Richard Hobden - Settler
Great Lodge - Map 5
Richard Hobden senior arrived free on the Earl Spencer in 1813. He married Albenia Walker in Sydney in 1816.
Albenia was the daughter of Elizabeth Thompson who arrived as a convict on the Indispensable in 1809. Albenia accompanied her mother on the ship.
Richard Hobden senior
Richard Hobden was residing in Sydney when he made a request for a grant of land. Confirmation of a grant of 100 acres was dated 2 June 1824 [3]
According to the Index to map of the country bordering upon the River Hunter a further grant of 500 acres was authorised by Sir Thomas Brisbane on 7 July 1824 [2]
Albenia Hobden died of natural causes in Sydney in November 1829[4] and Richard was left to bring up their six young children on his own.
The children of Richard and Albenia -
Richard James who born in 1818
Elizabeth b. 1819
Sarah b. 1822
Robert b. 1824
William b. 1826
Henry b. 1829.
Richard Hobden married for the second time in 1838 to Elizabeth Southard.
He died on 20 July 1851 at Great Lodge aged 63. His widow Elizabeth nee Southard married Richard Alcorn in 1852.
The Hobden land Great Lodge can be located centre on the map. Map is interactive. Click on any of the names to find other settlers in the area
Richard James Hobden (junior)
In an article written in April 1932 on the death of his grandson James Hobden, it was stated that Richard James Hobden arrived at Jerrys Plains with his parents at the age of five (c. 1824) [5]In 1838 Richard James Hobden (junior) married Jane Ellis in the Presbyterian Church at Whittingham. Jane was the daughter of Thomas Ellis a respected employee of George Bowman of Arrowfield. Richard and Jane continued to live at Great Lodge, the family estate near Jerry's Plains.
Richard James Hobden and Jane Ellis raised a large family -
Richard Ellis b. 1840,
Thomas Ellis b. 1842,
Albenia Ellis b. 1844,
Jane Ellis b. 1847,
John Ellis b. 1849,
William Ellis b. 1851,
Hunter Ellis b. 1853,
Robert Henry Ellis b. 1855,
Sarah Ellis b. 1857,
Leamington Ellis b. 1858,
James Ellis b. 1860,
Albert Ellis n. 1863,
Alice Kate Ellis b. 1865,
Elizabeth Mary Ellis b. 1871.
Farming Life
Great Lodge became famous for their orchards and vineyards, the produce being sent to the Newcastle market, however farming life was a constant struggle -There was a devastating flood at Jerry's Plains in May 1870. In an article afterwards describing the damage, Great Lodge was mentioned -
Mr. Robert Hobden is a very great loser; his much admired embowered cottage, "Great Lodge" and beautiful furniture are irretrievably swept away; not a vestige remains but the rugged spot to mark the place where the once happy home stood. But this is not his only loss; his compact steam flour-mill was submerged to the roof, consequently the whole of its contents destroyed, which consisted of a large quantity of wheat and flour; the chimney is down, the boiler is on end. The damage to his mill will be severely felt by the farms here. Mr. Hobden's loss must be over one thousand pounds. Mr. Richard Hobden - the water rose to about two feet in his house, covering the whole of his beautiful orchard and vineyard, but without doing any serous damage. Every person and every thing was carefully conveyed to a place of safety before the water overflowed the banks. Maitland Mercury 3 May 1870
In 1896 Great Lodge estate was described by a correspondent -
The property owned by Messrs. Hobden Bros. known as Great Lodge is situated some five miles from Jerry's Plains, comprises an area of something like 1400 acres. Descending from the main road toward the steading, over a somewhat rough road, the landscape that opens out before one, with cool looking willows bordering the Hunter, watering three sides of the property, plantation of young corn and a healthy orchard, the first impressions of Great Lodge are decidedly pleasing. Improvements of an extensive nature have been carried out all over the property, including dams.....
A row of the finest mulberry trees were planted at the entrance gates to Great Lodge. Although the whole of the estate except a few elevated portions had been inundated from time to time by flood waters, the Messrs Hobden were lucky to have two houses on the estate, one of which on a commanding site offered a safe refuge when a flood threatened.
The article goes on to describe the difficulties of running the orchard and vineyard at Great Lodge including a constant battle with nut-grass, pig-weed and cactus. Despite the best efforts of the orchardists, flying foxes caused a great deal of damage to the orchard as did various birds including parrots and finches.
Maitland Weekly Mercury 14 March 1896
Notes and Links.
1). Elizabeth Thompson married William Noble (ship Admiral Gambier) in 1809 and when he died she married Hugh Corrigan (ship Isabella). Elizabeth Thompson died in 1831 not very long after being violently assaulted by Hugh Corrigan.2). In 1846 Thomas Ellis was employed as a superintendent by George Bowman and John Waters was employed by Thomas Ellis and living with the family on their property. Waters had apparently made certain advances to a daughter of Thomas Ellis at which time his employment was terminated. John Waters then made two complaints to George Blaxland Esq, Magistrate of the district of being robbed of his money and a portion of his ear cut off by three men who had done so with the purpose of making him put out his tongue with the intent of cutting it off. The next day a warrant was issued for the apprehension of Thomas Ellis and William Ellis, Richard James Hobden and Patrick Fox. Chief Constable Everness of Merton placed them in handcuffs in the lockup at Merton before accompanying them to Maitland and then to Newcastle.
In 1846 Richard James Hobden, described as of respectable parentage and considerable property - sober, industrious, honorable, intelligent and amiable, respected and beloved from his infancy by all who knew him - was committed for trial, placed upon the chain and forwarded down the country to be tried before a jury. He was accompanied by his father-in-law Thomas Ellis, brother-in-law William Ellis and Patrick Fox. William Ellis, Richard James Hobden and Patrick Fox were indicted for cutting and maiming one John Waters and Thomas Ellis for stealing money from Waters. Richard James Hobden and Thomas Ellis were admitted to Newcastle gaol on 4th June on 4th June 1846 and admitted to bail on the 17th June by the orders of Justice Therry. [1]
The gaol entrance description of Richard James Hobden gives his height as 5ft 8in. He was of stout build with brown hair and brown eyes. When their case was finally heard John Waters was absent and could not be found. The Solicitor General thought there was reason to believe that the charges he had preferred were not honest and he had no desire that the prisoners would remain in custody for a indefinite period. The prisoners' solicitor Mr. Windeyer applied for a discharge on their own recognizance to appear and answer the charges preferred against them should they be so required to be do by the Attorney General.
3). Obituary of John Ellis Hobden - Singleton Argus 14 April 1921
References
[1] State Archives NSW; Kingswood, New South Wales; Gaol Description and Entrance Books, 1818-1930; Item: 2/2009; Roll: 757. (Ancestry)[2] Index to map of the country bordering upon the River Hunter... by Henry Dangar (London : Joseph Cross, 1828). p9
[3] Colonial Secretary's Correspondence. Title: Copies of Letters Sent Within The Colony, 1814-1827
[4] Sydney Gazette 7 November 1829
[5] Muswellbrook Chronicle 29 April 1932
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