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Virginia, Tennessee, Missouri, New York and Great Britain
I have been researching my mothers DOBKINS line since about 1989, trying to verify the parents of my ggg-grandfather, Thomas D. DOBKINS. So far, I have not been able to positively identify his parents, even though I have gathered a great deal of information from various sources and references.
Since 1989, I have compiled DOBKINS Occurrences from various sources into an Early Dobkins List for Great Britian, New York, Virginia, Tennessee and Misouri. MY INTENT HERE IS TO SHARE THE OCCURENCES AND SOURCES FOR THE BENEFIT OF DOBKINS RESEARCHERS; NOT TO MAKE ANY INTERPRETATIONS OR INFERENCES ABOUT POSSIBLE OR PROBABLY FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS. I have omitted most occurences after Thomas moved to MO in 1817 as I am principally interested in tracking down his ancestors in TN and VA and, also, in Great Britian where I think the family line originated.
My original posting to the Early Dobkins List arranged the entries by locality; that is, State and/or Country. Now, I have provided an additional list ordered by Name. I have omitted any names from New York and Great Britian for this listing as they have no apprent bearing on my search for Thomas DOBKINS at this time. The New York "DOBKINS" were "DOPKINS" that originated in Germany and have no perceivable link to DOBKINS at this time; see Early New York Dobkins Occurrences for an explanation of the origin of that surname in that State.
According to family tradition, Thomas D. DOBKINS was was born 1781 in East Tennessee. He married Mary (BRICKEY) MCADAMS, but the date is not known. They moved to Crawford Co., MO in 1817 with Girrard BRICKEY (Mary's father) and several other BRICKEYS.Thomas died 1822 in Washington Co., MO; Mary died 17 January 1858 in Crawford Co., MO.
The descendants of Thomas D. DOBKINS and Mary are well defined beginning about 1810 in TN, with the birth of their first child, John. This would indicate that John and Mary were married ca. 1810, although this is suspect as she apparently was married to John McAdams, her first husband, until he died ca. 1814. Mary's brother, John C. BRICKEY says that she and Thomas were married in 1817 in MO; however, I have found no marriage in neither TN nor MO -- another mystery! On top of that, one reference (source unidentifed) shows that Thomas was previously married, with three children -- Israel, Sammie and Mary. I have found no trace of them in other records or sources; still another, more complicating mystery!
I also want to say a little about Elenor DOBKINS, b. ca. 1779 in Cocke Co., TN, who married William BRICKEY, Mary's uncle, ca .1800. So far, her parentage is undetermined. I believe that she was probably Thomas's sister, or if not, surely a cousin. Remains to be seen!
Many early VA and TN records and references show DOBBINS and variations rather that DOBKINS, seemingly depending on the particular recorder at the time. It is clear in most cases that DOBBINS was a clerical substitute for DOBKINS or DOBIKIN. I have included DOBBINS or DOBINS in some VA and TN locales where it is not clear whether they may be clerical variations for DOBKINS. In some cases, I have omitted DOBBINS where it is reasonably clear there is no connection to DOBKINS/DOBIKIN.
The first definitive occurence of the surname in America that I have found is John A. DOBIKIN, who was listed for a Northern Neck Land Grant in Augusta Co., VA in 1735/36. He died in 1743 and named his son John and wife, Mary, as co-executors of his estate. Son, John DOBKINS (Capt.) received the 400-acres grant on Holeman's Creek in now Shenandoah Co. in 1750. John and wife, Elizabeth, sold the land to Thomas Moore in 1753.
The Great Britain Occurrences linked in the table below were extracted from the 1993 International Genealgocial Index (IGI) [® The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] and the January, 1997 Addendum thereto. The IGI Extraction is presented only as an aid to researching the DOBKINS surname and variations.
I believe the the DOBKINS surname has its origins in Great Britian, based on the occurences of the surname and presumed variations. I think that John A. DOBIKIN probably came from England prior to 1735, possibly bringing wife, Mary and son, John, with him and perhaps other unidentifed children. I have not done any definitive research to prove this because I am still trying to make the link back to him from Thomas D. DOBKINS.
I would appreciate hearing from anyone that wants to share DOBKINS information with me, particularly, early sources for TN and VA prior to 1817, and connections into England.
Please go to Dynamic Family Tree Page to see family data in the Dobkins Family Line.
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