On the 1901 map Lawn House appears to be the most substantial house in Dogsthorpe. However the 1911 census tells us it had a mere 9 rooms compared to The Grange with 15.
In 1911 Lawn House was occupied by:
- Charlotte Clapperton, Head, 69, Widow, Married 40 years, 10 children, 9 still living. Born Borough Fen, Northants.
- Bertram Clapperton, son, 23, single, student, born Broughton Hants.
- May Kitchener, 21, single, charwoman (servant?).
I found the Clapperton family on the 1881 Census in Broughton, Hants.
- James Clapperton 40, Physician and Surgeon. Edinburgh, General Practitioner, born in Ireland.
- Charlotte 38, from Newborough (the nearest village to Borough Fen).
- Charlotte 9, born Market Deeping
- Muriel A 8, born Market Deeping
- Thomas 5, born Market Deeping
- Emily 4, born Broughton
- Elinora 2, born Broughton
- Frances 1, born Broughton
Also in the household
- George H Fox 34, a visitor and unemployed bank clerk, born Broughton.
- Ernest Ward 17 a boarder, a medical pupil born in India.
- Caroline Cooper, 47, cook
- Charlotte E Kimber 19, housemaid
- Matilda Joyce 15, housemaid
- Setta Kochem 23, a nurse domestic servant born in Germany.
In 1891 the family were still in Broughton
The family has increased by
- Katherine 8,
- Milicent 7,
- James 5,
- Bertram 3.
James Clapperton died in Stockbridge (Broughton is in this district) Hampshire in the first quarter of 1901, age 60.
In the 1901 census taken on 31 March 1901, no more that 3 months after her husbands death. Charlotte is a widow and has moved to Dogsthorpe between St Pauls Rd and Newborough Rd (Welland Rd), which would fit with Lawn House.
Muriel, 28, is the only family living with her. Also in the house are Mary Flanders 18, the cook, born in Connington, Hunts, and Ellie Flanders 16, housemaid, born in Connington, Hunts.
In the 1881 Census the occupiers of The Lawn are:
- Charles Caswell 45, a Merchant, born in London
- Maria Caswell 40, his wife, born in Cambridge
- Clara E Gibson 23, servant, born in Northampton.
Ten years earlier Charles Caswell, described as a Manchester Merchant is living in Evington, Leicestershire, again just with his wife and one servant.
Unfortunately in the 1871 Census there is no indication of address. However by knowing that the Sturtons lived at the Grange, and where the Publicans, Blacksmith, Brickmakers and Railway Gatekeeper were likely to live, I think the occupier of Lawn House was;
- John Hopkinson, 40, a farmer occupying 330 acres employing 8 men and 4 boys, born in Sutton Northants.
- Mary Hopkinson, 30, his wife, born Peakirk Northants.
- Elizabeth Lighton, 18, servant, born Frampton Lincs.
Below is the description of an item on ebay:
Interesting old vellum document of Assignment of the Interest and Goodwill in the late Dr James Clapperton's business or profession of a physician and surgeon between Charlotte Etherington Clapperton of Dogsthorpe, Peterborough and Thomas Henry Vergette of The Avenue Peterborough and Ernest Cusse of Broughton, Southampton, Surgeon. Dated April 1901, James Clapperton having died in January 1901.
It is useful in that it gives us the added name Etherington, and gives us a connection to
Thomas Henry Vergette.
A bit of searching on Ancestry shows that Charlotte E Clapperton died in Peterborough in 1923 at the age of 81.
In 1861 James Clapperton was a student of medecine in Edinburgh.
In 1871 James 30, and Charlotte 29, are married and living in Market Deeping (about 8 miles from Dogsthorpe). Living with them is Annie E Vergette 21, who is unmarried, this would suggest Charlotte Clapperton was perhaps a Vergette before she married; and would explain Thomas Henry Vergette's involvement in the document above.
Private Francis Clapperton 3 May 1880, enlisted in the Canadian Infantry on 15th July 1916. His mother Charlotte, living at Lawn House is next of kin.