Hi Listers This is a shot in the dark by me in trying to trace my maternal Grandmother. I just hope that you have the patience to read it! My maternal grandparents were Frederick DAWSON (1884-1962) and May Elizabeth CATCHPOLE (1886-?). Both were born in Norwich, Norfolk and were married there in 1905. Between that year and 1915 they had 4 daughters and 2 sons, one of whom died in infancy in 1913. During WW1 Frederick served in the Royal Engineers on the Western Front. About 1917/18, as Norwich army barracks were full to capacity, soldiers were billeted out in local homes. I assume that some were billeted in the street where the DAWSON family lived, as during this period there was a shooting incident in the family home between 2 soldiers over May Elizabeth. This came to the attention of the military and Frederick was sent home on leave from France to resolve the matter. As May Elizabeth was pregnant by one of the soldiers, Frederick threw her out, and she left, leaving behind all the children, never to see them again. May Elizabeth DAWSON was last seen boarding a train from Norwich bound for Doncaster to join the soldier, it is assumed, by whom she was pregnant. Whether she gave birth to the child is not known. According my cousin (daughter of my eldest aunt) the soldier my Grandmother left with had a surname which was that of a bird, possibly FINCH. I'm not certain of this surname and as there were 84 surnames that were names of birds in the 1891 Census, I'm hedging my bets that it could be the right name <VBG>. The only time that May Elizabeth had further contact with either family was about 1921, when she wrote to Frederick from the Midlands appealing to be allowed to return to the family home as she was desperately missing her 5 children. Her request was rejected and that was the last time any member of both families (DAWSON'S or CATCHPOLE'S) heard or saw of her. There is, however, a twist to this tale! Frederick's trade was as a church organ builder and repairer and several years ago, I made the acquaintance of a local man, Neville NEWBY, who had been one of Frederick's apprentices. In the early part of 1998, Neville received a letter from a person asking if he had known Frederick DAWSON, his family or descendants. Significantly, this letter was sent from the Midlands. Neville replied by letter, stating that he had known Frederick, and only knew one descendant, that being me, but couldn't remember my name. It was several moths after Neville had received the letter that I met Neville again in Norwich. He told me of the letter, and when I asked if he had kept it , he said that he would try to find it. Unfortunately, he had not kept it, and also, could not remember who had sent it or the address, other than it was from the Midlands. Should the person from the Midlands, who wrote to Neville NEWBY about Frederick DAWSON, read this message would they please contact me? Are they a descendant of May Elizabeth DAWSON or FINCH? (nee CATCHPOLE)? Or, perhaps some Lister may have heard of this tale from the lips of May Elizabeth or her descendant(s) and can tell me what happened to her. Both the DAWSON and CATCHPOLE families' descendants would dearly like to know. It would be marvellous to have a satisfactory ending to such a tragic tale. If any Lister would like a photo of May Elizabeth DAWSON taken about 1916/17, in case they think they may recognise her, please let me know and I'll e-mail them a copy. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Mike Wilkinson Newton Flotman Norfolk

Sorry can't help you on this one, but fascinating story - try writing the book!!. If you do get the right reply please post a message to let us all know!! Jackie Jones Cheshire -----Original Message----- From: Mike Wilkinson [mailto:eileen_and_mike@madasafish.com] Sent: 21 February 2005 20:06 To: ENG-STS-THE-POTTERIES-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [Pots] Missing Grandmother (DAWSON, CATCHPOLE, FINCH, NEWBY) Hi Listers This is a shot in the dark by me in trying to trace my maternal Grandmother. I just hope that you have the patience to read it! My maternal grandparents were Frederick DAWSON (1884-1962) and May Elizabeth CATCHPOLE (1886-?). Both were born in Norwich, Norfolk and were married there in 1905. Between that year and 1915 they had 4 daughters and 2 sons, one of whom died in infancy in 1913. During WW1 Frederick served in the Royal Engineers on the Western Front. About 1917/18, as Norwich army barracks were full to capacity, soldiers were billeted out in local homes. I assume that some were billeted in the street where the DAWSON family lived, as during this period there was a shooting incident in the family home between 2 soldiers over May Elizabeth. This came to the attention of the military and Frederick was sent home on leave from France to resolve the matter. As May Elizabeth was pregnant by one of the soldiers, Frederick threw her out, and she left, leaving behind all the children, never to see them again. May Elizabeth DAWSON was last seen boarding a train from Norwich bound for Doncaster to join the soldier, it is assumed, by whom she was pregnant. Whether she gave birth to the child is not known. According my cousin (daughter of my eldest aunt) the soldier my Grandmother left with had a surname which was that of a bird, possibly FINCH. I'm not certain of this surname and as there were 84 surnames that were names of birds in the 1891 Census, I'm hedging my bets that it could be the right name <VBG>. The only time that May Elizabeth had further contact with either family was about 1921, when she wrote to Frederick from the Midlands appealing to be allowed to return to the family home as she was desperately missing her 5 children. Her request was rejected and that was the last time any member of both families (DAWSON'S or CATCHPOLE'S) heard or saw of her. There is, however, a twist to this tale! Frederick's trade was as a church organ builder and repairer and several years ago, I made the acquaintance of a local man, Neville NEWBY, who had been one of Frederick's apprentices. In the early part of 1998, Neville received a letter from a person asking if he had known Frederick DAWSON, his family or descendants. Significantly, this letter was sent from the Midlands. Neville replied by letter, stating that he had known Frederick, and only knew one descendant, that being me, but couldn't remember my name. It was several moths after Neville had received the letter that I met Neville again in Norwich. He told me of the letter, and when I asked if he had kept it , he said that he would try to find it. Unfortunately, he had not kept it, and also, could not remember who had sent it or the address, other than it was from the Midlands. Should the person from the Midlands, who wrote to Neville NEWBY about Frederick DAWSON, read this message would they please contact me? Are they a descendant of May Elizabeth DAWSON or FINCH? (nee CATCHPOLE)? Or, perhaps some Lister may have heard of this tale from the lips of May Elizabeth or her descendant(s) and can tell me what happened to her. Both the DAWSON and CATCHPOLE families' descendants would dearly like to know. It would be marvellous to have a satisfactory ending to such a tragic tale. If any Lister would like a photo of May Elizabeth DAWSON taken about 1916/17, in case they think they may recognise her, please let me know and I'll e-mail them a copy. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! Mike Wilkinson Newton Flotman Norfolk ==== ENG-STS-THE-POTTERIES Mailing List ==== The List for the Pottery Towns of the Ancient County of Staffordshire

What a fantastic story. I wish my FH was half as interesting! Regards Glen Riley, nr. Canberra, Australia ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Wilkinson" <eileen_and_mike@madasafish.com> To: <ENG-STS-THE-POTTERIES-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2005 7:05 AM Subject: [Pots] Missing Grandmother (DAWSON, CATCHPOLE, FINCH, NEWBY) > Hi Listers > This is a shot in the dark by me in trying to trace my maternal > Grandmother. I just hope that you have the patience to read it! > > My maternal grandparents were Frederick DAWSON (1884-1962) and May > Elizabeth CATCHPOLE (1886-?). Both were born in Norwich, Norfolk and were > married there in 1905. Between that year and 1915 they had 4 daughters and > 2 sons, one of whom died in infancy in 1913. > > During WW1 Frederick served in the Royal Engineers on the Western Front. > About 1917/18, as Norwich army barracks were full to capacity, soldiers > were billeted out in local homes. I assume that some were billeted in the > street where the DAWSON family lived, as during this period there was a > shooting incident in the family home between 2 soldiers over May > Elizabeth. This came to the attention of the military and Frederick was > sent home on leave from France to resolve the matter. As May Elizabeth > was pregnant by one of the soldiers, Frederick threw her out, and she > left, leaving behind all the children, never to see them again. > > May Elizabeth DAWSON was last seen boarding a train from Norwich bound for > Doncaster to join the soldier, it is assumed, by whom she was pregnant. > Whether she gave birth to the child is not known. According my cousin > (daughter of my eldest aunt) the soldier my Grandmother left with had a > surname which was that of a bird, possibly FINCH. I'm not certain of this > surname and as there were 84 surnames that were names of birds in the 1891 > Census, I'm hedging my bets that it could be the right name <VBG>. > > The only time that May Elizabeth had further contact with either family > was about 1921, when she wrote to Frederick from the Midlands appealing to > be allowed to return to the family home as she was desperately missing her > 5 children. Her request was rejected and that was the last time any > member of both families (DAWSON'S or CATCHPOLE'S) heard or saw of her. > > There is, however, a twist to this tale! Frederick's trade was as a > church organ builder and repairer and several years ago, I made the > acquaintance of a local man, Neville NEWBY, who had been one of > Frederick's apprentices. > > In the early part of 1998, Neville received a letter from a person asking > if he had known Frederick DAWSON, his family or descendants. > Significantly, this letter was sent from the Midlands. Neville replied by > letter, stating that he had known Frederick, and only knew one descendant, > that being me, but couldn't remember my name. > > It was several moths after Neville had received the letter that I met > Neville again in Norwich. He told me of the letter, and when I asked if > he had kept it , he said that he would try to find it. Unfortunately, he > had not kept it, and also, could not remember who had sent it or the > address, other than it was from the Midlands. > > Should the person from the Midlands, who wrote to Neville NEWBY about > Frederick DAWSON, read this message would they please contact me? Are > they a descendant of May Elizabeth DAWSON or FINCH? (nee CATCHPOLE)? Or, > perhaps some Lister may have heard of this tale from the lips of May > Elizabeth or her descendant(s) and can tell me what happened to her. Both > the DAWSON and CATCHPOLE families' descendants would dearly like to know. > It would be marvellous to have a satisfactory ending to such a tragic > tale. > > If any Lister would like a photo of May Elizabeth DAWSON taken about > 1916/17, in case they think they may recognise her, please let me know and > I'll e-mail them a copy. > > I'm keeping my fingers crossed! > > Mike Wilkinson > Newton Flotman > Norfolk > > > > > > ==== ENG-STS-THE-POTTERIES Mailing List ==== > The List for the Pottery Towns of the Ancient County of Staffordshire > >