DFHG History - Eliza Rodwell

Family Tree .....
A brief family tree of the family of Eliza Dixon, the woman murdered in Wortham on Sunday, 9th July 1899
by Nigel Peacock

This page is gradually being put together from a variety of sources and will take some time to complete, if it ever becomes complete! If anyone has any further information, additions or errors, about those named please make contact.

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Eliza’s inlaws

• Robert DIXON (1823-1906)

= Susan BUCK (1830-1912) - there is some confusion as to the actual surname of Susan, there being some references to it being COCK but the later (more reliable?) ones for it being BUCK

Robert and Susan’s children (4)

• Mary Ann DIXON (1851-1908)

• Eliza DIXON (1854-1928)

• Clara DIXON (1855-1924)

1 July 1855 - birth (from baptism record) possibly in Roydon but may be Wortham (Census records give both)
16 Sept 1855 - publicly baptised in Roydon (Norfolk Baptism Project) - queried this record/place as does not fit with Census records but all other facts fit
1861 Census (RG09 Piece 1149 Folio 136 Page 3) - 5, she was living at Dick Road, lodging with William GOODERHAM (widower, 70, labourer), with parents Robert (37, agricultural labourer) and Susan (30), and sisters Mary Ann (10) and Eliza (7)
1871 Census (Census RG10 Piece 1736 Folio 112 Page 1) - 17, living with parents Robert (48, agricultural labourer) and Susan (40), and brother James (3)
1872 - birth of child Henry Edward DIXON (1872-1940) but actual father unknown; baptised Wortham 1 Jun 1873 with name just Edward, father not named
1873 - marriage to George Arthur FLATMAN (1852-1936) (reg: 1873 Q1 Hartismere Vol 4A Page 699) - there were 6 known children to this marriage: George William (1875-1950), Arthur James (1877-1955), Alfred [John?] (1879-????), Rosanna (1880-1951), Samuel Robert (1883-1958) and Alice Mary (1886-1955)
1881 Census (RG11 Piece 1853 Folio 117 Page 20) - 25, living at Long Green, Wortham with husband George (27, agricultural labourer) and children Edward DIXON (8), George (5), Arthur (4), Alfred [John?] (2) and Rosannah [Rose?] (1)
1891 Census (RG12 Piece 1459 Folio 143 Page 16) - 36, living at Long Green, Wortham with husband George (36, agricultural labourer), children George (15, agricultural labourer), Arthur (14, Agricultural labourer), John (12, scholar), Rose (11, scholar), Samuel (7) and Alice (4), and lodger Ben WARNE (widow, 57, agricultural labourer)
1901 Census (RG13 Piece 1795 Folio 125 Page 13) - 46, living at Long Green, Wortham with husband George (47, agricultural labourer) and daughters Rose (21) and Alice (14)
1911 Census (RG14 PN10725 RD210 SD2 ED10 SN37) - 55, living at Long Green, Wortham with husband George (58, labourer on farm) and son Arthur James (33, labourer on G.E.R. railway)
12 April 1924 - death (reg: 1924 Q2 Hartismere Vol 4A Page 869), date from memorial inscription
1924 - burial at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Wortham, memorial stone in her name

• James DIXON (1868-????)

Eliza’s parents

• Jonathan (John) RODWELL (1838-1920)

= Emma CIVIL(1839-1922)

Jonathan and Emma’s children (2?)

• Henry RODWELL (1859-1913?)

c. 1859 - born in Wortham (reg: 1859 Q2 Hartismere Suffolk Vol 4A Page 523)
5 Jun 1859 - baptism in Wortham (Suffolk Family History Society)
1861 Census (RG09 Piece 1149 Folio 122 Page 6) - 2, living at Long Green, Wortham with parents Jonathan (24, agricultural labourer) and Emma (21)
1871 Census (RG10 Piece 1736 Folio 117 Page 12) - 11, scholar, living in Long Green, Wortham with grandparents Samuel GOODDARD (65, agricultural labourer) and Mary GODDARD (65)
1881 Census (RG11 Piece 1853 Folio 118 Page 21) - 21, agricultural labourer, living in Long Green, Wortham with parents John (48, agricultural labourer) and Emma (41), and sibling Alice (14), Samuel (12), Edith (10), George (8) and John (5)
1881 - marriage to Henrietta BUCK (1860-1910) (reg: 1881 Q2 Hartismere Suffolk Vol 4A Page 869) - 8 known issue from marriage; Frederick Ernest (1881-????), Henry Edward (1882-1972), Walter James (1883-1977), Arthur William (1885-1964), Violet Maud (1887-1968), George Henry (1888-1918), William David (1890-????) and Lilian May (1892-????)
1891 Census (RG11 Piece 1459 Folio 155 Page 13) - 31, gamekeeper, living in Magpie Green, Wortham with wife Henrietta (29) and children Harry E (9, scholar), Walter J (8, scholar), Arthur W (6, scholar), Violet M (4), George H (3) and William D (7 months)
1901 Census (RG13 Piece 1900 Folio 92 Page 1) - 41, gamekeeper, living in Mundford Cottages, Weeting, Thetford, Norfolk with wife Henrietta (39) and children Frederick (19, general farm labourer), Walter (17, under gamekeeper), Arthur (15, general farm labourer), Violet (13), George (12), William (11) and Lillian (8)
1911 Census (RG14 PN9239 RD184 SD4 ED4 SN76) - widower, 51, gamekeeper, living in Lynn Road, Littleport, Cambridgeshire with children George (24, general farm hand) and Lily (19, housekeeper), and boarder Jane HUDSON (19, housekeeper’s companion)
1913 - there is a reference to a death in 1913 which appears to fit but it is unsubstantiated

• Emma RODWELL (1862-1938)

• Eliza RODWELL (1864-1899)

• Alice RODWELL (1866-1939)

• Samuel RODWELL (1868-1955)

• Edith RODWELL (1871-1956?)

1871 - born in Wortham (reg: 1871 Q3 Hartiswell Vol 4A Page 520)
1881 Census (RG11 Piece 1853 Folio 118 Page 21) - 10, living in Long Green, Wortham with parents John (48, agricultural labourer) and Emma (41), and sibling Henry (21, agricultural labourer), Alice (14), Samuel (12), George (8) and John (5)
1891 Census (RG12 Piece 1459 Folio 85 Page 8) - 19, living in Redgrave with sister and brother-in-law Eliza DIXON (24) and James (22, licenced victualler at The Half Moon [which closed in 1962])
1901 (Census RG13 Piece 1765 Folio 123 Page 10) - 28, housekeeper, living in Long Green, Wortham with his brother-in-law James DIXON (a widow, 32, grocer and pork butcher) and his children Olive May (9), William George (8), Leonard Robert (7), Edith Lilian (5), James C (4) and Susan (2)
1911 Census (RG14 PN10725 RD210 SD2 ED10 SN29) - 39, housekeeper, living at Willow Corner, Wortham with parents Jonathan (75, old age pensioner) and Emma (73, old age pensioner), and niece Susan Emma (12, scholar)
1939 National Registration (ref: RG101/0872E/012/6 Letter Code: BOBM) - b. 14 Aug 1871, unpaid domestic duties, living at 32 Beechwood Avenue, Ruislip, Middlesex with niece’s husband Harry COPP (b.10 Apr 1900, Senior Clerk Motor Tyre Industry), niece Susan E COPP (b. 19 Jul 1899, shoe shop assistant), their 2 named children, Geoffrey S D (b. 25 Apr 1924, at school) and Michael C R (b. 25 Mar 1935, under school age), 2 unnamed people possibly 2 further children born between Geoffrey and Michael, and James DIXON (b. 1 Jun 1868, retired poultry farmer, now married again). Edith probably was, James DIXON’s widow, Eliza DIXON’s sister
Notes on above: Edith’s surname being changed from DIXON to RODWELL possible indicates that she and James were living as man and wife but they were probably not married - extensive searching could find no records to validate the marriage. The change back to RODWELL, presumably by the Health Service, shows possibly the reality of her name. The other possibility is that the record in the Registration is wrong for surname and/or marital status!
1956 - record for a death which fit most criteria but is unsubstantiated (reg: 1956 Q4 Ealing Vol 5A Page 152)

• George RODWELL (1873-1923?)

• John RODWELL (1876-1923)

• James DIXON (1868-????)

SEE ABOVE for earlier information
2 June 1889 - married Eliza RODWELL at St. Mary’s Church, Redgrave (reg: 1889 Q2 Hartismere Vol 4A Page 273) - there were 6 children to the marriage: Olive May (1892-1987?), William George (1893-1963), Leonard Robert (1894-1968), Edith Lilian (1896-1924), Christopher James (1897-1918) and Susan Emma (1898-????)
1891 Census (RG12 Piece 1459 Folio 85 Page 8) - licenced victualler at The Half Moon (which closed in 1962), in Redgrave living with Eliza (24) and sister-in-law, Edith RODWELL (19)
1895 - there were six children born to James and Eliza, the first 3 children were born in Redgrave the last 3 in Wortham, so the family probably moved to Wortham around this time
1901 (Census RG13 Piece 1765 Folio 123 Page 10) - a widow, 32, grocer and pork butcher, living in Long Green, Wortham with his sister-in-law Edith RODWELL (28, housekeeper) and his children Olive May (9), William George (8), Leonard Robert (7), Edith Lilian (5), James C (4) and Susan (2)
1911 Census (RG14 PN10725 RD210 SD2 ED10 SN32) - 43, a poultry rearer, living at Willow Corner, Wortham, with his mother Susan DIXON (widow, 80) and sons William George (18, flour miller’s apprentice), Leonard Robert (16, grocer’s assistant) and Christopher James (14)
1939 National Registration (ref: RG101/0872E/012/6 Letter Code: BOBM) - b. 1 Jun 1868, retired poultry farmer, now married again, living at 32 Beechwood Avenue, Ruislip, Middlesex with son-in-law Harry COPP (b.10 Apr 1900, Senior Clerk Motor Tyre Industry), daughter Susan E COPP (b. 19 Jul 1899, shoe shop assistant), their 2 named children, Geoffrey S D (b. 25 Apr 1924, at school) and Michael C R (b. 25 Mar 1935, under school age), 2 unnamed people possibly 2 further children born between Geoffrey and Michael, and Edith RODWELL (DIXON) (b. 14 Aug 1864, unpaid domestic duties. . Edith probably was, James DIXON’s widow, Eliza DIXON’s sister
Notes on above: Edith’s surname being changed from DIXON to RODWELL possible indicates that she and James were living as man and wife but they were probably not married - extensive searching could find no records to validate the marriage. The change back to RODWELL, presumably by the Health Service, shows possibly the reality of her name. The other possibility is that the record in the Registration is wrong for surname and/or marital status!

= Eliza RODWELL (1864-1899)

James and Eliza’s children (6)

• Olive May DIXON (1892-1987?)

• William George DIXON (1893-1963)

• Leonard Robert DIXON (1894-1968)

3 Aug 1894 - born in Redgrave, date from baptism record (1894 Q3 Hartismere Vol 4A Page 779)
2 Sep 1894 - baptism in Redgrave (Suffolk Family History Society)
1901 Census (RG13 Piece 1765 Folio 123 Page 10) - 7, living in Long Green, Wortham with his father James (32, grocer and pork butcher), aunt Eliza RODWELL (28, housekeeper), and siblings Olive May (9), William George (8), Edith Lilian (5), James C (4) and Susan (2)
1911 Census (RG14 PN10725 RD210 SD2 ED10 SN32) - 16, grocer’s assistant, living at Willow Corner, Wortham with his father James (widower, 41, poultry rearer), grandmother Susan DIXON (widow, 80), and brothers William George (18, flour miller’s apprentice) and Christopher James (14)
28 Jun 1913 - departed from London aboard ‘Norseman’ bound for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
29 Feb 1916 - attested in Melbourne into Australian Imperial Force, 5th Bn. 18th Reinforcements, Ser. No. 5359
1 Mar 1916 - took oath to serve for duration of the war plus 4 months
13 Feb 1918 - appointed Lance Corporal
12 Jun 1919 - return to Port Darwin, Australia
Sept 1919 - discharged from forces, living at ‘Pentlands’, Boolarra, Gippoland
1919 - living in Boolarra, Victoria, Australia (Ancestry, Australia, Electoral Rolls)
1920 - married Margaret Young Hammond (1896-1980) (Ancestry; Victoria, Australia, Marriage Index) - possibly 3 children to marriage, one named Jessie Margaret (1922-1967)
20 Mar 1968 - death in Heidelberg (or Seaford), Victoria, Australia - date from probate record (Ancestry, Victoria, Australia, Death Index) (Ancestry, Australia Death Index)
30 Aiug 1968 - probate granted (Ancestry; Victoria, Australia, Wills and Probate Records)

• Edith Lilian DIXON (1896-1924)

• Christopher James DIXON (1897-1918)

20 Dec 1897 - born in Wortham (reg: 1897 Q2 Hartismere Vol 4A Page 841) - date from military records
25 April 1897 - baptism in Wortham (Suffolk Family History Society)
1901 Census (RG13 Piece 1765 Folio 123 Page 10) - 4, living in Long Green, Wortham with his father James (32, grocer and pork butcher), aunt Eliza RODWELL (28, housekeeper), and siblings Olive May (9), William George (8), Leonard Robert (7), Edith Lilian (4) and Susan (2)
1911 (Census (RG14 PN10725 RD210 SD2 ED10 SN32) - 14, living at Willow Corner, Wortham with his father James (widower, 41, poultry rearer), grandmother Susan DIXON (80, widow), and brothers William George (18, flour miller’s apprentice) and Leonard Robert (16, grocer’s assistant)
12 Oct 1914 - attested into the army, 4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment, Ser. No. 3171, home address given as Long Green, Wortham
from 12 Oct 1914 to 31 Aug 1916 - served on home soil
19 Aug 1916 - transferred to 4th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers, Ser. No. 9099, then to 5th Bn., Ser. No. 241791
from 1 Sept 1916 to 28 Apr 1917 - served as part of the British Expeditionary Force in France
from 29 Apr 1917 to 23 Jul 1917 - served on home soil
from 29 April 1917 to 2 Jul 1917 - spent time in the American Woman’s War Hospital, Paignton, records mention Tubercula Lung and Nephritis
2 Jul 1917 - recommendation of Devonport Medical Board ‘discharge as permanently unfit Category E’
23 Sept 1917 - discharged under Para 392 (xvi) King’s Regulations - no longer physically fit for service (pulmonary tuberculosis nephritis, exposure to infection on active service (stated may require sanatoriun treatment) - returning to Lilac Cottage, Wortham
2 Jul 1918 - died in Wortham
5 Jul 1918 - buried in St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard, Wortham - newspaper report ‘DIXON - July 2nd, at Wortham, Christopher James Dixon, late 5th Northumberland Fusiliers, in his 21st year. Interred in Wortham Churchyard, July 5th. R.I.P.’ (source unknown) - commemorated on the Wortham War Memorial and on the Roll of Honour

• Susan Emma DIXON (1898-????)

NB: there is some confusion as to the exact year of Susan’s birth, civil registration and baptism show 1898 as below but often referred to in other sources as 1899.
19 Jul 1898 - born in Wortham (date from baptism record) (reg: 1898 Q3 Hartismere Vol 4A Page 883)
2 Sep 1900 - baptism in Wortham (Suffolk Family History Society)
1901 Census (RG13 Piece 1765 Folio 123 Page 10) - 2, living in Long Green, Wortham with her father James (32, grocer and pork butcher), aunt Eliza RODWELL (28, housekeeper), and siblings Olive May (9), William George (8), Leonard Robert (7), Edith Lilian (5) and James C (4)
1911 Census (RG14 PN10725 RD210 SD2 ED10 SN29) - 12, scholar, living at Willow Corner, Wortham with grandparents Jonathan (75, old age pensioner) and Emma (73, old age pensioner), and aunt Edith (39, housekeeper)
21 Jul 1923 - marriage (ref: 1923 Q3 Brentwood Middlesex Vol 3A Page 330) after banns to Harry COPP (23, a motor driver, 1900-1961) in Hanwell, Middlesex, then living at 47 Grosvenor Road, Hanwell - certainly 2, maybe 4, children from the marriage: Geoffrey Stewart D COPP (1924-1990), Michael Charles Raymond COPP (1935-2000) and 2 unknown named from 1939 Registration.
1930 - living at 60 Salisbury Road, Harrow, according to Electoral Register
1939 National Registration (ref: RG101/0872E/012/6 Letter Code: BOBM) - born 19 Jul 1899, shoe shop assistant,living at 32 Beechwood Avenue, Ruislip, Middlesex with husband Harry (b.10 Apr 1900, Senior Clerk Motor Tyre Industry), 2 named children, Geoffrey S D (b. 25 Apr 1924, at school) and Michael C R (b. 25 Mar 1935, under school age), 2 unnamed people possibly 2 further children born between Geoffrey and Michael, James DIXON (her father, b. 1 Jun 1868, retired poultry farmer, now married again) and Edith RODWELL (DIXON) (b. 14 Aug 1864, unpaid domestic duties)

Notes:

If anyone has any further information, errors or additions to the family tree above please make contact.

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