William Henry Goss and Mary Carter

Photo © Dr Neil Clifton (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Bethnal Green: Church of St Peter and St Thomas

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

William Henry Goss (b. 18 Aug 1821 in Limehouse, Middlesex), bachelor, smith, son of Richard John Goss, Caulker (Richard John Goss and Martha Ayres), married Mary Carter, spinster, who purported her father to be Thomas Carter, Gentleman, at St Peter's, Bethnal Green on 2 Jul 1844. Both gave their address at the time of marriage as 18 Pollard Row, Bethnal Green. Witnesses to their marriage were Chas Price and Sarah Forrester.

William and Mary Goss had one son:

1. William Richard Goss b. 1846 S Quarter in SAINT SAVIOURS UNION SURREY Volume 04 Page 508 and bap. 28 Jun 1846 at Saint Saviour, Southwark (Southwark Cathedral). There is a death of a William Henry Goss, aged 4, in 1850 S Quarter in ST MARY NEWINGTON Volume 04 Page 252 (St Mary Newington was an historical district of Southwark) and I feel it most likely that this was the death of this child.

The Morning Advertiser of 5 Jun 1847, reports on the  transfer of the licence of The Feathers, Stoney Street, in the district of St Saviours Clink from William Henry Goss to William Till. (Not seen a record for when he took on the pub, but was presumably between 1844 and 1846.) At the end of the street was The Clink prison (Clink Prison Museum) and yes, that's where the nickname 'clink' for prison comes from. "The Liberty of the Clink was an area of London which was exempt for The City’s jurisdiction, meaning it was fertile ground for prostitution, animal baiting and *gasp* theatre." [Source]

The next encounter with William Henry Goss is an advert in the Appeal-Democrat newspaper (published five days a week in Marysville, the county seat of Yuba County - where William's brother Richard John Goss also turns up - located in the Gold Country region of Northern California). As the last record of the brothers in the UK is around 1849, it seems obvious they arrived in the USA during or immediately following the California gold rush.

RHEUMATISM PERMANENTLY CURED BY Dr. W. H. Goss, Who takes pleasure in announcing to the citizens of Maryville that he has located himself on Second St. Bet. D and Maiden Lane, where he is prepared to treat all species of Diseases, on the Reform principle of Medical Practice - Mercury or Minerals never being used, all Medicine prescribed by Dr. G. Being purely vegetable.

    Dr. G's almost unlimited success, for years past, in treating all kinds of Diseases, especially Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Dyspepsia, Inflammation and Chronic Diseases of the Kidneys, Liver, Lungs., etc., justify him in saying the amiable, he can cure them; and to the incurable he can afford relief. Those who are suffering would do well to call and consult him.

    Dr. G. Gives particular attention to all PRIVATE DISEASES, and guarantees cures made in all secondary cases.

    The Doctor would inform those who are suffering from Rheumatism that it is caused by many diseases not known by the practitioners of the Old School, (such as [unreadable], Rheumatism, Bilious, Mercurial Syphilis) all of which I guarantee to cure, on reasonable terms.

    N.B. - Chills and Fever effectually treated.

You've got to hand it to him, the careful wording and marketing spiel are quite brilliant. Clearly aiming at patients with 'private diseases' (I read venereal and suspect 'secondary cases' means wives who picked it up from philandering husbands), who wouldn't want to admit to being treated and were therefore the least likely to complain if his purely vegetable cures were ineffective. 

In August 1879, an advert appeared in The Colorado Miner (a newspaper published in Georgetown, Clear Creek County, Colorado, from June 30, 1869, to March 11, 1874), which read: "Without Pain to the Patent. The Doctor treats with greatest success Typhoid, Pneumonia, Intermittent, Remittent and Hectic Fever and Fevers of all kinds, with easy and swift cures. DR W. H. GOSS, can be consulted at his parlours in the American House for a short time, OFFICE HOURS, from 9 a.m. To 7 p.m. CONSULTATION FREE."

In 1880, William H. Goss (59) Single (this must be untrue, because he had to have been either married or widowed), Physician from England, was living on Lawrence Street, Denver, Arapahoe (Arapahoe County, Colorado), United States in the household of Lou E Wallace (24) Female, Married and her son Edward Wallace (5). Also living there was Louisa Hockensmith (49) Widowed, from Kentucky (who, 10 years previously had been in Jackson, Missouri. I've nothing to base this on, but a hunch she may be William's girlfriend.)

The final record I've found, which I'm sure relates, is that of the death of William Goss (85) on 9 Aug 1906 in San Francisco, California.

William Karl Tompson (Critzer) and Bertha Lilian Carter

York and King Streets, Toronto, Canada

William Charles Critzer (28) Bachelor, Sheet Metal Worker, married Bertha Lilian Carter (27) Spinster, Saleslady, in Toronto, on 27 Dec 1930. William listed his parents as Joseph Critzer and Sarah Sophia Thompson, from which we can clearly determine that we have the right man, despite the spellings. William, of 106 Elmwood Avenue, Toronto, listed his religion as Baptist and his father's birthplace as Germany. Witnesses were Alice Maud Carter, the bride's mother and Eric M Carter, the bride's brother. The marriage was solemnised by A J Reid of 946 St Clarens Ave, which appears to be a residential address, so the venue of the marriage is [so far] unknown.

Born in 1903, at sea, aboard the SS Kaiser Wilhelm II at Lat 40.45N/Long 56.52W, off the coast of North America, he had been baptised William Karl Tompson on 9 Dec 1903, at the church of St Matthew, Stepney. Then listed as 'Willie Thompson' (8) he had emigrated to Canada with his grandparents, Dan Tompson and Sarah Jane Baker, having sailed to Montreal from Liverpool aboard SS Corsican on 18 Oct 1912 with his grandmother, Sarah Jane, and his aunt Ivy. On the 1921 Census of Canada, this time listed as Willie Christie (18) he was living at 131 Morrison Avenue, Toronto, still living with his grandparents. (At Ancestry, there's a note saying he should be Critzer, which is obviously not quite true, but the spelling they later adopted).

Bertha Lilian Carter b. 1903 D Quarter in GRIMSBY Volume 07A Page 587, mother's maiden name TINDALL, was the daughter of Alfred Charles Carter and Alice Maud Tindall, who had married at St James, Grimsby (now Grimsby Minster) on 28 Aug 1899, with Alice's father listed as William Major Tindall - this explains why Bertha's parents are listed on her marriage as Alfred Charles Carter and Alice Maud Major. It seems Alice used the surnames Major or Tindall interchangeably. Following her father's death on 24 Feb 1922, Miss Bertha Lilian Carter (18) sailed for Canada on the RMS Empress of Britain (1905), accompanied by her mother. Emigrating with them too was Bertha's 10 year old brother Eric Major Carter (b. 1911 S Quarter in BRADFORD Volume 09B Page 299, with mother's maiden name MAJOR.)

In 1931, William Critzer (sic) (28) Sheet metal worker and wife Bertha Lilian Critzer (27) were Lodgers at 98 Nairn [Avenue], Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The couple had one daughter, Barbara. (Dates to be confirmed.)

A newspaper report of her death informs us that "Bertha L Critzer (Bert) died at the North York Branson Hospital on Saturday, March 28, 1987. Bertha Lilian Carter, beloved wife of William Critzer and loving mother of Barbara (Mrs Douglas Trull). Dear sister of the late Eric M Carter of Waterloo, Ontario. Friends may call at the Trull Funeral Home, 2704 Yonge Street ..."

"William C Critzer (Bill) died the North York General Hospital on Saturday, October 17, 1992. Bill Critzer, in his 91st year, beloved husband of the late Bertha L Carter. Loving father of Barbara (Mrs B Trull). Dear brother of Mollie Melhuish of Ganges, B.C. Sadly missed by his cousins, Gaddie and Wally; Irene and Dick; Dorothy and Ruth. Friends may call at the Trull Funeral Home ..." (although it should be noted that his sister Mary Amelia [Mollie] Melhuish had actually pre-deceased him earlier that year, on 6 Jan 1992.)

(Birth, baptism and death information kindly provided by Christine Miller of the wonderfully named, GIN AND GENEALOGY.)