The Dobson family obelisk in St. Hilda's, Ellerburn Churchyard, North Yorkshire, England

Hi all

This is a photo of an obelisk dedicated to members of the Dobson family by the will of Samuel Dobson who was born in 1808 and may have died around 1879. The obelisk must be between 15 and 20 feet high.

I am researching the Dobson family who lived in and around Pickering, North Yorkshire and I and other researchers are stuck on the said Samuel Dobson, being unable to locate him on the Census in 1871 and unable to find his death registered in England which may be because he emigrated to America at some point.

These are the words on the obelisk in the churchyard of St. Hilda's Ellerburn which we believe was erected by Samuel for his parents:-

To the memory of Robert Dobson who died Sept 8th 1825 aged 48 years, also of his beloved wife Elizabeth who died Nov 23rd 1841 aged 70 years. Erected to their memory by the will of their son Samuel in 1879. In affectionate remembrance of William Dobson, late of Hartoft, who died at Wilton, June 3rd 1887 aged 85 years, also Hannah, wife of the above, who died at Hartoft, June 10th 1867 aged 63 years. To the memory of Jane, wife of William Dobson who died January 7th 1797 aged 44 years, also William Dobson who died Nov 19th 1807 aged 63 years, also two of their children who died in infancy.

Perhaps there is someone out there reading this blog who can help me to find out what happened to dear Samuel. He must have made his fortune somewhere in the world to be able to pay to have this wonderful memorial to his family erected.

My mam and her friend Lorna

The girls are in the garden of my mother's parents' house in Gateshead. Must have been catching some rays sitting in their deckchairs reading as I can see a bit of a shadow on the ground. Should imagine this was the late 1930s or the very early 1940's.

My husband's parents

These are my husband's parents, his mother was a Dutch lady. They met when he was stationed in the Netherlands after the war. Unfortunately they are no longer with us.

3 children of Charles & Lily

Here are Doris, Lily and Robert in the garden by the vegetable patch. If the photo is grainy I apologise as it is a copy of one emailed to me, I don't have the original.

My paternal grandfather's second marriage

These are photos of my paternal grandfather's second marriage, he married a maternal aunt of my mother's.

My mother is one of the bridesmaids, she is second from the right, the lady looking down at her flowers, without the large floppy hat, she would have only been almost 16. Her brother is the young man on the left of the photo.

My great grandparents

This is my great grandparents in Woods Park, Gateshead on their Golden Wedding Anniversary in August 1937.