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Hi Eupham,

The name I couldn't read on the 1828 census is William Hobson Snr - Thomas's father or brother? I have found mention of him also being a stonemason.

The Thomas mentioned by Wivenhoe apparently had a wife and one child at the time of his drowning.  I can't find a burial registered but there is one for a Charles Hobson in 1841, and could be a mistake.  This Thomas (a stonemason) and his wife Lydia and son Joseph Charles arrived in 1839 on the Formosa. Thomas and Lydia had a second son in 1840, Thomas drowned in 1841, and Lydia remarried in 1843.

I checked the 1841 census which is just statistical so it is like doing a Sudoku puzzle!!  Not everyone was enumerated, but there were two Thomas Hobsons.

Willoughby, Sydney, North Shore.
Thomas HOBSON (head of household)

Males: 1x under 2 years, 1x 2-7 years, 1x 21-45 years  (1x born in the colony, 2x arrived free)
Females: 1x 21-45 years (arrived free)
1x mechanic or artificer   3x "other occupation"

From this I think we can assume that we have a married couple who arrived no earlier than about 1834 with one son and the second son was born in the colony after about 1839. I believe this would be Thomas, Lydia and family.

Patrick Plains, Port Phillip
Thomas HOBSON

Males:  1x 2-7 years, 1x 14-21 years, 2x 21-45 years (1 married, 3 single) (1 born in colony, 1 arrived free, 2 other free persons)
Females:  1x under 2 years, 2x 2-7years, 3x 7-14 years, 1x 21-45 years (1 married, 6 single) (6 born in the colony, 1 other free person)
2x mechanics or artificers  9x other occupation

Here I would say the 2 youngest boys are sons, and one of the oldest males is the father.  The mother did not arrive free and perhaps neither did the father, so it appears that it isn't the family who arrived on the Frederick, but certainly looks like it with all those girls. It also fits if one son is William who arrived with them and the other is your Thomas.  Perhaps they ticked the wrong boxes - nothing is ever perfect!

The Thomas who was Selina Hobson's father (mentioned by Wivenhoe) was a stonemason according to the newspaper.

So after all this, it seems as though the Thomas of the Patrick Plains family died in 1876.  I would get his death cert and cross my fingers that all the children are named.

Debra

Hi Kala,

From your other post, I am guessing that you are trying to confirm whether this is the same Mary Ann in both marriages.  I cannot find any immigration details for a Mary Ann Newton which can positively identify her.  Does her death cert list her children? John and Mary Ann Grimshaw arrived on the Strathfieldsaye in 1841 with their children John, Eliza, and Charlotte.  They said they were all from Manchester in Lancashire.  I cannot find them in 1841 - the census was taken in June, and the ship departed in May - so I can't tell you whether or not she was born in the county.

Debra

Hi Kala,

That is quite old to be marrying (for those times anyway), have you confirmed that she did not marry as a widow in 1843?

Debra

Mary Morrison on the Steboneath was from Inverness,  parents Norman and Margaret.  Her father and other family were onboard.

Mary Morrison on the Wanata appears to be with a John Morrison aged 28 (relationship not recorded).  No other info given for this couple.

Debra

Hi Anna,

Would this be him?  A bit of a different story.  http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/41834/supplements/6267  (first entry on the page)

A reference to the award here http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/ResearcherScreen.asp  (search term  - sapper High Brooks)

Some info http://www.defence.gov.au/Army/RAE/RAE_History.asp

These guys might be able to help with a death or at least be able to give you some idea of where he might have been after 1959. http://www.aamme.com.au/

You can purchase a subscription to view the Sydney Morning Herald Archives 1955 - 1995 here http://archives.smh.com.au/   I find that their text recognition is not great, so if you have a look, try lots of word combinations, not just his name.

Debra