Reginald Mordaunt Cecil Dobson

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: Carol Lewis has done much research on this family, and she writes, "According to the 1909 Waltham, Massachusetts directory, Reginald M. C. Dobson resided at 176 Woodside and was listed as a clerk. Also at that address was W. H. H. Gary, physician. It should be noted that Reginald was not living with his wife of 1 year, but I assume that since he was a traveling salesman, he was probably listed at a Boarding House because his line of business took him elsewhere. According to the 1910 Waltham, Massachusetts directory, Reginald M. C. Dobson was listed as living at 49 Lowell Road West. Employed at 30 Winter Street, in Winthrop and had a house in Winthrop, a town north of Boston. He was 28 years of age at that time and his line of work was a Salesman. Also in that same year, the Winthrop Massachusetts, Suffolk County Census information District 1691, Page 7A Reginald Dobson was listed as a boarder (white, male, 28 years of age, married (2 years), number of children born this mother (none listed), born in England, mother and father were English, number of years immigrated (4), naturalization /Alien (1 year), Occupation: Salesman/Dry Goods. The number of weeks out of work in 1909 was 7 and that the person being enumerated could read and write. The information thus far tracks Reginald from his arrival in the U.S. to Boston where he is a resident. He is married, has one son and is a salesman. However, in 1914 Reginald finds himself in Charlotte, North Carolina. On August 1, 1914 Reginald M. C. Dobson applied for a marriage license in the State of North Carolina, Mecklenburg County (City of Charlotte). His bride was Mrs. Margaret Mary Harvey. …according to the document’s details it describes that Margaret Harvey was 30 years old at the time of the marriage and that she was the daughter of Richard Dunn and Margaret Dunn. The mother and father were both deceased at the time of this marriage. This document is the proof that Reginald Dobson was the husband of Margaret Mary (Dunn) Harvey. However, another twist in the story then surfaced. Who was Margaret’s first husband?(as she was listed as Mrs. Margaret Harvey) and subsequent to that, if she married Reginald in 1914 and Gerard was born in 1907, who was Gerard’s father? That continues to be on the top of my list of things to find out. It is also in 1914 that Reginald’s mother, Emily joins her son in the United States. She arrived on the ship “Franconia” at Ellis Island. On the passenger manifest, it lists Emily Dobson as being from Islington, England and traveling to Charlotte, NC. Her son paid for the ticket (R Dobson). Her son’s address was Box 43 Charlotte, NC. Mrs. Piper (from Southminster, Essex) an aunt, was the closest relative in England. She was able to read and write and was listed as a “lady”. She was born in Southminster. Reginald (son) lived at 604 e 4th. According to the 1916 Charlotte, North Carolina City Directory, Reginald was documented as living at h circle a with his wife Margaret and mother Emily. (widow of Henry). In 1917, according to the Charlotte City Directory, Reginald Dobson was boarding at the Mecklenburg Hotel. It was supposed to be around this time that Margaret moved to Nova Scotia and placed Gerard in an orphanage. She had said that she did not get along with her mother-in-law. It is unknown at this time which orphanage Gerard was placed and whether it was in Boston or in Charlotte. According to verbal stories, it was in Boston that Gerard remained for two years. In 1918 he was living at 604 E. 4th Street with his mother in Charlotte. He was listed as working as a salesman for George K. Hummel Company. In approximately 1919 Gerard was retrieved from the orphanage and went to Nova Scotia to be with his mother. He lived at the Randolph’s farm through until 1923. In 1920 the Charlotte Directory was the same as in 1918. It is unknown when information for the document was compiled. However, moving on, chronologically, according to the 1920 US Census for Waltham, Massachusetts, there was a Reginald Dobson listed in volume 139; ed 135; sheet; line 93. He was white, age of 11, born in Massachusetts location of Worcester City; Town of Petersham on East Street. He was enumerated with Louis N. Coolidge, age 58 (his grandfather). His father born in England, mother Massachusetts. He was a student. Others enumerated were Freda S, Dorothy P. This was most probably the son of Reginald and Alice Dobson. According to the 1920 US Census of Long Beach, California a Reginald M. Dobson (39 years of age) was enumerated with his wife Bertie May (born in North Carolina) age 23. He was listed to have immigrated in 1907, he lived in a rented home and was a contractor. Margaret remained in Nova Scotia and Gerard continued to live at the orphanage. The 1921 Charlotte, North Carolina Directory lists Emily Dobson as residing at h 400 e 4th Street. She was the widow of Henry. According to the 1930 Census (Los Angeles, California) he was listed as an Insurance Salesman. His mother was listed in the County of Mecklenburg; Charlotte Township; Charlotte City; Ward 7; line 65. Emily Dobson, Roomer, female, white, 58 years of age, born in England, father born in England; immigrated in 1914; a companion in a private home."
• Census: 1891, Islington, London, England; He is recorded while living with his parents.; : 5
• Immigration: 8 Apr 1907, Ellis Island; He arrivedon board the ship, Umbria. His residence was listed as Jerusalem.
• Naturalization: 17 Sep 1920, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
• Last Full Review: 20 Feb 2021

Notes:

Birth:
His grave marker has they year 1886 for his birth

Reginald married Alice Blanche Coolidge on 1 Feb 1908 in Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island, and was divorced on Yes, date unknown. Alice (daughter of Louis Napoleon Coolidge and Ella Rose Houghton) was born on 19 Aug 1887 in Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts; died on 23 Nov 1963 in Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts; was buried in East Street Cemetery, Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Reginald Coolidge Dobson was born on 31 Aug 1908 in Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts; died on 16 Jun 1935 in Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts; was buried in East Street Cemetery, Petersham, Worcester County, Massachusetts.

Henry married Emily Pipe in 1883 in Islington, London, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]