Arthur Dawson Hodgson

Arthur Dawson (Dawson) was the only child of Arthur Knapton and Jane Hannah Hodgson (née Dawson).

Dawson's father Arthur Knapton, was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, on 24 June 1861, the son of Henry and Elizabeth Hodgson. Arthur Knapton was baptised on 9 March 1869; the baptismal record shows that he was baptised at home (baptism registered with the Wesleyan Methodist Church, New Wortley, Holbeck, Leeds). Two of his sisters were baptised at home the same day, Emily Weatherill (b. 26 May 1859) and Mary Louise (b. 25 May 1863). Arthur had at least five siblings: Isabella, John W., William Henry, Emily and Mary. Arthur was born after his sister, Emily.

Elizabeth Hodgson died in 1875 aged 49 and Henry married Sarah Ann Walker in 1877 (reg. Leeds). Henry and Sarah were recorded on the 1881 census at Maryland Terrace, Headingly, Leeds, and while on previous census returns Henry's occupation had been given as manager (woollen cloth mill) he was now unemployed. Also in the home on the night of the census were two of Henry's children, Isabella and Arthur (19), a clothier stock helper. No record has yet been traced of when Arthur Knapton became a Congregational Minister but he had probably been ordained by the time of his marriage in 1889.

Dawson's mother was one of the four children of William and Kezia Dawson (née Robinson m. 1840): Kezia Elizabeth (birth registered 1842 JFM), Sarah Ann b. 1844, William b. 1846 and Jane Hannah b. 1848. All the children were born in Nottingham.

The Dawson family was living on Shakespeare Street, Nottingham in 1861: William, a builder, his wife and their children, Kezia, Sarah, William and Jane. William's wife died in 1862 and in 1864 (JFM) he married Harriett Cole (b. 1826, bap. Castlegate Independent Meeting 1833, parents John and Rebecca née Smith).

William Dawson snr. died on 8 October 1874 at Stratford Square, Nottingham, and his widow Harriet and her stepdaughters Kezia, Sarah and Jane together with one female domestic servant were recorded on the 1881 Census at 9 Stratford Square. The sisters' brother, William was now married.

Jane married Arthur Knapton in 1889 (JAS Nottingham). On the occasion of the first census after their marriage (1891), Arthur, a Congregational Minister, and Jane were recorded as visitors at 9 Stratford Square, which was still the home of her widowed stepmother Harriet and sisters Kezia and Sarah. The three women were living on their own means. Harriet died in 1905 and her stepdaughter, Keziah Elizabeth, who was still living at 9 Stratford Square, died the following year on 2 July (probate awarded to her sister Sarah and brother William, a colliery manager). Sarah Ann died at 9 Stratford Square on 26 April 1930 aged 94 and was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery with her sisters.

Arthur and Jane's son was born on 19 January 1893 (reg. Richmond Yorkshire). Jane died at her home in Heath, Uttoxeter, where her husband was a minister, on 14 May 1900; she was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery. In 1901 her widower and their son were still living at Heath. Also in the household was a housekeeper, Ada Alice Lewis (b. 1876), and a general domestic servant. Arthur Knapton married Ada Lewis in 1902 (reg. Richmond).

In 1911 Arthur and Ada were living at 1 Albion Terrace, Guisborough, Yorkshire, where Arthur was minister. His son Dawson was a pupil at Silcoates School (Northern Congregational School), near Wakefield, which was founded by Congregationalists; he later graduated from Lincoln College, Oxford.

The probate record for Dawson ('Arthur Dawson') gave his address as 9 Stratford Square, Nottingham, suggesting that at some point after leaving school, or perhaps University, he had made his home with his mother's family.

At the time of Dawson's death in 1916 his father was a Congregational minister in Wirksworth, Derbyshire, and he and his wife were recorded on the 1921 Census living on Cromford Road, Wirksworth.

Arthur Knapton, a retired Congregational minister, and Ada were recorded on the 1939 England & Wales Register at 8 Chatsworth Gardens, Scarborough. Arthur died at Scarborough on 27 March 1941 and his widow Ada diedaged 92 in 1968 (reg. Scarborough).