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Hi Helen
I have been unable thus far, to find the death of John William Smedley.  Yes, Ethel Margaret Smedley married Alexander James Price (1904) and they had a son Edward James Robert William Price (1905).  In 1910 they sailed aboard the Saxon to South Africa leaving the boy behind in England.  He stayed with relatives and died at the age of about 16.  By 1913, AJP and Ethel Margaret were separated in South Africa.  I cannot find any Divorce Records.  But by 1913, AJP was "married" to my grandmother.  Ethel remained in South Africa until about 1934 when she returned to England.  She is buried in an unmarked grave in Bexhill Cemetery.  I have her Death Certificate which records her as being married to Alexander James Price and that she was a Missionary.  I am away from home and do not have all details with me unfortunately.  I can supply more detailed info in a few weeks' time.  Kind regards Gail

Another mention of Capt Hodgson and JM Joshua here:

http://newspapers.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/5874498

Regards

Gail

Hi Mads

I have found the website regarding the newspaper article.

Google "Abduction - The Queen v Mrs Hagger" and you should get straight to the article.  I don't know how this RFH fits into the picture, but surely he must be related to "our" Hodgsons?

Gail

Hello Mads

Its always exciting to make a little breakthrough and I hope that last night's one will provide another little piece of the puzzle.  Did you know that there was an earlier Robert Francis Hodgson who was also a Sea Captain?  I came across an Australian newspaper report mentioning a Court Case regarding his wife who came to his home while he was at sea and took their eldest daughter.  She already had the younger 2 children. Its a shame I can't send it to you now, but I will certainly do so once I get home again. 

Kind regards

Gail

Hello Mads,
I think that I may be able to help you with your research into your GG Grandfather Robert Francis Hodgson.  I am also researching this family.  According to my Records, his parents were Charles Hodgson and Sarah Barker.  They had an enormous family (about 15 children) who were all rather successful for their time.  Robert Francis (the youngest child in the family) had an older brother born in 1810, also called Robert Hodgson, funnily enough.  This Robert is my GG grandfather.  I don't know why they would have named two sons Robert, but possibly due to the large gap in their ages, the older Robert would have already have left home by the time the second one was born. These are the names of Charles Hodgson and Sarah Barker's children:  Rachel Blanche Hodgson (1805-1889), Sarah Hodgson (1807-1885), Charles Francis Hodgson (1808-1882), Robert Hodgson (1810-1888), Joseph Barker Hodgson (1812-1873), William Hodgson (1814-1896), Maria Barbara Hodgson (1816-1887), Ann Hodgson (1817-1900), Elizabeth Hodgson (1818-?), Eliza Hodgson (1819-1891), Mary Hodgson (1819-?), Francis Hodgson (1820-?), Jane Hodgson* (1821-?), Theresa Jane Hodgson (1822-?), Edward Chapman Hodgson (1825-1896), Robert Francis Hodgson (1831-1874).

I am dead certain about 8 of these children, and fairly sure about 7 of them, but I am doubtful about Jane Hodgson being one of their children though, I believe her to be the second wife of Joseph Barker Hodgson, but I may be proved wrong in the future.

I have a great deal of information on who each of these children married and their descendants.  These are the descendants I have for your GG grandfather Robert Francis Hodgson:

Interestingly, Robert Francis Hodgson died in the same year that his son Francis Joseph Hodgson was born.  Because Francis Joseph was actually born at sea off Cape Horn, it is assumed that his father died after his birth.  In the 1881 Census, Thurza, Robert's wife, is recorded as a Widow.

She had two children to raise, Mary Thurza and then Francis J Hodgson who by the age of 17 years in 1891, was recorded as being a Press Reader.  It is interesting to note that he was born Off Cape Horn, Brit. Vessel.  Robert's wife must have accompanied him on possibly his last voyage!

By 1901, Francis Joseph was married to Margaret and they had 2 children, Robert F Hodgson and Cyril A Hodgson.  His occupation at this time was Bank Clerk.  They were living at 126 Sandyford Road, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne.

Mary Thurza married Charles E Reay, son of John Reay (1816-1902) and Jane Elliott (1834-1899).