George Hunn Nobbs
Encyclopedia
George Hunn Nobbs was an English (he claimed Irish) missionary on Pitcairn Island
and later Norfolk Island
, where his many descendants still live today.
He claimed he was born in Moira, County Down
, the illegitimate son of Francis Rawdon-Hastings 1st Marquis of Hastings (1754–1826) and Jemima Ffrench, and that the marquis did not acknowledge him, and also that he was fostered by the elderly Nobbs family who lived near Yarmouth
. However, evidence from parish registers discovered in July 2000 by Macquarie University
researcher Alexandra Starling
According to this evidence, 'George Nobbs Hunn' was baptised in the parish church of Runham, Norfolk on 27 October 1799. Nobbs may have invented such a story of his youth to impress the Islanders, alternatively he may not have been told the truth regarding his birth, and the details embellished by relatives at a later date. He spent an adventurous youth serving in various merchant ships, visiting both India and Africa. In 1828 he arrived on Pitcairn Island where he became schoolmaster and unordained parson to a community descended from HMS Bounty mutineers
and Tahitian islanders. On 18 October 1829 Nobbs married Sarah Christian, the granddaughter of Fletcher Christian
, who had led the mutiny. Nobbs left the island for a time during the despotic rule of Josiah Hill; he returned when Hill was expelled in 1837 and became the leader of the community.
He greatly impressed Rear Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby
who visited the island in 1852. Moresby supported an application by Nobbs to be sanctioned in his position. Nobbs sailed with Moresby to Valparaíso
in Chile
from where Nobbs continued his journey to London
, arriving in October 1852. During his two-month visit to London he was ordained as a minister in the Colonies, was accredited by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel with an annual stipend of £50, addressed the first meeting of the Pitcairn Fund Committee and was received by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at Osborne House
. He set sail on his return voyage to Pitcairn on 17 December 1852. During his visit to London Nobbs had convinced his supporters that the island could no longer support the Pitcairn community. On his return he found the islanders badly affected by a prolonged drought and an outbreak of influenza. In 1856 the community moved to Norfolk Island, a Crown Colony previously occupied by convict prisoners. Much of the island had been cultivated, and there were roads and houses awaiting occupation. However, it became clear that the islanders could no longer continue in the same seclusion they had experienced on Pitcairn. Nobbs expressed their disappointment in a letter her wrote to Sir Fairfax Moresby in 1866: "We own nothing beyond our 50 acres (202,343 m²) allotments, not sheep, nor ground on which the sheep feed; all is Government property and may be best disposed of as seems best to Government." Ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the island was now claimed by the Melanesian Mission. After a period of intransigence, he was eventually reconciled and accepted the work of the mission on the island. When Nobbs died most of the island community, numbering around 470, attended his funeral.
Pitcairn Islands
The Pitcairn Islands , officially named the Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, form a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. The islands are a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union in the Pacific...
and later Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean located between Australia, New Zealand and New Caledonia. The island is part of the Commonwealth of Australia, but it enjoys a large degree of self-governance...
, where his many descendants still live today.
He claimed he was born in Moira, County Down
Moira, County Down
Moira is a village in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is in the northwest of the county, near the borders with counties Antrim and Armagh. The M1 motorway and Dublin–Belfast railway line are nearby. The settlement has existed since time immemorial...
, the illegitimate son of Francis Rawdon-Hastings 1st Marquis of Hastings (1754–1826) and Jemima Ffrench, and that the marquis did not acknowledge him, and also that he was fostered by the elderly Nobbs family who lived near Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth
Great Yarmouth, often known to locals as Yarmouth, is a coastal town in Norfolk, England. It is at the mouth of the River Yare, east of Norwich.It has been a seaside resort since 1760, and is the gateway from the Norfolk Broads to the sea...
. However, evidence from parish registers discovered in July 2000 by Macquarie University
Macquarie University
Macquarie University is an Australian public teaching and research university located in Sydney, with its main campus situated in Macquarie Park. Founded in 1964 by the New South Wales Government, it was the third university to be established in the metropolitan area of Sydney...
researcher Alexandra Starling
According to this evidence, 'George Nobbs Hunn' was baptised in the parish church of Runham, Norfolk on 27 October 1799. Nobbs may have invented such a story of his youth to impress the Islanders, alternatively he may not have been told the truth regarding his birth, and the details embellished by relatives at a later date. He spent an adventurous youth serving in various merchant ships, visiting both India and Africa. In 1828 he arrived on Pitcairn Island where he became schoolmaster and unordained parson to a community descended from HMS Bounty mutineers
Mutiny on the Bounty
The mutiny on the Bounty was a mutiny that occurred aboard the British Royal Navy ship HMS Bounty on 28 April 1789, and has been commemorated by several books, films, and popular songs, many of which take considerable liberties with the facts. The mutiny was led by Fletcher Christian against the...
and Tahitian islanders. On 18 October 1829 Nobbs married Sarah Christian, the granddaughter of Fletcher Christian
Fletcher Christian
Fletcher Christian was a master's mate on board the Bounty during William Bligh's fateful voyage to Tahiti for breadfruit plants...
, who had led the mutiny. Nobbs left the island for a time during the despotic rule of Josiah Hill; he returned when Hill was expelled in 1837 and became the leader of the community.
He greatly impressed Rear Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby
Fairfax Moresby
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Fairfax Moresby GCB , born in Calcutta, India, to English parents was a British naval officer.-Early life:Moresby was the eldest son of Fairfax Moresby, Lieut...
who visited the island in 1852. Moresby supported an application by Nobbs to be sanctioned in his position. Nobbs sailed with Moresby to Valparaíso
Valparaíso
Valparaíso is a city and commune of Chile, center of its third largest conurbation and one of the country's most important seaports and an increasing cultural center in the Southwest Pacific hemisphere. The city is the capital of the Valparaíso Province and the Valparaíso Region...
in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
from where Nobbs continued his journey to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, arriving in October 1852. During his two-month visit to London he was ordained as a minister in the Colonies, was accredited by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel with an annual stipend of £50, addressed the first meeting of the Pitcairn Fund Committee and was received by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert at Osborne House
Osborne House
Osborne House is a former royal residence in East Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK. The house was built between 1845 and 1851 for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert as a summer home and rural retreat....
. He set sail on his return voyage to Pitcairn on 17 December 1852. During his visit to London Nobbs had convinced his supporters that the island could no longer support the Pitcairn community. On his return he found the islanders badly affected by a prolonged drought and an outbreak of influenza. In 1856 the community moved to Norfolk Island, a Crown Colony previously occupied by convict prisoners. Much of the island had been cultivated, and there were roads and houses awaiting occupation. However, it became clear that the islanders could no longer continue in the same seclusion they had experienced on Pitcairn. Nobbs expressed their disappointment in a letter her wrote to Sir Fairfax Moresby in 1866: "We own nothing beyond our 50 acres (202,343 m²) allotments, not sheep, nor ground on which the sheep feed; all is Government property and may be best disposed of as seems best to Government." Ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the island was now claimed by the Melanesian Mission. After a period of intransigence, he was eventually reconciled and accepted the work of the mission on the island. When Nobbs died most of the island community, numbering around 470, attended his funeral.
Children
Nobbs and Sarah Christian had 12 children and have many descendants living in the Australasian area.- Reuben Elias Nobbs (19 September 1830 - 2 March 1855) unmarried
- Esther Maria Nobbs (30 August 1832 - 23 July 1910) married Abraham Blatchly Quintal, grandson of Matthew QuintalMatthew QuintalMatthew Quintal was an Cornish able seaman and mutineer aboard HMS Bounty. His surname was, in all probability, the result of mis-spelling the Cornish surname "Quintrell". He was the last of the mutineers to be murdered on Pitcairn Island...
, 12 children - Fletcher Christian Nobbs (1 September 1833 - 3 March 1912) married Susan Quintal, granddaughter of Matthew Quintal, 9 children
- Francis Mason Nobbs (7 September 1835 - 15 June 1909) married Harriett Augusta Quintal, great granddaughter of Matthew Quintal, 11 children
- Jane Agnes Nobbs (6 October 1836 - 21 April 1926) married John Quintal, great grandson of Matthew Quintal, 9 children
- Ann Naomi Nobbs (4 July 1838 - 27 September 1931) married Caleb Quintal, grandson of Matthew Quintal, 7 children
- James Wingate Johnstone Nobbs (22 September 1839 - 26 March 1909) married Isabella Emily Christian, great-granddaughter of Fletcher ChristianFletcher ChristianFletcher Christian was a master's mate on board the Bounty during William Bligh's fateful voyage to Tahiti for breadfruit plants...
, 12 children. - George Edwin Coffin Nobbs (5 May 1843 - 5 September 1864)
- Jemima Sarah Nobbs (13 May 1845 - 14 January 1920) married Gilbert Edwin Christian, great grandson of Fletcher Christian, 1 child
- Alfred Augustine Nobbs (27 November 1846 - 28 September 1906) married Mary Emily Christian, twice great great granddaughter of Fletcher Christian and great granddaughter of Matthew Quintal, 8 children
- Sydney Nobbs Rawdon (born Sydney Herbert Nobbs) (born 27 May 1848 died in EnglandEnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
) married Adelina Sophia Christian, great granddaughter of both Fletcher Christian and Matthew Quintal, 2 sons (died in infancy), married Albina Dora Boyd (a Canadian), at least 4 children - Alice Henrietta Florence Nobbs (born 12 March 1857) married Joseph Whiteley Hebblethwaite, 2 children
External links
- Pitcairn Island Register Nobbs version, 1790-1857.
- George Hunn Nobbs on Pitcairn - The Early History.