Churchwarden of Christ Church Spitalfields in 1877. Potato salesman operating from 28-29 Crispin Street, in partnership with Joseph Dexter until 1864 when the partnership was ended and Dodson carried on, solo. Dodson was a serial partnership-ender since we found him ending a partnership with Charles Cobb, at the same address, in 1862.
Our colleague, Andrew Behan, states that Richard Joseph Dodson and his twin brother, Joseph Dodson, were born on 22 June 1817, the 3rd and the 4th of the seven children of Joseph Dodson (1786-1846) and Catherine Dodson née Needham. On 15 July 1817 both he and his twin brother were baptised at St John the Evangelist Church, Smith Square, Westminster, Middlesex (now Greater London), where the baptismal registers show their family were living at St Ann's Street, Westminster and that their father was a ship agent. Their two elder siblings were: Sarah Scarborough Dodson (1807-1841) and Alice Dodson (1812-1848).
His twin brother died, aged 4 years, on 26 September 1821 and when his body was buried on 2 October 1821 in the Presbyterian New Gravel Pit Cemetery, Paradise Fields, Hackney, Middlesex (now Greater London), the burial register there shows the family were residing at Vauxhall Road.
His younger siblings were: Mary Scarborough Dodson (1819-1883); Helen Dodson (b.1821) and Joseph Dodson (1824-1826).
On 24 July 1848 he married Louisa King (1819-1912) in St Botolph without Aldersgate Church, Aldersgate, Middlesex (now Greater London), where in the marriage register he is shown as of full age, a bachelor and a salesman living at 83 Aldersgate, whilst his wife is described as of full age and a spinster, also residing at 83 Aldersgate. Her father was listed as Henry King, deceased.
In the 1851 census he is shown as aged 33 years, a potatoe (sic) salesman, who had been born in Vaxall (sic), Surrey and was living at 9 Weston Terrace, Bermondsey, Surrey (now Greater London), with his 31-year-old wife.
He was still being shown as a potatoe (sic) salesman in the 1861 census, aged 43 years and living at 83 Frederick Street, Islington, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his wife and their three children: Julia Louisa Dodson (1855-1930); Richard Joseph Dodson (1857-1936) and Henry Charles Dodson (1859-1944), his sister-in-law Julia Ann King (1815-1896), together with a female domestic servant.
When the 1871 census was compiled, he was shown as potato salesman, aged 53 years, born in Vauxhall, Surrey (now Greater London) and residing at 28 Crispin Street, Christchurch Spitalfields, Middlesex (now Greater London), with his wife, their three children who were all listed as scholars, his sister-in-law, Julia Ann King and a female general servant.
The 1881 census describes him as aged 63 years and a salesman still living at 28 Crispin Street, Spitalfields, with his wife, their three children, his sister-in-law, Julia Ann King, who was shown as an annuitant, together with a female general servant.
His death, aged 69 years, was registered in the 1st quarter of 1887 in the Whitechapel Registration District, Middlesex (now Greater London) and probate records confirm that he had died on 23 February 1887 at 28 Crispin Street, Spitalfields, Middlesex. These records also record that his former address had been 38 Weston Terrace, Bermondsey, Surrey. His will was proved on 30 March 1887 by his widow who was additionally described as The Relict and the sole Executrix. His personal estate was shown as £963-0s-5d.
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