This is an article I had published in the “Goff – Gough” Newsletter in the Autumn (Fall) of 2022
CHARLES GOFF (1864 -1953) PART 2
Wayne Brown, Bourne, Lincolnshire, UK
Charles Goff born 18 Mar 1864, Cranfield, Bedfordshire; died 5 Mar 1953, Carlton on Trent, Nottinghamshire.
This is a transcript of a newspaper article from the Luton Times and Advertiser dated 2 May 1902.
“WIFE DESERTION – At Woburn Petty Sessions on Friday, Charles Goff, labourer. of Westwood, Notts, was charged under the Married Women’s Act, with having deserted his wife Emma Goff at Aspley Guise. – Defendant did not appear. – Lucy Goff aged 18, daughter of defendant, gave evidence that she managed the home for her mother, who is bedridden. She had one sister, aged 15, in service, and two young brothers aged 11 and 4 and half years respectively who had to be provided for at home. The defendant, her father, left home 12 months last November, and went to Nottingham. He had at different times sent postal orders for small sums. The last one came eight weeks back. Witness could not say exactly for what amount she cashed this order – it was not for more than 12s. Her mother and family had since that time been dependent for subsistence upon the help of friends. Witness now applied that an order might be made upon her father to support her mother and family. There had, she said been no quarrel between her father and mother before the former went away. Defendant was working upon a railway, and information had been obtained that his wages were 19s. a week; but that he sometimes earned additional money at “logging and transshipping.” The defendant had not himself told them what he earned. – The magistrates made a separation order, giving the applicant the custody of the two children, and calling upon defendant to allow his wife 7s. 6d. per week, and to pay 5s. 4d . costs.”
This article led the search for Charles Goff to the Nottinghamshire area and ultimately to my great-grandfather Charles Goff in North Muskham, Nottinghamshire, as detailed in my previous article in the Winter 2022 Goff/Gough Newsletter.
Did Charles Goff divorce his first wife Emma (Waters) in order for him to marry Ada Talbot? Charles Goff went on to marry Ada Frances Talbot on 22 April 1919 at Southwell Register office, Southwell, Nottingham shire and on his marriage certificate he states he is a “Bachelor”.
One question still remains though. Did Charles Goff divorce his first wife Emma (Waters) in order for him to marry Ada Talbot?
Asking the question what is a “Bachelor” and what did Charles Goff mean by this, I got an answer that it can mean “free to marry”.
In the 1921 Census (recently released) and on FindMyPast website, Charles is already married to Ada Francis Talbot, but this did at least confirm he was born in Cranfield, Bedfordshire and was as I’ve previously stated, my Eureka moment where Charles Goff was concerned.
Looking at the 1921 Census for Emma Goff, this shows she was living at Aspley Road, Woburn Sands with her son Alfred Waters Goff. She states that she is 59 years and 4 months, born in Lidlington, Bedfordshire, and more importantly she states she is a widow.
Having purchased also the recently The overriding conclusion is that you may not always like what you find when digging into your family history. At the end of the day you cannot change the past, but it certainly makes it interesting. death certificate for Emma Goff, this shows she died 15 April 1949 at 16 Aspley Heath, age 87 years. Her rank or profession describes her as “Widow of Charles Goff, Coal Merchants Clerk”. She died from myocardial failure, senility, and subacute bronchitis. The certificate is witnessed by C Goff (Charles Goff, 1890 – 1977, son of Charles and Emma Goff).
I know for a fact that Charles Goff died in 1953, so therefore Emma describing herself as his widow in the 1921 census and on her death certificate is wrong. I assume Emma describes herself as a widow as a face-saving gesture.
It still leaves my last question unanswered really; was Charles Goff free to marry Ada Frances Talbot in 1919?
And my only real option is to believe the answer to be NO. I can find no evidence he ever divorced Emma (Waters), and my conclusion can only be that unless proven otherwise, Charles Goff was a bigamist.
I have no way of proving if anyone else knew of this; I certainly don’t think my grandfather John Goff ever knew, but again this is only speculation.
Did Charles Goff ever re-connect with his children, Lucy, Mary, Charles and Alfred, from his first marriage? Again, I have to assume not.
The overriding conclusion is that you may not always like what you find when digging into your family history. At the end of the day you cannot change the past, but it certainly makes it interesting.
See Wayne Brown’s website, https://lock brown.co.uk/charles-goff-1864-1953/.
The YDNA signature of the family of Charles Goff has not yet been established.
Wayne and Sandra's Family History 