Person:John Hobbs (21)

John Hobbs was baptised on 24th March 1771 at Great Gaddesden in Hertfordshire, son of Elizabeth Hobbs, formerly Cook, and her husband John Hobbs. John was the couple's third child, but the eldest who survived infancy. The family lived at Ballingdon, which was actually a detached part of the parish of Whipsnade at the time, but on the borders with the neighbouring parishes of Great Gaddesden and Flamstead.

On 14th October 1796, aged 25, John married Mary Grace at Great Gaddesden. They went on to have a son called Ezekiel in 1797 and a daughter called Sarah in 1799 at Great Gaddesden. After a nearly fourteen year gap, they had a daughter called Harriet in 1813. Harriet's baptism describes John as a farmer.

John's father died in 1810 and his mother in 1815.

John's son Ezekiel moved to the town of St Albans where he became a victualler. He died in 1839, aged 42. In his will he left property to his sisters Sarah and Harriet.

The 1841 census finds John and Mary living at Cheverells Green in the parish of Flamstead, just north-east of Ballingdon. John was described as an agricultural labourer, whilst Mary was a servant.

Mary died in 1850, when she was said to be 73 years old. Her last abode was given as Ballingdon.

The 1851 census finds John living alone at Gaddesden Row in Great Gaddesden, also very close to Ballingdon. He was described as a pauper.

John died at the age of 81. He was buried at Great Gaddesden on Christmas Day 1852. His last abode was given as Ballingdon.

1. ↑ Baptisms register, in Church of England. Great Gaddesden Parish Registers. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).

   March 24th 1771
   Baptized at Gaddesden John Son of John and Elizabeth Hobbs

2. ↑ England. 1841 Census Schedules for England and Wales, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 441; Book 1; Folio 25; Page 1, 6 Jun 1841.

   Address: Cheverells Green, Flamstead, Hertfordshire
   John Hobbs, male, 70 [1766-71], Ag[ricultural] Lab[ourer], born in county
   Mary [written over crossed out "Elizabeth"] Hobbs, female, 64 [1776/7], F[emale] S[ervant], born in county

3. ↑ England. 1851 Census Returns for England and Wales. (
   Kew, Richmond, Greater London TW9 4DU, United Kingdom:
   The National Archives (abbreviated TNA), formerly the UK General Register Office.)
   Class HO107; Piece 1715; Folio 445; Page 3, 30 Mar 1851.

   Address: Gaddesden Row, Great Gaddesden, Hertfordshire
   John Hobbs, head, widower, male, 82 [1768/9], Pauper, b. Whipsnade, Bedfordshire

4.   Deaths index, in General Register Office. England and Wales Civil Registration. (London: General Register Office).

   d. John HOBBS, December Quarter 1852, Hemel Hempstead Registration District, Volume 3a, page 188, aged 85 [1766/7]

5. ↑ Burials register, in Church of England. Great Gaddesden Parish Registers. (Hertford: Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies).

   BURIALS in the Parish of G[rea]t Gaddesden in the County of Hertford in the Year 1852
   No.	Name	Abode	When buried	Age	By whom the Ceremony was performed
   858	John Hobbs	Ballingdon	Dec[embe]r 25	85 [1766/7]	J.B. Bingham