JOHN GODMAN (1873) of St. Albans and Barnet

[ian_billericay]

Hi All,

We’ve hit a bit of a brick wall and gotten ourselves a bit confused and would like some guidance.

In Barnet, a William Albert Godman was registered in the 1Q 1873. His parents are John & Ann Godman, this can be seen from the census’s of 1871 & 1881. Ann was a Tucker from Highclere in Hampshire. John Godman was from St. Stephens in St. Albans. These two married in 1861 (4Q) in the district of Pancras. In the 1861 census, John Godman was a lodger in St. Stephens part of St. Albans from there onwards seems to all be OK.
But in the 1851 census John Godman  is living with a Susannah Godman in St. Stephens part of St. Albans. This is where we have gotten ourselves muddled. We can’t find a marriage between John Godman and a Susannah. However there is a marriage between a Susan Botwright & John Godman in 3Q of 1842. However the marriage listing for Susan Botwright looks to be incorrect as the volume and page number (vol 6 & page 597) do not match that of John Godman (vol 6 page 579), swapped the 79 about?!
In the 1841 census for St. Stephens you’ll find Susan Botwright (aged 16), Susannah Garforth (aged 16) and John Godman (aged 20). The two girls can’t be found in the 1851 census and beyond, but John Godman is with Susannah. I can’t find a death for a Susan Godman but can for a Susannah Godman, I can also find John’s death in 1880.

I can find a marriage between a Susannah Garforth & James Stocksley in 1857 St. Albans and their deaths 3Q 1893 & 2Q 1873.

Susan Botwright’s christening 8th Aug 1824 St. Stephens, St. Albans.
Susannah Garforth’s christening 16th Oct 1825 St. Stephens, St. Albans.
John Godman’s christening 13th Feb 1820 St. Stephens, St. Albans.

So who did John Godman marry before Ann Tucker?
Any help or guidance would be very welcome.

Thank you,

Ian.

[CaroleW]

Hi

Do you know for certain that he married anybody before Ann?  His marriage cert to Ann will show whether he was a widower or a batchelor.

On the various census entries referred to - is his birthyear and birthplace consistent

[ian_billericay]

In the four census that John is in (1841-1871), 1841 is Hertfordshire, 1851-1871 it's St. Stephens, Hertfordshire. The age is out on the 1851 census by a year (20, 31, 40, 50). If the 1851 is the same person, the Susannah Godman is listed as Wife.

[CaroleW]

I've just been looking at his occupation and it definitely appears to be him - dealer/cattle dealer seems pretty conclusive

This is the only possible death on freebmd - but in Kent

Susannah Godman March qtr 1853  Maidstone Volume: 2a
Page: 291 

[CaroleW]

I have just checked the full GRO index and the Susan Botwright entry is September qtr 1842 St Albans 6  579 - exactly the same as John's

[ian_billericay]

Which leaves us with, who is this Susannah?

Did Susan Botwright lengthen her name to Susannah or did he marry Miss Garforth who was a Susannah.

There is another death for a Susannah Godman in 1948 Eton.

It was seeing that kent one that got us in a bit of a spin.

The marriages for sep 1842 would have us believe he married Susan Botwright.

[CaroleW]

Did Susan Botwright lengthen her name to Susannah or did he marry Miss Garforth who was a Susannah.

You have already said that Susannah Garforth married in 1857 to James Stocksley and died in 1893 so he could not have married her

If it is the right John Godman marriage then he clearly married Susan Botwright. 

One sure way is to buy both certs and compare details on them

[ian_billericay]

When I search on ancestry for Susan Botwright I get her listing for her marriage and then click on the page number to see who else is there, there is no John Godman. It the same on Freebmd. Do that the same for John again, Susan (nah) doesn't appear.

And on the census for 1851 John is with a Susannah. There lies our confusion. Would Susan lengthen her name to Susannah?

[ian_billericay]

Susannah age on the other marriage is out by a few years, to add to our confusion.

I was hoping someone would come to the same conclusion as me, I've got to clap eyes on those two marriage entries.