Note: Print and copy these histories! No one knows how long this web page will last—10 years? 20 years? Paper has proved the most durable medium for preserving histories so far, so if we can get printouts in the file drawers of scattered family members, these stories are more likely to be there for our grandchildren. Putting them on floppies, CDs, etc., also increases the chance they will survive.

First and Second Generations

• Ben Parkinson, "The Family of William Hobbs (1808–1846) and Ann Owen Hobbs (1809–1894)." Draws on all the Hobbs histories and adds detail from diaries of pioneers who accompanied the Hobbses, ward records, etc.
  • HTML version. Convenient for online reading.
  • PDF version. Formatted for printing (14 pages). Download this high-quality version for printing copies for your family or saving in your file cabinets (3 megabytes).
  Permission granted to family members to use this history in your own not-for-profit family history publications. Please drop me a line to let me know how you're using it. All others write for permission.

• Caroline Hobbs Watterson, "Short History of William and Ann Owen Hobbs." Brief sketch, courtesy of Vicki Jo Hays.

• Milo Hadlock, "Ann Owen Hobbs." Several-page history, drawing on the earlier histories and original research. Transcript by Cathy Parkinson Berglund.

• Obituary of Ann Owen Hobbs, from Vicky Holly, transcript by Ben Parkinson.

• Rae Hobbs, "Sketch of Charles William Hobbs and Wife Mary Ann Eames Hobbs." A brief sketch. Transcript courtesy of Cathy Parkinson Berglund.

• Mabel Handy, "History of Charles William Hobbs and Mary Ann Emms Hobbs." Another brief sketch. Transcript by Cathy Parkinson Berglund.

• "History of Charles W. Hobbs." Another brief sketch, author unknown. From Vicky Holley, transcript by Ben Parkinson.

• Obituary of Mary Ann Emms. From Vicky Holley, transcript by Ben Parkinson.

• "Mary Ann Emms Hobbs," probably by Gwyneth Shumway England, in Pioneer Women of Faith and Fortitude (DUP, 1998), 2:1371–72.

• Henry Hobbs, Henry Hobbs Journal for 1859. Deals with his experiences as a missionary, crossing the ocean, as a handcart pioneer, and his first year in the valley. 186 pages. Transcript from LDS Immigration Index and by Cathy Parkinson Berglund and Benson Y. Parkinson.

• Henry Hobbs, Two Articles in the Millennial Star, "Health," vol. 21 no. 4 (Sat., 22 Jan. 1859), 63–64; and "The Use of Literature," vol. 21 no. 19 (Sat., 7 May 1859), 296–97. Transcript by Ben Parkinson.

• "William Hobbs" and "Matilda Barrett Hobbs," in Andrew Jenson, Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia (1914), 2:304–5. Basic sketch.

• "William and Matilda Barrett Hobbs," in Preston Parkinson, The Family of Samuel Rose Parkinson (2001), 237 (entry for Nessie Parkinson Hobbs).

• James Hobbs, "History of James Hobbs," first person account of crossing the plains and defending Franklin from Indians. Courtesy of Norinne Walton.

• "James and Martha Catmull Hobbs." A brief sketch. Transcript by Cathy Parkinson Berglund.

• Caroline Hobbs Watterson, "Caroline Hobbs Watterson." A brief autobiographical sketch, also with interesting details on Ann. Transcript by Cathy Parkinson Berglund.

• Histories of Caroline Hobbs Watterson, gathered by Norinne Walton. This includes Kitty's history (as above) with additional materials from other sources. Note: It isn't always clear exactly where one ends and the next begins.

• Dorothy Watterson Stringham, "The William Watterson Family—1850," Our Pioneer Heritage, Vol. 16, p.509. Courtesy of Vicki Jo Hays.

• Ilda Hansen Colby, History of Mary Ann Hobbs. Courtesy of Vicki Jo Hays.

Third and Fourth Generation

• Samuel Chandler and Mary Ann (Polly) Hobbs Parkinson. This website includes photos and histories of Charles's oldest daughter, Mary Ann.

• Margaret Mary Ann Dunkley Watterson Hansen," Mary Ann's only child (Mary Ann died in childbirth). Courtesy of Vicki Jo Hays.

• Ilda Hansen Colby, Grandma Hansen and the Peas, a funny incident in the life of Margaret Mary Ann Dunkley Watterson Hansen. Courtesy of Vicki Jo Hays.

• Ilda Hansen Colby, Life Sketch of Mose Watterson, Margaret's son. Courtesy of Vicki Jo Hays.

If you have Hobbs family histories and would be willing to share them, or if you can offer help transcribing, please contact Ben Parkinson, webmaster, at "feedback at parkinsonfamily.org" (replace "at" with "@").

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