the Bobbitt lines
Actually, I am informed, by Marsha Berry, who is an authority on the Bobbitt/Suffolk line, that the Bobbet family in Suffolk, England was never granted a coat of arms. So, if you follow the Suffolk line, more about that later, then please ignore the image above.
In the middle of farming fields, there are a few cottages, a few farm houses, and one very large ancient stone church in the village called Hemley. It is in the county of Suffolk, England. This is the ancient grounds of the Bobbitt or Bobbet families that is part of our tree. The village of Hemley currently has a population of about 66 people; however, there must have been more people here hundreds of years ago with a church this size.
However, there is another group of Bobbitt's that claim Welch ancestry. The break from the lines of the two groups seems to be from John (of Chowan) Bobbitt 1676 - 1736. The catalyst of the Welch group belief seems to be from the book "The Kumps, the Bobbitts, and others" printed January 1, 1995 by Warren L Kump who is the author of the book. The other group, that believes that our live goes to Suffolk, England, has as it's founder or key player named Keith Bobbitt, who's main website is at: http://www.keithbobbitt.com/ . This group shares DNA support for their claim headed by Marsha Berry. Marsha Berry also compiled a book, "The Bobbitt Family of Putnam County Illinois with Bobbet ancestors from Suffolk County, England" and printed November 2009. Marsha Berry's book, with CD, can be ordered online on the BYU Bookstore for $19.95 here: http://www.byubookstore.com/ePOS/form=robots/item.html&item_number=9786500100181&store=439&design=439. A brief online history of the Bobbitts by Warren Kump can be found at: http://lanbob.com/lanbob/H-Bobbitt/H-1926WK-BOB.htm or, can be downloaded as a pdf here:
the_bobbitts_by_warren_kump.pdf | |
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Instead of starting with the Bobbitt's of old, I will start with our first Bobbitt we know of in our line, Sarah Eleanor "Nellie" Bobbitt.
Sarah Eleanor "Nellie" Bobbitt was born on 14 Nov 1863 in Roberts, Illinois and died on 1 Feb 1953 in Cortez, Colorado. She married Eldorado "LD" Seitz on 1900 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Eldorado "LD" Seitz was born on 14 Mar 1875 in Bell City, Missouri and died on 25 Apr 1968 in Cortez, Colorado. They had two children together:
Raplh Waldo Seitz 1902 - 1968
Birney Seitz 1903 - 1995
Sarah Eleanor "Nellie" Bobbitt was married before her marriage to LD Seitz with a man named Oliver Jarret Ergenbright. She married Oliver on 1 Aug 1886 in Richardson, Illinois. They had the following children together:
Ethel Lizzie Ergenbright 1887 - 1954
O Verner Ergenbright 1892 -
Merle Ergenbright 1892 -
Mona V. Ergenbright 1894 - 1953
Ava Ergenbright 1895 - 1875
Raplh Waldo Seitz 1902 - 1968
Birney Seitz 1903 - 1995
Sarah Eleanor "Nellie" Bobbitt was married before her marriage to LD Seitz with a man named Oliver Jarret Ergenbright. She married Oliver on 1 Aug 1886 in Richardson, Illinois. They had the following children together:
Ethel Lizzie Ergenbright 1887 - 1954
O Verner Ergenbright 1892 -
Merle Ergenbright 1892 -
Mona V. Ergenbright 1894 - 1953
Ava Ergenbright 1895 - 1875
John William Bobbitt and Julia Mandana Hoyt were the parents of Sarah Eleanor "Nallie" Bobbitt. John William Bobbitt was born on 9 Jun 1832 in Winchester, Kentucky and died on 25 Aug 1909 in Dawson, Nebraska. Jilia Mandana Hoyt was born on 6 Sep 1834 in Chillocothe, Ohio and died on 28 Jul 1923 in Cortez, Colorado. They were married on Oct 1852 in Dayton, Ohio. They had the following children together:
John Seymour Bobbitt 1853 -
Cornelia Olive Bobbitt 1856 - 1932
James Clarence Bobbitt 1858 - 1929
Willis R. Bobbitt 1860 - 1948
Sarah Eleanor "Nellie" Bobbitt 1863 - 1953
Theresa Maria Bobbitt 1865 - 1867
Francis Marion Bobbitt 1868 - 1906
Jessie Julia Bobbitt 1872 - 1951
Allen Eugene Bobbitt 1877 - 1963
Ella F Bobb 1878 -
John William Bobbitt was married a second time according to records to a Susannah M (Unknown maiden name) on 1863, but this could be an error because of the year of marriage. However, she was born on Dec 1935 in Kentucky and they supposedly had the following children together:
William J "Willie" Bobbitt 1855 -
Thomas J Bobbitt 1861 -
Eiiza M. Bobbett 1866 -
Permelia S. Bobbitt 1866 -
Hiram H Bobbitt 1871 -
Amanda E Bobbitt 1873 -
John P Bobbitt 1877 -
John Seymour Bobbitt 1853 -
Cornelia Olive Bobbitt 1856 - 1932
James Clarence Bobbitt 1858 - 1929
Willis R. Bobbitt 1860 - 1948
Sarah Eleanor "Nellie" Bobbitt 1863 - 1953
Theresa Maria Bobbitt 1865 - 1867
Francis Marion Bobbitt 1868 - 1906
Jessie Julia Bobbitt 1872 - 1951
Allen Eugene Bobbitt 1877 - 1963
Ella F Bobb 1878 -
John William Bobbitt was married a second time according to records to a Susannah M (Unknown maiden name) on 1863, but this could be an error because of the year of marriage. However, she was born on Dec 1935 in Kentucky and they supposedly had the following children together:
William J "Willie" Bobbitt 1855 -
Thomas J Bobbitt 1861 -
Eiiza M. Bobbett 1866 -
Permelia S. Bobbitt 1866 -
Hiram H Bobbitt 1871 -
Amanda E Bobbitt 1873 -
John P Bobbitt 1877 -
John William Bobbitt/Dawson newspaper obit:
"While in the act of climbing onto the spring seat of a wagon loaded with apples down in the orchard of 0. C. Ayers, last Thursday, John Bobbitt lost his balance and fell helplessly to the hard, dry ground. Mr. Ayers at once rushed in his automobile to Dawson for a doctor, and a phone call was made to Humboldt which brought Dr. Waggener at the same time. An investigation revealed that the hip joint was badly shattered, besides other internal injuries. Uncle John's legion of friends are hopeful that his indomitable pluck may take him over this sad mishap. It is generally conceded that his advanced age of 78 years makes the case seem a hopeless one.
"Later: Since preparing the above paragraph for the News, word comes that death has claimed the aged sufferer at 7 O'clock Tuesday morning in Dawson, Nebraska.
"John Bobbitt's death the morning of the Old Settlers picnic adds to the impressiveness of the fact that the sturdy old settlers who, in their vigorous young manhood, ventured into the trackless prairies forty and fifty years ago will soon have passed from the stage of action. Few indeed will have left a record for a more active life and checkered career than Honest John Bobbitt. Born in Kentucky about 78 years ago, he moved at an early age with his parents to Illinois. In the prime of vigorous young manhood he led a colony of industrious neighbors in settling the rich country around Dawson. He ranked with the most prosperous and progressive farmers of the west. Following the bent of an active mind, he engaged in the business of stock buying, and as his honest nature revolted at resorting to the "tricks of the trade", too often employed by less scrupulous competitors, after years of hard tusseling with cattle and hogs, he found that while his neighbors were enjoying the profits of his labor, he had only bitter experiences.
"Some twenty years ago with the idea of re-establishing himself and his family on a firm basis on land, he moved to western Nebraska, where he had only crop failures. He next sifted down to Kansas, where a similar experience awaited him. Not withstanding all the business reverses and keen disappointments, Uncle John's intrepid spirit was such that he never conceived the idea of admitting that he was "down and out". Dutiful children had often tried to make him desist from self imposed cares, up to the moment of the sad accident. He was ambitious in providing a home and a competency for a faithful wife, as the most ardent and faithful lover.
"Besides the aged wife, four sons and three daughters are left to mourn the loss of a loving parent, who if he did not bequeath a vast estate , left a reputation for sterling honesty, something more enviable than the memory of a sordid wealth."
"Later: Since preparing the above paragraph for the News, word comes that death has claimed the aged sufferer at 7 O'clock Tuesday morning in Dawson, Nebraska.
"John Bobbitt's death the morning of the Old Settlers picnic adds to the impressiveness of the fact that the sturdy old settlers who, in their vigorous young manhood, ventured into the trackless prairies forty and fifty years ago will soon have passed from the stage of action. Few indeed will have left a record for a more active life and checkered career than Honest John Bobbitt. Born in Kentucky about 78 years ago, he moved at an early age with his parents to Illinois. In the prime of vigorous young manhood he led a colony of industrious neighbors in settling the rich country around Dawson. He ranked with the most prosperous and progressive farmers of the west. Following the bent of an active mind, he engaged in the business of stock buying, and as his honest nature revolted at resorting to the "tricks of the trade", too often employed by less scrupulous competitors, after years of hard tusseling with cattle and hogs, he found that while his neighbors were enjoying the profits of his labor, he had only bitter experiences.
"Some twenty years ago with the idea of re-establishing himself and his family on a firm basis on land, he moved to western Nebraska, where he had only crop failures. He next sifted down to Kansas, where a similar experience awaited him. Not withstanding all the business reverses and keen disappointments, Uncle John's intrepid spirit was such that he never conceived the idea of admitting that he was "down and out". Dutiful children had often tried to make him desist from self imposed cares, up to the moment of the sad accident. He was ambitious in providing a home and a competency for a faithful wife, as the most ardent and faithful lover.
"Besides the aged wife, four sons and three daughters are left to mourn the loss of a loving parent, who if he did not bequeath a vast estate , left a reputation for sterling honesty, something more enviable than the memory of a sordid wealth."
Isham Drury "Ham" Bobbitt Jr. and Cynthia Ann Haggard were the parents of John William Bobbitt. Isham Drury "Ham" Bobbitt Jr. was born on 22 May 1792 in Spartanburg, South Carolina and died on 14 Nov 1862 in Caledonia, Illinois. Cynthia Ann Haggard was born on 21 Dec 1807 in Winchester, Kentucky and died on 26 Feb 1885 in Kansas City, Missouri. Isham and Cynthia were married on 21 Dec 1824 in Ceruiean Springs, Kentucky. The had the following children together:
Frances Bobbitt 1787 - 1826
Elizabeth Bobbitt 1788 -
Teressa J Bobbitt 1826 - 1868
William W Bobbitt 1829 - 1897
John William Bobbitt 1832 - 1909
Malissa D Bobbitt 1835 - 1868
David Franklin Bobbitt 1845 - 1918
Frances Bobbitt 1787 - 1826
Elizabeth Bobbitt 1788 -
Teressa J Bobbitt 1826 - 1868
William W Bobbitt 1829 - 1897
John William Bobbitt 1832 - 1909
Malissa D Bobbitt 1835 - 1868
David Franklin Bobbitt 1845 - 1918
Isham Drury "Ham" Bobbitt from www.findagrave.com:
Birth: May 22, 1792Death: Nov. 14, 1862 aged 70 yrs. 5 mo. 22 days Isham Drury Bobbitt was the son of Isham Drury and Elizabeth (James) Bobbitt. His parent's families lived in Granville & Halifax Co, NC. Isham's parents are buried atthe Chapin Cemetery in Morgan Co, IL. Ham had 9 siblings all born in NC before the family moved to Kentucky and then to Illinois: William James b. 1775 Drury Allen b. 1776 Winifred b. 1778 Stephen b. 27 Nov 1779 John William b. 16 Feb 1782 Amy b. 1785 Frances b. 06 Nov 1787 Sarah Sallie b. 1790 Nancy b. 1796. On 18 Dec 1824 in Cerulean Springs, Tripp Co, KY, Isham married Cynthia Ann Haggard. The couple lived in Kentucky for awhile and then moved to Illinois. After moving to Putnam Co, Ham was a farmer in Magnolia twp., until he died in 1862. Putnam Co, IL is where all of his 5 known children met their future spouses and married. Isham and Cynthia had 5 children: Teressa J., born 15 Jun 1826 in Christian Co, KY. In 1841 she married Robert Haynes in Magnolia, Putnam Co, IL. William W., born 09 Feb 1829 in Christian Co, KY. In 1857 he married Jane Kays in Magnolia, Putnam Co, IL and they had 5 children. John William, born 09 Jun 1832 in Hancock Co, IL. In 1852 he married Julia W. Hoyt in Bloomington, McLean Co, IL, and they had 6 children. Malisa D., born 27 Jun 1835 in Hancock Co, IL. In 1850 she married George Washington Mayes in Tazewell Co, IL and they had 4 children. Frank, born 15 Jun 1840 in Hancock Co, IL. In 1873 he married Cecilia Kennedy, d/o James & Margaret (Cotterall) Kennedy. They were married in Magnolia, Putnum Co, IL and they had 5 children. After Isham's death, his wife Cynthia was in Magnolia in 1870 living with 2 of her sons. After 1874, Cynthia and her youngest son, Frank, and his family moved to Anthony, KA, then MO and by 1880 to Richardson Co, NE. Later Frank moved to Perry, OK. After leaving North Carolina, this family sure kept on the move. Burial: Caledonia Cemetery Magnolia Putnam County Illinois, USA Created by: Bonnie Koke Record added: May 23, 2006 Find A Grave Memorial # 14387957
Birth: May 22, 1792Death: Nov. 14, 1862 aged 70 yrs. 5 mo. 22 days Isham Drury Bobbitt was the son of Isham Drury and Elizabeth (James) Bobbitt. His parent's families lived in Granville & Halifax Co, NC. Isham's parents are buried atthe Chapin Cemetery in Morgan Co, IL. Ham had 9 siblings all born in NC before the family moved to Kentucky and then to Illinois: William James b. 1775 Drury Allen b. 1776 Winifred b. 1778 Stephen b. 27 Nov 1779 John William b. 16 Feb 1782 Amy b. 1785 Frances b. 06 Nov 1787 Sarah Sallie b. 1790 Nancy b. 1796. On 18 Dec 1824 in Cerulean Springs, Tripp Co, KY, Isham married Cynthia Ann Haggard. The couple lived in Kentucky for awhile and then moved to Illinois. After moving to Putnam Co, Ham was a farmer in Magnolia twp., until he died in 1862. Putnam Co, IL is where all of his 5 known children met their future spouses and married. Isham and Cynthia had 5 children: Teressa J., born 15 Jun 1826 in Christian Co, KY. In 1841 she married Robert Haynes in Magnolia, Putnam Co, IL. William W., born 09 Feb 1829 in Christian Co, KY. In 1857 he married Jane Kays in Magnolia, Putnam Co, IL and they had 5 children. John William, born 09 Jun 1832 in Hancock Co, IL. In 1852 he married Julia W. Hoyt in Bloomington, McLean Co, IL, and they had 6 children. Malisa D., born 27 Jun 1835 in Hancock Co, IL. In 1850 she married George Washington Mayes in Tazewell Co, IL and they had 4 children. Frank, born 15 Jun 1840 in Hancock Co, IL. In 1873 he married Cecilia Kennedy, d/o James & Margaret (Cotterall) Kennedy. They were married in Magnolia, Putnum Co, IL and they had 5 children. After Isham's death, his wife Cynthia was in Magnolia in 1870 living with 2 of her sons. After 1874, Cynthia and her youngest son, Frank, and his family moved to Anthony, KA, then MO and by 1880 to Richardson Co, NE. Later Frank moved to Perry, OK. After leaving North Carolina, this family sure kept on the move. Burial: Caledonia Cemetery Magnolia Putnam County Illinois, USA Created by: Bonnie Koke Record added: May 23, 2006 Find A Grave Memorial # 14387957
From ancestry.com, on Cynthia Ann Haggard/Bobbitt:
On Isham Drury "Ham" Bobbitt Jr. from The Bobbitts by Warren Kump:
Isham Drury Bobbin (1790-1865)
Isham Drury Bobbin was the ninth of eleven children and the youngest son of Isham and Elizabeth (James) Bobbitt. He was named after his father and an uncle named Drury Bobbitt. His grandfather was John Richard Bobbitt, the wealthy planter of Warren County, North Carolina.
He was born in 1790 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. When he was thirteen years of age he moved with the family to Christian County in southwest Kentucky.
At age 23 during the War of 1812 he was a private in Caldwell's First Regiment of Mounted Volunteers, Kentucky Militia. The War of 1812 is remembered mostly for naval battles and the burning of the White House by the British, but there was significant action in the West, much of it involving the Kentucky Militia. William Henry Harrison, later president of the United States, was made a major general in the Kentucky Militia. He persuaded Kentucky's Governor Shelby, himself a Revolutionary War veteran, to raise a large force to oppose the British who had invaded Ohio from Canada. The governor circulated recruiting handbills, and more than 3000 Kentuckians responded to the call. Isham Drury Bobbin was apparently among them.
The British retreated from Ohio under pressure by the Kentuckians who went on to occupy Detroit and to pursue the British into Canada. Near Moraviantown, Ontario, the British made a stand on October 5, 1813, resulting in an action known as the Battle of Thames River. Richard M. Johnson's regiment of Kentucky Mounted Volunteers led the assault. Lacking sabers, they galloped through the enemy line brandishing muskets. The unorthodox cavalry charge overwhelmed the thin British defenses and forced a complete surrender. Richard A Johnson became an instant hero and was elected Vice President of the United States in 1836. Isham Drury Bobbitt and Caldwell's First Regiment of Mounted Volunteers did not share in the glory and may not even have been on hand for the battle.
On December 18, 1824, Isham married Cynthia Ann Haggard in Trigg County, Kentucky. He was 34 years of age, unusually old, especially for those days, to be marrying for the first time. The bride was 15 years old. The ceremony was conducted by John W. Bobbitt, a Baptist minister and older brother of the groom. Cynthia Ann Haggard was a daughter of David and Nancy (Dawson) Haggard of Albemarle County, Virginia. The father of the bride and the father of the groom were both Revolutionary War veterans.
Isham Drury Bobbin (1790-1865)
Isham Drury Bobbin was the ninth of eleven children and the youngest son of Isham and Elizabeth (James) Bobbitt. He was named after his father and an uncle named Drury Bobbitt. His grandfather was John Richard Bobbitt, the wealthy planter of Warren County, North Carolina.
He was born in 1790 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina. When he was thirteen years of age he moved with the family to Christian County in southwest Kentucky.
At age 23 during the War of 1812 he was a private in Caldwell's First Regiment of Mounted Volunteers, Kentucky Militia. The War of 1812 is remembered mostly for naval battles and the burning of the White House by the British, but there was significant action in the West, much of it involving the Kentucky Militia. William Henry Harrison, later president of the United States, was made a major general in the Kentucky Militia. He persuaded Kentucky's Governor Shelby, himself a Revolutionary War veteran, to raise a large force to oppose the British who had invaded Ohio from Canada. The governor circulated recruiting handbills, and more than 3000 Kentuckians responded to the call. Isham Drury Bobbin was apparently among them.
The British retreated from Ohio under pressure by the Kentuckians who went on to occupy Detroit and to pursue the British into Canada. Near Moraviantown, Ontario, the British made a stand on October 5, 1813, resulting in an action known as the Battle of Thames River. Richard M. Johnson's regiment of Kentucky Mounted Volunteers led the assault. Lacking sabers, they galloped through the enemy line brandishing muskets. The unorthodox cavalry charge overwhelmed the thin British defenses and forced a complete surrender. Richard A Johnson became an instant hero and was elected Vice President of the United States in 1836. Isham Drury Bobbitt and Caldwell's First Regiment of Mounted Volunteers did not share in the glory and may not even have been on hand for the battle.
On December 18, 1824, Isham married Cynthia Ann Haggard in Trigg County, Kentucky. He was 34 years of age, unusually old, especially for those days, to be marrying for the first time. The bride was 15 years old. The ceremony was conducted by John W. Bobbitt, a Baptist minister and older brother of the groom. Cynthia Ann Haggard was a daughter of David and Nancy (Dawson) Haggard of Albemarle County, Virginia. The father of the bride and the father of the groom were both Revolutionary War veterans.
The couple had five children: Teressa born in 1826, William W. born in 1829, John William born in 1832, Malissa born in 1835 and David Frank born in 1840. The family moved to Clark County, Kentucky, in 1830 to be near Cynthia's mother and father. They lived near Winchester about 16 miles east of Lexington, Kentucky. In 1834 they moved to Hancock County, Illinois, on the Iowa border near Keokuk. The Illinois county they chose was anything but peaceful. In 1839, just five years after their arrival, Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church, bought land in Hancock County and brought along his followers who had been driven out of Ohio and Missouri. They founded a town which they named Nauvoo, and the colony they established there attracted Mormon converts from all over the East. By 1845 it was the largest city in Illinois with a population of more than 16,000. The Mormons established a militia, the Nauvoo Legion, which was the largest armed force in the nation, except for the US. Army. The non-Mormon population of Hancock County found the religious beliefs and practices of the Mormons offensive and felt intimidated by the Nauvoo Legion. Hancock County became an armed camp. Violence broke out, and the governor had to call out the state militia. Joseph Smith was murdered by an angry mob in 1844. Violence continued until Brigham Young, successor to Joseph Smith, finally led the Mormons out of Nauvoo on their long trek to Utah in 1847.
By 1850 the Bobbitt family had left Hancock County and was living in Tazewell County in Central Illinois near Peoria. Ten years later when Isham was 70 years old they moved to Putnam County, Illinois, to be near their son William and his family, their daughter Teressa, wife of Rev. Robert R Haynes, and their daughter Melissa married to George W. Mays. Putnam County is about 65 miles north of Peoria. Isham Drury Bobbitt died in 1865. His will reads as follows: I, Isham Bobbitt of Putnam County and State of Illinois, do hereby make and declare this my last will and testament. First: It is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be paid.
Second: I devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Cynthia Ann Bobbitt, the farm on which I now live .... in all about 120 acres, during her widowhood, and all cattle, hors- es and hogs by me now owned, also all the household furniture, and other articles of personal property not herein mentioned,
Third: It is my will that my children shall each be charged upon this my last will with the amount that I have heretofore bestowed upon them severally, and what they may otherwise be owing to me, and their obligations be delivered to them upon their giving their receiptsfor the amount to my executors, hereinafter appointed.
Fourth: It is my will that after the marriage or decease of my wife, that what may be left and remaining shall be so divided that each of my children with what they have already received shall share equally. I hereby appoint my son-in-law Robert F Haynes and my son, William W. Bobbitt, executors.
ISHAM X BOBBITT
In 1871 Cynthia Ann Bobbitt moved to Richardson County in southeast Nebraska to live with her youngest son, David Frank Bobbitt. She died at her son David Frank's home which at the time, 1885, was in Kansas City, Missouri. Her obituary is as follows: Died, At the home of her son, Frank Bobbitt in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday, February 25, 1885, in the 77th year of her age, Mrs. Cynthia A. Bobbitt. The subject of the above notice was born near Winchester, Kentucky, and her maiden name was Haggard. She was married at the age of fifteen to Isham Bobbitt, who died about twenty years ago. They moved to Illinois in 1834 where she lived until she came west about four years ago. She was an honored member and a consistent member of the Baptist church for sixty years. She was the mother of five children, three sons, who are still living, and two daughters who are dead. The remains were brought to this city and according to her request, the funeral was preached at the residence of her son, John W. Bobbitt, three miles northeast of Virdon, on Saturday last by.. and was buried in the Liberty Cemetery. On account of some mistake, the telegram sent to Mr J. W. Bobbitt did not reach him, and he was not aware of the sad news until his brother arrived with the body.
The Liberty Cemetery was located on the Bobbitt farm, which in 1976 belonged to an E. L. Brown. In recent years it has come to be known as the Stratton Cemetery. In 1976 it was declared a neglected pioneer cemetery and was restored.
By 1850 the Bobbitt family had left Hancock County and was living in Tazewell County in Central Illinois near Peoria. Ten years later when Isham was 70 years old they moved to Putnam County, Illinois, to be near their son William and his family, their daughter Teressa, wife of Rev. Robert R Haynes, and their daughter Melissa married to George W. Mays. Putnam County is about 65 miles north of Peoria. Isham Drury Bobbitt died in 1865. His will reads as follows: I, Isham Bobbitt of Putnam County and State of Illinois, do hereby make and declare this my last will and testament. First: It is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be paid.
Second: I devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Cynthia Ann Bobbitt, the farm on which I now live .... in all about 120 acres, during her widowhood, and all cattle, hors- es and hogs by me now owned, also all the household furniture, and other articles of personal property not herein mentioned,
Third: It is my will that my children shall each be charged upon this my last will with the amount that I have heretofore bestowed upon them severally, and what they may otherwise be owing to me, and their obligations be delivered to them upon their giving their receiptsfor the amount to my executors, hereinafter appointed.
Fourth: It is my will that after the marriage or decease of my wife, that what may be left and remaining shall be so divided that each of my children with what they have already received shall share equally. I hereby appoint my son-in-law Robert F Haynes and my son, William W. Bobbitt, executors.
ISHAM X BOBBITT
In 1871 Cynthia Ann Bobbitt moved to Richardson County in southeast Nebraska to live with her youngest son, David Frank Bobbitt. She died at her son David Frank's home which at the time, 1885, was in Kansas City, Missouri. Her obituary is as follows: Died, At the home of her son, Frank Bobbitt in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday, February 25, 1885, in the 77th year of her age, Mrs. Cynthia A. Bobbitt. The subject of the above notice was born near Winchester, Kentucky, and her maiden name was Haggard. She was married at the age of fifteen to Isham Bobbitt, who died about twenty years ago. They moved to Illinois in 1834 where she lived until she came west about four years ago. She was an honored member and a consistent member of the Baptist church for sixty years. She was the mother of five children, three sons, who are still living, and two daughters who are dead. The remains were brought to this city and according to her request, the funeral was preached at the residence of her son, John W. Bobbitt, three miles northeast of Virdon, on Saturday last by.. and was buried in the Liberty Cemetery. On account of some mistake, the telegram sent to Mr J. W. Bobbitt did not reach him, and he was not aware of the sad news until his brother arrived with the body.
The Liberty Cemetery was located on the Bobbitt farm, which in 1976 belonged to an E. L. Brown. In recent years it has come to be known as the Stratton Cemetery. In 1976 it was declared a neglected pioneer cemetery and was restored.
Isham Drury Bobbitt Sr. and Elizabeth Betty James were the parents of Isham Drury "ham" Bobbitt. Isham Drury Bobbitt Sr. was born on 3 May 1754 in Granville, North Carolina and died on 6 Mar 1836 on Pascal Farm, near Geneva, Illinois. Elizabeth Betty James was born on 1756 in Halifax, North Carolina and died on 6 May 1847 in Jacksonville, Illinois. Ishm and Elizabeth were married on 3 Oct 1774 in Halifax, North Carolina and had the following possible children:
John Bobbitt 1762 - 1829
Lemual Bobbitt 1775 -
William James Bobbitt 1775 - 1836
Drury Allen Bobbitt 1776 - 1809
Thomas Bobbitt 1776 -
Winifred Bobbitt 1778 - 1840
Stephen Bobbitt 1779 - 1856
Bailey Bobbitt 1781 -
John William Bobbitt 1782 - 1853
Aimee Bobbitt 1785 - 1853
Stephen Bobbitt 1785 - 1831
Frances Bobbitt 1787 - 1831
Elizabeth Bobbitt 1788 -
William Bobbitt 1788 - 1838
Sarah Sallie Bobbitt 1790 - 1874
Nancy Bobbitt 1790 - 1859
Isham Drury "Ham" Bobbitt Jr. 1792 - 1862
John Bobbitt 1762 - 1829
Lemual Bobbitt 1775 -
William James Bobbitt 1775 - 1836
Drury Allen Bobbitt 1776 - 1809
Thomas Bobbitt 1776 -
Winifred Bobbitt 1778 - 1840
Stephen Bobbitt 1779 - 1856
Bailey Bobbitt 1781 -
John William Bobbitt 1782 - 1853
Aimee Bobbitt 1785 - 1853
Stephen Bobbitt 1785 - 1831
Frances Bobbitt 1787 - 1831
Elizabeth Bobbitt 1788 -
William Bobbitt 1788 - 1838
Sarah Sallie Bobbitt 1790 - 1874
Nancy Bobbitt 1790 - 1859
Isham Drury "Ham" Bobbitt Jr. 1792 - 1862
From "the Bobbitts" by Warren Kump:
The Bobbitts supported the move for independence, and two of John Richard's sons, Isham and William, served in the Revolutionary Army. Isham was present at the Battle of Guilford Court House near Greensboro, North Carolina, on March 15, 1781, and later was a part of the American Army which pursued General Cornwallis' troops to Yorktown. William was wounded in the action at Guilford Court House.
On Isham Sr., From "the Bobbitts" by Warren Kump:
Isham was one of the most interesting individuals in the direct Bobbitt lineage, not only because he was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, but also because of the many moves in his lifetime which eventually placed this branch of the family north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
He was born on May 3, 1754, the sixth child of John Richard and Amy Alston Bobbitt in Granville, now Warren County, North Carolina. He married Elizabeth James in Halifax County, North Carolina, on October 13, 1774, when he was twenty years old. The couple's first four children were born between 1775 and 1779 and before his military service.
He volunteered for duty in the American army about February 1, 1780. By his own account he was present at the Camden, South Carolina, debacle of August 16, 1780, and at the hard-fought Battle of Guilford Court House only 100 miles west of his home on March 15, 1781. In that bloody battle the Americans suffered 1100 casualties, and the British lost 406.4
Note: The casualties number seems to be way off. Also, I'm not sure if "406.4" is meant to be 4,064 or 406.
His description of his service includes more detail of his many tedious marches through the Carolinas than of the actual fighting, suggesting that his position on the field may have been fairly peripheral. His brother William, however, was wounded in the Guilford Court House battle, receiving a musket ball shot through his thigh.
Typically an individual infantryman such as Isham was concerned with his immediate surroundings and unaware of the greater picture of the military engagement over- all. The Camden, South Carolina, fiasco came about when the incompetent American General Horatio Gates challenged General Cornwallis and his British regulars who were occupying Charleston. Gates had grossly overestimated the numerical strength of his own American forces and failed to recognize that they were untrained and poorly equipped. When Cornwallis' seasoned troops fired a volley and charged with bayonets the Virginia and North Carolina militias panicked and fled. The cowardly General Gates led the way to the rear on the fastest horse he could find.
The Battle of Guilford Court House was another story. The Americans had found a real commander in Major General Nathanael Greene. General Greene selected the battle site carefully and formulated a master battle plan. Just as a frontal assault by Cornwallis' troops appeared to be succeeding a flanking attack by American cavalry reversed the tide. As opposing infantry were engaged hand to hand Cornwallis, in desperation, ordered his artillery to fire grapeshot into the mass of contesting troops, killing his own as well as Americans. Technically it was a British victory, but Cornwallis, thousands of miles from home and any hope of possible reinforcements, had lost irreplaceable troops in numbers he could not afford to be without. He retired to Wilmington, North Carolina, then began the long march to Yorktown where he eventually surrendered.
(Photo missing)
FIGURE 189: Revolutionary War campaigns of 1780 and 1781. Isham Bobbitt was present at the Battle of Camden near Charleston, at the Battle of Guilford Court House and at the Siege of Yorktown.
Isham Bobbitt's own account of his military service is far less exciting and is included here as he related it in an application for a veteran's pension years later. The spelling and punctuation are typical of the time and place:
State of Illinois September 3, 1832
County of Morgan At Open Court
Isham Bobbitt a resident of this county, aged 78 years, who being duly sworn according to law, doth under oath make the following declaration:
That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in the county of Warren, North Carolina, about the first of February 1780. That he was mustered into service at that time under the command of Captain Christman and marched to Halifax where we were met by Colonel Allen, who took the command of the regiment. He marched us to Tarborough and thence to Cross Creek and Camden, thence to Nelsons Ferry near Monks Corner, thirty miles from Charleston. In a few days the Brittish troops took Charleston and then we were marched back to Camden in company with Colonel Bluford, at which place we parted from him. We marched under the command of General Caswell to Fayettesville and continued stationed there until the last of June, at which time we were discharged.
"I was first sergeant during the whole of this campaign. I then went and worked a three months tour with Colonel Long, a Quarter Master General. I was a wagon maker and repaired wagon gear for the army wagons. "
Some time in January 1781, Cornwallis was pursueing General Green. Isham Bobbitt then turned out a volunteer under Captain George Nasworthy. Colonel Williams commanded our regiment and General Eaton commanded the brigade. We joined the Army under the command of General Greene near Hillsborough and marched to Guilford Courthouse, where an engagement was had with Cornwallis' army. After a few days rest, we pursued him to Ramsey's mill on Deep River, where some fighting took place. After this, our Captain was taken sick and returned home. General Green then turned his course to South Carolina. He called for volunteers and I turned out under Captain Harris and Colonel Reed about the first of April 1781, and served three months under those officers from the first of April until the first of July. I was discharged and returned home.
About the first of September, I volunteered as a forage master under Captain Twitty and served in the light horse company and found my own horse. I continued in that service three months, having been discharged about the middle of December of the same year Under Captain Twitty I marched to Warrentown into the state of Virginia and pursued Cornwallis to Little York. After the surrender of his army we returned to North Carolina and marched down near to Willmington as a life guard to Governor Martin. We then returned to Harrisburg where we were discharged by order of Governor Martin and we returned home to Warren County North Carolina.
My time of service in the first trip was five months. The second tour as lader maker, three months. The third tour under Nasworthy was two months. The fourth tour under Harris and Colonel Reed was three months. The last tour under Captain Twitty was three months, making in all sixteen months, that I was engaged in the service of the United States.
At the end of the Revolutionary War Isham. returned home to Warren County, North Carolina, and resumed his family life. Soon thereafter, in 1782, he moved his family to Guilford County, North Carolina. He and Elizabeth eventually had eleven children who lived to maturity. They were: William James, Drury Allen, Winney, Stephen, John William, Amy, Frances, Elizabeth, Isham Drury, Sarah and Nancy.
In 1789 Isham moved to Spartanburg County, South Carolina, with his wife and family. His last three children were born there. Before leaving Guilford County he had entrusted to a relative for safekeeping a box containing his army discharge and ten thousand dollars in Continental currency. When he returned five years later to reclaim the box of papers he found that the box and its contents had been destroyed. The loss was not as great as it might seem, for the Continental money printed during the war was essentially worthless, hence the expression, "not worth a Continental'.
The early 1800's were difficult years, and the promise of a more prosperous life in the developing West was luring many across the Appalachians. In 1803 Isham. and Elizabeth moved once again, this time to Christian County in western Kentucky where they remained for twenty-four years. By now the Bobbitts were staunch Baptists. The fourth son, John William Bobbitt, was ordained a Baptist minister, and he performed the nuptials for many of his siblings in Kentucky.
Isham and Elizabeth moved to Morgan County in west central Illinois in the spring of 1827. Isham was now 73 years old. The Federal Government passed an act on June 7, 1832, providing pensions for soldiers who had served in the Revolutionary War, and Isham applied for his pension on September 3, 1832. The amount he received is not recorded, but his brother William is known to have received a pension of $34.99 12er year for his service in the same war! Isham's and Elizabeth's house burned in 1834, and they went to live with their daughter and son-in-law Nancy and John Chrisman, also in Morgan County, Illinois. Isharn died March 6, 1836. By virtue of an act of Congress passed in 1838 Elizabeth was entitled to half her husband's veteran's pension. She died on March 6, 1847, eleven years to the day after Isham's death.
Because of his Revolutionary War service Isham's name is engraved on a metal plaque at the Morgan County, Illinois, Court House. In 1938 his remains and his grave stone were removed from an old grave yard which had become a farmer's pasture over- run by livestock and moved to a landscaped Bobbin lot in Chapin Cemetery at Chapin, Morgan County, Illinois.
The Bobbitts supported the move for independence, and two of John Richard's sons, Isham and William, served in the Revolutionary Army. Isham was present at the Battle of Guilford Court House near Greensboro, North Carolina, on March 15, 1781, and later was a part of the American Army which pursued General Cornwallis' troops to Yorktown. William was wounded in the action at Guilford Court House.
On Isham Sr., From "the Bobbitts" by Warren Kump:
Isham was one of the most interesting individuals in the direct Bobbitt lineage, not only because he was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, but also because of the many moves in his lifetime which eventually placed this branch of the family north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
He was born on May 3, 1754, the sixth child of John Richard and Amy Alston Bobbitt in Granville, now Warren County, North Carolina. He married Elizabeth James in Halifax County, North Carolina, on October 13, 1774, when he was twenty years old. The couple's first four children were born between 1775 and 1779 and before his military service.
He volunteered for duty in the American army about February 1, 1780. By his own account he was present at the Camden, South Carolina, debacle of August 16, 1780, and at the hard-fought Battle of Guilford Court House only 100 miles west of his home on March 15, 1781. In that bloody battle the Americans suffered 1100 casualties, and the British lost 406.4
Note: The casualties number seems to be way off. Also, I'm not sure if "406.4" is meant to be 4,064 or 406.
His description of his service includes more detail of his many tedious marches through the Carolinas than of the actual fighting, suggesting that his position on the field may have been fairly peripheral. His brother William, however, was wounded in the Guilford Court House battle, receiving a musket ball shot through his thigh.
Typically an individual infantryman such as Isham was concerned with his immediate surroundings and unaware of the greater picture of the military engagement over- all. The Camden, South Carolina, fiasco came about when the incompetent American General Horatio Gates challenged General Cornwallis and his British regulars who were occupying Charleston. Gates had grossly overestimated the numerical strength of his own American forces and failed to recognize that they were untrained and poorly equipped. When Cornwallis' seasoned troops fired a volley and charged with bayonets the Virginia and North Carolina militias panicked and fled. The cowardly General Gates led the way to the rear on the fastest horse he could find.
The Battle of Guilford Court House was another story. The Americans had found a real commander in Major General Nathanael Greene. General Greene selected the battle site carefully and formulated a master battle plan. Just as a frontal assault by Cornwallis' troops appeared to be succeeding a flanking attack by American cavalry reversed the tide. As opposing infantry were engaged hand to hand Cornwallis, in desperation, ordered his artillery to fire grapeshot into the mass of contesting troops, killing his own as well as Americans. Technically it was a British victory, but Cornwallis, thousands of miles from home and any hope of possible reinforcements, had lost irreplaceable troops in numbers he could not afford to be without. He retired to Wilmington, North Carolina, then began the long march to Yorktown where he eventually surrendered.
(Photo missing)
FIGURE 189: Revolutionary War campaigns of 1780 and 1781. Isham Bobbitt was present at the Battle of Camden near Charleston, at the Battle of Guilford Court House and at the Siege of Yorktown.
Isham Bobbitt's own account of his military service is far less exciting and is included here as he related it in an application for a veteran's pension years later. The spelling and punctuation are typical of the time and place:
State of Illinois September 3, 1832
County of Morgan At Open Court
Isham Bobbitt a resident of this county, aged 78 years, who being duly sworn according to law, doth under oath make the following declaration:
That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in the county of Warren, North Carolina, about the first of February 1780. That he was mustered into service at that time under the command of Captain Christman and marched to Halifax where we were met by Colonel Allen, who took the command of the regiment. He marched us to Tarborough and thence to Cross Creek and Camden, thence to Nelsons Ferry near Monks Corner, thirty miles from Charleston. In a few days the Brittish troops took Charleston and then we were marched back to Camden in company with Colonel Bluford, at which place we parted from him. We marched under the command of General Caswell to Fayettesville and continued stationed there until the last of June, at which time we were discharged.
"I was first sergeant during the whole of this campaign. I then went and worked a three months tour with Colonel Long, a Quarter Master General. I was a wagon maker and repaired wagon gear for the army wagons. "
Some time in January 1781, Cornwallis was pursueing General Green. Isham Bobbitt then turned out a volunteer under Captain George Nasworthy. Colonel Williams commanded our regiment and General Eaton commanded the brigade. We joined the Army under the command of General Greene near Hillsborough and marched to Guilford Courthouse, where an engagement was had with Cornwallis' army. After a few days rest, we pursued him to Ramsey's mill on Deep River, where some fighting took place. After this, our Captain was taken sick and returned home. General Green then turned his course to South Carolina. He called for volunteers and I turned out under Captain Harris and Colonel Reed about the first of April 1781, and served three months under those officers from the first of April until the first of July. I was discharged and returned home.
About the first of September, I volunteered as a forage master under Captain Twitty and served in the light horse company and found my own horse. I continued in that service three months, having been discharged about the middle of December of the same year Under Captain Twitty I marched to Warrentown into the state of Virginia and pursued Cornwallis to Little York. After the surrender of his army we returned to North Carolina and marched down near to Willmington as a life guard to Governor Martin. We then returned to Harrisburg where we were discharged by order of Governor Martin and we returned home to Warren County North Carolina.
My time of service in the first trip was five months. The second tour as lader maker, three months. The third tour under Nasworthy was two months. The fourth tour under Harris and Colonel Reed was three months. The last tour under Captain Twitty was three months, making in all sixteen months, that I was engaged in the service of the United States.
At the end of the Revolutionary War Isham. returned home to Warren County, North Carolina, and resumed his family life. Soon thereafter, in 1782, he moved his family to Guilford County, North Carolina. He and Elizabeth eventually had eleven children who lived to maturity. They were: William James, Drury Allen, Winney, Stephen, John William, Amy, Frances, Elizabeth, Isham Drury, Sarah and Nancy.
In 1789 Isham moved to Spartanburg County, South Carolina, with his wife and family. His last three children were born there. Before leaving Guilford County he had entrusted to a relative for safekeeping a box containing his army discharge and ten thousand dollars in Continental currency. When he returned five years later to reclaim the box of papers he found that the box and its contents had been destroyed. The loss was not as great as it might seem, for the Continental money printed during the war was essentially worthless, hence the expression, "not worth a Continental'.
The early 1800's were difficult years, and the promise of a more prosperous life in the developing West was luring many across the Appalachians. In 1803 Isham. and Elizabeth moved once again, this time to Christian County in western Kentucky where they remained for twenty-four years. By now the Bobbitts were staunch Baptists. The fourth son, John William Bobbitt, was ordained a Baptist minister, and he performed the nuptials for many of his siblings in Kentucky.
Isham and Elizabeth moved to Morgan County in west central Illinois in the spring of 1827. Isham was now 73 years old. The Federal Government passed an act on June 7, 1832, providing pensions for soldiers who had served in the Revolutionary War, and Isham applied for his pension on September 3, 1832. The amount he received is not recorded, but his brother William is known to have received a pension of $34.99 12er year for his service in the same war! Isham's and Elizabeth's house burned in 1834, and they went to live with their daughter and son-in-law Nancy and John Chrisman, also in Morgan County, Illinois. Isharn died March 6, 1836. By virtue of an act of Congress passed in 1838 Elizabeth was entitled to half her husband's veteran's pension. She died on March 6, 1847, eleven years to the day after Isham's death.
Because of his Revolutionary War service Isham's name is engraved on a metal plaque at the Morgan County, Illinois, Court House. In 1938 his remains and his grave stone were removed from an old grave yard which had become a farmer's pasture over- run by livestock and moved to a landscaped Bobbin lot in Chapin Cemetery at Chapin, Morgan County, Illinois.
John Richard Bobbitt and Amy Alston were the parents of Isham Drury Bobbitt Sr. John Richard Bobbitt was born on 1725 in Edgecomb, Halifax then, North Carolina and died on Nov 1791 in Waren, North Carolina. Amy Alston was born on 1727 in Bertie, North Carolina and died on 2 Mar 1796 in Warren, North Carolina. John and Amy were married on 1743 in Edgecombe, Halifax then, North Carolina and had the following children together:
Drury Bobbitt 1744 - 1826
Winnie Bobbitt 1745 -
Sarah Sally Bobbitt 1746 - 1820
Stephen Erasmus Bobbitt 1747 - 1824
John Bobbitt 1749 - 1824
Alston Bobbitt 1752 - 1784
Isham Drury Bobbitt 1754 - 1836
Randolph Bobbitt 1755 - 1804
Sally Bobbitt 1758 -
William Bobbitt 1761 - 1839
Amy Bobbitt 1763 -
Drury Bobbitt 1744 - 1826
Winnie Bobbitt 1745 -
Sarah Sally Bobbitt 1746 - 1820
Stephen Erasmus Bobbitt 1747 - 1824
John Bobbitt 1749 - 1824
Alston Bobbitt 1752 - 1784
Isham Drury Bobbitt 1754 - 1836
Randolph Bobbitt 1755 - 1804
Sally Bobbitt 1758 -
William Bobbitt 1761 - 1839
Amy Bobbitt 1763 -
On John Richard Bobbitt, From "the Bobbitts" by Warren Kump:
John Richard Bobbitt (1725-1791)
John Richard Bobbitt was the first-born son of William Bobbitt and Amy Bennett Bobbitt. He was born in 1725 in what is now Warren County, North Carolina. His mother was a daughter of Richard Bennett. Tradition holds that he received his first name from his paternal grandfather and his middle name from his mother's father.
He married Amy Alston, daughter of John Alston, in 1743 when he was eighteen years of age. That same year he began a successful agricultural career by petitioning for a grant of 400 acres in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, a petition which was granted. On March 11, 1760, he was granted another 175 acres of land "on both sides of Fishing Creek, the great branch" by John, Earl Granville, the Viscount Carteret and Baron Carteret of Hawness in the County of Bedford, Kingdom of Great Britain. Needless to say, the land of the Earl of Granville was in Granville County. Three years later, on May 23, 1763, John Richard purchased another 300 acres from Francis Capps.
On July 16, 1767, he sold to Peter Smart 295 acres of land "exclusive of two acres around the Baptist Meeting House and spring". The price for the 295 acres was 110 pounds, Virginia money. The price of land was escalating! One other interesting feature of this sale besides the rising value of land was the mention of a Baptist Meeting House. The first Baptist Association in Virginia had been organized in 1756, and in the next two decades the Baptist movement had spread rapidly. The fact that John Richard referred to it as a "Meeting House" rather than a church suggests that he still adhered to the Church of England. On the other hand the very fact that the "meeting house" was located on land which he owned might indicate that he had joined the Baptist movement himself.
John Richard and Amy Alston Bobbitt had ten children who lived to maturity. Their names and the years of their births were:
Drury Bobbitt 1744
Winnine Bobbitt 1746
Stephen Bobbitt 1747
John Bobbitt 1749
Alston Bobbitt 1752
Isham Bobbitt 1754
Randolph Bobbitt 1755
Sally Bobbitt 1758
William Bobbitt 1761
Amy Bobbitt 1763
In a material sense John Richard was the most successful of all those in the direct Bobbitt line. A tax list in 1771 reveals that he had four slaves, Okey, Lacy, Ned and Jimmy. Fifteen years later the North Carolina State Census of 1786 reported that he owned seventeen slaves. In the taxable year of 1790 he was considered the fourth wealthiest "planter" in his district, he and his four older sons owning ten per cent of the taxable property in the entire area. The source of his wealth was the tobacco produced on his plantation by slave labor. The financial success was achieved in spite of low prices for tobacco caused by overproduction in both Virginia and North Carolina.
The last twenty years of John Richard's life were tumultuous ones in American history. England had gone into debt as a result of colonial wars against Spain, France and the Indians and was now attempting to solve some of its financial problems by imposing a series of taxes and commercial restrictions on the American colonies. The Navigation Acts passed many years previous but never strictly enforced were now requiring that tobacco produced in the colonies be exported only to England, thus allow- ing English merchants to redirect it into international trade at a profit. Other Navigation Acts required that goods imported into the colonies, even if originating in other nearby colonies, had to be landed in England first. Additional onerous measures included the Quartering Act, the infamous Stamp Act, and the Townshend Acts which placed import duties on tea, paper, lead and paint.
North Carolina was the first colony to instruct its delegates to the Continental Congress to vote for independence from Great Britain.4 The Bobbitts supported the move for independence, and two of John Richard's sons, Isham and William, served in the Revolutionary Army. Isham was present at the Battle of Guilford Court House near Greensboro, North Carolina, on March 15, 1781, and later was a part of the American Army which pursued General Cornwallis' troops to Yorktown. William was wounded in the action at Guilford Court House.
John Richard lived to hear of George Washington's inauguration as first president of the United States in 1789, then he died in 1791 at age 66. His will, dated December 7, 1789, named all his children and the two grandchildren living at the time. The daughters were all mentioned by their given names and the surnames of their husbands. It read:
IN THE NAME OF GOD, "EN;
I, John Bobbitt of Warren County, being sick and old, but of sound mind, and calling to mind, the manifold blessings that Bountiful Providence has bestowed on me, and that it is appointed to all men, once to die.
I do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following, and after recommending my soul to God, who gave it to me, and my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors andfi-iends. I would next indeavour to dispose of what little worldly property it hath pleased the Almighty God to bless me with.
I give or rather lend, to my wife Amy Bobbitt, during her natural life, the follow- ing negroes. Namely: Roger and Pheby and at the death of my beloved wife, Roger is to pass and go to my son Drury Bobbitt and his heirs, and the negro girl Pheby, with her increase, to be equally divided between my two grandchildren now living with me, to witt: Lewis and John, sons of Randolph Bobbitt. I also lend to my beloved wife, two feather beds andfurniture, one of which, at her death, is to go to my son Isham, and the other of them, that she chooses to give it to, as also to have nine head of the choice of my stock of cattle, with a yoke of oxen, for the use of the plantation together with the use of all the house and kitchen furniture, and at her decease to be equally divided amongst all my children and their representatives. Also one bay mare, also one third part of all my stock of hogs and sheep and together with the house I now live in and any part of my land that she may thinkfit to live on during her natural life.
I give to my son Drury Bobbittfive pounds in money.
I give to my son, John Bobbin one negro man, now in his care, which Iformerly lent him and twenty shillings in money.
I give to my daughter, Sally Dardin, one negro boy, now in her care, named Warren.
I give to my daughter Winney Golightly, two negroes, Nancy and Paster, with their increase, to her and her heirs forever
I give to my son, Stephen Bobbitt, one negro fellow called Lem, now in his pos- session andfive cows and calves.
I lend to my son, Isham Bobbitt, during his life, two negroes, Alice and Abbey and at his decease the said negroes with their increase to be equally divided between all of his children and their representatives.
I give to my daughter, Amy James, during her life one negro, Violet and at her decease to go to her son Willie James.
I give to my son, William Bobbitt, one negro man by the name of Okey, together with a parcel of land adjoining him above my old line to the mill path, supposed to be aboutfifty acres.
I give and bequeath to my son Randolph Bobbitt, all that tract of land, I live on, after the use, lent to his mother, supposed to be about three hundred acres and about fifty acres of pine woods. Also one negro fellow named Jesse, also one sorrell horse, five cows and calves, and two other young cattle of his choice, and one bed and furniture, and all the residue of my estate, hogs and cattle not herein given away, to be sold and the money to be equally divided amongst all my children, and lastly I appoint my two sons, Drury and Stephen to be my executors of this my last will and testament, in witness whereof, I have set my hand and seal this SEVENTH DAY OF DECEMBER 1789.
JOHN BOBBITT
Amy Alston Bobbitt survived her husband by five years, then died in 1796.
He married Amy Alston, daughter of John Alston, in 1743 when he was eighteen years of age. That same year he began a successful agricultural career by petitioning for a grant of 400 acres in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, a petition which was granted. On March 11, 1760, he was granted another 175 acres of land "on both sides of Fishing Creek, the great branch" by John, Earl Granville, the Viscount Carteret and Baron Carteret of Hawness in the County of Bedford, Kingdom of Great Britain. Needless to say, the land of the Earl of Granville was in Granville County. Three years later, on May 23, 1763, John Richard purchased another 300 acres from Francis Capps.
On July 16, 1767, he sold to Peter Smart 295 acres of land "exclusive of two acres around the Baptist Meeting House and spring". The price for the 295 acres was 110 pounds, Virginia money. The price of land was escalating! One other interesting feature of this sale besides the rising value of land was the mention of a Baptist Meeting House. The first Baptist Association in Virginia had been organized in 1756, and in the next two decades the Baptist movement had spread rapidly. The fact that John Richard referred to it as a "Meeting House" rather than a church suggests that he still adhered to the Church of England. On the other hand the very fact that the "meeting house" was located on land which he owned might indicate that he had joined the Baptist movement himself.
John Richard and Amy Alston Bobbitt had ten children who lived to maturity. Their names and the years of their births were:
Drury Bobbitt 1744
Winnine Bobbitt 1746
Stephen Bobbitt 1747
John Bobbitt 1749
Alston Bobbitt 1752
Isham Bobbitt 1754
Randolph Bobbitt 1755
Sally Bobbitt 1758
William Bobbitt 1761
Amy Bobbitt 1763
In a material sense John Richard was the most successful of all those in the direct Bobbitt line. A tax list in 1771 reveals that he had four slaves, Okey, Lacy, Ned and Jimmy. Fifteen years later the North Carolina State Census of 1786 reported that he owned seventeen slaves. In the taxable year of 1790 he was considered the fourth wealthiest "planter" in his district, he and his four older sons owning ten per cent of the taxable property in the entire area. The source of his wealth was the tobacco produced on his plantation by slave labor. The financial success was achieved in spite of low prices for tobacco caused by overproduction in both Virginia and North Carolina.
The last twenty years of John Richard's life were tumultuous ones in American history. England had gone into debt as a result of colonial wars against Spain, France and the Indians and was now attempting to solve some of its financial problems by imposing a series of taxes and commercial restrictions on the American colonies. The Navigation Acts passed many years previous but never strictly enforced were now requiring that tobacco produced in the colonies be exported only to England, thus allow- ing English merchants to redirect it into international trade at a profit. Other Navigation Acts required that goods imported into the colonies, even if originating in other nearby colonies, had to be landed in England first. Additional onerous measures included the Quartering Act, the infamous Stamp Act, and the Townshend Acts which placed import duties on tea, paper, lead and paint.
North Carolina was the first colony to instruct its delegates to the Continental Congress to vote for independence from Great Britain.4 The Bobbitts supported the move for independence, and two of John Richard's sons, Isham and William, served in the Revolutionary Army. Isham was present at the Battle of Guilford Court House near Greensboro, North Carolina, on March 15, 1781, and later was a part of the American Army which pursued General Cornwallis' troops to Yorktown. William was wounded in the action at Guilford Court House.
John Richard lived to hear of George Washington's inauguration as first president of the United States in 1789, then he died in 1791 at age 66. His will, dated December 7, 1789, named all his children and the two grandchildren living at the time. The daughters were all mentioned by their given names and the surnames of their husbands. It read:
IN THE NAME OF GOD, "EN;
I, John Bobbitt of Warren County, being sick and old, but of sound mind, and calling to mind, the manifold blessings that Bountiful Providence has bestowed on me, and that it is appointed to all men, once to die.
I do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following, and after recommending my soul to God, who gave it to me, and my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors andfi-iends. I would next indeavour to dispose of what little worldly property it hath pleased the Almighty God to bless me with.
I give or rather lend, to my wife Amy Bobbitt, during her natural life, the follow- ing negroes. Namely: Roger and Pheby and at the death of my beloved wife, Roger is to pass and go to my son Drury Bobbitt and his heirs, and the negro girl Pheby, with her increase, to be equally divided between my two grandchildren now living with me, to witt: Lewis and John, sons of Randolph Bobbitt. I also lend to my beloved wife, two feather beds andfurniture, one of which, at her death, is to go to my son Isham, and the other of them, that she chooses to give it to, as also to have nine head of the choice of my stock of cattle, with a yoke of oxen, for the use of the plantation together with the use of all the house and kitchen furniture, and at her decease to be equally divided amongst all my children and their representatives. Also one bay mare, also one third part of all my stock of hogs and sheep and together with the house I now live in and any part of my land that she may thinkfit to live on during her natural life.
I give to my son Drury Bobbittfive pounds in money.
I give to my son, John Bobbin one negro man, now in his care, which Iformerly lent him and twenty shillings in money.
I give to my daughter, Sally Dardin, one negro boy, now in her care, named Warren.
I give to my daughter Winney Golightly, two negroes, Nancy and Paster, with their increase, to her and her heirs forever
I give to my son, Stephen Bobbitt, one negro fellow called Lem, now in his pos- session andfive cows and calves.
I lend to my son, Isham Bobbitt, during his life, two negroes, Alice and Abbey and at his decease the said negroes with their increase to be equally divided between all of his children and their representatives.
I give to my daughter, Amy James, during her life one negro, Violet and at her decease to go to her son Willie James.
I give to my son, William Bobbitt, one negro man by the name of Okey, together with a parcel of land adjoining him above my old line to the mill path, supposed to be aboutfifty acres.
I give and bequeath to my son Randolph Bobbitt, all that tract of land, I live on, after the use, lent to his mother, supposed to be about three hundred acres and about fifty acres of pine woods. Also one negro fellow named Jesse, also one sorrell horse, five cows and calves, and two other young cattle of his choice, and one bed and furniture, and all the residue of my estate, hogs and cattle not herein given away, to be sold and the money to be equally divided amongst all my children, and lastly I appoint my two sons, Drury and Stephen to be my executors of this my last will and testament, in witness whereof, I have set my hand and seal this SEVENTH DAY OF DECEMBER 1789.
JOHN BOBBITT
Amy Alston Bobbitt survived her husband by five years, then died in 1796.
William Bobbitt and Amy "Winnie" Bennett were the parents of John Richard Bobbitt. William Bobbitt was born on 1704 in Prince George, Virginia and died on 1768 in Granville, North Carolina. William and Amy were married on 1724 in Warren, North Carolina and had the following children:
John Richard Bobbitt 1725 - 1791
William Bobbitt 1727 - 1798
Amy Bobbitt 1729 -
John Richard Bobbitt 1725 - 1791
William Bobbitt 1727 - 1798
Amy Bobbitt 1729 -
On William Bobbitt, From "the Bobbitts" by Warren Kump:
William Bobbitt (1704-1768)
William Bobbitt, eldest son of John of Chowan and Sarah Green Bobbitt, was born in the newly-formed Prince George County of Virginia in 1704 and named after his paternal grandfather. In 1718 when he was fourteen years of age he moved with his parents to Chowan Precinct, North Carolina.
As a young adult he was married to Amy Bennett, and the couple had two sons, John Richard, born in 1725, and William, Jr., born in 1727. They lived in what is today Warren County, North Carolina, just south of the Virginia border. In Warren County there remains to this day the largest concentration of Bobbitts in the United States. The village of Bobbitt, North Carolina, is located in adjacent Vance County.
Relatively little is known of this William Bobbitt. He sold 100 acres of land to a John Smart on February 19, 1744. The land was described as "in the fork of Buffaloe". This referred to a creek in present day Warren County, North Carolina. The 100 acres is presumably the land he inherited from his father who had died eight years earlier.
There is a record that he was called to jury duty in 1747, to attend court in the house of William L. Easton who lived three or four miles from Henderson, North Carolina.
He obtained from John, Earl Granville, (of Granville County) 600 acres of land for "three shillings of proclamation money" on March 25, 1749. The land was described as "in Parish of St. John on the south side of Little Fishing Creek." This land is also in present day Warren County. He sold 550 acres to Thomas Williams in July, 1754, and the remaining 50 acres to Daniel Harris a month later.
He died in 1768.
As a young adult he was married to Amy Bennett, and the couple had two sons, John Richard, born in 1725, and William, Jr., born in 1727. They lived in what is today Warren County, North Carolina, just south of the Virginia border. In Warren County there remains to this day the largest concentration of Bobbitts in the United States. The village of Bobbitt, North Carolina, is located in adjacent Vance County.
Relatively little is known of this William Bobbitt. He sold 100 acres of land to a John Smart on February 19, 1744. The land was described as "in the fork of Buffaloe". This referred to a creek in present day Warren County, North Carolina. The 100 acres is presumably the land he inherited from his father who had died eight years earlier.
There is a record that he was called to jury duty in 1747, to attend court in the house of William L. Easton who lived three or four miles from Henderson, North Carolina.
He obtained from John, Earl Granville, (of Granville County) 600 acres of land for "three shillings of proclamation money" on March 25, 1749. The land was described as "in Parish of St. John on the south side of Little Fishing Creek." This land is also in present day Warren County. He sold 550 acres to Thomas Williams in July, 1754, and the remaining 50 acres to Daniel Harris a month later.
He died in 1768.
Warning: This is where the Bobbitt line splits according to which line you believe is correct. The Wales line or the Suffolk line. If you go with the Wales line then John Bobbitt married Sarah Green. If you go with the Suffolk line then John Bobbitt married Sarah Owen. Each line follows a different path. I am going with the Suffolk line; which is Marsha Berry's continued line, and will show it as I continue on this page below. If you are interested in find out more on the Wales line then you can either find or buy the book, "The Kumps, the Bobbitts, and others", written by Warren L Kump, printed in January 1, 1995, which is out of print, or read the brief online history of the Bobbitts by Warren Kump at: http://lanbob.com/lanbob/H-Bobbitt/H-1926WK-BOB.htm. You can also Keith Bobbitt's website at: http://www.keithbobbitt.com/, where they explain why they believe why the line goes to Suffolk, England area instead of Wales. They also have DNA support for their claim. You can also follow the Bobbitt - Babbitt Group on facebook for the most current news at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dnabobbitt/.
John Bobbitt and Sarah Owen were parents of William Bobbitt. John Bobbitt was born on 1676 in City Point, Charleston City, Virginia and died sometime between 7 May and 6 Nov 1736 in Bertie Precinct, Chowan, North Carolina. Sarah Owen was born on 1689 in Abingdon Parish, Gloucester, Virginia and died on 1734 in Chowan, North Carolina. John and Sarah were married on 8 Nov 1703 in Charles City, Virginia and they had the following children together:
William Bobbitt 1704 - 1768
Thomas Bobbitt 1706 - 1759
Frances F Bobbitt 1710 -
Amey Bobbitt 1712 - 1823
Mary Bobbitt 1715 -
William Bobbitt 1704 - 1768
Thomas Bobbitt 1706 - 1759
Frances F Bobbitt 1710 -
Amey Bobbitt 1712 - 1823
Mary Bobbitt 1715 -
William Bobbet Jr. and Elizabeth Whittington were parents of John Bobbitt. Wiiliam Bobbet Jr. was born on 12 Aug 1647 in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England and died on 18 Jun 1712 in South Side Jones Hole Swamp, Surry Virginia. Elizabeth Whittington was born on 1652 in Isle of Wight, Virginia and died after 1712 in South Side Jones Hole Swamp, Surry, Virginia. Both William and Elizabeth are buried in South Side Jones Hole Swamp, Surry, Virgina (broken tombstones). William and Elizabeth were married on Feb 1674 in City Point, Virginia. They had the following children together:
William Bobbett Jr. of Sussex 1675 - 1738
John Bobbitt of Chowan 1676 - 1736
James Bobbett of Halifax 1680 - 1740
William Bobbett Jr. of Sussex 1675 - 1738
John Bobbitt of Chowan 1676 - 1736
James Bobbett of Halifax 1680 - 1740
William Bobbet Sr. and Francisse Dolbie were parents of William Bobbet Jr. William Bobbet Sr. was born on 18 Oct 1610 in Campsea Ash, Suffolk, England and died on Apr 1683 in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England. Francissee Dolbie was born on 15 Jan 1613 in West Deeping, Lincolnshire, England and died in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England. William and Francissee were married on 1645 in Saint Mary, Woodbridge, Suffolk, England and had the following children together:
William Bobbet Jr. 1647 - 1712
Simon Bobbet 1649 -
Humfrey Bobbet 1656 -
Deborah Bobbet 1657 -
Francis Bobbett 1660 -
William Bobbet Jr. 1647 - 1712
Simon Bobbet 1649 -
Humfrey Bobbet 1656 -
Deborah Bobbet 1657 -
Francis Bobbett 1660 -
John Bobbet and Margaret Edgare were parents of William Bobbet Sr. John Bobbet was born on 20 Jan 1579 in Grundisburgh, Suffolk, England and died on Apr 1617 in Wickham Market, Suffolk, England. Margaret Edgare was born on 16 Mar 1577 in Campsea Ash, Suffolk, England and died after 1637 in Suffolk, England. John and Margaret married on 7 Oct 1600 in Campsea Ash, Suffolk, England and they had the following children together:
John Bobbet 1602 -
Dorothie Bobbet 1604 -
Elsabeth Bobbet 1608 -
William Bobbet Sr. 1610 - 1683
Margaret may have re-married after1617.
John Bobbet 1602 -
Dorothie Bobbet 1604 -
Elsabeth Bobbet 1608 -
William Bobbet Sr. 1610 - 1683
Margaret may have re-married after1617.
William Bobbet and Katheryn (unknown maiden name) were parents of John Bobbet. William Bobbet was born about 1558 in Suffolk, England and died on Jun 1582 in Grundisburgh, Suffolk, England. Katheryn was born about 1559 in Suffolk, Enland and died after 1582 in Suffolk, England. William and Katheryn were married about 1578 in Suffolk, England and they had the following children together:
John Bobbet 1579 - 1617
Dorothie Bobbet 1580 - 1616
Alice Bobbet 1581 -
John Bobbet 1579 - 1617
Dorothie Bobbet 1580 - 1616
Alice Bobbet 1581 -
Nycholas or Nic Bobbet and Hellond Smith or Smythe were parents of William Bobbet. Nycholas Bobbet was born about 1510 in Suffolk, England and died on 1559 in Grundisburgh, Suffolk, England. Hellond Smith was born about 1527 in Suffolk, England and died about 1558 in Grundisburgh, Suffolk, England. Nycholas and Hellond were married on 21 Oct 1547 in Grundisbrugh, Suffolk, England and they had the following children together:
Agnes Bobbet 1549 - 1554
Robert or Robet Bobbet or Bebet 1556 -
William Bobbet 1558 - 1582
Agnes Bobbet 1549 - 1554
Robert or Robet Bobbet or Bebet 1556 -
William Bobbet 1558 - 1582
Johannes Bobbet and Celeste (unknown maiden name) were parents of Nycholas Bobbet. Johannes Bobbet was born about 1480 in Suffolk, England and died on 1510 in Lpswich, Suffolk, England. Celeste was born about 1481 in Suffolk, England and died after 1537 in Suffolk, England. Johannes and Celeste were married about 1500 in Suffolk, England and had the following children together:
Johannes Bobbet 1500 - 1537
Joanne or Joas Bobbet 1501 - 1577
Joyce Bobbet 1503 - 1577
Ann or Anne or An Bobbet 1504 - 1577
Robert Bobbet 1506 -
John Bobbet 1508 - 1577
Nycholas or Nic Bobbet 1510 - 1559
Johannes Bobbet 1500 - 1537
Joanne or Joas Bobbet 1501 - 1577
Joyce Bobbet 1503 - 1577
Ann or Anne or An Bobbet 1504 - 1577
Robert Bobbet 1506 -
John Bobbet 1508 - 1577
Nycholas or Nic Bobbet 1510 - 1559
John Bobbet and Margery (unknown maiden name) were parents of Johannes Bobbet. John Bobbet was born about 1460 in Suffolk, England and died in Suffolk, England. Margery was born about 1460 in Suffolk, England and died in Suffolk, England. The marriage information is unknown, but they had the following children together:
Johannes Bobbet 1480 - 1510
Thomas Bobbet 1482 -
Johannes Bobbet 1480 - 1510
Thomas Bobbet 1482 -
William Bebat or Bobbet and Alice (unknown maiden name) were parents of John Bobbet. William Bebat or Bobbet was born about 1440 in Suffolk, England and died before 1 Oct 1482 in Hemley, Suffolk, England. Alice was born about 1442 in Suffolk, England and died in Suffolk, England. The marriage information is unknown, but they had the following children together:
John Bobbet 1460 -
William Bobbet 1462 -
Roger Bobbet 1464 -
Robert Bobbet 1466 - 1515
John Bobbet 1460 -
William Bobbet 1462 -
Roger Bobbet 1464 -
Robert Bobbet 1466 - 1515
And so we are at the end of the Bobbitt line...so far. We end at Hemley, Suffolk, England.