Alice Selina Goddard - Confusion

[timbo777]

Hello

I have a relative Alice Selina Forster, she married Joseph Ingram Forster in Tynemouth on 27 Feb 1881
Alice Selina (AS) states her father as George Goddard - Mariner, and her age as 22 on the wedding certificate (I have the original)
Various census show place of birth as Chelsea London when she is living in Westoe Durham with her husband and children
Therefore she was born approx 1859 in Chelsea
BDM show a Alice Selina Goddard born 22 Mar 1858 in Chelsea

Only problem is, her father is Thomas March Goddard .. not George
Thomas March Goddard appears to remarry again in Chelsea Dec 1858

A George Goddard has a daughter Alice in 30 Mar 1859 in Bishopsgate City of London

So, who is Alice Selina Goddards father, George or Thomas

I am very confused, anh help or guidance would be appreciated

[Tati]

Hi Timbo,

The one with father George seems to be still unmarried in 1881:
http://www.rootschat.com/links/07s9/
RG11/370 73 6

[timbo777]

what a good spot!

Many thanks for that. So now I have to try and work out why the one birth certificate I have for Alice Selina states father Thomas, when at time of marriage he becomes George..

[danuslave]

Hi Timbo and welcome to RootsChat

Information on a birth certificate is usually given by a parent so is likely to be accurate (but not definitley so 

Perhaps Thomas preferred to be called George for some reason and that's the name Alice put on her marriage details.  Presumably he's not shown as a witness and may not even have been present if he was a mariner

Thomas March Goddard appears to remarry again in Chelsea Dec 1858

What makes you think he was marrying again?  BTW on A***y he is shown as Marsh not March (and the original looks like Marsh)

Linda

[timbo777]

Hi Linda

Marsh makes more sense. I have just (in the last 5 mins) found a Confirmation card which states that she was baptised at St Lukes Chelsea, but confirmed in St Hilda's Church South Shileds. The St Lukes Church ties up with the birth certificate. It is all starting to make sense. So, Alice Selina moved to South Shields by 1878 from Chelsea.

On Alice Selina Goddards birth certificate, her mother was Louisa Maidment. I can't find that name connecting to Thomas Marsh Goddard in the marriage in Dec 1858, hence I assumed that it was a second marriage

I think I can find Alice living with Louisa Goddard and a couple of Maidment sisters in 1861, so maybe Thomas/George was away then

I will have a dig in the 1871/81 census and see what I can find out

Cheers Tim

[Tati]

There were banns read at St Marys Battersea for a marriage between Thomas Marsh Goddard and Louisa Maidment on

26 Sep 1858, 3 Oct 1858 and 10 Oct 1858

Around the same time as the Thomas Marsh Goddard / Sarah Ellis Edwards marriage!

 

[timbo777]

well, still confusing

Could there be 2 Thomas Marsh Goddards? Seems quite a coincidence

Would it be usual to get married aftert he first child? Maybe they couldn't organise things before the baby was born?

Or, the banns were read, but they didn't get married! Can't find any reference to the wedding on FreeBDM or anywhere else

Many thanks for your assistance, I will hunt for the reference to the banns

Cheers Tim

[Valda]

Hi

Thomas Marsh Goddard Full Age Bachelor Butcher St Luke Chelsea Thomas Goddard Lawyer
Sarah Ellis Edwards Full Age Spinster St Luke Chelsea William Edwards Shoemaker
By licence. Both signed
Witnesses Frances May Baines, Thomas and Susannah Lester

6th August 1826 St Mary Islington
Thomas Marsh Goddard parents  Thomas Goddard and Mary Ann, Cumberland Row, father's occupation Gentleman

Until the second half of the C20th there was no comprehensive systems in place to check that what someone said on their marriage and on the registering of a birth was completely factually correct. Therefore a legitimate birth certificate is absolutely no proof of a legitimate birth. I know a man with 5 siblings all born in the 1930s and all registered legitimately. Their mother, possibly with their father registered the births and bluffed it out with the registrar. The couple were living as a married couple but never married.

In this case it looks as if pregnant Louisa never made it to the altar and Thomas decided on Sarah instead. The confusion on the marriage certificate may be that Louisa did in fact marry later a George who was a mariner or else Alice just came up with the details of a near male relative because she knew little or nothing about her genetic father.


Regards

Valda

[Valda]

Hi

The Sydney Morning Herald 12th September 1889

August 21st at Markwell's Cottages, Brisbane
Mr Thomas Marsh Goddard aged 64

Regards

Valda