James Robert Hobman

Obituary (Evening Post 11 July, 1942) sourced from Papers Past.

The death of James Robert. Hobman removed a link with earliest Wellington and the Wairarapa. Mr. Hobman's birth in 1863 was the first to be recorded in the register of the Greytown Post Office. His grandparents, James and Jane Hobman came to New Zealand on the Martha Ridgway in 1840, his father being born in Wellington in 1842.

In his early years Mr. Hobman took an active part in all the sports clubs and cultural societies in Greytown. He maintained his interest in sport, and at the time of his death was a vicepresident Vof the Kilbirnie Cricket Club. He was also one of the oldest members of the Loyal Eketahuna Lodge, 1.0.0. F.

Mr. Hobman's mother, Ann Marie (nee Hall) Hobman, came as a child to Wellington in 1853 and her father John Hall, published several interesting pamphlets dealing with the opening up of the Wairarapa and of the building of his sawmill, one of the earliest to send timber over the Rimutakas.

Mr. Hobman spent, many years sawmilling in the Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay. He came to Wellington in 1908, and for a great part of that time was employed by the Wellington Gas Company.

He married Miss Elizabeth (Bessie) Tom, of Dalefleld, in 1891. He is survived by his wife and family of four sons and three daughters. There are also fourteen grandchildren and one greatgrandchild.

James and Bessie Hobman were the parents of Beatrice (nee Hobman) Bruce and grandparents of Donald Hector, Neil Alexander and Robin Athol Bruce. 

James and Bessie Hobman, in Wellington in the 1930s or early 40s.