Albert Godson/Beckett

[Cas (stallc)]

Sarah Hartell Godson only married once from census evidence

Looks like Albert married under Beckett..if James Beckett was father or just his stepfather that is unknown. But seemed Albert used both Godson & Beckett but was one person, same man.

Does not mean his mother was a bigamist.

[Mabel Bagshawe]

Thanks for picking up where I left off yesterday, Cas. Well done for tying all those pre and post marriage births and name changes

Agree Sarah was no bigamist

[Cas (stallc)]

Quite a few twists Mabel...

Going back to the 1886 birth reg, there is this baptism

Albert Hartell
Birth Date   11 May 1886
Birth Place   Staffordshire, England
Sub registration district   Stafford

Also mistranscribed/misheard under Hartle, but you would have to view register to confirm, or BC

Albert Hartle
Birth Date   11 May 1886
Baptism Date   1 Aug 1886
Baptism Place   St Mary, Stafford, Stafford, England
Mother   Sarah Hartle
FHL Film Number   1526110

Reg seems to have been born Staffordshire moved back to Leicester with mother and was raised by the Beckett family. Sarah died 1905, James Beckett died 1926.  1911 has 4 children born 1 died.  Mary 1889, Elizabeth 1890, (Hannah b 1893 d 1898) Lilian 1895. So possibly James may or may not be father of Albert, but treated him so, at least accepting Albert's son as grandson.

Maybe by the time Annie was settled, Reg wished to stay with the Beckett family..some things are unknown.

1939 he is with Horace & Lilian Bonnet nee Beckett they married 1919.

Cas

[Cas (stallc)]

Also incase you are not aware this looks like Reg. I have no access to newspapers.

Arthur Andrew Reginald Godson
Topic   Crime
Residence Date   8 Feb 1937
Residence Place   Leicester, Leicestershire, England
Publication Date   8 Feb 1937
Publication Place   Leicester, Leicestershire, England
Newspaper Title   Leicester Mercury

Cas

[Tuggybear]

Thank you both again for this extra information. I'm starting to pull it all together.
My grandma told us kids that Reg was left with Albert's family and she came back to Leicester where she eventually met and married my grandfather, who was much older than her.
My mum told me lots of stories about her childhood and her life before meeting my dad and after marriage. Reg never figured in any of these stories until around the 30s/40s. My dad knew Reg but thought he was my youngest aunt's boyfriend.
Of course stories often get muddled and mistold and my mum died before I could delve deeper into uncle Reg so all I have is a few words muttered between my oldest uncle and my cousin.

[Annie65115]

That newspaper report -this is the summary:

Andrew Arthur Reginald Godson,age 22, a dyer of 44 Farnham St, pleaded guilty to stealing 2 womans garments, the property of Mrs Laura Cook. (Specifically this was a pair of camiknickers and an underslip).

It's an odd story. He was found upstairs in the home of Walter Charles Young, a butcher of Clyde St. He appeared "dazed", had had a lot to drink and "appeared a nervous wreck". It took 4 men to hold him in a chair. He "came round" at the police station the following morning alleging no recollection or understanding of the incident. Although he wasn't known to the police, Walter Young alleged it was the 2nd time he'd caught Reg in the house (so I'm guessing they were known to each other?). The court discharged him, after hearing he'd "signed the pledge". It mentions that Reg was adopted by his aunt as a small child.

[Tuggybear]

Thank you for posting that. I haven't seen the full article only that he was found acting dazed in someone's house. It gives a bit more of an insight into this man. I wonder if he was formally adopted, it fits in with Grandma's story of her being persuaded to return to Leicester but handing her baby over to his father's family to raise.
In aware that he did something unforgivable when he returned to his mother and half siblings and theee are a couple of things it could be but I'm not sure I'll ever be able to prove any them but they all held a grudge against him, even my older cousins, who refused to discuss it with me. Its nice to know he wasnt a regular offender though.

[Cas (stallc)]

Formal adoption (paperwork) only began in 1926.

Adoption Act 1926
Various bills and several parliamentary committees during the 1920s had tried to arrive at legal procedures for the adoption of children. Although adoption did take place, it had no legal sanction and adopted children did not have the rights of natural children.

The Adoption Act which was passed in 1926 introduced adoption procedures for the first time.

[Tuggybear]

Thanks for that information, Cas.
That also answers a question I have about another person (unrelated to this family.) who was adopted as a young child.