Richard John Goss and Katherine Brannon (née Latham)

Photo © David Martin (cc-by-sa/2.0)

St Alfege Church, Greenwich, Saturday, 1 June, 2024

Photo available for reuse under this Creative Commons licence.

Richard John Goss (b. 11 Jun 1827 and bap. 30 Sep 1827 at All Saints Church, Poplar), Bachelor, Caulker, son of Richard John Goss, Caulker - there's no doubt that this is the son of Richard John Goss and Martha Ayres - married Katherine Brannon, Widow - her father is listed as Thomas Rangor Latham, Surgeon - at St Alfege Church, Greenwich on 28 Sep 1848.

Born Katherine Latham on Friday, 4 Oct 1805 (put into historical context, just 17 days before the Battle of Trafalgar and George III was still on the throne). She was baptised on 24 Feb 1808 at St-Mary-At-Lambeth, as the daughter of Thomas Latham and Margaret. Thomas Latham was a surgeon for the British East India Company (EIC) on the Jane, Duchess of Gordon (1805 EIC ship). Katherine's baptism seems to have been scheduled prior to the ship's departure on the second voyage, from Portsmouth on 8 May 1808, bound for Bengal, India. Thomas Latham's life was lost when the ship foundered in a gale, off Mauritius, on the return journey. Thomas Latham had made a will prior to the ship's first voyage, which had left Portsmouth on 10 Aug 1805, leaving all his money to Mrs Margaret Cartwright of East Street in the parish of Lambeth, or in the event of her death, to the child "she is now big with" and in the event of the child's death, to his brother, John William Latham. 

Probate, which specifies Thomas Latham as a Batchelor, Deceased, was granted to Margaret Cartwright, Widow, on 16 Aug 1810 (and names his father as William Lewis Latham), so I'm certain Thomas Latham and Margaret Cartwright didn't have the opportunity to marry before he died. Nevertheless, thereafter she called herself Margaret Latham, which was a logical (and perfectly legal) thing to do when you have a child using that surname.

The only marriage I could find of a Margaret and a Cartwright was that of a Benjamin Cartwright to a Margaret Minto, in Dalkeith, Midlothian (near Edinburgh) on 7 Nov 1797. Margaret's age at death, 84 (in 1857), would suggest a year of birth of 1773, which if this is correct, would have made her 24 at the time of that marriage. In 1851, Margaret's birthplace is listed as Dumfries, so this seems feasible, but is completely speculative and would need far more research before it could be accepted, which I've not been able to do. Neither have I found an obviously corroborating death of a Benjamin Cartwright, but feel it's worth listing so that it can be researched further.

Thomas' brother John William Latham, however, does leave us some useful clues. He's mentioned in the Navy Lists of 1831, Rank Surgeon. That same year, on 7 Nov 1831, he married Anne Hodges Smith (née Bowness b. 1790 in India), Widow, at the British Embassy Chapel, Paris, France. In 1851, this couple were visitors at West Warwick Mansion, Junction Road, Brighton, Sussex (a Lodging House), where John is described as "Physician not in practice surgeon half pay RN", birth place listed as Ireland. John William Latham, formerly of the city of Paris, late of 27 Upper Harley Street in the County of Middlesex M.D. a Surgeon R.N., died on 7 Nov 1858, aged 73. If John William was born in Ireland, Thomas Latham possibly was too.

Katherine Latham's first marriage had been to Thomas Leonard Brannon (bap. 10 Feb 1809 in Rotherhithe), son of James Brannon and Elizabeth Leonard, at the church of Saint George in the East, on 13 Jan 1835.

Thomas Leonard and Katherine Brannon had four children: 

1. Thomas Riddall Brannon b. 3 Nov 1835, bap. 13 Jan 1836 at the church of Saint George in the East. Lost with the Nicholas Wood (ship) in 1861
2. Margaret Elizabeth Brannon b. 7 Sep 1839 (1839 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST IN THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX Volume 02 Page 94), bap. 15 Jul 1842 at Christ Church, Watney Street
3. James George Brannon b. 19 Jan 1843 (1843 M Quarter in SAINT GEORGE (IN THE EAST) Volume 02 Page 113), bap. 14 Jan 1846 at Christ Church, Watney Street
4. Katharine Priscilla Brannon b. 4 Nov 1846 (1846 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE (IN THE EAST) Volume 02 Page 113). Died, unmarried, aged 40, on 3 Oct 1887 (1887 D Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 358) in the Workhouse, Mile End Infirmary. She was buried on 9 Oct 1887 at the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery.

Baptism records for Margaret, James and Katherine read 'Christ Church, St George in the East', which at that time was Christ Church, Watney Street, consecrated in 1841. The transcripts of the London, Docklands And East End Baptisms do claim that they were baptised at Christ Church, Jamaica Street, Stepney, but that's impossible as that church did not open until 1877. These three baptisms listed their father's occupation as Master Mariner. 

In 1838, Thomas Brannon was Chief Officer on the Merchant Ship 'Despatch a South Seaman'. He gave evidence at the trial of a seaman charged with the murder of the Second Officer during an affray. "The Despatch, which arrived on Wednesday [17 Oct 1838] had been out two years and nine months, and had been very successful in the South Sea whale fishery." 

In 1841, in the household of Margaret Latham (60) Ind (of Independent Means) born in Scotland, were Cath [Katherine] Brannon (30) - adult ages were rounded down in 1841 and I suspect both women were massaging their ages further - with Thomas Brannon (5) and Margaret Brannon (1). Thomas Leonard Brannon, who was not listed, we can assume was again at sea, as seamen on shore on census night were enumerated in the same way as the general public, in the place where they spent that night, but there was no provision made for recording seamen at sea on census night. 

Thomas Leonard Brannon died, aged 39, in 1847 D Quarter in STEPNEY Volume 02 Page 537. His Will lists his occupation as Victualler. On 30 Dec 1847, Katherine Brannon of The Rising Sun, Sydney Street, Stepney, Widow, purchased a Private Grave plot at the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery, for £3 3s 0d and the record shows that Thomas Leonard Brannon was the first buried there. Probate was granted to Katherine and The Morning Advertiser of 11 Jan 1848 reported on the transfer of the licence of The Rising Sun, Sydney Street, from Leonard Brannon to Katherine Brannon.

So, the widowed Katherine Brannon was 43 when she married the 21 year old Richard John Goss. Here, I feel, it's worth highlighting his origins: his mother, Martha Ayres, was one of four siblings listed as beneficiaries of equal parts of her father, Elnathan Ayres' (Shipwright died in Calcutta in 1812) over £8,000 fortune. Martha's mother, Elizabeth Perry, was the sister of John Perry, owner of the Blackwall Yard, which built ships for the East India Company. Two things: if Martha did inherit, then her money will have become the property of her husband, Richard John Goss Sr. Secondly, from these connections, I feel that the younger Goss may have had an air of respectability about him.

Following their marriage, The Era newspaper then reported on the transfer of the licence of The Rising Sun, Sydney Street on 3 Dec 1848, with Catharine Goss, late Catharine Brannon being the Outgoing Licensee and Richard John Goss, her husband, the Incoming Licensee. [Source] Richard John Goss' father had held The Three Mariners, Ropemakers Fields, in 1841 & 1845 and his brother William Henry Goss ran The Feathers, Stoney Street, Southwark. None of them for any length of time nor with success, it seems. 

Because a mere three months later, on 7 Mar 1849, Richard John Goss of The Rising Sun, Sydney Street, Stepney was declared bankrupt. This was announced in The London Gazette and in various press of the day. There are various dates published for when he is supposed to surrender himself to the Court of Bankruptcy and further dates given for when creditors may receive a Dividend, but no indication whether he turned up, or if they were paid. Although the law was amended by the Bankrupt Law Consolidation Act 1849, which came into force on 11 Oct 1849, that act did not stop imprisonment for debt, providing ample reason for him to run. My feeling is that Richard John Goss likely absconded and got on a boat to America in around 1849. 

In 1851, Katherine Brannon (38 - she was 46) Widow, General Shop Keeper, born in Lambeth, Surrey was living at Mill Street, Valentine Terrace, Bow, Middlesex with Thomas Brannon (16), Margaret Brannon (12), James Brannon (8), Katherine Brannon (4) and her mother, Margaret Latham (78) Widow from Dumfries, Scotland. Whilst I wouldn't blame Katherine for wanting to erase the bad experience with Goss from her life, the motivation for returning to her previous married name was probably similar to why her mother chose to adopt Latham - to align with the surname of her own children. 

Katherine's mother, Margaret Latham, died aged 84, in 1857 D Quarter in SAINT GEORGE IN THE EAST Volume 01C Page 333 and was buried at the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery on 15 Dec 1857.

In 1861, Kath[erine] Brannon (50 - still massaging her age) was living at 7, Nottingham Place, Mile End Old Town, London with Margaret Brannon (21) Brush Maker; James Brannon (18) Packer; and Katherine Brannon (14).

In 1871, Katherine Brannon (63) of no occupation was still at 7, Nottingham Place, Mile End Old Town with James Brannon (28) Packer; Margaret Brannon (30) Fancy Milliner; and Katherine Brannon (~20) also of no occupation.

In 1881, Katherine Brannon (73) Mother, Widow, Dressmaker, was still living at 7, Nottingham Place, Mile End Old Town, London, in the household of her son, James Brannon (38) Widower; his two children Leonard (8) and Katherine (5) and his sister Katherine Brannon (34) Dressmaker.

Katherine Brannon (née Latham) of 32 Emmett Street, Stepney died in 1887 S Quarter in MILE END OLD TOWN Volume 01C Page 389, with her age at death quoted a 77 - she will have been just short of her 82nd birthday - and was buried in the plot she had purchased in 1847, with her late husband at the City of London and Tower Hamlets Cemetery on 22 Sep 1887.

Meanwhile, the errant Richard John Goss (42) 'Physician' from England, first reappears on confirmed records on the US Census of 1870, in Long Bar, Yuba County, California, United States, with Mary T Goss (23) [Maria Theresa Bruce] from Wisconsin 'Keeping House'; Josephine M Goss (5), William R Goss (3) and Otto Goss (0). Also in the household were Eugene B Bruce (29) from Kentucky and Marcelles W Bruce (25) from Illinois. (Head of the previous household was Joseph Bruce (56) Farmer, their father.)

It is alleged that Dr. R. J. Goss and Mary T. Bruce had married on 30 May 1864 in Big Creek, Lander County, Nevada, United States. There is a note at Ancestry saying, "This record can be found in the marriage book at the County Courthouse located in Lander Co., NV in Volume 1 on Page 5." There is no original record attached, so I've corresponded with the County Clerk at Lander County, who tells me that their records don't begin until 1867. In Mary's obituary in 1907 (below), it's claimed that they had been married at Reese River, Nevada in 1861. It seems obvious to me that these dates were reported by their children later and, of course, they would tell their children that they'd married, whether they had or not. And the other obvious issue here is that even if they did marry on either of these dates, then Richard John Goss was committing bigamy, because he certainly hadn't divorced from Katherine Latham (which would have taken an Act of Parliament before 1858).

Richard John Goss and Maria Theresa Bruce had three children:

1. Josephine Martha Goss b. 22 Jun 1865 in California
2. William Richard Goss b. 2 Feb 1867 in California
3. Otto John Goss b. 6 Jun 1869 in California

There are no birth or baptism records for them, so those dates of birth are those alleged / reported on the records of their respective deaths. Obviously, Josephine's birth date also implies that Richard John Goss had to have been in the US at least by mid-September 1864. And the naming of their children, with Josephine's middle name being Martha after Richard's mother and William Richard, being the same as Richard's brother had named his son, are pretty much giveaways on their own as to who we have here.

Richard John Goss, aged 52, from England, became a naturalised American citizen on 30 Aug 1873 in Nevada, California, USA.

On 29 Dec 1876, Richard John Goss, resident in Truckee, California, appears in the California, U.S., Occupational Licenses, Registers, and Directories in a list of Eclectic Physicians (although the date of his diploma is conspicuously blank). Eclectic medicine. "An eclectic physician, historically, was one who practiced eclectic medicine, a system that drew from various healing practices, including botanical remedies, physical therapy, and other non-invasive approaches. This movement emerged in the 19th century as a reaction against the prevailing invasive medical practices of the time." 

On 22 Sep 1878, the Nevada State Journal repeated a most disturbing story from the Truckee Republican, which reported that Dr. R. J. Goss had attended a man, W. J. Jones, who had been tarred and feathered by vigilantes at Reno and put on a train to Truckee - a journey of around three hours. Two men spent six hours trying to remove the tar with linseed oil Goss prescribed. 

The Reno Gazette Journal of 19 Apr 1879 (again repeating what was in the Truckee Republican) reported that Dr. R. J. Goss was one of the men who visited the Donner meadows and recovered relics of the Donner Party.

The Mountain Messenger of 6 Mar 1880 informs us that Dr. R. J. Goss is one of the owners of the Truckee Mine, "... situated in Sierra County, just south of Mohawk valley, and promises a veritable bonanza to its proprietors."

On 26 Mar 1880, the Daily Miner Transcript reports that "Ah Coon, who it is claimed is a Chinese Doctor, was arrested Monday on the complaint of Dr R. J. Goss.". Truckee History reports that in 1886, "After many years of racial tension, the white citizens of Truckee drove out the entire Chinese population (who had been instrumental in the building of the railroad) by forming a general boycott and refusing to buy or sell with Chinese residents."

In 1880, R. J. Goss (53) Doctor, born in England; Mary T. Goss (33) 'Keeping House', Josephine M Goss (15), William R Goss (13) and Otto Goss (11) were still registered as living in Truckee, California.

In 1882, Dr. R. J. Goss was sued for $48, allegedly owed for rent. It was quite convoluted story and the locals were not pleased that the police somehow failed to imprison him for a day, as ordered by the court.

On 7 Sep 1886, the San Francisco Chronicle reported "Mrs. Dr. R. J. Goss, of Truckee, who was spending a few weeks in this city, has returned home."

The Sacramento Bee of 19 Feb 1887 announced that "Dr and Mrs R. J. Goss are expected in Truckee about the 1st of March."

The San Francisco Chronicle of 10 Dec 1890, reported that Dr. R. J. Goss was elected to membership of the California Eclectic Medical Society.

"Dr R. J. Goss, corner First and Spring Streets, rooms 39 and 40, new Wilson block, makes a speciality of diabetes, paralysis and rheumatism.", he announced in the Los Angeles Herald of 15 Sep 1892.

In 1893, Dr. R. P. Goss (sic) of Truckee was a witness before the Grand Jury in a case where a doctor is accused of malpractice after a patient dies.

The Stockton Evening and Sunday Record (Stockton, Cal.) of 13 Jul 1895, carried the following, "Are You Sick? Dr. R. J. Goss is located at No. 8 North Sutter Street. The celebrated physician cures malarial fever, indigestion, weak stomach, rheumatism, chronic and all special diseases. All those suffering from these ailments will find it to their advantage to consult the doctor." One wonders what are special diseases. Are these the ones that used to be treated in what were once called a Special Clinic? Richard's brother, William, had advertised that he treated 'Private Diseases' and if I'm right and these are both euphemisms, I reckon it's calculated to target those least likely to complain because that would reveal what they consulted the doctor for.

On 31 Mar 1896, the Oakland Enquirer reported, "Dr. R. J. Goss, who practiced for a time in this city, has returned to San Diego."

In 1896, in the Los Angeles Herald, regular advertisements appear under: 

PERSONAL-EXCELSIOR HAIR REMedy company. MRS M. T. GOSS 355½ S. Spring St., room 4. Ladies, have you superfluous hair on the face? If so we can permanently and painlessly without chemicals or needles. To fleshy people - We have a new and safe remedy for reducing your flesh without medicine or change of diet. Agents for Dr R. J. Goss' Hair Remedy and Catarrh Remedy; charges reasonable.

Richard John Goss died on 2 Nov 1904, in Los Angeles, California of 'Old Age'. He was 78. He is buried at Los Angeles Odd Fellows Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, United States.

Maria Theresa “Mary” Bruce Goss (b. 24 Apr 1847 in Wisconsin), died on 23 Jul 1907 (aged 60). She is also buried at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, United States, along with Richard John Goss.

Maria Theresa's obituary was published in The Los Angeles Times on Friday, 26 Jul 1907:

 

FUNERAL OF PIONEER

Remains of Mrs Mary T Goss who Crossed the Plains in Prairie Schooner Borne to Grave

The funeral services over the remains of Mrs Mary Theresa Goss, who died Tuesday, were held yesterday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the parlours of the Pierce Bros Co. The officiating clergyman was Rev Will A Knighten and interment was at Mountain View Cemetery [1]. The Rebekahs had charge of the services at the grave.

Mrs Goss was the widow of the late Dr Richard J Goss, a pioneer resident of California, and was herself a pioneer having crossed the plains in a prairie schooner [2] when but 4 years old. She was born in Wisconsin, April 24, 1847, and came to California in 1851.

The father of Mrs Goss, Joseph Bruce, came to California in the late forties, and established himself in San Francisco. When he sent for his family to join him he directed them to come by water, but the wife was afraid to undertake the long trip by boat, and chose the more hazardous expedient of crossing the plains. Taking her three little children she bought a prairie schooner, and started the 2000 mile journey.

Many hardships were endured by the little party on their way, and though but an infant at the time, Mrs Goss never forgot the journey. Her mind remained clear up till the last, and she was fond of telling her grandchildren of the little happenings along the road which had impressed themselves upon her childish mind.

Mrs Goss came from a family of pioneers. Her grandfather was one of the first hotel men to settle in California, and was the owner and manager of the Binninger Hotel in Sacramento[3], the hostelry being named for him. The old hotel had the distinction of being the first brick structure in Sacramento, and the piano which Mr Binninger brought across the plains with him, is said to have been the first instrument of the kind ever brought to California.

Mrs Goss's husband, the late Dr Goss, was one of the first physicians to settle in San Francisco. When the city was but a sand pile he and his brother, Dr William R Goss[4], landed there, having come from their home in England. Both had taken medical degrees at an English college[5], and they at once opened an office and began practicing.

One of Dr Goss's favorite stories was the description of the manner in which he and his brother had fenced in Telegraph Hill, then a barren waste. Later they gave the land to another man, thinking it not worth the keeping.

Dr and Mrs Goss were married at Reece River, Nev, in 1861. For a time the husband practiced medicine in Nevada, later going to San Diego, where he resided until after the boom. Eleven years ago the family came to Los Angeles, Dr Goss again taking up the practice of his profession. He died here two years ago.

Mrs Goss leaves three children, Mrs Josephine M Patten, William R Goss and Otto J Goss, and six grandchildren, Theresa Goss, Eugene Goss, William Goss, Edmund Goss, Warren Goss and Theresa Yeona Patten. All the children and grandchildren are residents of Los Angeles.

1. Mountain View Cemetery must be an error, as the grave at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Los Angeles, suggests she's buried there with her husband.
2. Prairie schooner is a fanciful name for the Covered wagon
3. The claim that the Binninger Hotel in Sacramento being the first brick structure there appears to be based in fact. Germans in Sacramento, 1850-1859. Maria Theresa's grandfather, Jakob Binninger was from Nimburg, Teningen, Emmendingen, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.
4. Listed here as William R Goss, it is my belief that the son William R Goss gave the information to the newspaper. He could have been asked his uncle's name and said "the same as me", meaning William. Richard John's brother was William Henry Goss and it is his whereabouts that are fundamental in proving that this was indeed the same man.
5. Forgive me for not wasting time looking for records of these alleged medical degrees. It is absolutely obvious to me that neither of these former blacksmith and caulker, turned unsuccessful publicans, had the time or resources to have gone to any college. From the type of doctor, the complaints they alleged to treat, the nature of the 'remedies' they peddled and the wording of their marketing, it's obvious they were a pair of fraudulent, quack doctors and snake oil salesmen; opportunists who saw this as a way of making money from the Gold Rush - but without having to do backbreaking work themselves. Whilst I normally try to be non-judgmental, this time, the truth is just so clear it cannot be ignored: They were charlatans and that air of respectability they likely had seems to have allowed them to hoodwink a lot of good people. Can't ignore either that they were both my 3rd cousins five times removed.