Dear JonBoody,
Thank you for all this. I'm inclined to think there's a connection, too, but I haven't yet done the research -- this past weekend, I honestly got sucked into understanding John Dobbins' service in the British Army, learning a great deal about the movements of the 30th Regiment of Foot between 1776 (when they were stationed at Charlemont, about half a mile from Moy) and his discharge at Winchester Barracks in 1802.
He was said to have enlisted in 1780, when the regiment was in the south, primarily in county Cork. So he either became besotted with the regiment when they were stationed nearby (along with hearing about the war in the American colonies?), or he enlisted earlier (perhaps as a drummer boy, as he would have been about 13 or 14). If he were related to the two Rev. James Dobbins in some way, I think it would be less likely for him to enlist at such a young age -- but I'll need to do more research to see if this hypothesis is historically accurate!
In any case, this John Dobbins married in Whitehaven, while the 30th Foot were there, and returned to Whitehaven after serving in Egypt. He was either injured on 21 March 1801 or 17 August 1801, based on the published state papers reporting the numbers of killed and wounded by rank. If he was injured in August, he would have seen the Great Pyramids of Giza -- albeit likely from a distance -- while the regiment was at Cairo in June and July. I find that fascinating for a man who I'd previously imagined living a humble collier's life in Cumberland. I've got some records to request at Kew to fill in the full picture (hopefully).
I'll next research the various Dobbins relations to see what I can find -- I've got the scanned pages of the official copy of the senior Rev. James Dobbins' will to read more closely. The challenge will be trying to bridge the records gaps in that period and see if I can find a possible connection beyond the common last name.
I'll report back anything that I discover, and will be grateful to hear about others' findings -- I'd love to see what you've found on the Dobbins' ancestry, once you have it in a place where you're happy to share.
If the name Singleton figures in it, that would be very interesting. John Dobbins' wife was called Eleanor Singleton, but I can't find anyone baptised anywhere in England around the right time who might be her. So I'm wondering if she was also from Ulster, or from county Cork, where the 30th Foot spent so much time before going to South Carolina and then the West Indies. Or she could have had dissenter parents, or the parish register was kept badly... It goes on and on.
All best,
r.
