John Dimmock [d.12]

John Dimmock was born November 25th, 1859 at Sandridge, St Albans, Hertfordshire, the son of Mary Adams & David Dimmock, a timber carter/labourer.

John's birth certificate

In 1861 John, aged 16 months at the time of the census, was living with his parents at Adelaide St, St Albans, Herts. He had 3 sisters & 2 brothers at home & a step-sister, Susannah Adams (15).

By 1871 the family were living at Lattimore Rd, Tyttenhanger, St Albans. His 2 brothers were still at home as were 3 of his sisters.

In 1881 John was lodging at 71 Barkworth Rd, Camberwell, London with Emily & Arthur Jones, a grill cook. John was described as a billiard marker.

Later censuses show that John married Eliza Ellis but no marriage certificate for Eliza & John Dimmock has yet been found. Eliza was born August 2nd, 1860 at Pinxton, Derbyshire, the daughter of Ann Mills & John Ellis, a coal miner. Eliza had previously been married to Joseph Sanders, a coal miner, whom she married at just 16 years of age, the marriage having taken place in 1877 in Blackwell, Derbyshire. Eliza & Joseph had a daughter Emma in 1877 & all 3 were living at Blackwell in 1881.

It appears that Joseph & Eliza separated, & there is a record for a Joseph Saunders, a coal miner born in Willenhall, living in Blackwell, Derbyshire in 1891, but he was described as single. Joseph was boarding with the Phillips family. In 1901 Joseph was still in Blackwell & again residing with the Phillips family & recorded as single. The 1911 census records Joseph as widowed but having been married for 33 years and having had 1 child. This would indicate that he married c1877 which would fit the marriage time of Joseph & Eliza & the birth of Emma. He was still working as a coal miner & lodging with the Phillips family in Blackwell.

The child of Eliza Ellis & Joseph Sa(u)nders was:

d.12.1. Emma Dimmock (Sa(u)nders) born December 12th, 1877 at Malt House Yard, Newton, Derbyshire; died July-September 1954 at Sunderland, Co Durham

By July 1882 Eliza had ‘married’ John Dimmock, although so far no marriage record has been found.

John & Eliza had moved to Yorkshire by 1882 & at that time they were living at Methley, Yorks. When son John Charles was born in July 1882 his father registered the birth & interestingly gave his name as Charles rather than John Dimmock.

Birth certificate of son John Charles

Another son was born to Eliza & John in Jan-March 1884 named Arthur. Sadly he died aged just 1 year and 10 months & was buried on July 16th, 1885 at All Saints, Whitwood Mere, Castleford. The address was given as Mere.

John & Eliza's second daughter Sarah Ann was born in 1886 at10 Phillips St, Castleford, Yorks & John was a coal miner at that time.

Daughter Sarah Ann's birth certificate

By 1888 the family had moved north to Co Durham as children Emma & John Charles were listed as pupils at Bearpark Board Mixed School.

By 1890 John & Eliza were living at 12 Queen St, Ryhope at the time of the birth of their fourth child Mary. After Mary’s birth John & Eliza had 4 more children all of whom died in infancy – 2 girls who lived for almost 2 years & 2 sons – David who died aged 18 months & Frederick who died aged 8 months.

In the Electoral Register of Ryhope 1892 John was still at 12 Queen St, and living with him & his family was Eliza’s brother, Samuel Ellis. Later in 1892 John & family moved to 29 Tunstall St, Ryhope.

In 1901 John & Eliza were still at 29 Tunstall St, Ryhope, Co. Durham. John was a coal miner/hewer & they had 5 children at home at this time, Emma (23), Charles (18) an underground engine driver, Sarah A (14), Mary (10) & Edith (4 months). On the census form both Eliza & John’s birthplace was given as Pinxton, Derbyshire which was correct for Eliza but incorrect for John. Emma was Eliza’s daughter from her first marriage, but now listed as Emma Dimmock.

At the time of the 1911 census John was described as a coal miner/hewer & living with him & Eliza were daughter Mary & daughter Sarah Ann & son-in-law Robert Speed Pallister, a bricklayer above ground at the colliery. Four month old grandson, John McCree Pallister, was also listed with them. The census reveals that Eliza had had a total of 13 children, only 4 of whom were still living. The census also confirms that John Dimmock was born in St Albans whereas Eliza was born in Pinxton.

Daughter Sarah Ann & her husband Robert Speed Pallister lived with John & Eliza at Tunstall St. along with their children John McCree & Robert Speed Pallister from the time of their marriage in 1907 until about 1920.

The Electoral Registers of Ryhope Colliery from 1920 until 1927 show that living with John & Eliza at Tunstall St were their daughter Mary & her husband Edward Chapman. In 1929 & 1930 John & Eliza were found at 82 Ryhope St South with their daughter Sarah Ann & husband Robert Speed Pallister.

John died on February 20th, 1931, aged 71, at 82 Ryhope St, South, Ryhope. The cause of death was given as ‘arterio sclerosis accelerated by fracture of thigh accidentally received April 1930’. The informant of the death was son-in-law Robert Speed Pallister.

In 1931 widowed Eliza was still living with Sarah Ann & son-in-law Robert (known as Bob) & they all moved to 13 West View, Ryhope in 1934 where they continued to live until 1939.

Eliza died on January 12th, 1941, aged 80, at 13 West View, Ryhope, the cause of death being heart failure & bronchitis. The informant of the death was her daughter Mary Chapman. Eliza was buried at Ryhope Cemetery.

The known children of John Dimmock & Eliza Ellis were:

d.12.2. John Charles Dimmock born July 21st, 1882 at Denisons Fold, Methley, Yorkshire, died September 15th, 1963 at Sunderland

d.12.3 Arthur Dimmock born Jan-March 1884; buried July 16th, 1885 at All Saints, Whitwood Mere, Castleford
d.12.4 Sarah Ann Dimmock born August 19th, 1886 at 10 Phillips St, Castleford, Yorkshire; died October 21st, 1949 at Shotley Bridge Hospital, Co Durham
d.12.5 Mary Dimmock born April 21st 1890 at 12 Queen St, Ryhope, Co. Durham; died July-September 1976 at Sunderland, Co Durham

d.12.6. Martha Maria Dimmock born May 24th, 1892 at 29 Tunstall St, Ryhope & christened September 17th, 1892 at St Paul’s, Ryhope, died March 7th, 1894 at 29 Tunstall St, Ryhope
d.12.7. David Dimmock born November 29th, 1894 at 29 Tunstall St., buried June 4th, 1896 at St Paul’s, Ryhope
d.12.8. Frederick Dimmock born April 15th, 1897 at 29 Tunstall St, Ryhope, buried December 20th, 1897 at St Paul’s, Ryhope
d.12.9. Edith Dimmock born November 7th, 1900 at 29 Tunstall St, Ryhope, Co. Durham, died Oct-December 1902 at Ryhope, Co Durham