Dadswell Family History

Generation 9
Thomas William Dadswell (1900-1985)

On this page:
Ancestors of Thomas William Dadswell
Thomas William's story
Key family dates
Further information

Ancestors of Thomas William Dadswell

Robert Doudeswell 1560 > Robert Doudeswell 1606 > Edward Dodswell 1659 > Alexander Dodswell 1686 > Thomas Dadswell 1732 > James Dadswell 1786 > Thomas William Dadswell 1828 > Charles Thomas Dadswell 1863 > Thomas William Dadswell 1896

Thomas William's story

Thomas William (Tom) Dadswell was born at Horsham on 7 May 1900. He attended school at Horsham and lived in Green Park, taking an interest in brass bands from an early age. He played the baritone in Horsham Brass Band for a number of years.

He learned the trade of cobbler and took up a position with a firm in Hamilton. Later he joined Williams the Shoeman and after a stint in Melbourne and several country areas was promoted to manager of the Stawell shop, where he remained for 33 years.

He joined the Australian Natives Association (a Friendly Society for Australian-born citizens) and was a member until his death in 1985.

He was president of the ANA Cricket Club and, although not a player, was an umpire in the Stawell Cricket Association for a number of years.

He was married in Ballarat in 1924 to Violet Ilma Evangeline Burford, and they had two children, Charles Robert (1926-1990) and Kenneth William (born 1929).

Tom became a councillor of the Town of Stawell and was also President of the local Progress Association. He was a committeeman of Stawell Brass Band and served as president for some years.

In 1954 he resigned from Williams the Shoeman to take over a post office and store at Miners Rest, near Ballarat. It was while at Miners Rest that he suffered a burst ulcer and spent three weeks seriously ill in a Melbourne Hospital. He overcame the illness and in 1968 he and Ilma disposed of the business and retired to Mt Clear, Ballarat.

After 9 years, with a degree of failing health, a move was made back to Stawell where they again took up residence in 1977.

Tom was always a keen gardener and spent many hours gardening, particularly in grafting fruit trees.

He became ill and entered Stawell Hospital in October 1983 and remained there until his death on 30 December 1985. Ilma suffered a heart attack in June 1983 and died at their Sharpley Avenue residence.

Conducting a service at the Stawell Uniting Church, the Rev David Fotheringham paid tribute to Tom with the following words:

"Today you may well hold your heads high as you remember your loved father and grandfather. During the few years that I have known him, I always felt he was a man of quiet dignity and fine bearing. Yet, little did I realise that the Tom Dadswell I came to know had such an outstanding background.

"As an old type cobbler, he was one of the last of his trade. He knew the grand smell of real leather as he repaired soles and made boots and shoes. He repaired shoes until a few years prior to his death, and he was one who put his best into every stitch.

"During his 33 years in Stawell, he dealt with people, satisfying their needs in footwear. Later, when he moved to Miners Rest, he carried on the business most successfully, having a love for meeting people and making friends."

Key family dates

Further information

Information on Charles Robert Dadswell (generation 10, first child of Tom and Ilma Dadswell)
Information on Ken Dadswell (generation 10, second child) - not yet published

Information on generation 9 brothers/sisters of Thomas William Dadswell

Information on Charles Thomas Dadswell (generation 8, father of Thomas William)