John Dettmer Dodds Jackson (1827 - abt. 1901)

Born 31 Jul 1827 in St Pancras, London

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Ann Amelia (Flexmore) Wooby — married 19 Jul 1851 in Sandy Bay, St Andrew Presbyterian

Died about 18 Jul 1901 at about age 73 in Beaconsfield, Tasmania, Australia

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Baptism

22 Jan 1828

Euston St, St Pancras, London

Merchant Navy

John Dettmer Dodds Jackson went to sea in 1840 and his brother James followed him in 1848. They were both listed as merchant seamen in July 1848. They did not serve in the RN and did not go into Foreign Service. Note that this followed the death of their father about 1839.

The report even gives some physical description; for instance JDDJ had fair hair, was 5'3¾" and had an anchor tattooed on his left arm. He could write.

Migration

He wrote that he migrated in General Hewett. As he is not in the passenger list thereof but was in the merchant navy, he must have arrived as a crew member.

An advertisement in the Sydney Morning Herald, dated 21 November 1848, is for John Dettmer "of George Dettmer and son, London" to tune and repair pianofortes. In a later ad he says he is the grandson of George Dettmer of London; actually he was the great-grandson thereof.

In 1849 there is an advertisment in a Sydney paper for a concert in which he performs, using the name John Dettmer.

By August 1850 he is advertising himself in Hobart for repairing all sorts of musical instruments. He now calls himself John Jackson.
- Colonial Times (Hobart, Tas.) Fri 16 Aug 1850

19 Jul 1851 Marriage to Mary Ann Amelia Flexmore ^[1]

Children

BORN : 04 Jul 1852 Jackson, Given Name Not Recorded

BORN: 23 Aug 1854 Jackson, Given Name Not Recorded

BORN: 15 Jan 1863 Jackson, Given Name Not Recorded

4 Dec 1857 Maintenance.—Mrs. Jackson, the wife of Mr. Jackson formerly professor of music in this city, and now carrying on the same profession in Launceston, appealed before the bench and called upon her husband to show cause why he should not allow her a maintenance. Mr. Jackson had left his wife between two or three years ago, just after the birth of her second child, and had never communicated with her or contributed anything towards her and her children's maintenance since. Had it not been for Mrs. Jackson having a refuge in her father's house she and her children would have been utterly destitute. Mr. Jackson did not deny the facts; but stated that there was a good home for his wife in Launceston if she thought fit to come. He admitted that he had never asked her to do so, and that he had never allowed her to know where be resided. The bench ordered Mr. Jackson to allow his wife the sum of thirty shillings per week, for the maintenance of herself and his two children.
- The Hobart Town Mercury (Tas.) Fri 4 Dec 1857

In a relationship with Marion Jane Dick circa 1868

Occupation

"Pianoforte maker" - in reality, repairer of musical instruments.

Part time writer and adventurer.

He wrote a small book about the Tichborne Case.

Burial

Beaconsfield Tasmania July 1901

He travelled to Tasmania circa 1898 to visit his eldest daughter after the death of her husband in 1898 and subsequently died there in 1901. He died at the Beaconsfield Cottage Hospital. Beaconsfield, Tasmania.

Informant: Henry Dettmer Hudson (Grandson)

JACKSON.—On the 18th April, at the Beaconsfield Cottage Hospital, John Dettmer Dodds, eldest son of the late Dr. John Jackson, also grandson of the late William Dettmer Esq., piano-forte manufacturer, London, England, aged 73 years.
- Examiner (Launceston, Tas.) Wed 24 Apr 1901

Obituary.-The death is announced at Beaconsfield, at the advanced age of 73 years, of Mr. John Dettmer Dodds Jackson, eldest son of the late Dr. John Jackson, and grandson of the late William Dettmer, pianoforte manufacturer, of London. Deceased was a very old colonist. Like his grandfather, he followed the calling of pianoforte manufacturer. For many years in the early days he lived at Hobart. In the 60's he came to Launceston, and carried on business here in York-street. Subsequently he went to Sydney, where he managed for a leading firm. As he advanced in years Mr. Jackson came to Tasmania, and his closing days were spent in the care of his daughter, Mrs. Henry Hudson, of Beaconsfield. His death will revive many old memories, especially as regards the Tichborne case, it being a cardinal point of his faith that a Devonport schoolmaster named Suker was the real claimant. In fact, the reopening of the enquiry is ascribed to the interest taken by Mr Jackson.
- Examiner (Launceston, Tas.) Wed 24 Apr 1901

Reference

JA2004

Sources

1. ↑ [https://libraries.tas.gov.au/Record/NamesIndex/843372 19 Jul 1851Marriage to Mary Flexmore

• Campbell papers at SAG, Sydney
• John Dettmer Dodds Jackson left memoranda dated 16 and 21 Nov 1899 relating to the Jackson family.
• John Dettmer Dodds Jackson, Sir Roger Tichborne Revealed!, Sydney, 1885.
• St Pancras PR
• News reports
• Britain, Merchant Seamen, 1835-1857, National Archive via FindMyPast
• Colonial Times, Hobart, 16 August 1850, via Trove
• Tasmania death certificate # 534/1901.
• Find A Grave: Memorial #166567840