His father, William Dodwell, who lost his property in Connacht during the Irish rebellion, was married to Elizabeth Slingsby, daughter of Sir Francis Slingsby and settled at York in 1648.
Ayahnya, William Dodwell, yang kehilangan propertinya di Connacht pada masa pemberontakan Irlandia, menikah dengan Elizabeth Slingsby, putri dari Sir Francis Slingsby dan bermukim di York pada 1648.