RELATED TO THE DOBSON FAMILY?

26/5/2020

The following is an excerpt from a news item that appeared in the Tasmanian Mail dated 21 July 1900:

A DIAMOND WEDDING
The diamond wedding of Mr and Mrs John George Dobson was celebrated on Friday evening, the 6th instance, at Rocky Cape, by a social held in Mrs James Boys's barn, which was specially prepared and decorated for the purpose by many willing hands.

Mr Dobson arrived in Hobart in 1815, being then quite a child, which makes him over 85 years of age. Mrs Dobson is a native of Hobart, her maiden name was Elizabeth Stokes, and she was born in 1824, being now 76 years old. They were married at Clarence Plains by the Reverend Mr Fry on 18 May 1840. The photograph was taken a few days ago by Mr Alfred Bock, the well-known artist.

The attendance at the social was very numerous. Three relays of the supper table had to be made with accommodation for 50 guests at each relay. The proceedings were presided over by the Reverend R Penty, who, in presenting a purse of 14 sovereigns to the happy couple, took the opportunity to explain the meaning of a silver, golden and a diamond wedding, and alluded to the rarity of the latter; he congratulated the bride and bridegroom upon their having attained such a green [great] old age together, and wishing them many future celebrations of the day. The bridegroom suitably and feelingly replied.

Mr and Mrs Dobson were amongst the earliest settlers in the Circular Head and Rocky Cape districts, where they have resided for the past 58 years; besides themselves only Mr C O'Connor remains of the earliest pioneers.

A lengthy programme of songs and dances wound up one of the most pleasant reunions ever held at Rocky Cape, the bride signalising the occasion by dancing the Alberts from beginning to end.

The committee, Miss Dallas, Messrs J Bauchop, A Boys and H Rockwell, worked most energetically to make the gathering a success. While the thanks of the guests are due to them, as also to Mrs E Boys and Mr H Boys, for their attention to the visitors, and generally in securing so successful a meeting.

14 Comments

robyn mayes

10/7/2022 15:43:40

i am a gr gr grand daughter of john and betsy and would like to bring attention to an incorrect date. my gr gr grandfather john arrived in van d land in 1832, not 1815. being a convict on the surrey.

regards robyn mayes

Gayle Kerr link

6/10/2022 16:40:31

Hi Robyn, I'm a distant relative of yours via Betsy's brother, Joseph Stokes. I know very little of this family's history, although have recently looked into Ann Stokes' beginnings, Norfolk Island etc... Someone had said that our Joseph's father was possibly of indigenous origin. Do you know anything about this and what evidence is there that this may be true. I'm happy to share with you anything that I know.
Regards, Gayle

David

17/10/2022 22:02:16

Elizabeth Betsy Stokes 1825-1911 parents
Was Ann Stokes 1797- 1893 and a unknown Aboriginal. James Stokes 1828 and Joseph Richard Stokes 1831-1911 had the same parents from Ann’s first relationship in Tasmania before she had six more children with William Smedley

Robyn Mayes

12/3/2023 12:27:45

Hi Gayle, sorry for delay.
No i know nothing of the aboriginal connection apart from john and Betsy daughter rosetta (my great grandmother) had another daughter who did marry into the mob on cape barren island.
Reading further on with other comments it gets very complicated but absolutely fascination.
Would you like my email address to correspond?

Gayle

22/10/2022 07:20:56

Dear David, thanks for your help.
But how do you know with such certainty that all of Ann’s first three children were from the same father? Are there any records out there to support this, or maybe the info was passed down by family stories??
G.

Danni Stokes

1/11/2022 10:18:12

Lovely to see this up, she was my great great Aunty.

She did not come from the Anne Stokes of Norfolk island though.

She didn't come from the English William Smedley either, apparently she & my great great grandfather Joseph came from a man who was Aboriginal, he apparently wasn't allowed to marry Ann Stokes, without picking a name. He chose William M Smedley. Family r still researching this, using the pioneer index among other things.

The correct Anne Stokes, mother of Elizabeth, is actually adopted into the English Stokes's, family r still researching this line. But I have been advised that she was also of Aboriginal descent, her ppl r unknown ATM.

So far DNA matches us too Tasmanian indigenous Smith's, Bird's, Lovell's, Bones, Thomas's, Everett's, Ryan's, Dillon's, Briggs, Cox & Lee's to name a few.

Note: I'm not the researcher for these links though.

Thanks Danni

12/3/2023 20:29:51

Evening Danni
How do you go about checking your DNA?

Gayle Kerr

14/3/2023 18:36:26

Hi Guys. I would like to know too about the DNA testing for an indigenous connection. My Ann Stokes was certainly a second fleeter who came from England to Sydney and then very quickly to Norfolk Island. She met and married Humphrey Lynch there (a first fleeter) and then most of the islanders were relocated to Hobart. Ann had a daughter (Elizabeth) who was also a convict and later followed them to Hobart with her non convict 5 year old, Ann. I'm pretty sure that this is all true. If anyone knows otherwise for sure, I would be pleased to hear their version. Cheers, Gayle K.

14/3/2023 21:32:05

Hi Gayle
Our Ann stokes came over 1803 on the glatton. She was transported for stealing calico.
Wasnt aware she had 5 yr old daughter.
So your connection to john and Betsy Dobson is via betsys brother Joseph, is that right.
The picture at top of group of people are they all Dobson related?

15/3/2023 07:01:10

Hi Robyn, my email is pgk4@bigpond.net.au
I have only recently put some energy into this part of my family, I’m not a good researcher. The only reason i looked at Betsy Dobson was because of the claim that she looked aboriginal!? I know the bare bones re Joseph, my link. Just know that he moved to the north west, had a farm there and married twice producing heaps of children. As for the photo i haven’t a clue. Someone did say that Betsy’s husband was an ex convict but it appears that he hid that. Pleased to meet you, Gayle

15/3/2023 12:17:12

Hi Gayle
Betsys husband john came out on Surrey in 1832, from Warwickshire, 7 yrs transportation for burglary, landed Hobart town.
Sort permission to marry Betsy, they were married in 1840, they had lot of children, one being Rosetta, my gr grandmother, she had 3 marriages, last marriage with Williams produced my grandmother Laura Kate, those times family were up north by then.
Looking at Betsy she doesnt seem to appear of aboriginal descent even if only on fathers side.
I can give you more details of family but will have to pull out paperwork

I am sure i have a copy of john and Betsy marriage cert in 1840.

Will have to see what I can find about joseph

15/3/2023 07:13:20

By the way Robyn, it wasn’t my Ann that had the little girl in tow. It’s my understanding that the Ann Stokeswho went on to Hobart came out on the Lady Julian from Warwickshire after stealing two shawls (she was in her 40’s). Her adult daughter Elizabeth committed a crime later and was also sent to Australia with her little girl Ann. This is what I believe to be true. Feel free to email me. G.

16/3/2023 06:45:28

Thanks Robyn but if your paperwork is anything like mine good luck!!! Went to Norfolk Island in December which confirmed a bit of what i thought. After the original Ann died in Hobart her husband Humphrey Lynch hung himself later that year, so sad. G.

21/3/2023 15:57:15

Can anyone fill me in with any info on Rosetta dobson at all, one of john and Betsy children.
She is my gr grandmother
She had 3 marriages, at one stage went to live in cape barron isl. With her daughter florence who married into mob.
I can find no record of her death.
Nor a photograph.
Any other direct relative of Rosetta out there?

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