John godward

[Jennarembailey]

I have a marriage for John Godward to Mary Ann Elliott 28.4.1889. Horsham.
But also have a marriage to Louisa Skidmore, 2q,6d,305 1876 Birmingham.
There seems to be a cross over where both couples end up in Horsham area, with a total of about 15 children. Born from Limerick to Devonport, Birmingham, Horsham.
John and Mary Ann are definitely my tree but I can't work out where Louisa comes in as a mixture of the children are on census for both women's names.
Louisa had son John in Limerick 1878, daughter Louisa 1880 Birmingham.
Mary Ann definitely had George 1889 Shipley(Horsham) then 7 others in Shipley.
But then I found Eliza 1882' Birmingham. Frederick George 1884 and Henry John 1887 Devonport
Can't make out which is their mother and father.

The joys of muddle.
Can anyone help me please?

[lizdb]

Hi and welcome to Rootschat

To start us off, so we can see it in front of us (I for one get muddled if I cant!)
Here are John and Louisa, in 1881 -
Artillery Barracks, Colchester, essex
John Godward 43 soldier bn Reading Berks
Louisa 31 wife bn Birmingham
John son 2 bn Ireland
Louisa 9 mths bn Birmingham

[CaroleW]

Hi and welcome to Rootschat

What is John's marital status and occupation on the 1889 marriage cert

Deaths June qtr 1888 
Louisa Godward aged 37    Horsham    2b   195

[avm228]

Welcome

Henry John Godward, born 12 March 1887, was baptised 3 April 1887 in Stoke Damerel.

Parents: John (a gardener) and Louisa, of Tavistock Rd.

[CaroleW]

If Louisa died in 1888 - John should be shown as a widower on the 1889 cert

[lizdb]

Here are the John and MAry in 1891

Raskells Cottage, Shipley, Sussex
John GOdward 56 Domestic servant bn Sonning Berks
Mary A 35 bn Fittleworth Sussex
Eliza L 10 bn Birmingham
William 7 bn Stoke Devonport
Frederick 6     "
Henry 4      "
George 1 bn Shipley
Ernest 4 mths bn Shipley

My first thought is to question if the 2 Johns are the same person or not.
As has been said, was he a widower when he married Mary? What was his occupation then? Was his father named on that cert the same as on the cert for the marriage to Louisa?

Seeing as avm228 has found the christening of Henry to John and Louisa, it does look as if this is the same John. He has simply remarried.
Just need to check that marriage cert to see if he was a widower. Then it all falls into place - doesnt it?  ( I would imagine Eliza L bn Birmingham is the same as Louisa bn Birmingham, but havent checked the BMD indexes )

[lizdb]

More children by 1901!

1901
Rascalls Cottage Shipley
John 64 gardener bn Reading
MAry A 46 bn Fittleworth
Frederick 16 bn Devonport
George 11 bn Shipley
Ernest 10 bn Shipley
Charlie 8 bn Shipley
Lily 4 bn Shipley
Frank 2 bn Shipley

[lizdb]

Although Louisa/Eliza says on the 1881 and 1891 censuses she was born in Birmingham, I wonder if this is her birth reg? : (They were in COlchester BArracks in 1881)

Jul/Aug/Sep 1880
Colchester
ref 4a 402
Louisa Eliza Godward

[Jennarembailey]

I have this birth as Louisa second child born 1880.
I found Louisa (the mother)  1851 Xv1 293 1q Birmingham