It’s been a while since I last posted, Apologies for the delay. I’ve had a busy work schedule but also this blog ‘More Nephews’ has been a little complicated. New discoveries have been made which needed to be thoroughly researched, verified and typed up before I could post.

…. Cecil Hodgson and his new wife Helen, were well settled in their own property, Jesson Street, West Bromwich. Cecil now had a loving home where more nephews could now reside. The following three years 1958 – 1960 would see four more of his ‘Southfield Hodgson’ nephews arrive in the Staffordshire town of West Bromwich….

Army National Service

Having recently married, my mom and dad, were residing in a lodging house at Oldbury. Mom was about to have her first child but dad got called up for National Service at Shrewsbury in Shropshire, he was to serve a term of two years.

While dad was away, mom had left the Oldbury lodging house and moved to Jesson Street with Cecil and Helen.

My sister was born whilst mom was living at Jesson Street, West Bromwich. Dad never saw his first child whilst he was away in the Army. However, the British government had begun to phase out National Service (even though it was not officially to end until 1960) Dad didn’t stay in the Army for too long, and saw his new daughter for the first time when he came back and moved into Jesson Street, West Bromwich.

Scottish Land

Cecil still hadn’t forgotten about the family inheritance that he had previously looked into. He couldn’t afford to contest it by himself but still strongly believed that the family could inherit the vast land rentals that had allegedly accumulated and lay unclaimed on his grandfather’s Scottish ancestral estate, Eccles House.

He approached my dad and others, asking them to put money away to help make a claim on the Scottish estate.

When I first met your dad he used to say; “We have land in Scotland” He was proud to tell me this. His Uncle Cecil also spoke of it, once telling me “Most of the money is in Scotland” “Get Rennie to save up his money so we can make a claim on the Scottish land” (Face to face conversations about 2008 with my mom, Ivorine Hodgson, née Ebanks)

Cecil’s nephew’s were young boys just starting out in life in a new country, they were not interested, therefore didn’t take up his request. This was in the 1950’s. There ended all talk of the Scottish inheritance (until I resurrected the mystery in the 2000’s….)

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Clinton Roy Hodgson

Arrived England 28th April 1958

Dad and Valdie’s brother, nineteen year old, Clinton Hodgson was living in Jamaica and wanted to move to England. Valdie commented to my dad that their brother was too young to gain employment in England, my dad Rennie remarked to Valdie “Anything is better than Jamaica”

Valdie and Rennie – both employed at Tube Products, Oldbury – each saved then put their money together for their brother’s ship fare to England. With his occupation listed as a barber, Clinton, boarded his ship the ‘Arosa Star’ at Kingston Harbour and set sail for England. His ship finally arriving in the English port of Southampton, on the 28th April 1958.

Clinton travelled up from Southampton to his uncles house 28 Jesson Street, West Bromwich. He eventually found employment with his brothers at Tube Products, where he soon excelled in the works cricket team, playing alongside his two older brothers Valdie and Rennie.

If you played cricket, it was easy to get a job at Tube Product’s. (Face to face conversation February 2018 with my Uncle, Clinton Hodgson)

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Devert ‘Ainsley’ Hodgson

Arrived England 20th August 1959

It was time for another member of Cecil’s nephew’s to leave Jamaica. Cecil paid the ship fare for his Southfield nephew, Devert Ainsley Hodgson, to move to England. Although he prefered to use his middle name ‘Ainsley’ he was also known by the pet name of ‘Piggy.’ He boarded his ship Ascania at Kingston harbour, then sailed out into the Caribbean Sea for his long journey to Southampton. He arrived in England on the 20th August 1959.

Eventually, he made his way up to Jesson Street. Ainsley quickly gained employment at Tube Products, Oldbury with his 1st cousins, Valdie, Rennie and the recently arrived Clinton. He would soon become an outstanding member of Tube Products cricket team, becoming one of the four Hodgson’s who would play together in the same cricket team for the company.

 Uncle Cecil sent for Piggy in 1959. (Telephone conversation April 2018 with my dad, Renford Hodgson)

Although Ainsley was infact my dad’s 1st Cousin, we all called him ‘Uncle Piggy.’ Fifty years after his arrival in West Bromwich ‘Uncle Piggy’ would obligingly take me to Jamaica to see his birthplace Southfield!

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Colin Vern Hodgson

Arrived England 21st October 1959

Next to arrive in West Bromwich was my dad’s youngest brother, Colin Vern Hodgson of Jamaica. My dad, Rennie saved up to pay his shipping fare then sent for his 18-year-old brother to migrate to England.

At Kingston Harbour, Colin boarded the Ascania – the same ship that his cousin Ainsley had sailed on just a few months ago. Before arriving in Kingston, Jamaica, the Ascania had previously stopped off at the several ports of Trujillo, Honduras, La Guaira, Port of Spain, Bridgetown, Saint John’s, Basseterre, Willemstad, before docking at Kingston. The Ascania then headed out from Kingston Harbour, heading for the port of Vigo, before finally arriving at the port of Southampton, England on the 21st October 1959.

Colin then made his way to his accommodation at uncle Cecil’s home Jesson Street, West Bromwich.

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 Shirley Calvert Hodgson

Arrived England 1960/61

Ainsley’s youngest brother, Shirley Calvert Hodgson – known as Shirley – was the last Jamaican Hodgson to arrive at Jesson Street. His fare was also paid by his Uncle, Cecil Hodgson. I am unsure at this moment if he sailed or flew.

Shirley came after his brother Ainsley in 1960 or 61. (Telephone conversation April 2018 with my dad, Renford Hodgson)

Shirley Hodgson’s arrival in England now completed the settlement of eight ‘Southfield Hodgson’s’ in West Bromwich. This Jamaican group of eight will now be addressed as the ‘West Bromwich Hodgson’s”

Here is a re-cap of the years of their arrivals.

1. 1951 Walter Cecil Hodgson, 5th son of Mass Teddy & Mabel
2. 1954 Valdie Moore Hodgson, 1st son of Aubrey Hodgson & Goldie
3. 1955 Renford Hodgson, 2nd son of Aubrey Hodgson & Goldie
4. 1957 Astley Wilton Hodgson, 1st son of Linton Hodgson
5. 1958 Clinton Roy Hodgson, 3rd son of Aubrey Hodgson & Goldie
6. 1959 Devert Ainsley Hodgson, 2nd son of Leslie Hodgson & Phyllis
7. 1959 Colin Vern Hodgson, 4th son of Aubrey Hodgson & Goldie
8. 1960 Shirley Calvert Hodgson, 3rd son of Leslie Hodgson & Phyllis

There now remained in Jamaica just four more ‘Southfield born Hodgson’s’ These were;

1. Leslie Hodgson, the new owner of Southfield Pen
2. Ralph Hodgson, 1st son of Leslie Hodgson & Phyllis
3. Ciseline Hodgson, 1st daughter of Aubrey Hodgson & Goldie
4. Myrtle Millicent Hodgson, 1st daughter of New York resident, Linton Hodgson

See Family Branches to understand who is who.

“So that was it, they were now all West Bromwich Hodgson’s”

“My great-uncle, Cecil Hodgson opened the way for our families emigrations into England. He was a remarkable man. I wish I had ‘known him better than I did.’

The way he looked after his Southfield nephew’s and helped them to settle safely in West Bromwich was admirable. He took them all in. Not only did he care for family members, he also helped others. That was his nature, he guided people, offered advice, and gave accommodation to those in need.

I remember visiting as a young boy, seeing his home, Jesson Street, packed full of people in every room. It was always loud but always enjoyable” Robert Roy Hodgson

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Next Blog: 1961 – Fantastic Hodgson’s