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), bachelor, son of Francis Goss, Shipwright, and Ann Greenshaw, 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 (because Martha was then 18 and a minor), 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.

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 Vol 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.

Henry Charles Orton and Dahlia Trevail

St Mark's Church, North Audley Street, London W1
cc-by-sa/2.0 - © John Salmon - geograph.org.uk/p/1536122

Henry Charles Orton, Widower, Carpenter of Shepherd's Market married Dahlia Mackness, Widow, of 1 Park Lane, London, daughter of Joseph Trevail, Farmer at the church of St George's, Hanover Square on 30 Jul 1881. 

Henry and Dahlia had two children, born at 6, Church Road, Watford:

1. Charles Orton b. 3 Jul 1882 (1882 S Quarter in WATFORD Volume 03A Page 502), bap. 24 Sep 1882 at St Andrew's, Watford
2. Emily Maud Orton b. 21 Sep 1884 (1884 D Quarter in WATFORD Volume 03A Page 534), bap. 2 Nov 1884 at St Andrew's, Watford

The mother's maiden name TREVAIL is quoted on both birth registrations.

Dahlia Trevail (bap. 27 May 1849), daughter of Joseph Trevail and Jane Rundle, in 1871, was cook to Thomas William Bramston, Conservative Member for South Essex, at his estate, Skreens, Roxwell, Chelmsford, Essex. In Q3 of 1876, aged 27, Dahlia had married Frederick Mackness (bap. 14 Feb 1827), sawyer, son of George and Susanna Mackness, at St Mark, North Audley Street (St Mark's, Mayfair, now home to Mercato Mayfair). However, within 3 months of the wedding, in Q4 1876, Frederick died, aged 49. 

In 1881, Dahlia Mackness (31), widow, was once again employed as a cook, in the household of Sir William Miller, 1st Baronet in London, at 1, Park Lane. 

It was "third time lucky" for Henry, son of Charles Orton and Mary Ann Leach, bap. 7 Oct 1838 in Leamington, Warwickshire. Henry Orton had first married Elizabeth Neal on 11 Oct 1863 in Leamington Spa, but Elizabeth died, aged 31, in 1867, in Shipston-on-Stour. That marriage didn't produce any children. Henry then married widow, Ellen Reynolds (née Carpenter), on 31 Jan 1869, in Bordesley, Warwickshire. They had three daughters: Florence Mary Orton b. 1870 J Quarter in SOUTHAM Volume 06D Page 600; Nellie Rose Orton b. 1873 D Quarter in WARWICK Volume 06D Page 537; and Lizzie Orton b. 1877 S Quarter in WATFORD UNION Volume 03A Page 409, who died, aged 1, in 1878 D Quarter in WATFORD Volume 03A Page 290. Ellen Orton died, aged 47, 1880 D Quarter in WATFORD Volume 03A Page 255, where Henry C Orton (42) Builder's foreman, was living at 6, Church Road, in 1881.

In 1891, Henry C Orton (52) Carpenter, wife Delia (sic) (42), Florence (21), Charles (8), Maud (6), plus boarders: Samuel Cos (21) and Albert Batchelor (19) were living in London at Worcester Street, St George Hanover Square.

Then Henry Charles Orton died, aged 54, in 1892 D Quarter in ST GEORGE HANOVER SQUARE Volume 01A Page 283. Various newspapers in Apr 1893 reported on the legal case surrounding his death:

DAMAGES FOR THE LOSS OF A HUSBAND

The case of "Orton v. Simpson" came before Judge Bayley and a jury at Westminster County Court for a partition of the damages. Mrs Dahlia Orton and her children claimed £280 under the Employers' Liability Act from Messrs. Simpson and Company (Limited), engineers, of Pimlico. The husband was an engineer, and on 3 Dec last was killed whilst in the employ of the defending company through the bursting of a defective cylinder. The plaintiff had two children, aged eight and ten years, and there were two children of the deceased by a former marriage, aged 18 and 21. The defendants admitted their liability and paid £210 into court, which sum the plaintiff accepted, at Westminster County Court yesterday applied under Lord Campbell's Act for a partition of the damages. The jury awarded the plaintiff £50, the two children by a former marriage £5 each, and the plaintiff's two children £75. 

In 1901, Dahlia Orton (52) widow, was living at 16, Balfern Grove, Chiswick with Charles Orton (18), Emily M Orton (16) and three boarders: Alfred Hooke (22), Thomas Willcox (25) and Albert Clarke (27).

In 1911, Dahlia Orton (62) was staying with her daughter and her husband, William Charles Creedon (27) Licenced Victualler at the Builder's Arms, 8 Wyvil Road, Lambeth. (William Charles Creeden and Emily Maud Orton married, in Brentford, in 1907 and, in 1910, William Charles Creedon had been landlord of the Oxford Arms, 77 St Peter Street, Bethnal Green.) On the 1911 Census, Dahlia Orton states that she had three children, two living and one had died, but I've been unable to find records relating to a third child.

In 1921, Dahlia Orton (72) Widow was once again living with her daughter and son-in-law, back at 16, Balfern Grove, Chiswick, Middlesex.

Dahlia Orton died, at 76, in 1925 D Qtr in BRENTFORD Vol 03A Page 222.

The Vauxhall Griffin, Renamed as the "Griffin Belle" in 2018, formerly Builders Arms
Image: Ewan Munro | Some rights reserved