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Topic: Charles Godwin - in south africa? (Read 702 times)
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Harry Godwin
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 14
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hi, I'm trying to research a family legend.
Charles Godwin worked for a bank. he had a wife, and one child, my great-grandfather william Kent Godwin.
the story is that he worked on a sunday( :odisgrace!) and was disowned by his family. he ran away to south africa.
Charles Godwin, born 1859 in shropshire/derbyshire married Louisa jane jones, and had child William Kent Godwin, my great-grandfather.
I have found out that Charles' father, William Godwin married Fanny Groom. one of seven children of Thomas Groom. five or six of Fanny's brothers and sisters moved out previously to southafrica.
Charles appears on 1861,71,81,and91 census.
between 1881, and 1891, he abandoned his family, and moved down to pewsey in wiltshire working on a farm, but does not appear on any further census.
i have not been able to find out anything else about charles
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rutti tutti
Moderator
RootsChat Veteran
Posts: 842
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Hi there,
I have found a death notice in 1938 for a Charles John Godwin - unfortunately you need to apply for the death notice which would give details. Before I do that though, who were fannys siblings that came out here? There are a number of Groom burials here in Natal. Give em some name sand I will see what I can find.
Ruth
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Harry Godwin
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 14
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hi rutti tutti,
is the notice youv'e found the same as this one?
Document 2 of 2
DEPOT KAB
SOURCE MOOC
TYPE LEER
VOLUME_NO 6/9/5075
SYSTEM 01
REFERENCE 59025
PART 1
DESCRIPTION GODWIN, CHARLES JOHN. ESTATE PAPERS.
STARTING 19380000
ENDING 19380000
http://www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm30ddf0?200505221739521BD18F01&DN=00000002
I have already gotten the will of this man, and it mentions people who do not fit my tree 
I also have some new information which may or may not have something to do with Charles.
I have just visited my great aunt(?) who was married to Charles eldest Grandson. (his only other Grandson being my grandfather) and she told me that when she was younger, around the time of the war, lofty (her husbands nickname), recieved a letter which he read in silence, and immediately threw on the fire. he refused to speak about it, only saying "nothing to do with you" when asked. she seems to think it was from a solicitor in south africa.
although I really appreciate your offer to look for the Groom graves, I already know quite a bit about these people, and have posted this information incase charles perhaps stayed with them, or incase it will help someone else searching for these people
its a 12 page complete history, though i have only detailed them upto Charles' Generation, i have a complete history, including Photographs, places & buildings, profesions, causes of death, stories, opinions, nick-names et c.
My grandfather got this information in 1988 from a man who was in contact with a groom desendant who had found his(and my) family back to them.
Market drayton, shropshire
Thomas Groom 1793 - 1862 m Ann Simpson 1796 - 1846.
Children
Betsy Groom 1822
Richard Groom 1824, married Elizabeth Wallers
Ellen Groom 1826 (twins)
Anne Groom 1826 (twins)
Thomas Groom 1828
Mary Groom 1830
Fanny Groom 1832, married William Godwin
Edward Groom 1839
in 1850, Betsy, Richard & his wife, Ellen, Thomas, Mary, and Edward went to south africa on the EDWARD, under captain Robertson, and landed in Durban, 10th may, 1850.
once in South Africa:
Betsy m William Todd in 1855. (todd arived on King Willian 23/1/1850) and went to verulam
william todd assisted the surveyor in laying out the town.
they lived in "mountain view" farm
they had children
thomas john todd, 1856 m Sharlotte Maud Spring
william stephenson todd, 1858 - 1862. - murdered by a native witch doctor at age of 4.(bones & shoes found 12 years later)
Richard Groom set up a farm at Mount Moreland, but found the heat too much, and moved to "inanda" farm in 1861, 15 miles inland from Verulam.
he and his wife had 12 children:
Anne
William
Fanny
Thomas
Caroline
Ellen
John
Fred
Martha
Mary
Edwin
Henry
Ellen Groom M George Hillary in 1858(he arrived on the same ship)
their farm was called "Krantzkloof" in the umlazi District, and the house called "lookout"
the suburb of Hillary was named after them.
they had children:
Caroline
Ellen
Edward
Charles
Walter
Mary
Thomas Groom m widow Elizabeth Hunter Ward (nee Morphew)
he lived in Verulam, established a store, and was elected 1st chairman.
his house was called "syringas" he owned a sugarmill for a year.
he was elected MP for zululand.
children:
christpoher
eliza
anne
calvert Spencley
alfred
Lily
Mary & edward both died with no family or spouse.
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rutti tutti
Moderator
RootsChat Veteran
Posts: 842
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Thanks for the info - the Groom deaths were the ones in the verulam area. I live about 3 miles from Hilary so know the area quite well - one branch of my family also settled there in the 1860's.
I dont know where else to suggest looking for Charles - I would think he would have been in Natal. I can look in the family history centre for you but not sure what else one would be able to find, but i will dig anyway.
let em know if you come up with anything else.
Ruth
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christine8
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 31
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Harry,
I'm interested in the Calvert Spencley name in your posting. Was this one of the children of the family, and is it possible that he was named after eg. a family friend or minister?
I know of a Calvert Spensley/Spencley who did go to South Africa, and the name is so distinctive, there almost has to be a connection.
Regards
Christine
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Harry Godwin
RootsChat Extra
Posts: 14
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hi christine, ill have a look tonight when i get home.
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