Home, The Peter Dawe Family Site

When you start to explore your heritage you need a
starting point. And for me it's my Great Grandfather
Peter Dawe who left Redruth, England in 1884 to sail
for New York City. There is no record of where in the
city he lived, but he worked as a painter for just over
a year before returning to England.

Why did he go back? I'm not sure but his elder
brother John died in 1885, and Peter as the second
son would have inherited the family business.

Certainly in 1886, at age 24 when he immigrated for
life and settled in Bridgeport, Conn.; he had the
funds to buy and open a paint store, and also set
himself up as a paint contractor.

He married a girl from Reduth in 1888 and started a
family, he had one son and three daughters.

Then in 1910 at the age of 46 he made a dramatic
career change by purchasing an Opera House and
converting it to one of the first dedicated theaters in
Bridgeport showing silent movies.