Philip Hobbs, Snr, SV/PROG

Marriage (1): Charity Francis on 7 Nov 1814 in Westbury Parish Church, Wiltshire, U.K.

Marriage (2): Jane Mary Randall on 18 Jun 1829 in Grahamstown, Cape Province, Rsa.

Marriage (3): Martha Kemp on 26 Oct 1841 in Grahamstown, Cape Province, Rsa. Marriage : "South Africa, Church of the Province of South Africa, Parish Registers, 1801-2004," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GTWM-S7FL?cc=1468076&w... : 21 May 2014), South Africa > Cape of Good Hope > Grahamstown Cathedral, St George > Marriages 1836-1849 > image 35 of 63; William Cullen Library, Wits University, Johannesburg.

Died: 24 Nov 1870, Bathurst, Cape Province, RSA. aged 78 13

England Births and Christenings

• Name: Philip Hobbs
• Gender: Male
• Christening Date: 25 Sep 1793
• Christening Place: Westbury, Wiltshire, England
• Father's Name: John Hobbs
• Mother's Name: Mary
• Indexing Project (Batch) Number: C01391-7 , System Origin: England-EASy , GS Film number: 1279436

JAMES' PARTY

No. 35 on the Colonial Department list, led by Samuel James, a carpenter of Westbury, Wiltshire. This was a joint-stock party, recommended and financially aided by the parish authorities and the 'gentlemen of Westbury', and was initially organised under the direction of Samuel Watson. James proposed that he should take over the direction of the party after Watson and several others decided not to emigrate, and the remainder of the group then amalgamated with the remainder of a party from Frome in the neighbouring county of Somersetshire. The Frome contingent - Bartlett, Hayward, Randall and Usher - belonged to a group organised at first under the leadership of Stephen Bourne, who was arrested for debt and replaced as leader by John Colston. Colston, an army pensioner, was recalled to his regiment when England was threatened with civil disturbances after Peterloo, and the party disintegrated. Another late addition who was absorbed by James' group was Philip Pinnock, who had planned to lead a party from Beckingham.

A philanthropic gentleman of Frome, T Bunn (his official standing in the parish, if any, is not clear) conducted most of the correspondence with the Colonial Department on the Frome emigrants' behalf. According to Bunn, many of the town's 10,000 inhabitants were unemployed and eager to emigrate; a local pensioner phrased it more vividly - 'This Town is all a tiptoe to go to the Cape of Good Hope'.

Deposits were paid for 12 men, and James travelled to Portsmouth to see his party aboard HM Store Ship Weymouth before returning to Westbury to fetch his wife, who had recently given birth to twin boys. She and one of the infants died on board the Weymouth before the ship left Portsmouth; the second infant died soon after putting to sea.

The Weymouth left Portsmouth on 7 January 1820, reaching Table Bay on 26 April. Four more children of the party died during the voyage: two children of Philip Hobbs (one an infant born at sea), a son of Philip Pinnock and a daughter of Robert Rogers. A daughter of James Usher, christened Eliza Weymouth, was born at sea on 10 March. The Weymouth reached Algoa Bay on 15 May and the party was located on an arm of the Lynedoch River, naming its location Bethany.

LIST OF JAMES' PARTY

BANKS, William 23. Basket maker. w Sarah 22. c James 2, William.

BARTER (or BARTLETT), William 22. Gardener.

HAYWARD, James 39. Labourer. w Tabitha 37. c Samuel 17, John 13, Elizabeth 11, Selina 9, William 4, Eliza 2.

HINTON, Richard 39. Blacksmith. w Sarah 36. c Rebecca 10, George 7, Leonard 4, Jane.

HOBBS, Philips 26. Gardener. w Charity 25. c Daniel 3, Sarah 1 (died at sea),

another child (born and died at sea).

JAMES, Samuel 31. Carpenter. w Elizabeth 33 (died at Portsmouth). c Edward 8, Elizabeth 5, Stephen 2,

Thomas (died at Portsmouth), Samuel William (died at sea).

LANHAM, Thomas 30. Tiler and plasterer. w Elizabeth 27. c Mary Ann.

PINNOCK, Philip 32. Farmer. w Betsey 26. c Harriet 3, Joseph 1 (died at sea).

RANDALL, James 44. Labourer. w Rebecca 33. c Mary 14, Jane 9, Elizabeth 7, James 3, Sarah 1.

ROGERS, Robert 25. Carpenter. w Sarah 26. c Rebecca 4, Emma 1 (died at sea).

USHER, James 36. Bricklayer and carpenter. w Sarah 36. c Elizabeth 16, Joseph 14, Ann 11, Sophia 9, John 7, James 5, Fanny 2, Eliza Weymouth (born at sea).

WARREN, Thomas 44. Cordwainer and gardener, late seaman. w Mary 42. c James 14.

Main sources for party list

Return of settlers under the direction of Samuel James (Cape Archives CO 6138/1,101); Muster-roll and Log of HMSS Weymouth (Public Record Office, London).

Below is the will of Philip HOBBS, LEER VOLUME_NO

7/1/314 at Cape Archives which I thought might be of wider interest because of some other names mentioned.

Sue

In the name of God Amen. Know all men by these present that I Philip HOBBS of Bathurst in the District of Albany, Farmer, being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding and being desirous of making and executing my last will and testament; wherefore hereby revoking and annulling all wills and codicils and other testamentary acts heretofore executed by me declaring this present deed to be and contain my only last will and testament in manner following, that is to say:

1stly I declare to give and bequeath unto my dear wife Martha HOBBS (born KEMP) and my youngest son Benjamin Kemp HOBBS certain landed property situated at Bathurst in the District of Albany as purchased by me from one Thomas BIDDULPH, known as the 'Drostdy' as their absolute and free property.

2ndly I declare to give and bequeath unto my said wife Martha HOBBS the whole of the usufruct interest profits rents and enjoyment which may arise from the rest and residue of the remainder of my Estate and effects which I may die possessed of, whether moveable or immoveable,and wherever situated nothing excepted to be used held and enjoyed by her during the term of her natural life, and after her decease then I decalare to give and bequeath the said estate and effects in the manner following, that is to say:

1st I declare to give to my four daughters Charity now married to one Edward BROWN, Mary Anne now married to one Samuel MILES, Sarah and Elizabeth certain two Erven Nos. 11 & 12 with the buildings thereon situated at Bathurst aforesaid bequeathed to me by one Mr. MUGGLETON now deceased and also certain three Erven Nos. 8, 9 & 10 also situated at Bathurst on the Kowie Road purchased by me from one Thomas HARTLEY as their free and absolute property to be divided between them in equal shares and proportions.

2ndly unto my three sons Philip, James and Thomas HOBBS I declare to give and bequeath certain landed property situated at Reit Fontein in the District of Lower Albany being one third share and interest in the landed property bought by me jointly with Edward BROWN and Thomas BROWN from Charles PENNY the younger as their absolute and free property to be divided between them in equal shares and proportions.

3rdly I declare to have already given to my eldest son William HOBBS his portion.

4thly I declare to give and bequeath unto Sarah Anne KEMP daughter of my said wife the sum of fifty pounds sterling to be paid out of the moveable effects of my said estate.

5thly I declare to give and bequeath the rest residue and remainder of my said estate and effects of what nature or kind soever unto all my said children to be divided between them in equal shares and proportions.

3rdly I declare it to be my will that in case one or more of my said children shall claim to be entitled to his or her inheritance and demand payment thereof during the life of the said Martha HOBBS or in any way act contrary to this my last will then and in such case I institute such child or children in his or her or their legitimate portion only and the residue of his or her or their inheritance shall devolve upon and be the absolute property of the said Martha HOBBS.

4thly I declare to nominate and appoint my said wife Martha HOBBS and Edward BROWN of Bathurst to be the Executrix and Executor of this will and Administratrix and Administrator of my estate and effects giving and hereby granting to them all such power and authority required in Law especially those of Assumption, Substitution and Surrogation.

5thly I declare my will to be that my said Executrix and Executor shall not be required to lodge with the Master of the Supreme Court of this Colony any Inventory whatever of my estate and effects.

Lastly I declare to reserve to myself the power from time to time to make all such alterations in and additions to this will that I may think fit.

All of which I declare to be my last will and testament desiring that it may have effect as such or as a codicil or in such manner that may be found to consist with Law.

In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand at Graham's Town the 22nd day of January 1852.

Philip HOBBS

Witnessed by C. HAW, Rich'd AUSTEN

1820 settler arrived 7 Jan 1820 Portsmouth, Hampshire, England James's party on the Weymouth (ref. http://www.1820settlers.com/genealogy/)