Thanks for all your interest. Have now got birth cert for Hubert Priest born 1862 in staffs and unfortunately he is not Hubert senior's son. However he is actually the son of Hubert senior's brother John Samuel Priest and his first wife Hannah Priest nee Mason. Of much interest as John Samuel is our Great Grandfather and we can add another child to his 13! It does seem very sad that Hubert junior was 'adopted' by the Dobbs by the time he is 9 even though his parents were living nearby. He spent much of his adult life as a lodger/boarder with various Lydbrook families and died without marrying (we think) aged 51.
Still on the hunt for Hubert senior!
Alison Priest