Richard John Goss and Martha Ayres

Photo © John Salmon (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Anne, Limehouse - East end, Friday, 3 July, 2015

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Richard John Goss (b. 16 Jan 1792, bap. 27 May 1792 at St Anne's Limehouse), batchelor, son of Francis Goss, Shipwright, married Martha Ayres (b. 4 Sep 1796, bap. 9 Oct 1796 at St Dunstan's, Stepney), spinster, daughter of Elnathan Ayres and Elizabeth Perry, by banns and with the consent of parents, at St Anne's Limehouse on 30 Jul 1815. They were married by the Rev. James Rudge. Witnesses were John May and Ann Fisher.

This couple had five sons:

1. George Richard Goss b. 17 Jun 1816, bap. 26 Jul 1818 
2. William Henry Goss b. 18 Aug 1821, bap. 2 Sep 1821
3. Thomas Hoskins Goss b. 22 Aug 1826, bap. 12 Nov 1826. Died, at 37, in 1861 D Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 01C Page 455. Buried at the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery on 30 Dec 1861.
4. Richard John Goss b. 11 Jun 1827, bap. 30 Sep 1827 
5. Henry James Goss b. 25 Aug 1832, bap. 16 Sep 1832 

George and William were baptised at St Anne's Limehouse; Thomas, Richard and Henry, baptised at All Saints, Poplar. All of the baptisms list their father's occupation as Caulker and their parents as Richard John and Martha. 

In 1841, Richard Goss (45) Publican, was living at Ropemakers Fields, St Anne Limehouse, Stepney, London with Martha Goss (40), William Goss (15), Thomas Goss (10), Richard Goss (10), Henry Goss (5), Sarah Mason (20) F. S. [Female Servant]. Also, presumably boarding or lodging, were John Muir (20) Engineer; John Cook (25) Engineer; James Young (20) Shipwright; and James Jemmerson (40) Sail M[aker], all four from Scotland. Unfortunately, the census doesn't give the name of the pub, but there is evidence in London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1972, where Richard John Goss is listed at (another closed pub) The Three Mariners, Ropemakers Fields, in 1845.

In 1851, Richard Goss (59) had returned to being a Ship's Caulker and was residing at 7, Gates Street, Poplar, London with Martha Goss (55), Thomas Goss (26) Ship's Caulker and Henry Goss (19) Ship's Caulker. 

On 11 Jul 1853, Richard Goss, Caulker, from Limehouse, 63, 5ft 10in, was admitted to the Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital (Seafarers Hospital Society), which was then still housed in "a decrepit wooden warship, moored in the River Thames at Greenwich", the former HMS Dreadnought (1801). Richard Goss remained in hospital until 3 Aug 1853, having fractured some ribs while working on the ship Earl of Balcarres (a British East Indiaman, launched in Bombay in 1815, sold to the Somes Brothers in 1848, who operated the ship in the India trade for a while) at the Somes Dock at Blackwall. 

In 1861, living at 14, Alfred Street, Poplar, were just Richard Goss (69) Ship's Caulker and Martha Goss (65). 

Richard John Goss of Northumberland Street, Poplar, died, aged 74, in 1866 M Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 01C Page 525 and was buried on 4 Mar 1866 at the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery. 

Martha Goss died in 1870 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 346 and was buried at City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery on 10 Sep 1870.

Henry James Goss and Ann Wenman (née Costin)

Photo © John Salmon (cc-by-sa/2.0)
Holy Trinity, Morgan Street, Bow (now The HAC Bow)
Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Henry James Goss (b. 25 Aug 1832, bap. 16 Sep 1832 All Saints, Poplar) Bachelor, Ship's Caulker, son of Richard John Goss, Ship's Caulker (Richard John Goss and Martha Ayres), married Ann Wenman, Widow, daughter of William Costin, Shipwright and Anne Merchant, on 7 May 1855 at Holy Trinity, Mile End Old Town (Holy Trinity Church, Morgan Street, Tredegar Square, Bow). Witnesses were Mark Jones and Sarah Davidson.

Ann Costin (b. ~1830) had previously married Peter Edward Wenman, widower, Shipwright, at St Mary Magdalene, Gillingham, Kent on 12 Jun 1853. And Peter Edward Wenman had previously married Anne Johnson, in Minster in Sheppey, Kent on 23 May 1847, with whom he had one son:

1. Peter John Wenman b. 19 Mar 1849 (1849 M Quarter in THE SHEPPEY UNION Volume 05 Page 519), mother's maiden name JOHNSON

Ann Wenman (née Johnson) died aged 25 in 1852 M Quarter in THE SHEPPEY UNION Volume 02A Page 348.

Then Peter Edward Wenman died, aged 25, on 15 Jul 1853 (1853 S Quarter in THE SHEPPEY UNION Volume 02A Page 318) and was buried on 19 Jul 1853 in Minster in Sheppey, just a month after his second marriage.

But not before the conception of his posthumous child:

2. Peter Edward Wenman b. 1854 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 552, mother's maiden name COSTIN. (Found no record after 1861)

Henry James Goss and Ann Costin then added a daughter:

3. Anne Goss b. 1856 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 555, mother's maiden name COSTIN. (Found no further records.)

Henry and Ann Goss were married for little more than a year, because he died, aged 24, in 1856 S Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 27.

In 1861, Ann Goss (31) Widow was living in the household of her father, William Costin (75) Widower, Shipwright, in Bromley[-by-Bow], Poplar and Peter [Edward] Wenman (8) Scholar, listed as William's grandson.

Ann's father, William Costin, died aged 78 in 1865 J Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 01C Page 426, which may have precipitated the next event, as Ann Goss (31ish) daughter of William Costin, Shipwright, married a third time to Thomas Lewis (30) Batchelor, Bootmaker, son of William Lewis, Tool Maker, at St Michael and All Angels, Bromley-by-Bow on 19 Nov 1865.

There appears to be no record of his birth nor a baptism, but in 1841 a Thomas Lewis (4) was living with William Lewis (50) with several siblings including Caroline (2), among an enormous list of inhabitants of Pitts Place, St Giles in the Fields. St Giles in the Fields became known as the place where the Great Plague of 1665 originated, causing great mortality and leading to plague pits filling the churchyard. This doesn't sound like a very appealing place to live. Mind you, in 1851, Thomas Lewis (14) Pauper, from St Giles, was an inmate of the Union Workhouse in St Giles in the Fields.

Thomas and Ann Lewis then had two daughters:

4. Caroline Annett Lewis b. 1867 M Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 01C Page 639, mother's maiden name wrongly, but usefully, GOSS.
5. Elizabeth Louisa Lewis b. 1870 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 501, with her mother's maiden name listed as COSTIER (closeish).

In 1871, living in Samuel Street, St Anne Limehouse, Stepney, were Thomas Lewis (34) Labourer at Works from St Giles, Middlesex; Ann Lewis (37); Caroline Lewis (4) and Elizabeth Lewis (10mts).

Meanwhile, also in 1871, in Rose Street, Minster, Sheppey, were Thomas Costin (claiming to be 50) Green Grocer from Sheerness; with Mary Costin (40); Caroline Costin (14), Alfred Costin (12) and William Costin (5).

Thomas Gaving Costin b. 8 Nov 1813, bap. 6 Feb 1814 in Sheerness, records show, was also the son of William Costin and Ann Merchant (who had married in Minster in Sheppey on 16 Jun 1810). Thomas Costin and Ann Lewis late Goss formerly Wenman (née Costin), therefore, were brother and sister.

Thomas Costin son of William Costin, had married Mary Ann Taylor in Minster in Sheppey, Kent on 4 Jun 1852. Thomas and Mary Ann had six children:

1. Thomas Gaven Costin b. 1853 J Quarter in THE SHEPPEY UNION Volume 02A Page 513, bap. 27 Apr 1853 at Holy Trinity, Sheerness. Died at 18 and was buried in Sheppey Cemetery on 26 Mar 1871
2. Caroline Costin b. 1856 S Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A Page 534
3. Alfred William Costin b. 1858 D Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A Page 584. Died, aged 16, in 1875 M Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A Page 580 and was buried in Sheppey Cemetery on 28 Feb 1875
4. William John Costin b. 1860 S Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A Page 573. Died, aged 3, and was buried at Sheppey Cemetery on 20 Sep 1863
5. Mary Ann Costin b. 1863 D Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A Page 665. Died, aged 4, in 1868  M Quarter in SHEPPEY  Volume 02A  Page 450 and was buried at Sheppey Cemetery on 9 Feb 1868
6. William Costin b. 1866 J Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A Page 682

Thomas Costyn (sic) died at 59 in 1872 S Qtr in SHEPPEY Vol 02A Page 438.

There is a death of an Annie Lewis, aged 42, in 1873 M Quarter in WEST HAM UNION Volume 04A Page 49, which I'm certain relates.

Because then, Thomas Lewis married his late wife's brother's widow Mary Ann Costin in Medway, Kent in 1876. Convoluted enough? (Actually, this nearly tripped me up, because Ann Lewis late Goss formerly Wenman (née Costin) and Mary Ann Lewis formerly Costin (née Taylor) were the same age, with the same birthplace. And with no birth or baptism record for Ann, one could almost be forgiven for assuming that Mary Ann earlier called herself Ann and later used Mary and that they were one person. This highlights the need to check all of the members of a household for clues. Only researching Mary's children and working backwards unpicked this immense puzzle.)

In 1881, Thomas Lewis (46) Greengrocer from Middlesex, London was living in Alma Road, Minster in Sheppey with Mary Lewis (50); Elizabeth Lewis (11) from Poplar; William Coston (sic) (15) Green Grocer's Assistant listed as Son and William Newman (17) Servant. Caroline Lewis (14) was working as a General Servant for Peter May in Trinity Road, Minster in Sheppey.

The Sheerness Guardian and East Kent Advertiser of 22 Dec 1888 reported that: "Henry Brend, of Alma Street, Marine Town, was summoned for unlawfully assaulting and beating Thomas Lewis, on dec 12th. The defendant pleaded Not Guilty. The complainant deposed that he was a greengrocer, and resided at Alma Road, Marine Town. About 11:30 on Wednesday night, the 12th inst., he was asleep in bed, when his daughter came and awoke him. She stated that she heard a noise at the front door, and he came down to ascertain the cause. His wife was standing at the door and he saw Brend standing there; but before he had time to ask what he wanted, Brend gave him a heavy blow on the left cheek. Witness closed the door and returned to his room to finish dressing, after which he went in search of a policeman, because he thought that would be the best course to adopt. He met PC Skinner coming towards his house, and just before his arrival, defendant ran away. The constable pursued him, but could not overtake him. Defendant: I did not hit him; I only shook him. His Worship: Shaking him is an assault. Mr Lewis said he did not wish to deal harshly with the defendant on account of his youth; but he would leave the matter in His Worship's superior judgement in the hope it would act as a warning to him. By his Worship: My son is a cab driver, and my wife was sitting up for him. She is so unwell that she can't attend here today. Replying to his Worship, Sergt Highwood said the constable did not see the defendant. William Costin, the complainant's son-in-law [step-son], said that between 11:30 and 12 p.m. He was taking the cushions from his cab to the shop, when defendant came along Alma Road and struck him. He had just passed a policeman and thought it prudent to go for him after the assault was committed. Defendant struck Mr Lewis in his absense. By his Worship: The defendant was formerly in my employ, and I have not spoken to him since he left me. He brought an action against me in the County Court for wages, and it was heard at the November court. The Judge gave a verdict in my favour. Mr Lewis: I saw the corporal on the night of the assault and showed him a mark on my cheek. PC Spencer Clarke, in answer to his Worship, said he saw a slight mark on the cheek, apparently caused by a blow. He saw it shortly after midnight. His Worship said it was clear that the defendant committed the assault out of spite on account of the proceedings at the County Court. He would have to pay a fine of £1 and 10s costs, or to go to prison for 14 days' hard labour. The money was paid."

In 1891, Thomas Lewis (56) Bootmaker (his original trade) was living at 12, Alma Road, Minster in Sheppey with Mary Lewis (60); William Costin (24) Cab Driver from Sheerness, Kent, Wife's Son; Amy H Symond (sic) (14) Grandchild born in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Henrietta Amy Simmonds was the daughter of Charles James Simmonds and Caroline Costin); and William J Pointing (15) Servant General help to cab driver. Elizabeth Lewis (18 - she was 21) from Poplar, London, was General domestic servant to George Watson, Shipwright, next door at 14, Alma Road, Minster in Sheppey.

Mary Ann Lewis formerly Costin (née Taylor) died on 12 Jan 1897 (1897 M Quarter in SHEPPEY Volume 02A Page 557), and was buried at Sheppey Cemetery on 18 Jan 1897. The notice in the press read "LEWIS Jan 12, at 12 Alma Road, Sheerness, Mary Ann, wife of Thomas Lewis, aged 67 years."

Thomas Lewis was buried at Sheppey Cemetery on 24 Apr 1916.

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.

George Richard Goss and Elizabeth Wyatt

© John Salmon (cc-by-sa/2.0) geograph.org.uk/p/4559597
St Anne, Limehouse - Interior

George Richard Goss (b. 17 Jun 1816, bap. 26 Jul 1818 at St Anne's Limehouse), son of Richard John Goss and Martha Ayres, married Elizabeth Wyatt in the 4th Quarter of 1837, in the district of Lewisham. (The certificate would confirm the date and venue, as well as Elizabeth's origins, however, it appears she was Elizabeth Wyatt b. 9 Jan 1816, bap. 10 Jan 1816 at St Alfege Church, Greenwich. Her parents, Charles Wyatt and Eleanor White had married at St Nicholas church, Deptford, on 24 Jan 1815, however, both had been previously widowed, so White wasn't her mother's maiden name.)

George and Elizabeth had nine children:

1. George Richard Goss b. 21 Mar 1839 (1839 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 417), bap. 14 Apr 1839 at St Anne's Limehouse
2. Elizabeth Martha Goss b. 5 Oct 1841 (1841 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 412), bap 21 Nov 1841 at St Anne's Limehouse. Died 1842 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 318
3. William James Goss b. 7 Oct 1843 (1843 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 443), bap. 29 Oct 1843 at St Anne's Limehouse
4. Charles Andrew Goss b. 28 Jun 1846 (1846 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 462), bap 10 Apr 1853 at St Anne's Limehouse. Died aged 22 in 1868 J Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 01C Page 441
5. Richard John Goss b. 1848 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 464
6. Thomas Hoskin Goss b. ~1850 (Probably late that year as there is a birth registration as George Richard Goss in 1851 M Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 544. I'm sure this record must relate and either it was transcribed wrongly, or his father's name was given in confusion.)
7. James Elnathan Goss b. 17 Mar 1853 (1853 J Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 532), bap. 10 Apr 1853 at St Anne's Limehouse (Elnathan was the given name of his great-grandfather and 2x great-grandfather, but unsurprisingly, this caused issues for officials. On the birth registration it was WHATHAN and on his baptism, Eluathan)
8. Edwin Francis Goss b. 1 Jul 1856 (1856 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 523), bap. 27 Jul 1856 at St Anne's Limehouse
9. Henry Goss b. 1859 S Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 01C Page 455

Mother's maiden name on the birth registrations is WYATT except the first, spelled WHYATT. The baptisms all list their father as George Richard Goss, Caulker, and include dates of birth. The baptisms in 1853 quote the family's address as Rich Street, Limehouse and in 1856, Dalgleish Street, Limehouse. Not found baptisms for Richard John, Thomas Hoskin or Henry.

In 1841, George Goss (~20) Caulker; Elizabeth Goss (~20) and George Goss (2) were living in Robert Street, Limehouse. (off the West India Dock Road, Robert Street was renamed Mandarin Street between 1938 and 1944.)

In 1851, living in Lower Rich Street, Limehouse were George R Goss (35) Ship's Caulker; Elizabeth Goss (35) from Greenwich, Kent; George R Goss (12), William J Goss (7), Charles A Goss (4), Richard J Goss (2) and Thomas H Goss (5m).

In 1861, living at 1, East Church Road, St Anne, Stepney were George R Goss (44) Ship's Caulker; Elizabeth Goss (45), William J Goss (17) Ship's Caulker; Charles A Goss (14) Ship's Caulker; Richard J Goss (12), Thomas H Goss (9), James E Goss (6), Edwin F Goss (4) and Henry Goss (1).

George Richard Goss died, aged 54, in 1869 J Quarter in POPLAR UNION Volume 01C Page 448, buried, as Richard George Goss, of Barchester Street, Bromley on 28 Jun 1869 at the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery.

In 1871, Elizabeth Goss (55) Widow, Housekeeper, was living in Barchester Street, Bromley with sons: Richard John Goss (22) Ship's Caulker; Thomas H Goss (20) Apprentice Calker; Edwin F Goss (14) and Henry Goss (11). Also in the household was Caroline Segar (1) listed as Child Nurse. One assumes Elizabeth was nursing the child, presumably for some income.

In 1881, Elizabeth Goss (64) Widow was living at 6, Grove Street, Poplar with Edward Goss (24) [Edwin Francis Goss] and Caroline Goss (31) listed as her daughter, but was actually Caroline Whitrow, who became Elizabeth's daughter-in-law when she married Richard John Goss on 16 Aug 1881.

Elizabeth Goss died, at 71, in 1887 S Qtr in POPLAR Vol 01C Page 443.