Find Ancestors

You have all made my day it's better than Christmas. I honestly thought I had explored every option and she would never be found.

I think Harriet Elizabeth/Elizabeth/Bessie did commit bigamy as Edward her first husband died 1922.Very unlikely she got a divorce. I have sent for the marriage certificate of James Godden and Elizabeth Slade be interesting to see who the witnesses are. Obviously had a very loose connection with the truth. If you count her first marriage along with her second she had been married 24 years!!
I can`t find them in 1901 yet. I hope to find descendents of my granddads half siblings. We never knew if my granddad knew that Bessie was his mother as the indication from documents is he thought Frederick Brown ( Bessies father ) was his father.
once again thankyou.

Let us know what her marriage certificate says please - just to satisfy our curiosity.

So pleased your brick wall has been knocked down :-)

I certainly will. I still can't believe that after years of searching for Bessie you all found her so quickly. I'm thrilled and very impressed!!

Many many thanks

Delighted for you Joan. I can imagine how excited you must be having been there myself. A few years ago I thought I would be stuck at my paternal grandmother as she was born in Ireland. Out of the blue my Dad announced that his Granny died in Scotland. Lo and behold it turned out that his Granny was Scottish through and through and so opened up another line to research!

From Commonwealth War Graves Commission site
William Percival Godden
Rank Private
Service No 16813
Date of Death 05/10/1917
Age 27
Regiment Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 1st Bn
Memorial Tyne Cot Memorial
Panel 144 to 145
Additional Information Son of James H and Elizabeth Godden of 24 Richford St Hammersmith London

Note same address as that given in Post 26.6 12:22

Same details given on Casualties of WW1 in addition it Tate's Born Dorchester Dorset.

So it looks like William rejoined even though he was discharged as medically unfit in 1914.

Thankyou Londonbelle so sad. You finding Frederick Edward John Slade Godden is amazing. I wish I had your skills. Sadly my aunt who told me of aunt Bessie in London is in the early stages of dementia so I won't be able to pass on the good news.
I appreciate all the help I have received.

Joan

Hi Joan

Has your certificate arrived yet?

Hi Gins. Not yet. I hope tomorrow but interestingly. Harriet Elizabeth/Bessie. Was in 104 Northumberland Rd. in 1911. in 1901 her brother Frederick John or John was living there with his wife and was back there in 1912/13. In 1911 he was with his and Bessie's parents. So far I haven't been able to find Bessie and James in 1901. Housework is suffering at the moment!!

Joan

Can't wait :-)

Godden James, 104 Northumberland road

(1907, from google, if any use)

http://www.plimsoll.org/images/30069b_tcm4-138276.pdf

Chris :)

(apologies if already added!)

The certificate still hasn't come! Hoping for addresses to help trace in 1901 Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

I have the certificate it is definitely the right one.

James Henry Godden age 33 Bachelor Labourer of 36 Northumberland Road

Elizabeth Slade age 32 Spinster crossed out for widow with 10 in brackets 36 Northumberland Road father Frederick Brown

February 13th at Southampton Register office by certificate what does by certificate mean?

witnesses Frederick and Harriet Elizabeth Brown Bessie`s parents
Seems Bessie/Elizabeth did commit bigamy and helped by her parents!!
I cannot thank you enough for all the help.
Can I ask for one piece of help as I can`t search the 1901 census for an address and I can`t find them as Godden.
Many Thanks
Joan

Well, they were not living at either 104 or 36 Northumberland Rd on 1901 census.

There were 10 bricklayers on Northumberland road at that time and none of them was James Godden.

No Godden's at all on that Road.

Dea x

Thankyou for looking at 36 Northumberland Road for me.

She is hiding again.

Hi Joan

Thanks for the update, glad it was the right certificate

Where the heck were they in 1901 :-S

Edit: Perhaps they were not in or were avoiding (due to bigamy) when the enumerator called?

She is certainly frustrating. Perhaps husband number one was lucky!!!

Just an update on Bessie/Elizabeth/Harriet Elizabeth in 1901

James Henry was a soldier until1893 but was recalled from the reserve in 1900 being discharged again in 1902. Possibly stationed in Weymouth.
From certificates I now have I know that Bessie and James were together at least from 1895. In October 1900 Bessie was living at 104 Northumberland Road and gave birth there in January 1902. In 1901 census. her brother John and his wife were there. Could Bessie have been living there but not been recorded?