HOBBS’ MILLIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16815, 5 June 1926, Page 5

HOBBS’ MILLIONS.

PERSISTENT CLAIMANTS. ELUSIVE FORTUNE. Claimants of the Hobbs millions decided at a meeting at Ilomebush, New South Wales, recently, to make another effort to secure the fortune. It is said to exceed £4,000,000, and was left to Robert Hobbs, who was transported to Australia, and his legitimate heirs, by John Hobbs, his brother, who was a silk weaver in England. During the last 55 years the claimants, of whom there arc over 500 in Australia, have made several efforts to secure the legacy. On two occasions they sent Mr W. McKenzie, of Homebush, to England, but, he was unsuccessful. At the meeting at Homebush it was decided to let the Public Trustee have all the papers to advance the claims.

The history of Robert Hobbs, who died in 1839 and who was highly respected in the early days of the Hawkesbury, is interesting. He reached Sydney in 1791, having been transported for a trivial offence. Upon serving his sentence lie received a grant of land at Pitt Town, where he lived the remainder of his life. He was buried in Pitt Town Cemetery, where his to mi) is still to he identified.

Hobbs was survived by nine, children. but as Hie records of St. MatIht'w's Church, Windsor, show that he was not married until t s lo, after they were born, they could not, under the will of John llobbs. claim the inheritance. However, his descendants have, reason to believe, and are endeavouring to prove, that > Robert Hobbs and his Irish wife were married secretly by a llornan Catholic, priest before the children were born.