Dodds

Family History
1700 - 2005

Compiled by Kevin Dodds
2005

Table of Contents

Introduction 4
The meaning of the Dodds name. 4
Chapter One - Dodds in England 1700 — 1920 14
John Dodds – Creation of the Dodds dynasty across three continents 16
Descendents of John Dodds and Elizabeth Strother (1st wife) 16
Chapter Two - John Dodds’ in Senegal, West Africa 18
Descendents of John Dodds and Sophie Feuilletaine (2nd wife) 18
Descendendents of Henri-Antoine and Marie-Charlotte (nee Billaud) Dodds 18
Descendents of Alfred Armadee and Adele-Marie-Madeleine (nee Linckenheyl-Alsace) Dodds 19
Descendents of Edouard-Charles-Alfred and Marie (nee Agaisse) Dodds 20
Chapter Three – John Dodds in England and coming to Australia 23
Descendants of John Dodds & Mary Francis Hindmarsh (3rd wife) 23
Descendents of William Darling & Agnes (nee Hughes) Dodds 24
Descendents of Henry & Harriet Anne (nee Binning) Dodds 26
Descendents of Leonard & Winifred Muriel Dodds 27
Descendants of John Hindmarsh and Ellen Marie (nee Somerset) Dodds 31
Chapter Four – Dodds in Australia 36
Descendants of John Dodds and Mary Hughes (4th wife) 36
Descendants of John and Mary Frances Dodds 36
Descendants of Sydney and Anne Euphemia (nee DAWES) Dodds 37
Descendents of Herbert Sydney & Elizabeth M (nee Bohan) Dodds 38
Descendents of Leonard Charles & Anne (nee Howe) Dodds 38
Descendants of Wilfred Harold & Clarice Melba (nee Carey) Dodds 40
Descendants of Wilfred Edward Dodds and his first wife Lorna 40
Descendants of John Robert Dodds and Cheryl 40
Descendants of David Edward Dodds and Helen Patricia 41
Descendants of Wilfred Edward Dodds & Valarie Carmel (nee Evans) Dodds 41
Descendants of Kevin Wilfred Dodds & Kathryn Anne Mary (nee Harris) Dodds 41
Descendants of Barbara Anne Dodds and Grant Mervyn Gilbert Charles EDWARDS: 41
Descendants of Ian Stuart Dodds and Lisa McConnell: 42
Descendants of Valma May Dodds & Ray Hopley 42
Descendants of Errol Lindsay & Nancy born 1943 (nee Brown) Dodds 43
Descendants of Paul Leslie Dodds & Narelle Margaret (nee Toohey) 43
Descendants of Michelle Le-Anne Dodds & Paul Leslie Toohey 43
Descendents of John Sydney Dodds 43
Descendents of Eric Harold Dodds 43
Chapter Five – Carey Family 47
Descendants of the EVANS family: 47
James Thomas Carey of Kilkenny, North Ireland 47
Descendents of Thomas Edward and Ethel Pearl Carey 47
Chapter Six – Evans Family 50
Descendants of the EVANS family: 50
Chapter Seven - Rosengren Family 53
Descendants of the ROSENGREN family 53
Chapter Eight - Harris Family 56
Descendants of the HARRIS family 56
Annexure 1 – Northumberland & Alnwick (home of the Dodds’) 58
Annexure 2 – Alnwick Castle 65
Annexure 3 – The Dodds’ as Border Reivers 66
Annexure 4 - African Dodds connection 69
Annexure 5 – Bishop Prosper Dodds, Senegal, Africa 78
Annexure 6 – General Alfred Amadee Dodds son of John Dodds 79
Annexure 6 - Lieutenant-General Ralph Darling 81
Annexure 7 – Land purchase by John Hindmarsh Dodds 87
Annexure 9 – A poem and artwork by Leonard Charles Dodds 90
Annexure 10 - A poem and artwork by Marie Dodds 92
Annexure 11 – Poem– “My Home–Glen-Anne” by Errol J. Smith 94
Annexure 12 – The History of Bulga and Milbrodale 95
Annexure 13 – Private Arthur Dodds–Killed in Action - WWI at France, 1918 100
Annexure 14 – Leonard & Anne Dodds, circa 1903 at ‘Glen Anne’, Milbrodale 103
Annexure 15 – PIX Newspaper Article 104
Annexure 16–PIX Newspaper Article Vol 13, Mp.14 1st April 1944 106
Annexure 17–Wedding of Maurice Evans to Edna Simmons in 1938 at Crookwell. 109
Annexure 18 – Alfred & Minnie (nee Dodds) Lee. 110
Annexure 19 – Major General Thomas Dodds 112



Introduction

The meaning of the Dodds name.

My understanding from a reference book called Origins of Names follows:

In Britain, surnames, as second names, were adopted in the eleventh through thirteenth centuries. Names generally were derived from the father’s Christian names (e.g. Richardson), from occupations (e.g. Baker), from characteristics (e.g. White) or from place names (e.g. Eckford.) Selected place names may also have derived from older Christian names (e.g. Dodds from Doddinghurst, from the Saxon Dodd family (-ing) forest (-hurst).)

DODDS The names DUDDA-DUDD-DODD-DOD-DODDS-DOWDE-DEEDE etc. are thought to be of Anglo-Saxon origin, and all considered the same, deriving from the personal name DODD or DODDA, according to the Index of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. It has been reported that DUDD, the Christian name, meant summit or hill in Saxon. It also was used to refer to a short fat person, and could have been adopted as a name. DODD may also have come from the ancient Friesic (Frisian) language where it meant "a blockhead", a nick-name which would have stuck to a person.

The Frisians/Saxons were the Germanic tribes that the Romans brought in to protect their northern borders. Hence many Dodds/DOD etc names are in the Scotland/Eng borders region.
The present town of DODDINGHURST, (approximately 20 miles NE of London) was probably one of the Frisian/Saxon settlements. As was the custom at the time, the town name derived from the Family name DOD or DODD, plus 'ING' indicating family or the possessive case, plus HURST which is Saxon for Forest or woods. Hence Dodds Family Forest. Angle settlements probably resulted in the towns of DUDDO and DODDINGTON (DODD family town) in Northumberland near the Tweed river near the Scottish border. Inland migration no doubt led to the later settlements of DODDANFORD, now DODFORD, Northampton, and DODDESTHORP, now DOGSTHORP, Northampton, about 100 miles NW of London.

The Dodds’ where did we come from what is our heritage.

















The Dodds Family Crest
Dodds - semper paratus: Always prepared

The Dodds Heraldic Crest Explanation



Letter by Robert Mearns
This is file Copy No. 2 of my original compilation typewritten in English. It was done to send to Monsignor Prosper Dodds, Bishop of St Louis in the Republic of Senegal, Western Africa, who is a descendant of my own great-grandfather, John Dodds, by his Senegal marriage, of which the descendants were brought up as French citizens, speaking French.
Monsignor Prosper Dodds was born at St. Louis, Senegal, in February 1915, (died 12th January 1973 – see Annexure for his life in the Catholic Church) when it was a French colony. As an independent Republic, it maintains close links with France. I obtained a translation of this into French, which ran into 50 hand written quarto pages, and then had the translation typed by French—speaking typists on machines with French type and keyboards, and airmailed it to Senegal in three separate lots as I received it from the typists.
· The first on — 4.6.1970
· The second on — 8.6.1970
· The third (final) on 9.7.1970
First I must mention that the information in your letter to me of 13th November 1968, concerning the births in Senegal of Henre and Mary, makes it certain that John Dodds went to Senegal very soon after the death of his first English wife, which occurred on 28th February 1814. I had assumed that he had gone to Senegal after the death of his second English wife, and he may have returned to Africa after her death. His marriage to his third English wife was on 4th April 1850, and this was his last marriage. Thank you for your information, which makes clear some matters I could not understand previously.
I am happy that I have after so long a time completed the composition of the history of the Dodds family in England and Australia to the extent permitted by my resources. This project has been interrupted throughout its whole course by events beyond my control, which I regret, and for which I offer my apology to you. In compiling it, I have aimed to avoid the inclusion of too much small detail and at the same time, give a story, which will show a complete picture.
It commences with Thomas Dodds of Berwick-on-Tweed; in 1700 I have no earlier history of the family. I am sure that some earlier records exist, but difficulties discovering them are beyond my present resources. If discovered, they may not add very much of interest to the story.
As well as giving the names and dates of the various births, marriages and deaths, where known, I have included here and there some information to add an element of interest to what could otherwise be a list of names and dates. I hope that you will find it interesting. The names and dates given in the history of John Dodds and his descendants, and of his three English marriages, are taken from a transcription of his own entries in his Bible.
In your letter to me dated 13th November 1968, you said that you would especially like to know whether John Dodds had any brothers scattered in various parts of the world. The answer to this is that none of his brothers left England. However, three of his English born sons came to Australia, and spent the remainder of their lives there. A fourth son visited it briefly. You will see these events referred to in more detail under the heading of ‘ Dodds 1790-1874, and his Descendants’.
Now, I would like to tell you of some events antedating my first letter to you, and some that have followed it. When I first attempted to trace the history of John Dodds of Senegal, all I knew was that he had been there and that he had a son (so I thought) who had been an Officer (General) of the French Army. This was so vague, that I decided to attempt to extend my knowledge of the family. I did not know whether any other descendants remained in Senegal. Therefore, I wrote to the Mayor of St Louis, requesting that he would inform me as to whether or not the Registrations of Births, Marriages and Deaths held by his Department contained any records of the Dodds family and I explained my reasons for asking.
I was surprised and pleased to receive a reply from M’lle Sophie BEZIAT, to whom the Mayor’s Office had handed my letter, evidently knowing of her connection with the Dodds family. I did not know of her at all until her letter reached me M’lle Sophie told me that she worked in the office of the French Consulate. She was interested to know that John Dodds had descendants in Australia. She found the records of the marriages of Alfred Amedee Dodds to Adele Marie Madelaine Linkenheys called Alsace, and of Henri Dodds to Marie Charlotte Billaud, and posted them to me, with two photographs of her late brother, Jean, and his two children and herself. She said that she would welcome a letter and even a photograph from me. I replied, thanking her, and giving her an account of the Dodds family in Australia, on similar lines to that which I am now sending to you, and I also sent some photographs. I heard nothing more from her until late in November 1965, when I received a post card from her, posted in Libourne, saying that she was on her way to France on what I understood to be a holiday. I acknowledged this to her St. Louis address, as I knew no other. However, I have not heard from her again and I do not know where she is.

While all this was going on, I wrote to the French Army Department in Paris, and obtained from them a very complete account of General Dodds’ Army service, which is very interesting indeed. This record mentions the date of his retirement to Chateau-de-Nucourt, and the date of his death. It does not mention any descendants, nor place or date of his wife’s death. At this point of progress, I thought of a photograph of General Dodds and of Chateau-de-Nucourt. But how to obtain them? It was obvious that an approach to official channels would be useless. Then I thought of looking at a map. I did so, and saw that Chateau-de-Nucourt was close to a town – Magny-en-Vexin. I guessed that this town would have in it, a professional photographer, and that as the General would have been a prominent figure in the locality, the town photographer would, if any existed, be able to supply the photographs I wanted. The next step was to ascertain whether there was a photographer in the town. I then called at the French Consular Agency in Brisbane, and there in a French Trade Directory, found the name of a photographer in Magny-en-Vexin. I wrote to him, and after a long delay from which I formed the opinion that he had ignored my letter, I received from him several very nice photographs of the Chateau, and one of General Dodds himself, in which he appears to be about 40 years of age, and a photograph of his grave in the church yard of Magny-en-Vexin. There was also a covering letter in which he told me that the photograph was a copy of an original made available to him to copy for me by Madame Fortas, who, he told me, is a member of the Dodds family circle, but he did not tell me her address. You may be as surprised to know I was to receive the photographs without any payment. The account was enclosed with his letter. I may say that I was somewhat touched, that an unknown, a foreigner, at that, and I had been so generously treated without any reference or guarantee that he would ever be paid. I may say, also, that I thought his account to be most reasonable. I sent a letter of thanks to Madame Fortas, in care of the photographer, as I did not know her address. I have not heard any more.
At the present time, living in a country district adjacent to Melbourne, there is a lady who stands in the same relationship to John Dodds as I do. She is Mrs Arline Miles, the wife of Claude Miles. She is a granddaughter of the eldest son of John Dodds’ second English marriage. I am a grandson of the youngest son of this marriage. Recently, when visiting Melbourne, I visited Mr and Mrs Miles at their home where they told me of an interesting incident, while touring Europe during 1968. They knew of my interest in family history and at the time when I received the Army record of General Dodds, I had told them of it and the place of his retirement.
When they were in Paris, they decided to go and look at Nucourt. Some members of the family were there. Neither Mrs Miles or I speak French and at first, there was some difficulty in explaining who they were and the reason for their visit, until another member took over the conversation. Mr and Mrs Miles did not know who lived at the Chateau and consequently had not given any notice of their intended visit. I do not think they know now! I certainly do not. At all events, the member who understood them was Mr. Pierre Laniray, of 22 rue de la Reint-Blance, 75 - Paris - XIII. Mr. and Mrs. Miles told him of me and my interest in family history, and he then gave then his address, as above, and asked them to tell me that he would be please if I would write to him. He writes English, and I will write as he wishes. The news of the visit of Mr. and Mrs. Miles to the Chateau had been a long time in reaching me. On a Christmas card I received from Mrs. Miles in December 1969, she said that she had a lot to tell me, but she is not a frequent correspondent, and in addition, they have moved their home from a Melbourne suburb to their present location, which meant that she had leisure for writing, so the news waited until they could speak it. Mrs. Miles was born in Brisbane, and has an unmarried sister living in Brisbane, where she too, was born. I often see her. You will see their place in the family tree amongst the descendants of William Darling Dodds, where you also will see the names of two brothers of these two ladies, who died when they were young men. Both parents of this family are deceased. During the abovementioned visit to Chateau-de-Nucourt, the Priest of a neighbouring Parish joined the gathering. I do not know whether or not he is a relative. He told them that the Church at Magny-en-Vexin had been damaged during the war and repairs had hot yet been completed, and it has no resident Priest. He is acting Curie of both parishes. Speaking from my memory of the conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Miles, I think they told me that this Priest had taken them in his car to see the Church at which he is stationed.
I am apprehensive that in spite of my expressed intention of avoiding the inclusion of too much detail, I may have done what I said I would avoid. If so, and you find it tedious, please forgive me. With my best wishes for your work, and for your good health, cheer kinsman.

Robert Hindemarch Mearns
36 Fanny Street,
Annerley, Queensland




Notes by Kevin Dodds
The following family history has been passed down to me by my grandfather – Wilfred Harold Dodds – the original was gathered together by Robert Mearns the grandson of William Darling Dodds (2nd wife descendents of John Dodds). I, on the other hand, am the great, great grandson of Sydney Dodds (3rd wife descendant of John Dodds who sailed to Australia aboard the ‘Bernicia’). I have updated the family tree as much as possible and consider it a work in progress as it has grown from 16 pages to 58 pages.

So who came to Australia from England? Were we convicts? No they were not convicts despite occasional dispersions to the contrary. William Darling Dodds was the first and he came in 1848. His father, John Dodds, my great great great grandfather came to Australia with his third wife Mary Hughes in 1850 when they sailed from London in the barque ‘Bernicia’ for Sydney with Mrs Martha Hughes, mother of the bride, and two younger sisters of the bride, Miss Agnes Hughes and a Miss C