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From: "David Lamb" <>
Subject: 2 Colchester Suicides
Date: Thu, 29 Jun 2000 16:57:38 +0100

Hello everyone:

In finding out about my family, I have already come across 2 suicides, both in Colchester, and would be interested if anyone has any information about either of them - not just information on the suicides, but about the people concerned. (I should say that, sticking to the rules of genealogy, neither man is technically related to me; the first was my grandfather's step-father's stepfather, and the second was a relation by marriage of my grandfather's first wife, who was not my grandmother.)

The first was William DODSON, born about 1832 at Great Yarmouth. On 29 April 1856 he married Hannah MARSHALL at Gorleston, and the couple moved to Colchester at some time between 1859 and 1865, living in Magdelen Street. William was a butcher, with the contract to supply meat to Colchester Garrison. William is said to have committed suicide on 17 March 1883, but I don't know how or why.

The second was named RUDKIN. I don't know his Christian name. His sister Elizabeth married Ernest (Ernie) ALLISTON. This RUDKIN, together with his bachelor brother George RUDKIN, lived with Ernie and Elizabeth in Beche Road, Colchester. Ernie ALLISTON kept a pony at the allotments in Bourne Road, and kept the pony-trap in the garden shed in Beche Road. One day, "Unknown" RUDKIN was found in the garden shed where he had apparently hung himself with the pony's harness. I don't know the year for this, but I would guess it would have been about round about 1910, but this is only a very rough estimate.

Does anybody know about either of these 2 suicides? Any information, even if only a snippet, gratefully received.

Regards,

David Lamb
Researching ALLISTON, BAXTER, BERRY, DODSON, GOLDSTONE, LAMB, SARGENT, WEBB, WILLSHER in Essex
(Also RALPH in Sussex)

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