Arthur Dobson was born in Appleby, Westmorland in 1860, the son of William and Isabella nee Scott. For unknown reasons, William had left Eccleshill in the late 1850’s and was living in Appleby when he met and married a local girl, Isabella Scott in August 1859. Not long after Arthur’s birth the family moved to Eccleshill. Arthur was baptised at St Luke’s church, Eccleshill on 3rd November 1860.
William worked in a local stone quarry, but died suddenly in April 1869, aged 41, leaving his wife and two young children – Arthur, aged 9 and Sarah Ann, aged 4. William was buried in the family grave in Chapel Street Cemetery. Some years later, Isabella married William Fawcett and the family moved to live in Thornton.
In 1881, Arthur, now aged 21, returned to Eccleshill and was living with his uncle John Smith and aunt Mary nee Dobson and their young family in Chapel Street. His mother was still living in Thornton and had two more daughters with William.
Arthur was working as a yeast merchant but sadly in 1885, at the young age of 24, he died. He is buried in the Smith family grave, which is next to the Dobson family grave in section 4.
Location: Section4 L19 and M19