NOTE: At present, this page is a bit of a grab bag of known facts and hunches. In time, I will write a more coherent story of George Edward NOBLE.
Updated: March 14, 2007
Updated May 16, 2010

* George Edward NOBLE's age at the time of his death was 54 and his birth place given was Dulwich, England. This birth place has yet to be verified as there does not seem to be a birth certificate although Dulwich is also the place of birth given in the Census [Thanks to Richard OLIVER's detective work on this.]. Curiously, the 1881 British Census has a listing for a George J. Noble born in India in 1847. Is it possible there was something in his background to hide? His father was probably the retired East India Merchant, John NOBLE (1799-1871).

The probate of his will shows that he died at 37 Inverness Terrace, Hyde Park in the County of Middlesex. Executors were his nephew Henry Heywood NOBLE and Dr. William HARTIGAN (who was physician for HSBC and a brother-in-law of Sir Thomas JACKSON). I ordered this will on line, but several pages were unavailable because of how they were bound. It will take a visit in person to get the rest of the information. Regrettably, that will be the information that matters most!
Henry Heywood NOBLE shows up in Lancashire aged 50 at the time of the 1911 Census.
** NOTE: At the time of her daughter "Molly's" engagement, Frances or Francesca NOBLE lived at 37 Inverness Terrace, Hyde Park, London. SOURCE: HK PRO. [Thanks to Dr. Eileen Scully for this.] Although I do not yet have a death date for Francesca NOBLE, but she was in attendance at the funeral of Sir Thomas JACKSON in December 1915. SOURCE: The London and China Telegraph December 24, 1915.
*** Note: They were married in Bombay - probably between 1880-1885. SOURCE: Recollections of H.D. Sharpin in the HSBC archives. Sharpin's father was Frederick Lloyd SHARPIN, Archdeacon of Bombay at the time and officiated at their wedding. Her family was of Irish descent. At the time of the 1911 Census, her sister Myrna - who was born in Ireland abt 1875 - was staying with them.

THEIR CHILDREN:
J.Frederick S. NOBLE. I would guess that he was born about 1885 (going from the photo).
Mary Josephine "Molly" NOBLE. She was engaged 17 July 1912 to "Lionel, John Crowly Anderson" of HKSB Shanghai. Born May 21, 1888 at St. John's Place, Hong Kong. SOURCE: HK PRO. In the 1901 UK census, her age is 12 years.
Kathleen NOBLE Born January 1, 1890 at St. Johns Place, Hong Kong. SOURCE: HK PRO. In the UK 1901 Census, her age is 10 years.

 

G.E. NOBLE 1889-1890 - when he was briefly Chief Manager of HSBC before illness forced him to resign.

In February 1866, G.E. Noble was recruited from the Commercial Bank Corporation of India where he had already been working as an agent in Bombay. (NOTE: Seven months later, Thomas JACKSON was hired.) Going from NOBLE's birth records, he was merely 19 years old when he started work with HSBC. [NOTE: There may have been family connections in India. I am working my way through dozens of NOBLE names in India. Of interest is the name of George Noble TAYLOR in the Madras Civil Fund Family Register.]

In spite of hunches, I cannot yet prove any family or other such connection between NOBLE and JACKSON nor whether George Edward NOBLE had any Irish roots. The only birth evidence we have suggests that he was born at Dulwich, England (just south of London) - but as mentioned, we can't find a birth certificate (one may yet emerge).

If he does happen to be connected to the NOBLE family of Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim - and I wouldn't rule this out - (see beneath), then there is a very strong possibility that there was a connection between himself and Sir Thomas JACKSON that preceded his HSBC days - a connection of either geography and/or family . At this point, this is sheer speculation, but the NOBLE and JACKSON families both share roots that go back to Cromwellian times in Ireland. Several hunches about a NOBLE-JACKSON connection (Caution - they may all prove to be dead ends) include:

• THE CAVAN OBSERVER  AUGUST 6, 1864 In Bankruptcy Sale of part of the townland of Bredagh, situate in the barony of Carrigallen, and County of Leitrim. Court of bankruptcy and insolvency In the Matter of ALEXANDER NOBLE, of Carrigallen, in the County of Leitrim, Shopkeeper, a Bankrupt.
• Rev. William NOBLE (tutor and uncle of Oscar WILDE). His first name also needs to be authenticated since another source gives the uncle's name as Rev. G. NOBLE of St. John's Church Edgeworthstown. He presided at the funeral of Oscar WILDE's sister (1857-1867).(Many years later Oscar wrote the poem Requiescat in her memory.)
• John NOBLE (b. 1829) and his brother James - both involved in banking internationally with descendants in Australia may prove to be interesting.
• Thomas NOBLE of Newry who worked for the Bank of Ireland at 12 Trevor Hill in 1881.
• Wm. NOBLE who was a surveyor for Lord Charlemont who had a son named George. Both time and place would fit if there is a connection between himself and Sir Thomas.
• The Presbyterian Irish Diaspora post-famine was driven in part by foreclosures on unprofitable lands. Another possible NOBLE connection: William Alexander NOBLE Esq. was named as a trustee in the Court of Cavan concerning the court ordered sale of an encumbered estate on the 24th day of June, 1853 belonging to John Baker. It involved a number of properties, of which one was described as:The Mill of Drumcalpin, could, with little expense, be made double its present value, and the whole is worth attention, being situate about two miles from Belturbet, one from Butler'sbridge, and three from the town of Cavan, excellent Market and Post towns.SEE: Anglo-Celt Published in Cavan, County Cavan June 2, 1853
• Missionary work was another cause that impelled Protestant families to leave Ireland. In 1859, an Arthur NOBLE is mentioned as a Wesleyan minister in Dublin and he may have been connected to missions in the Far East. Certainly, there were NOBLE family members involved in missionary work in the Far East at this time (and it is worth remembering that families often have several members in the same occupation, in this case, the ministry). A Dr. NOBLE worked with the Protestant mission at Paoting-fu before the Boxer rebellion. Later in the century, other NOBLEs were involved in missionary work in the Far East.
• Joseph Noble had a dental practice in Hong Kong in the 1870s.
• John NOBLE had a watch and jewellery business in Hong Kong. I think he died there in 1883. SOURCE: HK PRO
• A JW Noble asked for land on the Peak to build garden. [Thanks to Eileen Scully]
• The Irish Presbyterian merchant class often were part of the ongoing Irish Diaspora, so they are worth looking at when name and geography connect. In 1845, a J.T. NOBLE Esq. of Russell Street, Armagh, County Armagh is mentioned as a flax merchant (his fifth daughter Lucy died age 6 on August 29th, 1845. A son John had died at age 19 in May.).

  Adam NOBLE is worth noting in conjunction with both JACKSONs and Urcher (the childhood home of Sir Thomas JACKSON. Thanks to Roisin Lafferty for this. Email March 10, 2007. Registry of Deeds abstract of wills 1746 to 1785. No 355 Johnston, Thomas, Dublin, major of the 56 regt of foot 4 Oct 1765 narrate 2pp 1765. His wife Angel, his son Jno Johnston, his son Henry Johnston, his brother in law, Adam Noble Longfield Co. Monaghan esq, his brother in law Jackson Wray Ballycastle Co. Antrim. and his brother John Johnston of Urcher Co. Armagh Esq trustees. His niece Elizabeth Johnston, Daughter of his brother Graham Johnston, the children of his sister Charity Shekelton, the children of his brother John Johnston. His estate of town and lands of Camilly, co. Armagh, and Coofoord, Co Meath his dwelling house at Suffolk St Dublin, Witnesses Thos Benson, Dublin clerk, Stephen Reynolds, Dublin apothecary, John Wolverston gent Dublin Memorial witnessed by John Wolverston, Jno hunter clerk to said John Wolverston. 241,183, 157946 Jackson Wray (seal)

• The Adam NOBLE of County Monaghan (mentioned above) was Captain Lieutenant in the Regiment of Dragoons commanded by Col Cadwallader BLAYNEY in 1756. The NOBLE family continued in the military vein. Adam NOBLE of Longfield, Co. Monaghan was JP Oct 3, 1758 & High Sherriff 1768. There may be a connection to Captain NOBLE, the captain of the Kite (see beneath). Need to check.
  • Anne Noble, etc. 1841 July 17 sailed Appolline for Lond. widow Cpt Noble of Transport Kite, imprisoned in China. China Repository Vol 1 April 1841 pp. 199-204, has narrative of her captivity and suffering. Feb 2 1843, died Amoy HMS Serpent 22 Jan, after a few days illness; Lt Edward Meadows Noble, son Rear Adm Noble. SOURCE: HK PRO Card 129685,
  • A narrative of the shipwreck of the "Kite" and of the imprisonment and sufferings of the crew and passengers as it was recounted in a letter from Mrs. Anne Noble to a friend was published at Macao, China (printed at the Canton Press Office, 1841). SOURCE: SAOS: CWML N304
• It is not yet possible to know if this is what Eliza JACKSON (mother of Sir Thomas JACKSON) is referring to in her letter of 1882, April 4: I hope the trip may do you good, but I dread sea voyages in those latitudes. The fate of Mr. Noble can never be forgotten by us.
• P&O had a ship called "George Noble".

As far as George E. NOBLE's banking career went, he had many of the same experiences as Sir Thomas Jackson - Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bombay . Both starting young and rising through the ranks (small as they were at the start). In 1882, he was brought to Hong Kong as sub-manager and in 1886 was appointed Inspector. He eventually succeeded Sir Thomas JACKSON on January 1, 1889 (when Sir Thomas took a short leave). Regrettably for NOBLE, his reign was short. He became ill and in March 1890 and was in urgent need of emergency sick leave. In appreciation, the Board offered him $10,000 to tide him over.

“But NOBLE was not to return. In June there was some criticism of NOBLE’s handling of Head Office overdrafts, and in July the Board asked for a confidential medical report. As the latter was unfavourable, the question of NOBLE’s handling of the Bank’s affairs was never formally considered independently; the medical report was sufficient to cause NOBLE to cancel his already booked return passage; and the Board granted him a further year’s leave. JACKSON was to stay until de BOVIS could return to become acting Chief Manager – again pending NOBLE’s eventual recovery. …. By mid-1891 the Board had ascertained that NOBLE could not return to Hong Kong …” [SOURCE King, History of HSBC Vol. I p414]

"A mid-1890 internal investigation … revealed that NOBLE had initially set sound credit limits for brokers, but that beginning in August and September 1889 he had under pressure permitted these limits to be exceeded …” [SOURCE: Ibid. p.436]

"When due to ill health GE NOBLE retired from the junior manager’s position in the London Office, he requested appointment to the Committee, explaining to the Board that many British banks followed such a custom. The Board agreed…” He died in 1901. [SOURCE: Ibid. p.471]

From the 1901 Census and from his will, we learn his date of death, age and confirm the name of his wife ("Frances" in the Census - but "Francesca" in the HK PRO files). He died at home at 37 Inverness Terrace, Hyde Park in the County of Middlesex. His two daughters were aged 10 & 12 and living at home. In the same residence in 1901 was also a relative, Myna SEXTON (described as a son-in-law born in Ireland - but I suspect she was female as her first name is a common name for an Indian woman) a Johanna ROCHE and five servants: Agnes REARDON, Kate FIELD, Elizabeth ? and Alice PERRY. Myna SEXTON was born in Ireland abt. 1865 - so that will be the next record to chase down.

George Edward NOBLE's son, J.F.S. NOBLE also served in the HSBC from 1896-1903. His highest rank was as a junior in Hong Kong and he left the Bank during his first home leave. Also, George Edward NOBLE's wife's nephew, G.H.N. SEXTON [George Henry Noble SEXTON] also served from 1896-1903 and his highest rank was as a junior in Bombay. His family was Anglo-Indian. He subsequently left the Bank for the Catholic priesthood (King. Vol. I, p. 578). I will explore this aspect more - there is a photo from Gilford Castle of an Anglo-Indian family that prove to be pertinent. In the HK PRO records, there are records relating to: Septimus Sexton; Shanghai; Macau; James Logan Sexton Machado; Robert Woolfsen Sexton; Maria Anna Machado Sexton; George Henry Noble  Sexton; Hk And Shanghai Bank.