A Commissioner for the 1892 Westminster Public Baths and Wash-houses and for the 1892 Westminster Public Library. One time co- churchwarden of St John the Evangelist, Westminster.
2020: Via Facebook we were contacted by Graham Hamborg who wrote: "I am the great-grandson of H. O. Hamborg. He was born Norwegian and became naturalised as a British citizen in 1872."
Our colleague, Andrew Behan has now researched this man:
Herman Olsen Hamborg was born on 7 April 1837 in Skjefstad,Ødegard, Østre Toten, Oppland, Norway. He was working for Sir John Rice Crowe, the British Consul and came to England with him when he was 18 years old.
The 1861 census shows him as a servant living in the house of a Mr & Mrs Thomas Nelson Waterfield at 6/7 Terrace, Deans Yard, St Margaret's, Westminster. Thomas Waterfield is shown on the census as an Assistant to the Secretaries, India Office, Canon Row. In 1864 he married Anne Caroline Shears (1830-1882) in St Margaret's, Westminster and they had two children; Herman Oscar Hamborg (1865-1915) and Francis Hamborg (1868-1905).
The 1871 census shows the family, together with a young female servant, living at 41 Great Smith Street, Westminster. His occupation was recorded as a Tobacconist.
On 21 October 1872 he took an Oath of Allegiance to H.M. Queen Victoria and was granted British Naturalisation. On 24 August 1877, together with four other men including Charles Christmas Piper, he was initiated as a Freemason in the Domatic Lodge No.177. His address was shown as 30 Great Smith Street, Westminster and his occupation was given as a Cigar Merchant. The 1881 census shows him still living at this address with his family and in December 1882 his wife died.
Along with 19 other Freemasons, including James Gibson, Charles Christmas Piper and James Charles Frampton Warrington Rogers, he was a founder member of the Abbey Lodge No.2030 when it was consecrated on 31 January 1884.O
n 2 October 1884 he married Fanny Cox (1848-1916) at St Peters Church, Brighton, Sussex, and they had two children; Hermina Eleanor Hamborg (1889-1957), who was born on 1 January 1889 and Robert Ellwood Martin Hamborg (1890-1974), who was born on 2 April 1890. In 1885 he resigned from The Domatic Lodge No.177 but he remained in the Abbey Lodge No.2030 until he died.
The 1891 census shows him living with his family and one servant at 30 Great Smith Street, Westminster and gives his occupation as Wholesale Tobacconist. Westminster Electoral Registers from 1894 to 1898 show him living at 1 Lawn Villas, Acton Lane, Chiswick although he retained an office at 40 Great Smith Street, but for 1899 and 1900 they show his home address as 1 Lorne Villas, Acton Lane.
The 1901 census lists the family and one servant at 2 Acton Lane, Acton and his occupation remained as a Wholesale Tobacconist. The 1911 census shows the family and one lady's maid at 2 Acton Lane, Chiswick and his occupation as a Wholesale Tobacco Dealer.
In 1905 his second son by his first marriage, Francis Hamborg, died, aged 36 years and in 1915 his eldest son, Herman Oscar Hamborg, died, aged 52 years. In 1916 his wife died, aged 68 years.
Probate records show that he died on 27 September 1921, aged 84 years, at 2 Lorne Villas, Chiswick and that probate of his estate was granted to his two remaining children. His effects totalled £2,419-2s-11d. His body was buried in a private family grave on 1 October 1921 at Brompton Cemetery, Fulham Road, London, SW10 9UG.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
