Person:Edward Hobbs (12)

Note: Edward was baptised Edward HOBBS or HASLING, St. Johns Parramatta Church of England by Rev Samuel Marsden on the 11th August 1805 (registered 2nd November 1805) and the baptism certificate lists his birth date as the 3rd November 1803. He was baptised on the same day as his sisters, Elizabeth and Harriett. Note: Edward was the 5th child born to Robert HOBBS (Convict "Active") and Bridget HESLIN (Convict "Sugar Cane") and he was the 2nd eldest male child of the family. He was obviously educated as he was able to write quite fluently as this was evident in his letter in 1829 to the Colonial Secretary regarding his land grant. Note: Edward was known as Ned and was also nicknamed "Ironbark" and is mentioned in an article on the "Currency Lads". He was reputed to be 6'6" tall. Note: Edward never married but it appears that he remained close to his sisters Harriett (who married John ROSE) and Elizabeth (who married William TURNER). Edward received an order of a selection for 60 acres of land from Governor Macquarie in 1821. Some of his brothers-in-laws also received similar orders. They went to "Hunter's River" to select their land and gave their orders to Mr DANGAR, the Assistant Surveyor, who never acted upon them. These orders were afterwards lost but previous to his departure from the Colony, Mr. DANGAR gave them a letter to Mr. OXLEY confirming their grants. Edward eventually received his Grant at Webb's Creek at the end of 1829. He described it as follows: Note: "The land I have selected is situated on Webb's Creek on the River Hawkesbury, is unoccupied, and is about half a mile above water carriage, and one mile above the farm of Thomas GROSE. It is also one mile below the farm lately granted to John ROSE of Pitt Town". (? Grose or should it be Thomas CROSS). Note: Sydney Gazette 5th May 1821 - a notice from the Surveyor General’s Office 28 April 1821 - “The following List of Names of New settlers who are to receive Grants of land and of old settlers, who are to have additional lands located for them in the Year 1821 is published for general information” and Edward HOBBS’ name is listed amongst them. Note: There was some doubt about whether or not his selection formed part of Andrew DOYLE’S farm of 100 acres and, on 22nd December 1829 he advised as follows: Note: "I beg in reply to state that my selection is above Doyle's Farm, and does not come to his side line, as there is a considerable lagoon and swamp intervenes betwixt the two selections. Doyle's farm is at the head of the water carriage, and mine will be the next to his and immediately above it on the same side of the creek". Note: Edward evidently sold his land to his brother-in-law John ROSE. John ROSE died in 1855 and in his Will he bequeathed 60 acres of land to one of his sons, and he described it as the grant originally made to Edward HOBBS. Note: Edward was a bare-knuckle fighter and there is reference to this in the local newspaper (date unknown): Note: "Edward HOBBS fell out with a neighbour Joseph SMITH (Jnr) and decided to settle their differences with an arranged fight, Joseph's father offering 50 pounds if his son won. Both had seconds and "bottle holders". In Edward's case it was Robert HOBBS (Jnr) "second", and John ROSE (brother-in-law) "Bottle Holder", the fight taking place at Pitt Town on 15 May 1826. The umpires were William Thomas BAYLISS of Windsor and Nathan COWAN of Vinegar Hill Gate. The battle lasted over half an hour and never had so many people collected before at Pitt Town. Joseph SMITH (Jnr) having won, his father was seen to give him the money. When the fighters were arrested they declared they had wanted to settle their differences without disturbing the peace, they were each fined 5 pounds and imprisoned until it was paid". Note: Also according to the Sydney Gazette dated 15th July 1826: Note: “Joseph SMITH and Edward HOBBS, were severally indictd for a breach of the peace, in committing a riot at Pitt-town, by fighting a pitched battle. Both pleaded GUILTY, and were sentenced to pay a fine to the King of Five Pounds, and to be imprisoned until the said fine be paid” (sounds like it could be referring to the above). Note: In 1837 Edward HOBBS was back in trouble with the law "for breach of the peace" for which he was bound to good behaviour. Note: Edward HOBBS died 26 January 1871 at Smith Street, West Maitland at his sister Elizabeth TURNER’S house where he had been living. (Smith Street was originally known as Turner's Lane). Elizabeth was the informant on the death certificate. He was listed as a labourer and the primary cause of death was Senile Bronchitis with Stricture of the Oesophagus listed as a secondary cause. He was buried on the 28th January 1871 (Cemetery records show that he was buried on the 26th January 1871) in the Church of England Burial Ground at West Maitland (Campbell's Hill) in an unmarked grave but near the Turner plot. Note: According to Mrs Ada WADE (nee BROWN), Edward's Will was in favour of Elizabeth BROWN (nee MCGLYNN) was never proven and was held by the Solicitor. It is evident that he remained close to Elizabeth and her family as both Mark TURNER and Elizabeth BROWN (nee MCGLYNN) named their first sons Edward (possibly after their Uncle and Great Uncle Edward). Note:  !NOTE: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Ancestral File (R); ; Copyright (c) 1987, June 1998, data as of 5 January 1998; ; , Family History Library, 35 N West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84150 USA Note: !BIRTH: IGI; ; ; ; ;

1.   Florence Howarth. Howarth Web Site. (MyHeritage.com family tree)
   Edward HOBBS, 14 SEP 2009.

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2. ↑ aka Ned or Ironbark
3. ↑ Smith Street
4. ↑ Campbell Hill C/E Cemetry
5. ↑ St Johns Church