Dobyns, Thomas
From Old Bailey Wiki
t17590117-14 (Victim of theft)
Dobyns was born in Ruislip, the son of Thomas Dobyns, vintner. He was apprenticed in 1722 to Robert Webb, upholder, on 23rd June 1722 and was admitted a Freeman of the Upholders company on February 4th 1730 and a Liveryman on September 6th 1732. Dobyns took apprentices throughout his working life and was active in the affairs of the company serving as Master in 1758-1759.[1]
His master Webb was the previous occupant of the George Street premises, the second house from the corner with Conduit Street, and it therefore seems that Dobyns took over both premises and trade on Webb's death some time during 1729. He also paid rates for a second house in Conduit Street which was let to tenants.[2] In May 1735 a Widow Webb was paid 5 shillings from the Upholders company poor box.[3] He has an entry in Beard, G. and Gilbert, C., eds., Dictionary of English Furniture makers 1660-1840 (Furniture History Society, Leeds, 1986), p. 248 and Heal, A., London Furniture makers from the Restoration to the Victorian Era, 1660-1840, (London 1988, first published 1953), p. 49.
By 1731 Dobyns was married to Elizabeth (maiden name unknown) and the couple had 4 children by 1743. Prior to this Dobyns had in June 1727 fathered an illegitimate daughter Jane by one Margaret Harding.[4] He died in 1766 and was survived by his wife Elizabeth, son Thomas (b. 1731)for whom he was purchasing a commission in the army and an unmarried daughter Mary (b.1743). He asked to be buried in his parish of birth, Ruislip.[5]
Dobyns was politically active as a Westminster Independent. He voted on the first day of polling for the Independent candidate, Vandeput, in the bitterly contested 1749 Westminster by election and attended the subsequent protracted scrutiny of challenged votes in 1749-1750 as a witness.[6] In 1742 he had been a member of a committee from the 5 largest Westminster parishes set up to campaign for legislation to replace select vestries with popular elections.[7]
References
- ↑ Guildhall Library (GL), Records of the Worhipful company of Upholders Freedom Admissions MS 17142 and Minutes Vol. 1 MS 7141/1 and vol. 2 MS 7131/2.
- ↑ Westminster City Archive (WCA), Rate Books C1, C20 and C38 for example.
- ↑ GL, MS 7141/2.
- ↑ WCA, St George Hanover Square baptism register
- ↑ The National Archives, will of Thomas Dobyns, PROB 11/919.
- ↑ British Libary(BL), A copy of the poll for a citizen for the City and Liberty of Westminster (London, 1749), Lansdowne MSS 509a.
- ↑ GL, MS 3778.
