During The Ashdown Forest Dispute 1876-1882 commoners and land owners were interviewed by the solicitor William Raper. Their comments were recorded in a series of notebooks:

Hobbs, John. 55. At Furners Green. Laborer. Born 13 January 1824 at Newick. When I was a child my Father took Moyses Farm, Fletching, (Sir S. M. Wilson) and remained there till I was 20 or 21 years old. As soon as I was able to work I helped him on the Farm till he left. He had litter and turf regularly every year off the Forest and at times brakes. I often went to fetch them. He always turned out 10 or 12 beast. We then hired Chelwood Farm, Fletching (Lady Shelley). He used the farm 19 or 20 years and I helped him all the time, except 1 year when I was away. We always had litter and turf there and turned out our cows and a beast and sometimes sheep. We also had gravel. I used to cut the litter. When we were at Chelwood Farm, Mr. Turner, the tenant of Colin Godmans, had leave from my Father to bring his litter off the Forest through our Farm and he carried a great deal.

After we gave up that farm I went to Colin Godmans farm for 2 years with my brother William who used it. During that time he had litter off the Forest and at times turned out. I used to see him driving his stock on when I lived at Chelwood Farm. I then returned to Chelwood Farm for 4 years under Mr. Tanner. He had some turf off the Forest. I got it in for him. I think he had no litter because he got plenty off Chelwood Common. He turned out stock at times. I then returned to Colin Godmans for 2 years under Mr. William Martin. He had litter off the Forest. I used to fetch it. I think he did not turn out. I then came to the Sheffield Arms Inn and worked for Mrs Comber who has the land adjoining for 6 years. She had litter 5 years out of the 6 off the Forest. I then came to Sliders Farm where I have been over a year. We have had nothing here in that time.

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Extract from the Sussex Express 8.6.1886

Danehill. Mysterious disappearance. John Hobbs in the employ of T.Chatfield of Portmansford Farm. On Saturday 2 May after work he went to the Sheffield Arms Inn. Remaining till closing time expressing his intention to go to his friends at Newick, he went in that direction and has not been seen since. Probably fell in the Ouse. Lord Sheffield rendered every assistance in search. His brother W. Hobbs of Newhaven has been telegraphed but heard nothing. Since writing the above the body has been found in the river near Newick. As the body was standing perfectly upright and embedded in the mud 3 ft. it is conjectured that the man jumped in. The inquest will be held today Tuesday.

12.6.1886. Inquest on death of John Hobbs, carter of Colin Godmans Farm age 62. Body found by Daniel Watson of Lane End Farm, who got the body out of the water. Ann Hatfield of Colin Godmans, daughter in law, said she lived with him 15 years. He often left home for a week or 10 days and returned again. Ab. Nash home steward to Earl of Sheffield said a tree across the river was removed about a fortnight before. It was a dark night. Albert Stepney of Sheffield Mill left Hobbs after 10 pm he was not drunk. Verdict. Accidental death.