22 July 1860 'Victoria Terrace' 7 Welman Street Launceston Tasmania Australia Eliza Mary Jacobs Leonard, Muriel, Hervey, Ruth, Ralph, Irene, Olive, Lois, Eunice, Frank & Alan

Charles Dodgshun was born on 22 Jul 1860 at Morley, Yorkshire, England, the eldest of four children born to Joseph Dodgshun (1831-1915), merchant, and his wife Maria Buckley (1828-1916). In Sep 1874 he arrived with his family in Victoria aged 14 on the Durham. Charles attended Scotch College and Hawthorn Grammar School. He joined his father's business of woollen manufacturers and merchants in 1877. He married Eliza Mary (Tizzie) Jacobs in Melbourne in 1884. Their first two children, Leonard, born 1886 and Muriel, 1887, were born in Dunedin, New Zealand, where Charles expanded the family business. They came to Launceston in 1888. Charles was a partner in the family firm of Dodgshun, Sons & Co. wholesale clothing manufacturers and warehousemen, 91 & 93 York St, Launceston.

Charles was a general committee member for the Tasmanian Exhibition of 1891-92. The Dodgshun Company won a First award for its exhibit of clothing, boots, artificial flowers and wigs. Two children were born at Welman Street: Hervey, 1889 and Ruth, 1891. Another five were born at 'Mellerstane', Abbott Street, Newstead: Ralph, 1892; Irene, 1893; Olive, 1894; Lois, 1897 and Eunice, 1898. Their five-year-old son Hervey was drowned at the First Basin, Cataract Gorge, on 15 Feb 1895.

The family returned to Melbourne in 1899 where two more children were born: Frank, 1901 and Alan, 1904. Charles died on 5 Oct 1928 aged 68 at Sandringham and is buried in the Kew Cemetery. His wife Eliza died on 15 Nov 1938 aged 80 and is buried with him. Charles' parents and brother Joseph and sister Jane are also pictured in the Family Album. His daughter Ruth (1891-1986) married George Newton Sargent who is also pictured in the Album. See The Examiner 24 Sep 2005, p. 24.

Marion Sargent Sep 2005