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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Sussex => Topic started by: spower on Wednesday 14 April 10 20:11 BST (UK)
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I'm looking for a transcript of a gravestone located, until recently, in the churchyard at Ditchling. The grave is for Elizabeth Hards who, I believe, was previously Elizabeth Corney nee Elizabeth Godley born 1825 in Pyecombe. I think that she died in 1878 and at her death was married to her second husband Henry Hards of The Bull Public House. I had noted the grave on my first visit in 2009 but hadn't realized it's importance and when I returned recently to photograph and transcribe it properly it had disappeared. There's a lesson learned! I know that Taryn Jones had an interest in this family and there was some info on her website but I haven't been able to get in contact with her and she seems to have faded away. Does anybody have a transcript of this grave? Regards SP
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Have you contacted Ditchling Museum to see if they have any Monumental Inscriptions?
Andrea
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Thanks Sillgen, good answer. I e-mailed them and they sent me the transcript. Thank you.
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Hey, so my mums maiden name is godley, im australian and im trying to get info from the sussex end of the line. I have a lot of info on the australian side but hardly anything from english end. If you would be kind enough id love for you to email me and pass info on. In exchange i must admit it was difficult but eventually i did make contact with Taryn Jones and its taking an extremly long time but apparently she is sending me everything that she has. So once she sends it to me i can pass it straight onto you. :) But anyway my email is * obviously fill in the blank spaces thats just so this site wont block it out like they did yours
Hope to hear from you soon..
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hi some of my family moved to austrailia in 1886 george and ann richards her maiden name was godley i have some info it you are interested not sure if its the same godleys
caz
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Hey, so my mums maiden name is godley, im australian and im trying to get info from the sussex end of the line. I have a lot of info on the australian side but hardly anything from english end. If you would be kind enough id love for you to email me and pass info on. In exchange i must admit it was difficult but eventually i did make contact with Taryn Jones and its taking an extremly long time but apparently she is sending me everything that she has. So once she sends it to me i can pass it straight onto you. :) But anyway my email is * obviously fill in the blank spaces thats just so this site wont block it out like they did yours
Hope to hear from you soon..
(*)
(*) Moderator Comment: e-mail removed in accordance with RootsChat policy,
to avoid spamming and other abuses.
Please use the Personal Message (PM) system for exchanging personal data.
See Help-Page: http://www.rootschat.com/help/pms.php
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hi i have a sarah ann godley married to a john cook sussex her parents were johnand sarah any help?
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Hi Waranga. There's a Sarah Ann Godley possibly (one of the options) marries John Cook in Brighton Q2 1837. There's also a Sarah Godley born Preston (Sussex) 10/01/1819 to John & Sarah Godley. I'm not sure if this is the same person, Sarah Ann Godleys are a bit thin on the ground before 1845. Do you have any more clues?
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Hello! My name is Maureen Corney and I am Taryn's mother. We had done quite a lot of genealogy several years ago but then her university studies got in the way. However, we have lately gotten back into it.
The gravestone of Philip and Elizabeth is gone?? Oh no! They were my great great grandparents. We saw the grave in 2002 and took photos. It was still readable at that time. What a shame, perhaps it fell over.
I have a fair amount of information on the Corneys and Godleys, and lots on the Farncombes, thanks to the local history society there. We live in Canada.
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Hi Maureen
I'm very pleased to make your aquaintance . I'm a decendent of one Elizabeth's brothers so we must be related in a distant way!
I don't know if the gravestone is still in place. After the message below I contacted the museum and they sent me an excellent photo and I got all of the information that I needed from that. I probably just missed it when I was there (it was pouring with rain!).I must go back sometime and have another look because it's a very good memorial and also because I like sitting in the Bull Inn absorbing the family vibes (and the ale).
Does your research extend as far as three of Elizabeths nephews (via James - Walter John, Frederick & Richard) who I believe may have emmigrated to the USA.
Regards Sean
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and...... something else that you may have come across that is intriguing me. At the inquest for James's death it was mentioned that one of his sisters was found dead on a railway line. I can't find any mention of who or when. Can you shed any light on that?
S
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I'm not sure who you're talking about, lol. Is it a James Godley? I really have to get out all my papers and refer to the family tree again. I have never heard of the railway line story!
I'm guessing you know of the Godley connection to the various pubs, the location of George and Elizabeth's grave in Clayton, that sort of thing. In 2002 we rented a cottage near Ditchling and visited the various places. Someone from the Wivelsfield History Group showed us where Lunce's House was. We also have a family tree for the Farncombes that they provided.
I was sorting through some papers today and found the will of Elizabeth Godley, 1846. I think she was born Carter. I don't really have any information on the Carter or Barber family.
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Hi Maureen
Yes she was born Carter and was the teacher at the village school in Portslade when it was just a tiny downland village (it's spread a bit in recent years and doesn't look so attractive). She was an interesting character, her grave is in the churchyard at Portslade church and is very impressive with a lot of information (but difficult to read). She married William a member of the Godley family from Edburton on the other side of the downs but his family seem to have originally come from Pyecombe where a lot of the Godleys originate from. There was an outbreak of plague in Pyecombe around then so maybe that's why they moved west.
The number of pubs that the Godley descendants of George & Elizabeth have had a hand in is pretty impressive. I keep finding more and more and have counted over 35 so far. They got as far as Hastings (your Elizabeth's second husband Henry Hard ran The Roebuck in Hastings) but are mostly in the Brighton area and north into mid Sussex. I'm not sure why they started in the pub trade, I'm sure there was some kind of a connection with Pyecombe and the Friars Oak but I've not found it yet. I have got a bit of information on the Carters and Barbers, I live locally so it's much easier for me. In the 1860's the Friars Oak was being run by George's son Henry. He went bunkrupt in 1874 so presumably that's when it left the family and he went on to another pub in Brighton.
James Godley (Elizabeth's brother) became bankrupt after his father George died and committed suicide in 1889 by drowning himself in the pond at Ote Hall near Burgess Hill. There was an inquest at which his wife (Hepzibah) said '....some years ago his sister was found dead on the line, but there was nothing to show whether she committed suicide or not.' I keep looking but I can't find what she was referring to.
I'm just looking through my Farncombe family stuff at the moment. There's some quite wealthy members locally although we're not decended from that branch unfortunately. However they are an important family historically and it's more than likely that there's a connection to the lord of the manor in Patcham. That means that they are mentioned in a lot more records (court rolls etc) and because of those I think the Farncombes are going to be the family line that can be traced back the furthest. There are a lot of records available from before the 1500's and I've got a 'pencilled in' connection that I'm trying to confirm.
S
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Wow, that is a lot to take in! I believe I have a print-out about the teacher but probably didn't realize it was Elizabeth Carter/Godley.
I came across a beautifully drawn Godley family tree on the internet recently, but they had our George Godley (who married Elizabeth Farncombe) as being the son of Susanna Beard and born in Pyecome, but I believe that is an error. We ordered the parish records for Portslade several years ago and found his birth and confirmed he was from Portslade via the census.
I think Elizabeth had about four sisters? Sarah married Ledbetter but I don't know what became of the others. I will have to do some digging now.
On the Ditchliing history group's website there is a pic of an Amos Godley, shepherd, so some kind of relative I suppose.
The pond story is so sad. We saw the little Ote Hall church, as Philip Corney was christened there. We also met a couple of Godley relatives and had a drink at the Bull and also met one who lived in mid Wales.
I found the photo of the Friar's Oak from around 1860. Is there a way to post photos here?
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Click reply and you will see an Attachments button under the box. That gives you the option to attach a file.
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Yes I've seen that tree as well, Mayhew or somebody I think. It's a shame because it is beautifully drawn, but wrong. Oh well, a lot of it is correct though and I think that our family does connect to that line eventually - I think that they have John Godley m. Sarah Steele in 1724 and James Godley is the son who marries Susanna Beard. Our line goes another way, John's brother was James, he married Hannah Haylor in 1726, their son was James who married Mary Winter in 1753, and William Godley who married Elizabeth Carter was their son.
James had seven sisters I think - it was a big family! (your) Elizabeth 1825 m. Philip Corney, Sarah 1828 m. John Lidbetter, Mary Anne 1834 died age 1, Jane 1836 m. Alfred Dennard, Harriet 1838 m. Thomas Marchant, Esther 1844 m. Thomas Heasman (& moved to Winnipeg) & Mary 1848 married George Davidson.
I'd love to see any photos. I hardly have any old photos and keep looking through old collections here hoping to find some Godleys standing outside a pub or something. No luck yet though. I'm interested in the history of the Friars Oak as well. The current pub website has a sad little piece on it's history saying that it was probably built when the railway was constucted. That's rubbish because it was a coaching Inn when George & Elizabeth took it over in 1835 and had been since at least 1800, the railway wasn't opened until 1841. Friars Oak is a very ancient piece of Sussex, the road past the pub is Roman and it crosses the prehistoric south downs way only a couple of hundred yards on so there's a good chance that the site is extremely old. I've heard that the current building is new but I haven't really looked into that yet.
I'm going to have a go at sending you an attachment and see how it works. They are transcriptions of some of the grave memorials.
S
Can't seem to attach a word document so I've stuck it on a Notepad and it's lost all of the formatting!
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I think I may have the inscription for the Elizabeth Carter/Godley grave. We found a lot of stuff about 8 years ago and I've forgotten what we have.
I have a picture we printed off the internet years ago so it's not good quality but it of The Plough pub and I think it says R. Godley on the sign. I'll try scan it in or something. I tried to post a pic here of the Friar's Oak but it said it was too big. I'll try on the weekend. I also found mention of the Friar's Oak in a story by Conan Doyle called Rodney Stone. We went into the new pub...too bad the old one was torn down.
The Winnipeg connection is intriguing!
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I found the old photo of The Plough
http://pubshistory.com/SussexPubs/Pyecombe/Plough.shtml
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The R Godley is Richard, he's a brother of James & Elizabeth born 1846 died 1933 and buried in Pyecombe. He was at the Plough Inn for 30 years or so, married Charlotte Newman and had two children Annie and George. There's several good photos of the pub around whilst he was the landlord, especially when they did a recreation of a coach run from London to Brighton during which there is a crowd outside the pub and presumably one of them is Richard and possibly some of the others are there family too.
I've found Ether Godley (Heasman) living at the Cherry Tree public house in Hornchurch Essex in 1881, and after that she seems to be at 'Ward 5', Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1891 and 1901. In 1911 she is at 431 Vickers (something), Winnipeg and she dies 4th Aug 1933 again in Winnipeg. I don't have access to the Canadian/American records other than what's free on the web so research over there is difficult and hard to confirm. Her husband is Thomas Heasman and her children are Alice (Drysden), William, Ann Elizabeth and Thomas Henry.
Also interesting as a Godley public house is the Royal George in Burgess Hill (was St Johns common in Clayton parish). When the Godleys first lived at Friars Oak Burgess Hill wasn't really there. It had originally been waste or common land in the parishes of Clayton, Keymer and Wivelsfield but they had decided to divide the land up under the enclosures act and give a piece to everyone who had a right to graze or whatever and/or sell the rest. The Keymer bit had already happened and that was the start of Burgess Hill to the east of the London Rd. Whilst George was at the Friars Oak they decided to do the same for the Clayton side and the hearings to divide it up were held in his pub. He bought a parcel of land on the London Rd and built himself a new pub on it which he called the Royal George. That's when his son Henry took over running the Friars Oak and most of the rest of the family moved to St Johns in Clayton or Burgess Hill as it was to become. They were a well known local family and crop up in newspapers of the time for various things especially taking part in sporting events. The Royal George was demolished in 2001 although the road where it stood is still called Royal George Rd. I've only got one photo of it from just before it was knocked down. One day when I get time I'm planning to call into the West Sussex records office and see if they kept any plans.
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Hi,
was delighted to read this thread as Sarah Godley (b.1829) was my ggg-grandmother - she married John Lidbetter (b.1820) in 1848.
I knew a little of George Godley and the connection to the Friars Oak and Royal George inns, but hadn't researched much more of the Godley side, so a lot of information here that has fired my enthusiasm for further digging; thank you all!
Dropping down the Lidbetter side, a few of my ancestors carried on in the innkeeping and catering trade in Sussex. I don't live far from Sussex, and have always wanted to book a few days in a B&B for the area, and enjoy a relevant 'pub crawl'!
If anyone has any photos or further information they are happy to share, I would be really grateful.
Mrs. T.
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Hello Mrs. T! wow, this is very cool! Somewhere I have a picture I found on the internet of the Bull in Ditchling with the name C. Lidbetter painted on the side. I seem to recall that in the local museum there they had a box of matches also with the name. I haven't been able to post a picture here yet, it says they are too big, so I will see if I can resize them. About 9 years ago we had lunch at the Bull with another Godley descendent. I've forgotten her name so will have to look it up.
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Hello Maureen, nice to 'meet' you!
The C. Lidbetter at the Bull, Ditchling was Charlie Lidbetter, son of Sarah Godley and John Lidbetter.
The 1891 census shows him there with his mother, sister and some nieces. The 1901 and 1911 censuses show him as the innkeeper there. He died in 1922.
One of his brothers, William was a 'Dining Room Proprietor' in Brighton for some years.
I am descended from another brother, George Lidbetter.
I also remember finding what sounds like the same photo of the Bull on the internet - but I should really get myself down to the area and tread in those ancestors' shoes!
Mrs. T.
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Hi Maureen (and Mrs T)
They are interesting photos of the Friars Oak and would seem to confirm that the building there now is not the original from the Godleys time. Unfortunately the pictures are more of the oak tree than the pub, it's a very nice tree but I'd love a better look at the pub. Somewhere I've seen a photo of a early bicycle race where the cyclists are posing outside the door of the Friars oak Inn. It's just after the Godleys left the inn but I'm sure that the doorway is the doorway in your photo rather than the one that's there now. When I lay my hands on it I'll send you a copy and show you.
Edward Fox was a local photographer. His workshop was in the Lanes in Brighton close to where my office used to be. I've found a copy of the 'Oak in Summer' on a website, it's the same photo but doesn't mention that it's at Friars Oak. I'm hoping to find another photo of the same place but with a better view of the inn! I'll have to keep looking.
I've seen that photo of The Bull with Charlie Lidbetters name on the side as well. I've an idea it's hanging on the wall in the actual pub.
S
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Hi spower(& Maureen again!)
Would be great if you have any luck in finding some photos; I only have the modern image ones.
I really must get myself down to the Bull at Ditchling in the summer!
If either of you would like me to email a photo of George Godley, just PM me with your address and I'll be happy to forward it.
Will keep in touch,
Mrs. T.
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Sorry, should have specified the photo is george's son George Godley (1827-1914).
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A query for Godley researchers. I was looking at census returns for Jane Godley, b. 1836, the sister who married Alfred Dennard. In 1861 Elizabeth Godley Corney was looking after little William Denard, age 1, while Jane was in service. In 1871 the Dennard family is living in Dover. I can't find them in 1881. There seems to be an Alfred Dennard who died in 1876. I found their youngest boy Albert, age 10, living with another Godley sister, Sarah Lidbetter. You don't suppose she is the sister who was found dead, do you? She would only have been in her thirties. Perhaps her husband died and she couldn't go on. Just a thought, maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree! ???
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That's an interesting thought, Maureen. Worth a bit of digging around methinks - and woo-hoo, it's nearly the weekend!
Mrs. T. x
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Hey, look at this...the Friar's Oak giftware etc etc etc! ;D
http://www.zazzle.ca/corbisimages/gifts?cg=196225620524858204
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I think that after Alfred (Dennards) death Jane remarries John Smith in Brighton 31/10/1880 and in the 1881 census they are at 10 Terminus Place, Brighton. The marriage is on igi and Janes father is given as George Godley. Those type of igi records are usually pretty good. After that I'm not sure what happens, Smith is a ....... difficult surname to keep track of isn't it! I think it likely that they stay in Brighton or nearby, John is fairly old (born 1817) so I can't imagine he's going to start a new life somewhere else in the country. There are some John Smiths who die in Brighton around 1890 but I can't find Jane again, well not so far anyway.
Those photos of the Friars Oak Inn tree are fantastic Maureen. The winter one is of sufficient quality to zoom in on the inn and you can just about read the name on the side of the building. I've finally found the other picture that I was thinking of, it shows a group of cyclists outside the front door in 1893. When I finally get my son off the computer with the scanner I'll post a copy and you can see what you think. I've also had a look through some old OS maps as well but the images are too big to post here so I will have to send them by e-mail. I was wondering if the original print of the winter tree would give even more detail. Regards S.
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Hi All!
I am new here (and to geneology) and am overwhelmed by all the information!! I have no idea if anyone is still using this thread, but I thought I'd try! I am a descendant on the Godley side; Richard Godley born around 1872 (son of James and Hepzibah?) is my gg grandfather. As far as I can find, Richard immigrated to the US about 1889 and married Anna Lindeman. I found an old photo in my grandfathers things the other day of a tavern with the sign "The Royal George Inn Tamplins Entire". In handwriting on the bottom someone wrote "Tavern of James Godley in Burgess Hill". Can anyone tell me if I'm on the right track and give me any information on Richard and going farther back? Thanks so much in advance!
Nicole
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Hi Nicole
I'm very pleased to make your acquaintance. I am a decendant of Richard's brother William James. I have Richard as being baptised 11 Nov 1870 at Burgess Hill but I haven't managed to confirm what happens to him after 1891 and suspected that he had immigrated to the US along with his brothers Walter John & Frederick. I would be very interested in anything that you have on the family and am happy to send you what I know. I'm particularly interested in any photos. The Godley interest in public houses appears to have started with Richard's grandfather, George Godley, who took up the trade at the nearby 'Friars Oak' and did sufficiently well to have the 'Royal George' built at Burgess Hill which was then a new town just starting up. The whole family seems to have taken up running Inns and Taverns and they had a hand in running a substantial number of the pubs in Sussex and beyond. Unfortunately the Royal George was demolished in 2001 although the title survives in the road name just off London Rd in Burgess Hill.
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Hi Nicole,nice to meet you. My great great grandmother was Elizabeth Godley of the Friar's Oak pub. She married Philip Corney and together they ran The Bull Inn in Ditchling. I don't do much genealogy during the summer but once the weather turns foul I'll be back at it! :)
Maureen (Corney) Jones