George GOODMAN

[bgoodman]

Hello to all you Hertfordshire forum rootschatters. I have not being in the UK for some weeks, therefore, I have had to give my Goodman search a semi-rest for awhile. Having said that great effort continues behind the scenes by the other determined descendants of Thomas Goodman and Zilpah (nee Harding). I have had a reply from the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald from an interested reader who will hopefully send me some promised info re Wiltshire/Goodman. I have had two replies from messages that I left on ancestry. No offers to take a DNA test as yet. I have just emailed 'Keith's ancestors' a tree that I found years ago online & recently I was reminded of this person again. Hopefully he will reply as he mentioned Thomas Goodman born 1766, Wiltshire. He also mentions Zilpah Harding, Rickmansworth marriage etc. I haven't, personally, received a reply from the messages I left with the Wiltshire famy history society. Although one of the above 'determined descendants' did get some assistance with searches. Keep digging folks, we may strike gold yet.

[bgoodman]

Hi rootschatters, busy time of year although I am happy to say that the Goodman band of merry workers are still hard at work. Still looking for confirmation of the birth place of Thomas Goodman born 1766, Wilts. The census is difficult to read although we have come to the conclusion that as there is no Russell in Wiltshire it is unlikely to be Russell. The most likely is Rushall. Please let me know what you think, I will try to upload an attachment.

[bgoodman]

Sorry folks that came out much bigger than I expected. It is the second from the bottom. At present the search goes on for any people, surnames, connected to the Thomas Goodman family members. No volunteers as yet for DNA testing from Wiltshire. I was in contact recently with a family member from Australia, who informs me that she has met the family of 'Keith's ancestors'. Sadly, Keith is no longer of this world, although he leaves behind an excellent tree, which I found, by chance on the internet. However, Keith was stumped with the Thomas Goodman birth issue also. His line came from Robert Goodman, son of Thomas. Robert would be an uncle of my George Goodman born 1844.

[bgoodman]

Hi to all you hard working rootschatters and Merry Christmas. Lets hope we all have better luck in 2014 with finding our ancestors. I am fortunate that I am living near to the area where my paternal ancestors came from. I am also near to the workhouse where a lot of them ended up. It makes me wonder what sort of Christmases that they experienced, bless them all. 

[[Ray]]

Hi

From the non-Goodman to the Goodman researchers = Happy New Year!

Ray

[Maddie]

A Very Happy New Year to all from me too.

Maddie

[bgoodman]

Hi, thank you Ray and Maddie for your greetings. I am at now concentrating on the children of Thomas Goodman. I believe that I have got as far as I can go, at present, with my ancestor George Goodman born 1844, grand son to Thomas Goodman and son of James Goodman. It is useful that James, born 1801 Rickmansworth, was a Blacksmith by trade as it makes it easier to cancel out other James Goodman people. Not so easy with his father Thomas who hasn't really got anything to make him stand out. Although, Thomas's wife's christian name is fairly unusual, Zilpah (nee Harding). Identifying children born to them was not too difficult as a result. Finding evidence of Thomas Goodman's birth place in Wiltshire is another matter entirely. Equally why he named one child, George Hale Sloper Goodman also remains a mystery.
Speaking of GHS Goodman. I believe that in the 1841 census George is living with his wife Ann Goodman, (nee Turner) in Batchworth Rickmansworth. HO 107/438/22. I noted that on the census, following Batchworth Wharf there is Batchworth Bridge. It appears that George and Ann are living at the latter. Sarah Gristwood, Thomas and George Gristwood are also living there. Not sure if they are next door to each other or in the same house. Also could the mention of the bridge mean that they were in a barge boat under the bridge and perhaps not in a house at all.
I know that in the present time there is a bridge marked with the name Batchworth, which is directly over the canal. I wonder if the buildings that remain, near to the bridge, would have been part of the Wharf. I think, presently, there is a museum housed there and a general information point.

[bgoodman]

Hi everyone, I am not having a rest just in case you think that I am, hee hee. I got a family tree maker for Christmas and I am busy putting all sorts onto it. Hopefully it will go onto ancestry public member tree eventually. Busy getting myself in a right two and eight just now although it should all come together in the end. I am looking forward also to going to the London FH event again this year. Other than that I am still up against a brick wall with Thomas Goodman, grandfather of my George born 1844. Also I haven't found any further info on George (Junior) born 1881. There is some implication that he may have been in the army at the same time as my grand father Hubert. George (junior) was last at the boys home on the Watford 1891 census. He was later believed to be alive and living in London according to Hubert's army papers.

[bgoodman]

Hi all, I have been finding some more information on the children of Thomas & Zylpah Goodman. With the kind help of Maddie I have found some more death dates. This is making the list on my Ancestry tree appear more conclusive and if I am honest making me feel less stuck. I was reading about past Wiltshire floods cira 1770s. No clues as to why Thomas said that he was born there though, abt 1766. He may have moved to Hertfordshire for many reasons, work, family and even the possibility of natural disasters, such as flooding. It must have been just as rough for our ancestors with flooding and probably little or no government aid. When I visited Wiltshire in the summer I walked a little way along the river bank. Seeing the area on T.V. now, it is hard to imagine that it is the same area. Aw well, back to the drawing board with Thomas.