’s occupation is shown as carpenter.
In 1855, tragedy struck Portsmouth with a Yellow Fever epidemic that killed a substantial portion of the population. Two of William’s children died on August 10, 1855– William W. age 12, and Virginia, age 2.
In the 1860 Census, the family is living in the Jefferson Ward of Portsmouth. William is 44, still a carpenter, with a personal estate worth $200.00. His children are Ann E – 18, George H. – 10, Mary – 8, Elizabeth – 3, Claudius E. – 2, Martha A. – 13. Also living with him are William C. Sheppard, age 26, a carpenter (possibly a boarder) and Thomas E. Dobbs, age 19, carpenter’s apprentice.
I will digress a little from the census to say a few words about Thomas because for the longest time, I couldn't figure out who he was just from seeing him in the census records. It was only after I conducted a thorough reading of all of Nellie's letters to Charles that I was able to decipher the mystery.
Thomas E. Dobbs is William’s nephew, the son of his brother Joseph. Thomas was a twin. His brother was Henry Joseph Dobbs, who, as a confederate soldier, carried the colors next to General Armistead during Pickett’s Charge in the Battle of Gettysburg. His daughter, Nellie West Dobbs, wrote this to my great-grandfather, Charles Dobbs, in a letter that I have in my possession. She also wrote that both Thomas and Henry had married first cousins and that both of them lost their wives in childbirth. I have been able to confirm this in Thomas's case. He married William’s daughter, Martha Ann. They are shown in the 1870 Census, married and living with William in Baltimore. She died on October 29, 1871 at age 24. When she died, Thomas bought 4 plots in the Old North Cemetery in Baltimore where he laid her and the child to rest.
The Gravesite in the Old North Cemetery
I actually visited there and found them in Area AA, Lot 99. Martha Ann is the only one with a headstone which shows her nickname as “Mattie”. It’s very worn and unreadable. Next to her stone is an obelisk, maybe to mark her child’s grave.
Martha Anne is in the first plot and was buried on November 1, 1871.
Her mother, Martha Anne is in the second plot and was buried on October 25, 1871. She died of a severe and lingering illness.
George H, age 36,one of William’s and Martha’s sons, is in plot three. He died of consumption.
There are a couple small children there as well. Emma Dobbs, a 6 month old child, was buried there on April 9, 1883. Charles Dobbs, a 3 month old child, was buried on November 8, 1874.
And finally, William D. Dobbs was buried there on May 22, 1886. He died of medullary cancer.
I don’t know who the children belonged to as of yet. Maybe some of you can help me.
Thomas Dobbs Remarriage
Thomas E. Dobbs remarried on the 25th of November 1873 to Adeline (Addie) Duvall. The Duvall’s were a prominent family in Anne Arundel County, Maryland from the early 1600’s. The original founding member of this family was a Huguenot named Mageen Duvall. Funny enough, Barack Obama’s mother is a descendant of this same family. Thomas and Adeline had one daughter, Mary, who died unmarried in 1918, maybe from the flu epidemic.
Back to the census
In the 1870 Census, the family has moved from Portsmouth, VA to Baltimore, MD. I searched in the City Directories to find out when William moved. The first time I can find him is in the 1867 City Directory. He is living at 228 Saratoga St as a boarder in the home of Mrs. Adeline Duvall, his future wife’s mother!!! I found no listing for him in 1868 or 1869. He reappears with his entire family in the 1870 census in Ward 7 of Baltimore, MD.
The children listed as living with him are Ann Eliza – 27, Elizabeth -14, George H, - 20, Claudius – 12, Joseph – 8, Martha – 22 married to Thomas – 29, and Mary – 18 married to John Fricker – 22.
In 1880, William is living alone at 208 German Street with his occupation listed as “Peddler.” He died in 1886 of medullary cancer.
A few comments about the Civil War...
I found a reference to William Dobbs in Footnote.com. There is a record that shows him enlisted in Company C, 3 Va. Reserves, in Booker’s Regiment of the Virginia Reserves. It lists him as a Private in 1864. There is another document that shows he was discharged from military duty before the organization of the company but was not known to have commanded any of the C Company in 1864. So, it looks like he never actually had to participate, perhaps because of his age and number of dependents.
Thomas E. Dobbs served as a Private in Captain William Richardson’s Company of the 9th Regiment of Artillery, Virginia Volunteers. It shows he was born in Portsmouth, VA and was 21 years old. It shows he was 5’ 6 ½” tall with a dark complexion, black eyes and black hair. He was a carpenter by trade. He enlisted on April 27, 1861 for 1 year. He was discharged by special order #72 on April 1, 1862 and was paid $11 as his final pay.
Since the Portsmouth area was devastated during the war and the economy was in shambles, I assume that the family moved to Baltimore because the economic conditions were much better for house builders. The common method of travel back then was by boat from the Port of Portsmouth to the Port of Baltimore. The roads were muddy and in disrepair after the war.
Summary
Our ancestor, William Drewery Dobbs, appears to have been a very hard working family man. His own father, Willoughby, died while he was still a young teenager. He must have had to work hard to help support his brothers and sisters and his mother. After his marriage, he endured many hardships, including the deaths of many loved ones - a spouse in childbirth, two children from yellow fever, his second wife from a long and lingering illness, and his daughter,Martha Ann’s from childbirth. Then there was the Civil War, a relocation to Baltimore, and his eventual death from medullary cancer at age 70.
He outlived two wives and several of his children. When he died in 1886, he was living alone and working as a peddler to support himself. He was buried in an unmarked grave next to his family members. Nobody would even know that he was there if they walked by. But I know he’s there and how important a role he played in our existence. I walked on his grave in quiet awe as I thanked him for his hard work and a life well spent.
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