James Dobson (1842 - 1882)

Born 9 Sep 1842 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Husband of Catherine Ellen (Harris) Dabner — married 28 Aug 1878 (to 20 Mar 1882) in Circular Head, Tasmania, Australia

Died 20 Mar 1882 at age 39 in Horton, Tasmania, Australia

Biography

James Dobson was born in Van Diemen's Land (1826-1856)

James Dobson, son of John Dobson and Elizabeth Haukes, was born on 9 Sep 1842 in Hobart, Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania).

James (Bachelor, age 34, Farmer) married Catherine Ellen Harris (Spinster, age 21, Farmer's daughter) on 28 Aug 1878 at Block Rion Church, Circular Head, Horton Tasmania. Caroline Harris and Henry Pegg were witnesses.

James died on 20 Mar 1882, aged just 39 years.
There was an inquest into his death, which was reported in The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954) Thu 30 Mar 1882 Page 1 INQUEST.

INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the police office, Stanley, on the 21st inst, before Mr. George Anderson, Coroner, and a jury of seven, Mr. C. T. Smith being the foreman, touching the death of James Dobson, who died in the gaol. From the evidence given by Mr. D. C. Grubb, it appeared that the man had been ill for some considerable time, and without the necessary comforts of this life or the means to get them. He lived with his wife and family in a hut at Rocky Cape, and from information received, Mr. Grubb visited the place and found the poor fellow in a most deplorable state-emaciated, weak, and covered with bed sores. His parents, who lived in the vicinity, urged police interference, but were told by Mr. Grubb it was a case for hospital rather than aught else, and nothing would warrant his taking action. Subsequently the man with his wife and family were conveyed in a cart to the township, and Mr. Grubb charged Dobson with vagrancy. The Stipendiary Magistrate sentenced him to 14 days' imprisonment, with the view of getting him sent to hospital. The poor fellow grew rapidly worse, though he received every attention and kindness at the hands of the watch house keeper and his wife, who prepared suitable nourishment and administered it, and died on Monday morning the 20th inst. Mr. Spicer and Constable McQuestin also gave evidence, and the jury, without retiring, recorded the verdict-died from natural causes.

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Sources

• Birth: LIBRARIES TASMANIA, https://stors.tas.gov.au/NI/1067755, Name: Dobson, James, Record Type: Births, Gender: Male, Father: Dobson, John, Mother: Haukes, Elizabeth, Date of birth: 09 Sep 1842, Registered: Hobart, Registration year: 1843, Record ID: NAME_INDEXES:1067755, Resource: RGD33/1/1/ no 1299, Image available

• Marriage: LIBRARIES TASMANIA, https://stors.tas.gov.au/NI/887871, Name: Dobson, James, Record Type: Marriages, Gender: Male, Age: 34, Spouse: Harris, Catherine Ellen, Gender: Female, Age: 21, Date of marriage: 28 Aug 1878, Registered: Horton, Registration year: 1878, Record ID: NAME_INDEXES:887871, Resource: RGD37/1/37 no 489, Image available

• Death: LIBRARIES TASMANIA, https://stors.tas.gov.au/NI/1164742, Name: Dobson, James, Record Type: Deaths, Gender: Male, Age: 39, Date of death: 20 Mar 1882, Registered: Horton, Registration year: 1882, Record ID: NAME_INDEXES:1164742, Resource: RGD35/1/51 no 351, Image available

• Inquest: LIBRARIES TASMANIA, https://stors.tas.gov.au/NI/1359233, Name: Dobson, James, Record Type: Inquests, Age: 40, Date of death: 20 Mar 1882, Date of inquest: 21 Mar 1882, Verdict: Natural causes, Record ID: NAME_INDEXES:1359233, Resource: POL709/1/19 p.50 (1882), SC195/1/62 Inquest 8486

• Inquest: TROVE, INQUEST. (1882, March 30). The Mercury (Hobart, Tas. : 1860 - 1954), p. 1 (The Mercury Supplement ). Retrieved September 8, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article9007653