Elizabeth Goodwin

Elizabeth Whitworth

KEY DATES:

Baptism: c. 1824, Battersea, Surrey

Marriage: 22 July 1845, St Matthew's Church, Brixton, Lambeth, Surrey

2nd Marriage: 5 January 1863, Clapham Parish Church, Surrey

Death: Post 1901.

BIOGRAPHY:

Elizabeth Whitworth was born around 1824 in Battersea, Surrey. Her father was Edward Whitworth. Little is known of her early life until she married Charles Goodwin on 22 July 1845 in St Matthew's Church, Brixton, Lambeth.

St Matthew's Church, 1826

The signs point to an impoverished life. He and his wife moved home at least eight times in as many years, a sign of poverty as he would have to have moved around looking for work. Their first child, Charles Edward Goodwin was born 5 May 1846, at 11 Southampton Street West in Nine Elms, Lambeth where Charles' occupation was noted as porter. Charles Edward was baptised in St Matthew's Church on 19 July 1846. Their second child, Emily Goodwin was born 4 February 1848, at Church Road, Brixton. Charles' occupation was again noted as a coachman. Emily was baptised in St Matthew's Church on 5 March 1848. Their third child, Henry Goodwin was born circa 1850, but searches of the 1851 census and birth indexes searched have not yet found him. Their subsequent two children, Elizabeth Mary and Alfred William were both baptised in St Mark's Church, Kennington and both died in infancy. Edward James Goodwin was born 6 April 1856 in 5 Henry's Place, Smith Street, Kennington. Charles and Elizabeth's fifth and last child, Elizabeth Jane Goodwin was born 12 September 1859 in 3 Archbishop's Place, Brixton.

3 Archbishop's Place, 2000

Charles and Elizabeth's poverty is also sadly witnessed in Elizabeth Jane's death, six months later to 'marasmus'. A modern medical description of the word is: 'In poorer countries where there is a shortage of food, marasmus resulting from lack of food energy is common.'

On the 6 January 1860, Charles Goodwin entered Wandsworth County Lunatic Asylum. It is possible that Charles' daughter Elizabeth Jane died because of his incarceration in the asylum, leaving Elizabeth to bring up five children with no income. Six months after entering the asylum, Charles died, leaving Elizabeth to raise their children alone. The following year, the 1861 census shows Elizabeth still living in Archbishop's Place, crammed in a tiny house with another widow and her children.

Elizabeth Goodwin remarried a few years after Charles' death to John Hoare, a gardener. They married on 5 January 1863 in Clapham Parish Church. Witnesses to the marriage were James Comley and Edward Armitage. The couple lived in the Norwood area and had three children together; Elizabeth, Edith and Arthur J. The 1871 census shows John, Elizabeth, their three children plus Elizabeth's son Edward James Goodwin living at Knight's Hill Road in Norwood, Lambeth. In the 1881 census John and Elizabeth are living alone at Knight's Hill, with both of them working as gardeners. In 1891 they are living at 16 Queen's Road with their daughter Edith, a dressmaker's assistant. By 1901 Elizabeth and John are living with their daughter Edith's new family at 65 Biggin Hill, Croydon.

CENSUS: