HENRY DODD

From the Newbury Weekly News, 8th December, 1892

DEATH OF THE TOWN SERGEANT

The funeral took place in the Cemetery on Friday morning of Mr. Henry Dodd, who died last week after a short illness. Mr Dodd who had just passed his seventieth birthday, had for quarter-of-a-century, occupied the position of Town Hall keeper, mace-bearer and town sergeant, having succeeded to the latter post on the death of Mr. Perry.

He was a native of the borough, and when a boy attended the Lancasterian (sic) school. Previous to his municipal duties he was for many years in the employ of Messrs. Bodman and Jones, who carried on the business as tailors, drapers and undertakers in Northbrook-street.

 Mr. Dodd, for many years, acted as tyler¹ and serving brother to the Masonic lodge, which held its meetings in the Council Chamber.

As mace-bearer he was a familiar figure at all municipal functions, and likewise at Quarter Sessions, where he faithfully performed his part of the official routine.

Mr. Dodd was quite a local celebrity, and his widow has received many expressions of sympathy in her bereavement.

Amongst the numerous wreaths at the funeral was one from the Mayor of Newbury² . Mrs. Dodd will temporarily carry on the duties of care-taker at the Municipal-buildings.

 From the Newbury Weekly News, 10th May, 1877

FREEMASONRY - At the Newbury Lodge of Freemasonry held on Friday evening, the brethren voted a sum of two guineas to their tyler, Brother Dodd, in recognition of his courageous conduct in saving the lives of two children from drowning in West Mills.

 Henry Dodd shares his grave (LS 13) with his wife ELEANOR who died 2nd March, 1893 aged 67.

LS 16 appears to hold another wife LYDIA who died 7th January 1858 aged 32, and LYDIA MARY a daughter, who died 11th September 1855, aged 3. The grave also contains ANN ELIZABETH who died 6th January, aged 46.

 ¹  The office of Tyler is the doorkeeper. HD had been initiated into The Loyal Berkshire Lodge of Hope on 7th October, 1870 when W.H. Cave (Mayor 1866 & 7) was the Worshipful Master.

 ²    Alfred Jackson was Mayor in both 1891 and 1892.

Sources:Newbury Weekly News 10 May 1877 and 8 December 1892