GILES OXLEYS HOBSONS

[History of the Village of Fonthill]

Henry Giles of Norwich, Norfolk County, England, was one of the early settlers in Temperanceville, now known as Fonthill. He built  his home where the Cross property now is, and names it “Fonthill Cottage,” no doubt in view of its location, and also perhaps because the name was a familiar one in England.

He and his family sailed from England in 1841, spending six weeks on the water. The only time he revisited the place of his birth was in 1864. His return trip to Canada was on the “Great Eastern” which was making its last passage trip before laying the first telegraph cable.

John Brewster Oxley, a brother of Mrs Henry Giles, came out at the same time, and also built among the hills near “Larchfield” the Albert Oxley place. This land was largely forest and had to be cleared. His nephew, Alfred Giles, records, records in his diary several times ‘helped uncle with the stumps’. Brewster Oxley was interested in the Fonthill Pubic Library Association. His name appearing often on the minute book. This Association was formed on November 4, 1852.

The Giles and Oxley families belong to the “Society of Friends” (Quakers) and attended the Friends’ meeting house in Pelham. They used to go to Yearly Meeting at Norwich, driving all the way with horse and buggy. Henry Giles’ death occurred at the age of 68 while he was preparing to attend “Fourth Day” Meeting, a regular Wednesday morning meeting of the Friends’ Church.

Alfred Giles, son of Henry Giles, was for some time recording secretary of the Fonthill Library Association and kept the  minutes in beautiful handwriting. He went into business partnership with Mr Swayze, merchant, in a store where the Kinsman Co. is now located.

With the Giles family is associated the name of Robert Hobson, who came from Appleby, Westmoreland County, England, and settled on a farm in Thorold Township, the present John Damude farm. He built the house which now stands and planted the pine trees which are still on the lawn. He was a man of great physical strength, having been known to cradle five acres of wheat in one day. Later he bought a lovely home on what was  afterward  known as the Tanner property, now Mosley’s Nurseries and called it “Chestnut Grove.”The original house was built by Alfred Willet of England in English style, the front facing the garden to the east. Robert Hobson was a Baldwin Reformer in politics, and one of the first magistrates appointed in old Niagara District after Lord Durham’s Report and the union of the two provinces. In 1837-38 he was in active service as Captain of Militia and afterward gazetted Major of Standing Militia. From 1850-56 Major Hobson was in H.M Customs at Queenston and at Clifton. He was appointed first sheriff of Welland County on May 12, 1856. After entering public life he resided in Welland at “Bleathgill” on Aquaduct Street. Several years later, after his death, this residence became known as “Gray Gables, a Roman Catholic School for boys. And now the present Notre Dame school.

Mrs Robert Hobson was a very active and enthusiastic worker promoting and building of the Baptist Church in Fonthill. Mrs Jessie Howel’s parents were Alfred Giles and Emma Hobson, daughter of Robert Hobson.

With Albert Oxley, who built “Larchfield” among the hills to the northeast of the village, came to his brother, Henry Oxley. They were also of a Quaker family in Norwich, England, and were born in the house next to the Norwich Cathedral. They married sisters of the MacDonalds of the Isles. The Oxley brothers were yachting around the Isles of Skye and in true Scotch hospitality were entertained at Tomor, the MacDonald estate, where they met the  sisters. Henry Oxley settled to the east of the village, calling his home “Brakendale,” now the Arthur Brown place. Miss Isabel Oxley, so well-known and loved by Fonthill folk, was a daughter of Albert Oxley and Anabella MacDonald.