hi,
too many similarities not to be true:
my grandfather was francis,and would strongly believe that joseph is therefore my great uncle. francis was born in 1869 to robert and mary maccormack in armagh. I have his birth certificate at home. francis died early 1950's in england
my father, edward francis (now deceased)always told me that his uncle joe had emigrated to sydney, circa 1900, married bridget and had a few children but that's all.francis settled in england early 1900's. francis and joseph had a brother, robert (uncle bob owned the rose public house in basingstoke) and a sister, caroline.
so your grandfather was my father's first cousin!
my children, robert and marianne are the last of francis's line. also, my uncle ron is francis's other son and is still living but has no children.
i can give you a little more information if you would like. we live in Perth, WA now but i work in Indonesia.
regards,
edwin hobson
ed_hobson@hotmail.com

Going by info from ed hobson the brothers Robert & Joseph are in the UK 1891 census, living at 1 Horbury Close, Kensington, London, England. Robert aged 28 (1863) a Coachman born Ireland and Joseph aged 23 (1868) a Groom born Ireland

in the 1901 census Joseph & Bridget are living at The Vyne Stables, Sherborne St. John, Hampshire. Joseph states he was born in Armagh, Ireland he is a "Coach Man Domestic". Bridget is from Dublin and they have 4 children
Robert born 1894 Paddington, London, England
Francis 1897 Basingstoke, Hampshire, England
George 1898 Basingstoke
Iris 1901 ( 10 months) Basingstoke

In 1911 census they are living at Clarken - Green Oaken, Basingstoke. Joseph is now a Publican & Farmer: Robert is Robert Joseph and working on farm : Francis is Francis Henry, working on farm : George is George William at school: Iris is Iris May at school: and we have Norah 1903 Basingstoke, at school : and Kathleen 1905 at school

They sailed to Australia departure date 26 July 1912 from London to Sydney on the ship RANGATIRA

If either of you want to send me a private message with your eamil address(s) i will send you the copies

I also have found some information of Bridget

Hi SilverVixen,

Thank you so much for letting me know more about my great uncle and aunt.

In the 1911 census for Ireland, I found that my grandfather, Francis Henry (uncle to Joesph's son Francis Henry) was residing in Dublin at the time with wife Ethel and three of their children, all girls (my aunts), Maggie May (Margaret),Susi (Ethel) and Grace. Their two other children, Edward and Ronald were born in Hampshire,England. The family ultimately settled in Fordingbridge, Hampshire, where Francis and Ethel are buried, in separate cemeteries on account of the different religion (RC & CoE). I think Edward, my father was born in Basingstoke, December 1913. Maybe Joseph passed the pub to his other brother, Robert, when he emigrated in 1912?
My uncle Ron is living in Bournemouth. He's pushing 90 now.I'm sure he will be very pleased to know this piece of information.

I am Francis and Ethel's only grandchild and have two children. I was born and grew up in Southampton but left England in 1980. I have worked overseas until settling in Perth WA in 1996.

I have always been been intrigued to find out more,like:

1.how come the Hobson name seems so plentiful in Ireland, especially in Armagh For instance, could our origins be related to the coming of Oliver Cromwell, or William of Orange to Ireland?

2.the earlier family tree of Robert and Mary McCormack.That's a brick wall at present.

3. Could there be a family link to Benjamin Hobson (Quaker) born in Armagh County (same generation) who was the father of (John) Bulmer Hobson?

4. Could there be a family link to Thomas ("Hobson's Choice") Hobson, stable owner of Lincolnshire?

Thanks again.

Kind regards,
Edwin Hobson
ed_hobson@hotmail.com

PS. nice name by the way!

Hi Ed and SilverVixen

It appears that we are on the same family tree,

Robert Joseph son of Joseph was my grandfather, however my information was that Joseph and family were at the Red Lion Inn Basingstoke, my wife and I travelled there in 2006 and the Inn is still there. Our son Ross has been in London for the past 8 years and living in Kings Cross and works in one of the Paul Smith stores. Ross contacted me in Jan 2012 and askedif we were related to Helen, Frederick or Lise Hobson as he has had some contact with them in his work.

Robert Joseph married Eliza Blanch Jennings in 1920 in Nyngan NSW, had 6 sons, Desmond Francis (still living) Harold Jack (Deceased 1971 Wagga Wagga NSW) Robert Leslie (Deceased 1974 Dubbo NSW)James Patrick (my father-deceased 2002 in Dubbo NSW) Allen Jennings (Deceased 1962 Condobolin NSW)and Arthur Harris (still living in Merrylands NSW)

James Patrick (retired Police Inspector) married Pauline Hanrahan 1949 in Bathurst NSW they had 4 sons and one daughter, Edwin (still living in Adelaide SA) Warren (deceased 1990 - police sergeant died as a result of injuries received on duty) his twin Wayne (living in Nerang QLD) Ian (me- retired Police Sergeant Dubbo NSW) and Sharon (living Dubbo NSW)

I have most of the Family Tree for the Joseph - decendants in Australia and would be most interested in the other members of the Armagh Hobsons. The have made some enquiries through Ancestry.com and have located other members of the Armagh Tree- John Hobson born 7 Sep 1873 in Rich Hill Armagh, Margaret born 15 Jul 1875 both to parents Robert Hobson and Mary McCormack

Ed I shall contact you via your internet address re exchange of further information

Ian

Ian, and SilverVixen (MW,just love that name),
That's great news.
Admittedly my memory is a bit rusty these days. Yes, come to think of it,my mum did always joke that my dad was born at the Red Lion pub in Basingstoke(not the Rose)!!!!
I am presently working in Indonesia but will be back in Perth late May-time when I will look through my things again.
I have a couple of photos of my grand-parents, Francis and Ethel, young and old, but none of his brothers/sister.
Come to think of it, my Aunt Ethel did spend time in Belfast with great-aunt Margaret until she died sometime after WW2. Ethel (spinster)was a nurse at the Fordingbridge Infirmary and lived in the family home with her parents (Francis & Ethel - both died in 1950's) and sister, Margaret (spinster) until they too both died, in the 1980's, Her other sister, Grace married but had no children.
I also seem to remember that Francis & Joseph's sister,Margaret (b.1875) had one son, Gerard whose surname was Cavanagh, lived in Belfast, married with children.
Did John marry Caroline Tierney of Motherwell?I'm not sure about that.
My uncle Ron is quite frail now but his memory is still keen, so maybe he has more information to give us. Possibly your Ross could visit him and his wife, Joyce sometime?
Nothing more at present on Robert and Mary McCormack unfortunately.
Ian, to have made contact, at last, is quite something.
Kind regards,
Edwin

Ian, and SilverVixen (MW,just love that name),
That's great news.
Admittedly my memory is a bit rusty these days. Yes, come to think of it,my mum did always joke that my dad was born at the Red Lion pub in Basingstoke(not the Rose)!!!!
I am presently working in Indonesia but will be back in Perth late May-time when I will look through my things again.
I have a couple of photos of my grand-parents, Francis and Ethel, young and old, but none of his brothers/sister.
Come to think of it, my Aunt Ethel did spend time in Belfast with great-aunt Margaret until she died sometime after WW2. Ethel (spinster)was a nurse at the Fordingbridge Infirmary and lived in the family home with her parents (Francis & Ethel - both died in 1950's) and sister, Margaret (spinster) until they too both died, in the 1980's, Her other sister, Grace married but had no children.
I also seem to remember that Francis & Joseph's sister,Margaret (b.1875) had one son, Gerard whose surname was Cavanagh, lived in Belfast, married with children.
Did John marry Caroline Tierney of Motherwell?I'm not sure about that.
My uncle Ron is quite frail now but his memory is still keen, so maybe he has more information to give us. Possibly your Ross could visit him and his wife, Joyce sometime?
Nothing more at present on Robert and Mary McCormack unfortunately.
Ian, to have made contact, at last, is quite something.
Kind regards,
Edwin

Thanks Ed

Hope to renew our correspondance on your return to Oz

Ian

Hi Ed, Assuming your paternal Grandmothers name was Everley and you father was Edward F then he was indeed born in Basingstoke, registered Q1 2c 400.

Hi there SV, sorry I haven't been back for a while. Yes, that's correct on both counts.My grandmother was Ethel Everley. According to my dad,his mother's family was from Bremore village in Hampshire. Apparently, her family members are buried at Bremore church.She had at least one sister, my great aunt Susi,who lived in Salisbury.Ed