Frederick J Hobden

Between January and April 1916, Chailey Parish Magazine notes Fred J Hobden in a special list of attested men.  This is Frederick John Hobden who was born at Chailey in 1880.  He appears on the 1881 census living with his parents at 2 Whites Row, South Street, Chailey.  The household comprised Richard Hobden (head, married, aged 26, working as a gardener), his wife Eliza Hobden (nee Fuller), aged 27, and Frederick (aged one year).  Richard and Eliza, both born in Newick, had married on 3rd May 1879 at Chailey. 

By the time the 1891 census was taken, the family had moved to Fount Hill, Newick and there were siblings for Frederick.  The household, as noted on the census, comprised Richard (aged 36, working as a gardener in domestic service), Eliza (aged 37) and their five children: Frederick (an 11 year old scholar), Owen Hobden (aged nine), Minnie Hobden (aged seven), George Hobden (aged four) and Richard Hobden (aged one). 

I have been unable to locate Frederick or Minnie on the 1901 census but the rest of the family was still living at Fount Hill, Newick.  Richard (aged 47) is noted as an agricultural labourer.  Living with him were Eliza and four children: Owen (aged 19, working as a painter), George (aged 14, working as an agricultural labourer), Richard (aged 11) and Alfred Hobden aged eight. 

I am unsure whether Frederick served during the First World War.  There is no mention of him in Chailey’s parish magazine apart from the information that he attested.  The National Archives gives a couple of possibilities with 19875 Private Frederick J Hobden of the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment (Sherwood Foresters) and 3231 Sapper Frederick J Hobden of The Royal Engineers Transport and further research is necessary to determine whether either of these men is the Frederick mentioned above.