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It is good to see the information about Mrs Elizabeth English (cockle lady), who married John English as I am one of the 6 great great grandchildren that is mentioned.
I already know that starting this side of my family tree it is taking me to more people than I could possibly imagine, and I have only been doing this a few months.
It would be so good to hear from any relatives, or any information would be good.
Karen

THE NORFOLK LAY PREACHER/CHIMNEY SWEEP FAMILY DODMAN BY PATRICIA TAYLOR Mr Robert.w.HARDING in his book “A Tour of Snettisham” states. Near the site of 43-45 Alma Road, Snettisham now stand modern bungalows, where were two old cottages. No.45 was the home of Mrs Elizabeth ENGLISH who was known as the “Cockle woman”. She was born in Dersingham in 1873 and at the age of nine years she started work with her father “Hoddy” MIDDLETON. At the age of fourteen she had her own donkey and cart. She was of a family of sixteen who brought up twelve children of her own, had thirty nine grandchildren, seventy four great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren. She travelled with her horse and cart in the early morning to gather cockles on the wet sand after the tide had ebbed. Later in the day she travelled a wide area selling, in season, cockles other shellfish and samphire, a local edible seaweed. Mrs ENGLISH was one of the best known characters in West Norfolk and still carried on her business until she was eighty six years old. In 1973 she became a centenarian and died in the same year. No.43 the other cottage on the site was the home and business premises of the village chimney sweeps. *In the mid 19th Century John DODMAN Senr (1814-1897) followed by his son *William DODMAN (1858-1914) to the early 20th Century when the business was taken over by *John JONES second husband of William’s second wife Jane after his demise, assisted by his stepson *John DODMAN. They travelled in a horse drawn cart covering a wide area including Sandringhan House, the royal residence, to sweep chimneys and were proud owners of the Royal Warrant. *John Senr was recorded in the 1841 Census at Grimston as the usual Ag Lab, by the time of his third son Richard John’s birth in 1843 was given as a shepherd as he also was on the 1851 Census. By 1869 however he was trading a a Chimney Sweep and was listed as such in Norfolk Directories for 1879 and 1888 followed by his son William Samuel in 1896. *John Jnr (1841-1917) was born in Grimston just after the 1841 Census but a trace of his Baptism has so far remained elusive. He married Ellen TILFORD from Scarborough, North Yorkshire in 1867 and their first son *Thomas was born in July 1868 and *John was born in Snettisham in 1869, he was lame and is recorded living in Docking in 1917 trading as a Chimney Sweep. *William born 1871 is also believed to have been a sweep, emigrated before 1880, married Elisa a British subject, possibly in the Falklands (Malvinas) where their first child John was born. The family was recorded at Litcham on the 1901 Census with Helen, also listed as Ellen, born Brandon 1897 and Hannah born Litcham 1898. The Litcham school records show the children having emigrated in 1906, the record states to Canada, but further research has revealed them in the Falklands area and the final records of William and Elisa show them recorded in the Cemetery at Punta Arenas in Chile Elisa 1924 and William 1938. There are records of other families arising from theirs in an expatriate’s list on the Web www.patbrit.com/ as of December 2002 noted in the database. *Richard born 1873 married Harriett DIXON in 1896 and their daughter Harriett Elizabeth married 1924 to Oliver WILSON is the maternal grandmother of David BOYCE son of Win in Pat TAYLOR’s records. This is the Richard sweep who’s business is still recorded on the front of a building in East Dereham with a close named after the DODMAN family still there at the end of the 20th Century. *George born 1875 at Wells next Sea, Norfolk, which means the family was moving around the county with subsequent children born up to Seth in 1884 at Thetford and father John having a Sweeps business in Brandon, Suffolk where George is recorded 1895-1960 presumed to have been carrying on his fathers business. *Samuel Charles also born Wells in 1876 has a record from a grandson Eric living in Canada in 2002 whose sweeps business was in Cheadle, Greater Manchester around the turn of the 20th Century the residence and business is recorded as 94, Stockport Road, Cheadle and a son Bertie father to Eric also carried on a business from this address. Current precise research is ongoing into the family. *Thomas born Thetford 1878 lived Whitham was a chimney sweeper and a devout lay preacher. An update of information 13.03.2001 says from 1908-1912 Trade directories show him trading at Thetford and further entries 1914-1937 show him moved to Whitham Essex at 81, Bridge Street. *Boaz born 24 Aug 1880 at Thetford. He lived at Sibsey in Holland, Lincolnshire 1917 and was a Blacksmith and sweeper with a family of eight children. *Ellen born 8th Dec 1882 at Thetford, Norfolk, no further details on Pat TAYLOR notes of 2001. *Seth born 2 Dec 1884 at Thetford, he married Marian MICKLEBURGH may have been a member of the Snettisham family. Living Hockwold-cum-Wilton 1908 Trade Directory, was a saddler and harness maker by trade and moved to Ixworth nr Bury St Edmunds. They had a son Norman who played the organ. *John Jnr died August 7th 1917 aged 75 Years and the following are details from his obituary:- Death of Mr John DODMAN. The news was received with regret of the death of Mr. John DODMAN of Church Road, who acting on medical advice, entered the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for treatment for an internal malady. Mr. Dodman was a native of Snettisham, but came to Brandon many years ago. He had been a member of the Primitive Methodist Church for about half a century, and for most of that period had been a local preacher. He filled the office of Class Leader and Steward at Brandon. He was well known over the Brandon and Methwold Primitive Circuit and held in great respect. The mortal remains were brought to Brandon for interrment in a plain oak coffin with a brass breastplate inscribed “ John Dodman died August 7th 1917 aged 75 years”. The funeral was last Saturday afternoon. The Reverend C. Shreeve (Methwold) officiated. There was a very large attendance which included:- MRS J.DODMAN Widow. MR & MRS GEORGE DODMAN. MR & MRS RICHARD DODMAN, (East Dereham.) MR JOHN DODMAN (Docking) MR B.DODMAN (Holbeach) sons and daughters in law. MR.G.DODMAN Brother Grandchildren and many friends from both the George Street and Town Street Primitive Methodist Churches. *Richard John, great grandfather to Patricia TAYLOR, like his brother John Senior was also a Chimney Sweeper and Methodist Lay Preacher born at Dersingham on 10th June 1843 and Baptised there on 9th July nearly one month old. He married Rosetta Elizabeth SMITHBONE from Ingoldisthorpe at Docking Primitive Methodist Chapel on 16th April 1875. His youngest brother William Samuel was a witness. He was the son who took over the Snettisham Sweeps business mentioned in the opening part of this record of the Sweeper Families. Richard was aged 32 at the time of his marriage and Rosetta was aged 22. They had six sons and 1 daughter Pat TAYLOR’s grandmother also Rosetta Elizabeth and at the time of her birth in 1877 were living at Chapel House, Chapel Street, Snettisham. Richard’s father John Senr was living in Chapel Street, Snettisham at the time of the 1871 Census. Some SMITHBONE RELATIVES OF Gt Grandmother Rosetta were also living in Chapel Street, including her Gt Uncle and his family. Richard and Rosetta also moved away from Snettisham for him to set up his own Sweepers business at Hingham in about 1883.He became a Master Sweeper employing other sweepers and apprentices and his own sons also became sweepers. He concentrated his business on the larger houses, mainly the country “Halls” and including farmhouses, in the area. Richard was a trustee of the Hingham Methodist Chapel.His daughter Rosetta Elizabeth TAYLOR had in her married home at Horton Kirby, Kent her parents Family Bible and her son Pat’s father Albe