Knight-Hobler

James Francis Helvetius Hobler was born in January 1764 in London, England. The son of eminent watch maker and exporter Jean Francois Hobler and wife Charlotte Elizabeth Claudon, J F H Hobler was the first child to be baptised in the newly established Swiss Protestant Church in London on 19 January 1764.

Known throughout his life as Francis Hobler, he held the respected position of principal clerk to the Right Hon. Lord Mayor of London during the early to mid 1800s. His duties were to provide informed counsel in area of criminal law and in relation to the statues and civic customs of the city of London. He held this position for most of his life which included numerous changes to the civic chair, finally retiring in 1843 due to ill health.

Franics Hobler was revered for his intellect and wit and was once described as a "fine, tall, upright, powdered-headed gentleman of the old school, always neatly, though somewhat eccentrically dressed, in a closely buttoned-up black coat, drab breeches and gaiters, which seem to be essential to, and form a part of his very existence". (The Illustrated London News, 1843)

Fluent in English, French, Spanish, German and Latin, he was known for his punctuality, compassion and excellent memory. His vivid recollection of past events is best evidenced by an incident which occurred at Mansion House, where a young thief was facing a charge of burglary. "We have seen each other before now." (questioned Hobler) "No we haven't old boy" was the impudent reply upon which, quietly turning on his seat, Mr. Hobler said, "I think I've an invite of yours" and opening a drawer took out and read, to the great merriment of his listeners, a card printed in the hand writing of the prisoner in red ink, soliciting the four of his friends' attendance at a public-house in the Borough, to get "gloriously drunk" and which had been taken from his person on a commitment to Bridewell many years before as a rogue and vagabond." (The Illustrated London News, 1843)

1-Thomas Knight b. 9 Nov 1802, c. 16 Oct 1803, St Nicholas, Whitehaven, Cumberland, England, d. Abt 8 Aug 1850
+Mary Anne Hobler b. Abt 1804, Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England, d. After 1861, m. 23 Feb 1844, Pentonville, London,
England, par. James Francis Helvetius Hobler and Mary Furby
2-Marianne Knight b. 24 Nov 1845, Clerkenwell, Middlesex, England, c. 4 Mar 1846
+Thomas Simpson , m. Q4 1870, Islington, London, England
2-Isabella Knight b. 19 Oct 1847, Clerkenwell, London, England, c. 23 Feb 1848, d. After 1881
+Charles Simpson b. 1849, Paddington, London, England, d. After 1881, m. Q1 1871, Islington, London, England
3-Isabella Marianne Simpson b. Abt 1873, Norton Folgate, London, England
3-Jessie Maria Simpson b. Mar 1875, Islington, Middlesex, England
+George Dyer (possible only) , m. Q4 1896, Braintree, Essex, England
3-Charles Simpson b. Abt 1877, Acton, Middlesex, England
3-Percy Knight Simpson b. 11 Mar 1882, Acton, Middlesex, England, d. 1955
+Lila Blanche Cooper b. 27 Aug 1880, Guildford, Surrey, England, d. 1965, Carthage, MO USA, m. Q4 1906,
Chertsey, Surrey, England
4-Dulcie Mary Simpson b. 22 Jul 1906, Hammersmith, Middlesex, England, d. 14 Nov 1984, Carthage, Jasper, MO USA

+Bruce Smith Robertson b. 27 Nov 1903, d. 8 Sep 1980, Carthage, Jasper, MO USA, m. 7 Nov 1929, Chicago,
Illinois, USA
4-Lila Violet Simpson b. 22 Jul 1912, San Francisco, California, USA
3-Dorothea (Dora) Eliabeth Simpson b. Q2 1885, Acton, Middlesex, England
3-Thomas Arnold Knight Simpson b. Q1 1893, Acton, Middlesex, England
+Unknown
4-Beric Knight Simpson

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Life and Times Thomas: occupation; barrister Daughters Marianne and Isabella married brothers.		Related Family Pages Parents: Thomas Knight and Isabella Walker Siblings: Henrietta Knight (married James H E D Mansfield John Knight (married Catherine Leveson) Edward Knight (married Emma Catherine Pemberton) Humphrey Senhouse Knight (married Margaret Hair) Maria Knight Marion Knight Children: Marianne Knight (married Thomas Simpson) Isabella Knight (married Charles Simpson) Documents Featured Pages Links
James Francis Helvetius Hobler Father of Mary Anne Hobler James Francis Helvetius Hobler was born in January 1764 in London, England. The son of eminent watch maker and exporter Jean Francois Hobler and wife Charlotte Elizabeth Claudon, J F H Hobler was the first child to be baptised in the newly established Swiss Protestant Church in London on 19 January 1764. Known throughout his life as Francis Hobler, he held the respected position of principal clerk to the Right Hon. Lord Mayor of London during the early to mid 1800s. His duties were to provide informed counsel in area of criminal law and in relation to the statues and civic customs of the city of London. He held this position for most of his life which included numerous changes to the civic chair, finally retiring in 1843 due to ill health. Franics Hobler was revered for his intellect and wit and was once described as a "fine, tall, upright, powdered-headed gentleman of the old school, always neatly, though somewhat eccentrically dressed, in a closely buttoned-up black coat, drab breeches and gaiters, which seem to be essential to, and form a part of his very existence". (The Illustrated London News, 1843) Fluent in English, French, Spanish, German and Latin, he was known for his punctuality, compassion and excellent memory. His vivid recollection of past events is best evidenced by an incident which occurred at Mansion House, where a young thief was facing a charge of burglary. "We have seen each other before now." (questioned Hobler) "No we haven't old boy" was the impudent reply upon which, quietly turning on his seat, Mr. Hobler said, "I think I've an invite of yours" and opening a drawer took out and read, to the great merriment of his listeners, a card printed in the hand writing of the prisoner in red ink, soliciting the four of his friends' attendance at a public-house in the Borough, to get "gloriously drunk" and which had been taken from his person on a commitment to Bridewell many years before as a rogue and vagabond." (The Illustrated London News, 1843) Francis Hobler also appears on more than one occasion in the writings of Charles Dickens and George Augustus Sala . "The Lord Mayor threw himself back in his chair, in a state of frantic delight at his own joke; every vein in Mr. Hobler's countenance was swollen with laughter partly at the Lord Mayor's facetiousness, but more at his own; the constables and police officers were (as in duty bound) in ecstasies at Mr. Hobler and the Lord Mayor combined; and the very paupers, glancing respectfully at the beadle's countenance, tried to smile, as even he relaxed." (The Last Cab-Driver, And The First Omnibus Cad. Sketches by Boz, Charles Dickens, 1835) Francis Hobler and partner Mary Furby had four children, one of whom was Solicitor and Author Francis Hobler (circa 1793-1868). His youngest son George Hobler (1800-1882) was an Australian pioneer who introduced the first Devon cow to Australia. Francis and Mary also had two daughters, Charlotte Elizabeth Hobler (born circa 1795) and Mary Ann Hobler (circa 1810-1850). James Francis Helvetius Hobler died in Pentonville, London on 21 January 1844 (aged 78). He is buried at Highgate Cemetery along with his wife Mary and eldest son Francis.