Nat Gould

William Horobin 1807-1886

William Horobin was born on 30 January 1807 at Longnor in Staffordshire, the son of Thomas Horobin 1777-1858 of Longnor and his wife née Ellen Mellor 1786-1868.

He was at home unmarried when the Census was taken in 1851.

He married Mary Edge. She was born in 1825.

When first married they lived in Longnor. However when his father Thomas Horobin died in 1858, they took over Meadow Farm, the family farm just across the river Dove in nearby Crowdecote in Derbyshire. The land extended to over 60 acres, and included Crowdecote Mill. William Horobin continued there until he died in 1886, when his son William Horobin took over the farm (1).

Meadow Farm at Crowdecote

When the Census was taken in 1861, the household included widowed Ellen Horobin, the mother of William Horobin, as well as widowed James Edge (born in 1792 in Longnor) and an unmarried miller and farm servant John Gilman (born in Crowdecote in 1840). These two men were probably relatives of the family.

William and Mary Horobin had the following children:

William Horobin. He was born in 1857 at Longnor, before his parents had moved to Crowdecote.

Thomas Horobin. He was born in 1858 at Crowdecote, and baptised on 11 July 1858 at Earl Sterndale. He married Jane Weston of Buxton on 24 January 1899 at Earl Sterndale. He died on 5 February 1942 in Crowdecote.

Mary Ellen Horobin. She was born in 1860 at Crowdecote, and baptised on 8 April 1860 at Earl Sterndale.

Jethro Horobin. He was born in 1861 at Crowdecote, and baptised on 11 August 1861 at Earl Sterndale. In 1898 he married his cousin Rachel Horobin and they lived at the Crofts Farm near Longnor. They had no children. He died on 25 November 1927 aged 66 years. She died on 15 February 1919 aged 66 years. Both were buried at Earl Sterndale where a gravestone is inscribed to their memory.

George Horobin. He was born in 1863 at Crowdecote, and baptised on 8 April 1863 at Earl Sterndale.

Rachel Horobin. She was born in January 1865, and baptised on 5 January 1865 at Earl Sterndale. She died on 27 February 1863 aged 7 weeks, and was buried on 2 March 1865 at Earl Sterndale.

Sidney Horobin. He was born in 1867 at Crowdecote, and baptised on 10 November 1867 at Earl Sterndale. He died on 25 July 1954 aged 88 years, and was buried at Earl Sterndale where there is a monumental inscription to his memory.

Their father William Horobin died on 13 March 1886 at Crowdecote aged 79 years, and was buried on 17 March 1886 at Earl Sterndale. His Will was proved on 7 August 1886 in London (2).

His wife Mary Horobin died on 1 November 1913 aged 88 years.

William and Mary Horobin, and their infant daughter Rachel, were buried in the family table tomb in Earl Sterndale churchyard.

(1) Their farmhouse has long been demolished.
(2) Probate of his Will was granted on 7 August 1886 at the Principal Registry in London to the executors, namely Mary Horobin (widow) of Crowdecote, William Horobin (son) farmer of Crowdecote, and Thomas Horobin (nephew) wheelwright of Highlane End in Sheen, Staffordshire. Personal Estate £189 16s. National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations) 1858-1966 (1886) page 119.