Home - The Village Today - History - Maps - Memories - Newspapers - Picture Gallery - World Wars |
Memories Of The Hobson Family Of Manor House Mapperley
My father’s family had lived in Mapperley for many years and I was eager to find out all I could about them, so on Thursday 8th November 1990, I visited the Archives Department, of Derbyshire County Council, Matlock, where the parish registers of Kirk Hallam Church and Holy Trinity Church, Mapperley, are now stored on micro film. It proved to be a very interesting day. First of all I should explain that I am EDWARD HOBSON, born at Manor House, Mapperley on 12th February 1917. My father was ERNEST HENRY HOBSON born in Manor House, Mapperley on 22nd February 1895. He was a coal miner and lived in the village until his death on 15th February 1973. My mother DOROTHY ALICE HOBSON nee WYATT, was born at Kidlington, Oxfordshire on 29th December 1894. Her father was employed as a gardener at Blenheim Palace, near Oxford, but the family moved up to Mapperley in 1901 when her father obtained a post as foreman in the kitchen gardens at Shipley Hall. My mother lived at Mapperley until just before her death on 11th November 1980. From the parish records available I could only go back as far as my great grandfather JOSEPH HOBSON who was born at Mapperley in 1802. The only information I could get earlier than JOSEPH was that his father was named THOMAS and he was a miner. Joseph Hobson 1802-1877 My Great Grandfather Joseph was born in 1802 and died on 30th January 1877 aged 75 years. He worked as a miner and lived in Mapperley all his life. Years ago I was told by an old aunt that during his life Joseph had four wives but I did not quite believe it? However, my research into the records proved this to be true. First Wife Sarah Ball M. 1 Oct 1827 D. 27 Apr 1835 This marriage took place on 1st October 1827 when Joseph was 25 years of age. He was shown on the certificate as a bachelor of Mapperley. Sarah was shown as a spinster of Mapperley, but her age was not shown, however, she was 28 years when she died on 27th April, 1835, which would make her about 20 years of age when married. The witness to the marriage was Matthew Hobson, probably Joseph’s brother, and all three made their marks with crosses. It is not known for sure if they had any children but there is an entry under baptisms for SARAH, daughter of Joseph and Sarah Hobson, 12th June 1827 which is actually four months before they married. Second Wife Ann Hallam M. 16 May 1837 D. 16 May 1851 This wedding was on 16th May 1837 about two years after his first wife died. Joseph is shown as a widower of Mapperley and he would be 35 years of age at the time. Ann is shown as a spinster of Mapperley but here again her age is not shown She was however 44 years when she died on 16th May 1851, (incidentally her wedding anniversary) which would put her at about 30 years of age when she married. Several baptisms of young children named Hobson were recorded during the period of this marriage, but it cannot be proved if they were theirs as there were several other families of Hobson’s in the village at the time, probably cousins or second cousins. Third Wife Phoebe Birkin M. 31 Aug 1851 D. 23 Aug 1859 They were married on 31st August 1851. Joseph was shown as a widower and Phoebe as a widow. Here again there were no ages shown on the certificate but he would be 49 years and she was 38 years, Phoebe died on 23rd August 1859, after eight years of marriage. In spite of her advanced age she had three childv3n during the marriage and William, the second child, was my grandfather. The record of the baptisms of these children are shown below:-
I have already mentioned that William was my grandfather and I shall say more about him later. Regarding the first child, Hannah, I could find no further record of her either in the marriages or the burials, so it does appear possible that she may have left the district. My father passed on to me quite a lot of information about Matthew, apparently, he worked as a miner at the local colliery but was fatally injured in a mining accident when his arm was wrenched off at the shoulder joint. He quickly died of shock and loss of blood. His name appears in the records as "Matthew Hobson 20 years 21st September 1878" under burials. I understand that he used to attend Mapperley Church and that he set hundreds of snowdrops and crocuses on a triangular piece of grass in front of the church. As a boy I can still remember the beautiful show of blooms on this grass each Spring. When Phoebe died the three children of the marriage were quite young, Hannah would be just under 1 years of age, William 4 years and 2 months and the youngest, Matthew, only 1 year and 9 months. Fourth Wife Elizabeth Swain M. 13 Oct 1861 D. 2 Feb 1881 Here again Joseph was shown as a widower aged 59 years, when on 13th October 1861 he married Elizabeth aged 60 years, widow of Ilkeston. Little is known about this wife except a record under burials which reads "Elizabeth Hobson aged 79 years, 2nd February 1881. William Hobson 10 Jun 1855 - 8 Dec 1909 My Grandfather My grandfather died a number of years before I was born, but I was always interested in him and often talked to my father about him. He wore a beard and a moustache. Apparently at one time in his life he used to stutter badly and was in the habit of slapping his thigh when he could not get a word out. Later on in life he managed to cure his speech defect. He was a very keen and competent gardener who had plenty of success at local fruit, flower and vegetable shows. I have two photographs of him and in one he is seen standing with his family in his attractive garden. He worked as a miner at a local colliery. He was born on 10th June 1855 and died on 8th December 1909 aged 55 years. Three years before his death he was badly injured in a mining accident when he suffered severe internal injuries from which he never recovered and did not work again. William was married on 2nd September 1877 when he was 22 years of age. he was described as a bachelor of Mapperley. His bride was MARY ANN ULYATT 20 years, spinster of the parish of Mapperley, but she was born and brought up in THURGATON NOTTINGHAMSHIRE." so it is possible she was a servant living in the Mapperley area. Mary Ann died on 4th March 1911 aged 53 years.There were five surviving children of this marriage, although several babies were stillborn or died in infancy. Particulars of the children are set out below. 1. ADA ELIZABETH HOBSON born about 1876 When Ada was 19 years of age she married a George Henry Bancroft aged 36 years on 20th June 1896 and afterwards went to live in Nottingham. 2. PHOEBE ANN HOBSON 3rd NOVEMBER 1878 3. EDITH 9th JANUARY 1880 4. BEATRICE 26th AUGUST 1887 5. ERNEST HENRY HOBSON 22nd FEBRUARY 1895 The Following Information Has Since Been Provided Ernest (Ernie) married Dorothy Alice Wyatt. They had four children. Edward, Nora, Jack and Joan Edward (Ted) B.1917
Nora married Ken Clowes
Jack married Elsie Stone Joan married Ken Brown
The Hobson’s had Manor House (adjacent to Manor Farm) for over 200 years The Following Copies Of Entries In The Registers BAPTISMS
MARRIAGES
BURIALS
Disclaimer - Copyright - Is this page correct? Something wrong or missing? Please let me know. Also contributions very welcome |