Anthony Jobson - 30th November 1836 ~ 20th April 1914, age 77.
Birth: Seaham Harbor, Durham, England.
Marriage: October 1887 at South Shields, Durham.
Occupation: Steamship Owner.
Death: North Bierley, Shipley, Yorkshire West Riding, England.
Address: Hebron House, Grange Rd. West Hartlepool.
Wife: Sarah A. Campbell - 1855 ~ March 1931, age 76.
Children:
Eunice Elizabeth (J. McCready) - 1889 ~
Father: Robert Jobson - 10th January 1804 ~ January 1878.
Mother: Jane Hall - 25th March 1810 ~ July 1892.
Siblings:
Elizabeth Jobson - c1834 ~
Thomas Alfred - 28th December 1835 ~ January 1907.
Robert (A. Elizabeth) - 1839 ~ June 1916.
Isabella Jobson - c1847 ~ October 1913.
Jane (J. Osborne) - 13th Sept. 1850 ~ April 1899.
Mary (T. Sanderson) - 1853 ~ 27th Dec. 1923.
ANTHONY JOBSON, OF WEST HARTLEPOOL. THE number. of "chief men among the brethren" (Acts 15. 22) whose brief records have appeared in these pages during the last fifteen years, have been many and varied. Some have been "chief" in their ability to minister the Word of God, others have given Songs of Zion which are sung worldwide; some have been "chief " in carrying the glad tidings into “the Regions Beyond" (2 Cor. 10. 16), others as Evangelists in Homelands; some have acted as Pastors or Guides over extended areas, a number as "faithful men" (2 Tim. 2. 2) in a district, county, or country.
ANTHONY JOBSON, of West Hartlepool, may be classed among the latter, for no man was more widely known and more implicitly trusted, and few had done as much for the extension of the Gospel and the sustaining of a testimony to the Name in the North of England.
His sound judgment and shepherd care became to be valued over a much wider area. Many in the Midlands and South of England sought his help in times of difficulty. Missionary work in all lands, especially in heathen and Roman Catholic countries, found in him an earnest supplicant in prayer, and a liberal supporter in pounds. When the suggestion was made in London for commencing a fund for "Widows and Orphans of Missionaries," Mr. Jobson was chosen as one of the four trustees of the gifts, a duty he faithfully discharged till called to higher service.
Born in Sunderland in 1836, as a young man, he pioneered in some of the parts of Canada and the United States, where huge towns and populous provinces or states are now found. Converted over fifty years ago, he took a decided stand for the Lord, became a diligent student of the Word, saw the privilege of giving testimony to His death, burial, and resurrection with his Lord by immersion (Acts 8. 38; Rom. 6. 4, 5), and forsaking all the names invented by man as gathering centres or party titles, sought to own "no man, save JESUS ONLY" (Matt. 17. 8), a position to which he firmly but graciously adhered, and ever sought to encourage others therein.
When we first became acquainted with him, close on forty years ago, he was in business in Sunderland, devoting not his spare time, but most of his time to the work of the Lord in the Gospel Room (which he had built), and over an extended area. Gospel tent work was then a novelty, and large crowds were got under canvas. Brethren Charles Morton, Samuel Blow, F. A. Banks, Geo. Geddes, Wm. Willington, now gone Home; Rice T. Hopkins, John Brunton, and other honoured servants still in the body, were at one time or another associated in the evangelistic efforts in different parts.
Removing to West Hartlepool in 1888, he made his influence felt in the neighbourhood. One of the special lines of work in which he delighted, was the visitation by a band of workers of some of the large collieries on a Saturday afternoon. Tracts were distributed from door to door, short bright Gospel testimonies given in the centre of each "row," and the whole place visited in this quiet effective way. A typical afternoon's work was described in The Witness for 1899, and afterwards reprinted in The Christian for the encouragement of similar work in other districts.
Though not a fluent speaker, his messages were ever felt to have the added weight of life behind his words. His commercial mind found interest and instruction in facts and figures relating to Babylon, Jerusalem, the Exodus, the Captivity, and similar Scriptural places and themes. A little book by him on "The Two Genealogies of our Lord Jesus" has helped many to a unifying of the records.
"Hebron House" was ever open to servants of the Lord; indeed, any of His members were always welcomed, and ungrudging hospitality shown by Mr. and Mrs. Jobson and their two daughters.
After being in labours abundant for close on half a century, an affliction of the eyes in measure, hampered his activities. A year ago, at the opening of the new hall in Consett (a place where he had helped for many years), there were indications that his days of service were drawing to a close; his health gradually failed since December, and on 20th April 1914, he was called into the presence of the King.
One of his last efforts, like many before, was the writing of wise and gracious counsel to a company of believers where discord had been sown. He entreated them to forgiveness "by the meekness and gentleness of Christ" (2 Cor. 10. 1) until he could hold the pen no longer, and he added, "I can write no more." May God raise up many such "guides" (Heb. 13. 7), and so meet one of the sad needs in the assembly life of to-day, both at Home and Abroad. HyP.
“The Believer's Pathway” v35 1914.
