Godfrey family

See interview tapes 27 and 28

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School
National Schools, Guithavon Street

Residences
Family lived at 27 Bridge Street and Bert was there till he married, then at 2 St Nicholas Road. Then moved to Tenerife c 1990 and lived with daughter Maureen till died when aged about 90.

Jobs
Paper round at school.
Apprentice printer (Davis, 70 Newland Street, later Clarkes) from age 14-21. After 1945 went to Clarkes at Chelmsford.

His brothers’ jobs
Henry Charles (Charles), first in garden, then Hoffmans at Chelmsford, then in the army and killed in Belgium in 1917.
Arthur Stanley a baker, Pratts in Newland Street at first.
Harold, started with Marshall shop in Newland Street, then to Luckin Smith driving van, then in Fire Service.

Extracts from relevant documents

Witham census returns

1851 census, HO 107/1783, f.211, schedule 115, Mill Street, no. 7 Pattisson Terrace [later Mill Lane]
James Godfrey    Head    M    22    Porter to ironmonger    born Essex, Wickham Bishops
Sarah Godfrey    Wife    M    24        born Essex, Witham

1861 census, RG 9/1107, f.78. p.15, schedule 83, Butler’s Chase
[later known as Lawn Chase]
James Godfrey    Head    M    32    Porter    born Essex, Wickham Bishops
Sarah Godfrey    Wife    M    34        born Essex, Witham
Carry Godfrey    Daur        7    Scholar    born Essex, Witham
Elizabeth Godfrey    Daur        3    Scholar    born Essex, Witham
James Godfrey    Son        8 mo        born Essex, Witham

1871 census, RG 10/1695, f.10, p.11, schedule 59, Bridge Street
[probably what is now no. 27]
James Godfrey    Head    Mar    42    Ironmonger’s porter    born Essex, Wickham Bishops
Sarah Godfrey    Wife    Mar    44        born Essex, Witham
Elizabeth Godfrey    Dau    Unm    13    Scholar    born Essex, Witham
James Godfrey    Son        10    Scholar    born Essex, Witham
Jane Godfrey    Dau        7    Scholar    born Essex, Witham
Louisa Godfrey    Dau        4    Scholar    born Essex, Witham
Henry Godfrey    Son        2        born Essex, Witham

1881 census, RG 11/1809, f.5, p.3, schedule 15, ‘14’ Bridge Street
[probably what is now no. 27]
James Godfrey    Head    Marr    52    Ironmonger’s porter    born Essex, Wickham Bishops
Sarah Godfrey    Wife    Marr    54        born Essex, Witham
James Godfrey    Son    S    20    Hotel ostler [deleted and ‘servant’ written over]    born Essex, Witham
Henry Godfrey    Son    S    12    Scholar    born Essex, Witham

1891 census, RG 12/1425, f.6, p.6, schedule 39, Bridge Street
[probably what is now no. 27]
James Godfrey    Head    Widr    62    Ironmonger’s porter    born Essex, Wickham Bishops
Carrie Godfrey    Dau    S    37        born Essex, Witham (chronic rheumatism)
Louisa Godfrey    Daur    S    34    Housekeeper    born Essex, Witham
Henry Godfrey    Son    S    22    Grocer’s porter    born Essex, Witham
William G Cheek    Boarder    S    21    Chemist’s porter    born Essex, White Notley

Essex Weekly News, 14 April 1891

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1901 census, RG 13/1725, f.6, p.3, schedule 15, Bridge Street
[probably what is now no. 27]

Henry Godfrey    Head    M    32    Grocer’s warehouseman (worker)    born Essex, Witham
Florence Godfrey    Wife    M    30        born Essex, Black Notley
Henry C Godfrey    Son        2        born Essex, Witham
Arthur S Godfrey                    born Essex, Witham
Later children included Herbert James Godfrey, born 1906?

Miscellaneous

James[?] Godfrey . Notes of Mrs Peecock said that Harry Godfrey was ‘carman’ at Carrington Wilson, ironmongers. Probably meant James, his father, who was in the census as ironmonger’s assistant. No date (ERO Acc A10510)

Harry Godfrey. See photos JG’s M129-M133, including wedding of Harry Godfrey and Florence. Harry was a warehouseman at Spurge’s drapers, Newland Street

Henry C Godfrey was in the Essex Regiment in the First World War and was killed. He is on Witham War memorial and Commonwealth War Graves web site, which gives the following: HENRY CHARLES GODFREY, Private 32404, 1st Bn., Essex Regiment, who died on Thursday 16 August 1917 . Age 19 . Son of Henry and Florence Godfrey, of 27, Bridge St., Witham, Essex. TYNE COT MEMORIAL Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium, Panel 98 to 99.

Essex County Chronicle, 19 January 1917
page 6, see xerox on newspaper file. ‘Witham Church School. Children and parents and friends, distribution of certificate for full attendance. Songs, and address by the Vicar. Vast opportunities. Boys had won the County’s Challenge shield this month for their attendance. Mrs F Round presented the certificates. ‘Little Ellen Bright’ thanked her and the Vicar. List of winners. Includes H Godfrey, A Poulter, W Peirce.