Leaving Cheltenham

The Hobbs "Conversion Vignette" found on the sidebar tells the story of their introduction to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The images below show their membership records in the Cheltenham Conference.

Charles Hobbs, Parents: William & Ann, Born: 12 February 1833, Cheltenham, Baptized: 15 April 1851

Henry Hobbs, Parents: William & Ann Hobbs, Born: 24 September 1834, Cheltenham, Baptized: 26 May 1851

William Hobbs, Parents: William & Ann Hobbs, 16 March 1837, Cheltenham, Baptized: 27 July 1851

Ann Hobbs, Parents: Charles & Ann Owen, Born: 3 April 1809, Shinfield, Berkshire, Baptized: 26 Aug 1851

James Hobbs, Parents: William & Ann Hobbs, Born: 19 November 1840, Cheltenham, Baptized: 4 September 1851

Mary Ann & Caroline Hobbs, Parents: William & Ann Hobbs, Born: Cheltenham, Baptized: 23 August 1854

"Not long after Ann's baptism she developed a felon (a type of infection) on her thimble finger. It got so bad that for three months she could not sew to provide for her family."[1] Her daughter Caroline Hobbs related the following story, "The visiting priest would come around and they would tell her [Ann] if she would leave that horrible religion they would clothe and care for her children. She told them she would not as she knew it was true. The first bone of the finger finally fell out, after which she recovered."[2]

In 1834 Parliament passed the New Poor Law Act that tightened up the requirements for those who sought relief from their economic problems. This was aimed mostly at preventing able-bodied men from receiving relief if they weren't willing to labor for it. Destitute widowed women were not in this targeted category and the local guardians that administered the relief were obligated to help them.[3] It is sad to realize that Ann Hobbs certainly needed support in her situation during her illness but the guardians held her religion against her and refused to provide the needed relief.

When Elders Ezra T. Benson and Orson Pratt were presiding over the British Mission. Caroline wrote that "Apostle Benson...came to mother and asked her if she would let her two boys go on a mission [then] he would see that she was sent to the Valley. Mother let them go. When they went to the magistrate to get a license to preach, he laughed because they were so young."[4]

Henry and William Hobbs both served missions in England. The Millennial Star reported that Henry Hobbs was made conference president in Hull, Yorkshire in January 1857 and in Carlisle, Cumberland County in December 1857.[5] After serving their missions, Henry and William emigrated from England in 1859. Charles and his wife and children left in 1862. Then, finally, Ann, James, and the twin girls Mary Ann and Caroline were able to leave Cheltenham for America in 1864. The sisters celebrated their eighteenth birthday during the journey to Utah.[6]

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[1] Benson Y. Parkinson, "The Family of William Hobbs (180-1846) and Ann Owen Hobbs (1809-1894), 1-2, FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org accessed 17 October 2015), citing Family Tree document, William Hobbs, 2ZS9-CG1.

[2] Parkinson, "The Family of William Hobbs and Ann Owen Hobbs," 2.

[3] Pat Thane, "Women and the Poor Law in Victorian and Edwardian England," History Workshop, No. 6 (Autumn, 1978), 35.

[4] Parkinson, "The Family of William Hobbs and Ann Owen Hobbs," 2. 
[5] "Appointments," The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 19, No. 4, 24 January 1857, 57, Mormon Publications: 19^th and 20^th Century (www.contentdm.lib.byu.edu accessed 17 October 2015)."Appointments," The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star, Vol. 19, No. 51, 19 December 1857, 811, Mormon Publications: 19^th and 20^th Century (www.contentdm.lib.byu.edu accessed 17 October 2015).

[6] Parkinson, "The Family of William Hobbs and Ann Owen Hobbs," 3, 8-9.