Genealogy Chat

Good evening all I merrily thought that my Goodchild family of Steeple Morden in Cambridgeshire was pretty much done and dusted, going back to 1625. I then received my 2xGGrandafther's death cert and it says this: James Goodchild (d 22 Mar 1867) at the London Hospital from Cancer of the Lungs & Kidneys aged 43 It would make his birth year abt 1824. On the 1861 census I have him living in Stepney with wife Margaret (nee Irving) from Liverpool with daughter Mary Ann. He is from Steeple Morden and his birth is abt 1831 - this I know is the right family. Their marriage cert of 1860 says James Evans Goodchild aged 32 years, which would make his birth abt 1828. Going back to look at the 1841 census, I find 2x James Goodchild's in Steeple Morden. The one I thought was mine, living with dad James and mum Caroline. I have his baptism from IG as 28 Apr 1833. The other one (aged 15) appears living with an elderly couple called Evins! but I can't find him being born there. I have been to this village and it is very very small, can you give me your opinions as to which James Goodchild you think is mine, cause I think I may have been chasing the wrong family. I have mentioned this family on here before, but now I have all the certs. Many thanks, Jeanne

So Jeanne, does the 1833 baptism have his middle name of Evans and give his parents' names as James and Caroline? And is his father's name James on his marriage certificate? And is his father's occupation on the marriage certificate the same as James's occupation in 1841? And is the child's age in 1841 about 7 or 8? (Sorry, forgot confusion over his age - hmm, what is his age in 1841?)If so, then I would say he is the right one and you can ignore the other one in 1841. Kate.

Hello Kate, thank you for responding. The baptism does not give a middle name. Marriage cert: James Evans Goodchild, Labourer father: James Goodchild, Labourer 1851 census London James Jnr is a Farm Labourer - no doubt unemployed 1851 census 'The Green' Steeple Morden, Cambs James Snr is an Ag Lab 1841 census James Goodchild (lwith Evins) is 15 @ Odsey Way James Goodchild (with James & Caroline) is 10 @ The Green I find it staggering that there are two people of the same name in this tiny little village that on the face of it look totally unrelated. By the way, on the 1841 census for James (aged15) there is a Thomas Goodchild living just along the road. I am sorry that this sound's so confusing. Jeanne

Have you considered that despite the difference in age, they might both be the same person in 1841????? Maybe the Evans couple are Caroline Goodchild's parents? I have lost count of the number of children who appear on the census with their parents and somewhere else too! Merry

Have you looked for a James Evans baptism with no father's name? Because it could be that he was born before his parents got married - unless you have a James Goodchild / Caroline Evans marriage before the baptism? Indeed, have you found a James Goodchild / Caroline marriage of any kind? Kate.

Hi James Goodchild Snr married Caroline Dunham in 1825. James Snr died in 1884. I spent most of last night looking on the census, and find that my James 'Evans' Goodchild is missing in 1851. He doesn't pitch up in London until Feb 1860 when he marries Margaret Irving at St Giles Cripplegate. The three children from this marriage chop and change their names throughout the census records. Something they are Goodchild Evans and sometimes they are Evans Goodchild. I have all their birth certs and a couple of marriage & death certs as well. They could have been master fraudsters in this day and age !! Thanks, Jeanne

The Cambridgeshire FHS site has a James Evans son of Sarah baptised in Steeple Morden in 1826. There's an asterix to denote more information is available in the original register . I'd like to bet the extra info is that he was a 'baseborn' son. Could this be the older James - illegitimate son of James Goodchild and Sarah Evans, later lives with Evans grandparents, but in such a small village everyone knows he is James Goodchild's boy, hence the Goodchild surname in 1841. If this is the case then your James Evans Goodchild is most likely the older James rather than the one with James and Caroline.