10. John3 Dabson (Jeremiah2, Jeremiah1) was born about 1753 in Biddenden, Kent, England. He was baptized 6 January 1754 in Smarden, Kent, England, and was buried 16 June 1843 in Frittenden, Kent, England. He married Obedience "Beechen" Batt, the daughter of Isaac and Elizabeth Batt, on 27 February 1786 in Smarden, Kent, England, Obedience was baptized 29 April 1759 in Smarden, and was buried 1 April 1834 in Frittenden, Kent, England.

Since John was born in Biddenden and his father was considered legally settled in Smarden, a question arises about why John ended up living in Frittenden. A Case Report filed on 13 July 1786 not only explains John’s residence in Frittenden, but, as noted in previous sections, also provides valuable information about Jeremiah senior and Jeremiah junior.

The following quoted material relates specifically to John Dabson, grandson of Jeremiah senior:
“John the Grandson went from Smarden (after the return of his Father) to Frittenden and lived as a hired servant for a year there and then came back again to Smarden and lived there in nature of an apprentice for 5 years but not by Indenture.
“Jeremiah Dabson the Father of John bargained for him to live at Frittenden as aforesaid: on Old Michalmas Day to serve one year for a Guinea which he did. He afterwards bargained for him to serve another year; about half of which he served when his master released him to go to Smarden in nature of an apprentice as aforesaid.
“But John the Grandson having lived a year as a hired servant in Frittenden is by that means settled there. The hiring as an apprentice has given him no subsequent settlement.”

On 5 August 1786 the Justices of the Peace of the County of Kent issued a removal order to the Church Wardens and Overseers of the Poor of Smarden and to the same officials in Frittenden stating that John Dabson and his wife Beeching (sic) were legal residents of Frittenden and should be removed to that location. A final settlement order signed by Frittenden parish officials was executed on 4 January 1787.

Smarden baptismal and marriage records give the name of John’s wife as Obedience; however, based on the removal and settlement orders, it appears that she did not normally use the name Obedience, but most often was called Beechen This is important to note since records found in Frittenden only refer to her as Beechen, not as Obedience.

Children of John Dabson and Obedience Batt:
18 i. MARY4 DABSON was born about 1789 in Frittenden, Kent, England, and was baptized 6 December 1789 in Smarden, Kent, England. She married HENRY POPE on 16 April 1811 in Frittenden. Children of Mary Dabson and Henry Pope are: Henry Pope (c. 1813), William Pope (c. 1817), Martha Pope (c. 1819), William Henry Pope (c. 1821), George Pope (c. 1822), Mary Ann Pope (c. 1824), Harriet Pope (c. 1827), Joseph Pope (c. 1830) and James Pope (c. 1833).
+ 19 ii. JOHN DABSON was born about 1792 in Frittenden, Kent, England, and died in 1846 in Frittenden.
20 iii. ELIZABETH ANN DABSON was born about 1795 and baptized 1 June 1800 at the age of 5 years in Frittenden, Kent, England. Elizabeth had a daughter, also named Elizabeth, who was baptized in Frittenden on 25 December 1817.
21 iv. THOMAS DABSON was baptized 10 April 1796 at home in Frittenden, Kent, England, because he was dangerously ill. The record indicates that he was “admitted to the church” on 15 May 1796. The baptism record indicates his parents were Jeremiah and Beechen Dabson, but Jeremiah as father is almost certainly an error.