James R Yeowell's Scavenger Hunt...Everyone Welcome To Join In

[ShaunJ]

I have found references to that 1886 inquest in other papers. The deceased was indeed Louisa Dyer Lodington, wife of Midland Railway clerk George Edward Dyer Lodington. She was found dead on her bed, overdosed with laudanum and with a sash cord pulled tight around her neck. There was strong evidence to suggest murder by the husband, but the jury returned an open verdict

[ShaunJ]

George Edward Dyer Lodington was himself found dead in bed a few days later (on April 5 1886), apparently of natural causes.

[ShaunJ]

There's a passenger list for the ship London arrived New York  24 Jun 1823 which includes Thomas Loddington 29, Mary Ellen Loddington, 24, Edward Clarence Loddington 3, Bessie C Loddington 2 and Samuel Loddington 16 days.

[James R. Yeowell]

Thanks again, Paul.

You have probably found the article now but the reference is 26 m 12 a (if that is indeed a reference).

Hmmm, that death of George Edward Dyer Lodington looks suspicious too... but maybe it was just a coincidence he died so soon after his wife's supposed murder.  I am still not sure who he is the son of.

I shall look into those emigrants.  I am not sure who they are yet.

[James R. Yeowell]

Having been researching the ancestry of the Neale family (Rose Neale married Richard Down, of Halliwick Manor House, Colney Hatch, Middlesex -- their son Henry Down married Meliora Lodington, daughter of Thomas Lodington and Ann Day), it has become clear that they are also married into the same Lincolnshire families as the Lodingtons of Lincolnshire.

In fact, Lt.-Col. George Maddison of Stainton-le-Vale, Lincolnshire (a grandson of Ralph Maddison, High Sheriff of Lincolnshire and Theodosia Newcomen -- their daughter Theodosia Maddison married Samuel Neale, of the Middle Temple), was in the 4th Regiment of Foot, which was the regiment Ens. Thomas Edward Lodington started his army career with (before transferring to the 53rd Regiment of Foot).

So it seems even though this branch of the Lodingtons moved to London, it seems they remained close to their Lincolnshire cousins.

[ShaunJ]

There doesn't seem to be any record of George Edward Dyer Lodington prior to his marriage to Louisa Flint in Derby in 1873.

The inquest was told that George and Louisa had arguments over money issues and he was very reticent about his income as a clerk with the Midland Railway. However their home in 1886 was at 11 Strutt Street in Rose Hill, Derby which was a substantial 4 bedroomed semi in a good area. (It  was offered for sale in 1897 as one of a pair of houses constituting Clyde Villas, which together yielded a rent of £37.)

George E D Lodington was born in London circa 1840-1 per the 1881 census. There is presumably a link with William Lodington and Harriett Dyer who married in Lewisham in 1846.

[James R. Yeowell]

I thought he maybe a son of William Lodington and Harriett Dyer but his birth year of circa 1839 is 7 years before William Lodington and Harriet married.  So perhaps he was instead born with the surname Dyer (thus was illegitimate).

I shall see if I can find him under Dyer in the earlier census.

[James R. Yeowell]

There's a passenger list for the ship London arrived New York  24 Jun 1823 which includes Thomas Loddington 29, Mary Ellen Loddington, 24, Edward Clarence Loddington 3, Bessie C Loddington 2 and Samuel Loddington 16 days.

Oh, this is most interesting.

This is Ens. Thomas Edward Lodington, his wife Mary Ellen (yet more proof that Ann Burrell is not the mother of his children), eldest son Edward Clarence Lodington (who actually was buried on 8 November 1826, Bunhill Fields Burial Ground, Finsbury), Bessie Caunter Ellen Lodington and a mysterious Samuel Lodington.

Samuel Lodington is either a son who died not long afterwards, or he is instead Candler Lodington, who was known to be born At Sea (the Atlantic though).  This would suggest Candler Lodington was born on the way to America.

The whole family also returned back to the UK, so was this just a holiday, or was this Thomas Edward Lodington on an Army posting?  If the latter, surely he would have travelled on a military ship and the family separately?

[ShaunJ]

It is indeed most interesting!

I think you are probably correct that "Samuel" is a mistranscribed "Candler".

Why would Ensign T E Lodington - a very young and junior British officer - be in New York in 1823? The USA was an independent nation with whom Britain had been at war only a few years earlier so he would not be travelling to New York to join his regiment. Was he en route to Canada and disembarking for just a short time in New York? Or on a diplomatic posting to the US?