By Sir Charles Hobhouse, Bart, 



99 



They came originally from either Devon or Somerset, and there 

 are at Drewsteighntou, near Exeter, two hamlets or farms which still 

 bear their name. They were settled at Minehead, in Somerset, aud 

 a lease of A.D. 1706, given by the Luttrells, of Dunster Castle, is 

 still called Hobhouse's Lease. It is for land with wharfage, and 

 was perhaps taken up with the view to engaging in the Irish fishery 

 business, which was then a stirring trade. 



From Minehead the family migrated to Bristol, and there set up 

 as merchants on a more extensive and general scale, purchasing and 

 for some time residing at Westbury Cottage, Westbury-on-Trym, 

 and afterwards at Redlands. 



Thereafter the family divided, and one branch settled at Hadspen 

 House, Castle Carey, Somerset, where it has been ever since, and is 

 still worthily represented by a succession of Henrys of the name. 



The other branch shot out in the person of Sir Benjamin, created 

 first baronet in 1812. His first marriage was with a daughter of 

 Mr. Cam, a clothier of Bradford-on-Avon, in Wiltshire, and through 

 her he succeeded to Chantry House, Barton Farm, and other farms 

 and lands near that town, whilst in 1777 he purchased the manor 

 and certain lands in Broughton Gifford. 



He never, however, acquired a local habitation of his own, but 

 lived at Hartham Park and Cottles, in this neighbourhood, and at 

 Whitton Park, near Hounslow (since pulled down), renting at the 

 same time a house in London. 



He was a friend of the then Lord Sidmouth, was Under Secretary 

 of State at the India House, and obtained his baronetcy for services 

 rendered in the settlement of the debts of the Nawab of Arcot. 

 He was president of the first friendly society that was established 

 in Wiltshire, and life-president of the Bath and West of England 

 Agricultural Society, in whose rooms at Bath an admirable bust of 

 him, by Chantry, may still be seen. 



His eldest son was Sir John Cam Hobhouse, Baron Broughton 

 de Gyfford. It was he who was imprisoned in the Fleet for words 

 spoken against the Constitution, which perhaps in these days might 

 be watchwords of Toryism. 



Thereafter he was for the rest of his life a member of one or other 



H % 



