A while ago I came across this photograph on Ebay. A fine, handsome chap named James Dodds, with his birthdate conveniently written. It’s not often you come across photos with names and dates and I felt sorry for him thinking he must belong to someone’s family. So who was James Dodds? On the back of the photo is ‘Curren (or Currey), Bath St. Bolton 1866’. If we take the date to be when the photo was taken this would put James at 19 years old and in Bolton, Lancashire.
In the 1871 census George and James are living at Holly Bank, Over Hulton. George is listed as the head of the household and aged 25. James is described as his brother and is aged 23. They have a sister who has joined them – Jane aged 19, all of them described as born in Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland. The lads must have had a decent education as George is a cashier and James a book keeper – both working for a collier. Jane is a housekeeper, probably looking after the house and her brothers.
In 1881 James has married Adelaide and they are living in Warrington. They now have a son John aged 1. Things are looking good for them as they have 2 servants living with them – Annie Worlsey and Emma Mainwaring. James works as a clerk/secretary to a public iron works.
James and Adelaide are living in Lymm, Cheshire in 1891. A place I know well as a large part of my father’s side are from Warburton, a small village not far from Lymm. I wonder if he and my great grandfather Abraham Collins ever came across each other, perhaps in the pub on a market day. Back to James who is now a Tanner Master. Their son John is aged 11 and has been joined by Annie aged 9; Adelaide Mary aged 7, Percy Lomax aged 4 ; Marjorie aged 2 and James H aged just 9 months. Adelaide isn’t stinting on the domestic help as she has 3 servants with her: Ada Partington, Annie Hopkins and Mary Abbot.
The family are living at Penketh House, Warrignton Road in 1901 and we find that James and Adelaide’s family has grown considerably. John is now aged 21 and a farmer employing people; Annie is aged 19; Adelaide aged 17; Percy L aged 14; Marjorie ged 12; James H aged 10; Malcolm Fenton aged 6; along with 2 servants, Lilly Atherton and Annie Broome. James is an Iron Manufacturer.
Sadly by 1911, it has ended for James and we find Adelaide listed as a widow. She is still living at Penketh House on ‘private means’ with some of her children, Percy Lomax, Marjorie, James Hepple and Malcom Fenton. She still doesn’t stint on help and has 3 servants with her; Rebecca Jackson, Mary Annie Hassall and Bertha Eaton. Adelaide states she had 9 children 2 of whom have died. Penketh House was a large property with 13 rooms.
Adelaide died in 1926 aged 72. A search found James and Adelaide were buried in St Mary’s Church, Lymm. Headstones can be incredibly informative in family history research and James and Adelaide’s headstone provides plenty of information about the family. You can see the inscription on the Find a Grave website. So James and Adelaide had many children, some who married and had children of their own. The questions are, why did James’ photo end up on Ebay and would any of his descendants like it back?
I can’t see the photo you posted any more – but I have a photograph of a lovely painting done in 1896 of a little blond boy called James Dodds – it was done by an artist I am studying called Nelly Erichsen but I don’t know who this James Dodds is. However I do know that around 1896 Nelly was portrait painting in Cheshire – could these be father (your photo) and son (my photo?)
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for your comment regarding the photo of James Dodds. I have uploaded the photo so you should be able to see it now.