-
His life
Name Edwin Godfrey [1, 2, 3, 4] Nickname Edward Birth Abt Nov 1846 Street, Somerset, England 
[3, 5] - Registered at Wells in the Dec quarter of 1846 and baptised at Street on 31 Jan 1847. Later ages vary: 4 in 1851, 14 in 1861, 22 at his marriage in 1868 and in 1871, 37 in 1881, 46 in 1891, 59 in 1901, 66 in 1911 and 67 at his death in 1914 (1841-1847). Born Street (1871-1911).
Christening 31 Jan 1847 Holy Trinity Church, Street, Somerset, England [3] 
Baptismal Record: Edwin Godfrey (1847) Gender Male Census 30 Mar 1851 Bowling Green, Street, Somerset, England [6] Age: 4 
1851 Census: Bowling Green, Street, Somerset Census 7 Apr 1861 High Street, Street, Somerset, England [7] Age: 14 
1861 Census: High Street, Street, Somerset Occupation 7 Apr 1861 [7] Shoemaker Residence 29 Nov 1868 Sidbury, Worcester, Worcestershire, England [4] - Parish not stated.
Occupation 29 Nov 1868 [4] Shoemaker Census 2 Apr 1871 Court 2 No. 9, Moland Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England [8] Age: 22 
1871 Census: Court 2 No. 9, Moland Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire Occupation 2 Apr 1871 [8] Boot Maker Residence 27 Feb 1874 Back Walls North, St Mary, Stafford, Staffordshire, England [9] Occupation 27 Feb 1874 [9] Shoemaker Residence 31 May 1874 Stafford, Staffordshire, England [10] Occupation 31 May 1874 [10] Shoemaker Census 3 Apr 1881 Mead, Street, Somerset, England [11] Age: 37 
1881 Census: Mead, Street, Somerset Occupation 3 Apr 1881 [11] Shoemaker Occupation 17 Jul 1881 [12] Shoemaker Census 5 Apr 1891 25 Wellesley Street, St Philip and St Jacob Out, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England [13] Age: 46 - A lodger, described as married; his wife and children were at West End, Street.
1891 Census: 25 Wellesley Street, St Philip and St Jacob Out, Bristol, Gloucestershire Occupation 5 Apr 1891 [13] Shoemaker’s Assistant Occupation 23 Jul 1891 [14] Shoemaker Occupation 5 Jun 1895 [15] Shoemaker Census 31 Mar 1901 34 Eugene Street, St James, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England [16] Age: 59 
1901 Census: 34 Eugene Street, St James, Bristol, Gloucestershire Occupation 31 Mar 1901 [16] Boot Shoemaker Occupation 14 Oct 1906 [1] Shoemaker Census 2 Apr 1911 285 Newfoundland Road, St Simon, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England [17] Age: 66 
1911 Census: 285 Newfoundland Road, St Simon, Bristol, Gloucestershire Occupation 2 Apr 1911 [17] Tradesman Shoemaker Occupation 24 Feb 1912 [18] Shoemaker Death Abt May 1914 Bristol, Gloucestershire, England [19] Age: 67 - Find a Grave (memorial 253334236) gives his burial at Ridgeway Park Cemetery, Bristol, on or about 4 Jun 1914, aged 67; not verified.
Parents’ family
Father Robert Godfrey, b. Bef 21 Apr 1811, Walton, Somerset, England d. Bef 28 Oct 1869, Street, Somerset, England (Age < 58 years)Mother Caroline King, b. Bef 3 Oct 1824, Street, Somerset, England d. Bef 21 Jan 1865, Street, Somerset, England (Age < 40 years)Marriage Banns 22 Oct 1843 Holy Trinity Church, Street, Somerset, England [20] 
Marriage Banns: Robert Godfrey and Caroline King (1843) Marriage Banns 29 Oct 1843 Holy Trinity Church, Street, Somerset, England [20] Marriage Banns: Robert Godfrey and Caroline King (1843) Marriage Banns 5 Nov 1843 Holy Trinity Church, Street, Somerset, England [20] Marriage Banns: Robert Godfrey and Caroline King (1843) Marriage 4 Dec 1843 Holy Trinity Church, Street, Somerset, England [21] - Robert Godfrey, bachelor; Caroline King, spinster. Witnesses: Louisa Rath [?] and Maryann King [?].
Marriage Record: Robert Godfrey and Caroline King (1843)
Family with Mary Ann Harris
Family 1 
Mary Ann Harris, b. Abt 1850, St Andrew, Worcester, Worcestershire, England d. Abt Nov 1874, Stafford, Staffordshire, England (Age 24 years) [22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27]Marriage 29 Nov 1868 St Michael’s Church, St Michael, Worcester, Worcestershire, England [4] Type: Banns - Edwin Godfrey, bachelor; Mary Ann Purcell Harris, spinster. Witnesses: James Braddock and Emma Andrews. Entered in the St Peter the Great register; married at St Michael’s while St Peter’s church was under repair.
Marriage Record: Edwin Godfrey and Mary Ann Purcell Harris (1868) Children 1. Caroline Godfrey, b. 31 Jan 1870, Worcester, Worcestershire, England + 2. Walter Benjamin Godfrey, b. 7 Jun 1872, Stafford, Staffordshire, England d. Bef 16 Nov 1954, Briar Cottage, Littlewick Road, Horsell, Surrey, England (Age < 82 years)3. Frances Elizabeth Godfrey, b. Bef 27 Feb 1874, Stafford, Staffordshire, England
Family with Eliza Matthews
Family 2 Eliza Matthews, b. Abt 1855, Glastonbury, Somerset, England [28, 29, 30, 31]Marriage Abt Aug 1876 Wells, Somerset, England [32] Children 1. John Henry Godfrey, b. Abt Aug 1881, Wells, Somerset, England 2. Elizabeth Godfrey, b. 16 Dec 1883, Wells, Somerset, England d. Abt Aug 1967, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England (Age 83 years)3. Joseph Godfrey, b. 1 Sep 1885, Wells, Somerset, England d. Abt Aug 1966, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England (Age 80 years)4. William Charles Godfrey, b. Abt Nov 1885, Wells, Somerset, England 5. Edward Godfrey, b. 18 Jul 1887, Wells, Somerset, England d. Jul 1972, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England (Age 84 years)6. Florie Godfrey, b. Abt May 1889, Wells, Somerset, England 7. Dennis Godfrey, b. Abt Mar 1891, Wells, Somerset, England d. Abt Aug 1963, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England (Age 72 years)+ 8. Albert Godfrey, b. Abt May 1893, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England d. Abt May 1949, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England (Age 56 years)
-
Event Map 
Birth - Abt Nov 1846 - Street, Somerset, England 
Christening - 31 Jan 1847 - Holy Trinity Church, Street, Somerset, England 
Census - Age: 4 - 30 Mar 1851 - Bowling Green, Street, Somerset, England 
Census - Age: 14 - 7 Apr 1861 - High Street, Street, Somerset, England 
Residence - 29 Nov 1868 - Sidbury, Worcester, Worcestershire, England 
Marriage - Type: Banns - 29 Nov 1868 - St Michael’s Church, St Michael, Worcester, Worcestershire, England 
Child - Caroline Godfrey - 31 Jan 1870 - Worcester, Worcestershire, England 
Census - Age: 22 - 2 Apr 1871 - Court 2 No. 9, Moland Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England 
Child - Walter Benjamin Godfrey - 7 Jun 1872 - Stafford, Staffordshire, England Child - Frances Elizabeth Godfrey - Bef 27 Feb 1874 - Stafford, Staffordshire, England Residence - 31 May 1874 - Stafford, Staffordshire, England 
Marriage - Abt Aug 1876 - Wells, Somerset, England 
Census - Age: 37 - 3 Apr 1881 - Mead, Street, Somerset, England Child - John Henry Godfrey - Abt Aug 1881 - Wells, Somerset, England Child - Elizabeth Godfrey - 16 Dec 1883 - Wells, Somerset, England Child - Joseph Godfrey - 1 Sep 1885 - Wells, Somerset, England Child - William Charles Godfrey - Abt Nov 1885 - Wells, Somerset, England Child - Edward Godfrey - 18 Jul 1887 - Wells, Somerset, England Child - Florie Godfrey - Abt May 1889 - Wells, Somerset, England Child - Dennis Godfrey - Abt Mar 1891 - Wells, Somerset, England = Link to Google Earth
-
Notes - Baptised Edwin at Street in 1847 and married as Edwin in 1868; named Edwin at his children’s baptisms (1874) and school admissions (1876-1877). Called Edward from the 1861 census onwards, including the 1881-1911 censuses and his children’s marriages (1891, 1895, 1906). The only other births to a Godfrey father and King mother in 1840-1854 are his brothers William (1845, died 1850), William (1852) and Charles (1854); William (born 1852) is the William Godfrey with whom Walter boarded at Street in 1891.
-
Sources - [S1182] Marriage Record: Walter Benjamin Godfrey and Mary Ann Guy (1906), St Simon register 1904-1911, p. 15, no. 30 (Reliability: 3).
- [S1207] Baptismal Record: Walter Benjamin and Frances Elizabeth Godfrey (1874), St Paul, Worcester, register 1869-1878, p. 57, no. 451 (Reliability: 3).
Named Edwin. - [S1353] Baptismal Record: Edwin Godfrey (1847), Street baptisms 1843-1861, p. 19, no. 146 (Reliability: 3).
- [S1354] Marriage Record: Edwin Godfrey and Mary Ann Purcell Harris (1868), Worcester St Peter the Great marriages 1866-1886, p. 27, no. 54 (Reliability: 3).
- [S7] GRO Index, 1846 Q4, Wells, Vol 10, pg 505 (Reliability: 2).
GODFERY, EDWIN; KING - [S5] 1851 Census, HO 107/1935, f. 112, p. 6 (Reliability: 3).
- [S42] 1861 Census, RG 9/1667, f. 87, p. 9 (Reliability: 3).
- [S46] 1871 Census, RG 10/3118, f. 35, p. 7 (Reliability: 3).
- [S1356] Baptismal Record: Frances Elizabeth Godfrey (1874), Stafford St Mary baptisms (D1399/10), p. 238, no. 1904 (Reliability: 3).
- [S1357] Baptismal Record: Caroline Godfrey (1874), St Paul, Worcester, register 1869-1878, p. 57, no. 450 (Reliability: 3).
- [S47] 1881 Census, RG 11/2414, f. 44, p. 33 (Reliability: 3).
- [S1381] Baptismal Record: John Henry Godfrey (1881), Street baptisms 1861-1888, p. 136, no. 1082 (Reliability: 3).
- [S48] 1891 Census, RG 12/1983, f. 63, p. 8 (Reliability: 3).
- [S1367] Marriage Record: Edwin Read and Caroline Godfrey (1891), Street marriages 1837-1901, p. 203, no. 406 (Reliability: 3).
- [S1368] Marriage Record: Walter James Luff and Frances Elizabeth Godfrey (1895), Bristol Emmanuel marriages 1884-1910, p. 133, no. 266 (Reliability: 3).
- [S49] 1901 Census, RG 13/2373, f. 73, p. 12 (Reliability: 3).
- [S200] 1911 Census, RG 14/14872, schedule 462 (Reliability: 3).
- [S1380] Marriage Record: Albert Godfrey and Elizabeth Matilda Britton (1912), Bristol St Luke Barton Hill marriages 1910-1917, p. 61, no. 121 (Reliability: 3).
- [S7] GRO Index, 1914 Q2, Bristol, Vol 6a, pg 66 (Reliability: 2).
GODFREY, EDWARD; 67 - [S1689] Marriage Banns: Robert Godfrey and Caroline King (1843), Street banns 1812-1962, p. 72, no. 145 (Reliability: 3).
- [S1688] Marriage Record: Robert Godfrey and Caroline King (1843), Street marriages 1837-1901, p. 25, no. 49 (Reliability: 3).
- [S1182] Marriage Record: Walter Benjamin Godfrey and Mary Ann Guy (1906), St Simon register 1904-1911, p. 15, no. 30 (Reliability: 3).
Edward Godfrey named as Walter’s father at his marriage in 1906. - [S7] GRO Index, 1872 Q3, Stafford, Vol 6b, pg 3 (Reliability: 2).
Godfrey, Walter Benjamin
Harris is given as the mother’s maiden name on Walter’s birth registration (Staffordshire BMD index, Std/32/225). - [S1207] Baptismal Record: Walter Benjamin and Frances Elizabeth Godfrey (1874), St Paul, Worcester, register 1869-1878, p. 57, no. 451 (Reliability: 3).
Named as Walter’s parents, Edwin and Mary Ann Godfrey, at his reception into the church in 1874. - [S1357] Baptismal Record: Caroline Godfrey (1874), St Paul, Worcester, register 1869-1878, p. 57, no. 450 (Reliability: 3).
Named as Caroline’s parents, Edwin and Mary Ann Godfrey, at her reception into the church in 1874. - [S1356] Baptismal Record: Frances Elizabeth Godfrey (1874), Stafford St Mary baptisms (D1399/10), p. 238, no. 1904 (Reliability: 3).
Named as Frances Elizabeth’s parents, Edwin and Mary Ann Godfrey, at her baptism in 1874. - [S1367] Marriage Record: Edwin Read and Caroline Godfrey (1891), Street marriages 1837-1901, p. 203, no. 406 (Reliability: 3).
Edward Godfrey, shoemaker, named as Caroline’s father at her marriage in 1891. - [S47] 1881 Census, RG 11/2414, f. 44, p. 33 (Reliability: 3).
Eliza is ‘Wife’ to Edward Godfrey in the 1881 census. - [S48] 1891 Census, RG 12/1916, f. 66, pp. 21-22 (Reliability: 3).
John, Bessie, Joseph, Willie, Edward, Florence and Dennis are the children of Eliza Godfrey, head, in the 1891 census. - [S49] 1901 Census, RG 13/2373, f. 73, p. 12 (Reliability: 3).
John, Bessie, Joseph, William, Edward, Florrie and Daniel are sons and daughters of Edward Godfrey, widower, in the 1901 census. - [S1380] Marriage Record: Albert Godfrey and Elizabeth Matilda Britton (1912), Bristol St Luke Barton Hill marriages 1910-1917, p. 61, no. 121 (Reliability: 3).
Albert’s father is named as Edward Godfrey, shoemaker. - [S7] GRO Index, 1876 Q3, Wells, Vol 5c, pg 821 (Reliability: 2).
Godfrey, Edwin; Matthews, Eliza
Both entries are on the same page, with John Goose and Sarah Sally; the children’s maiden name Matthews confirms the pairing.
- [S1182] Marriage Record: Walter Benjamin Godfrey and Mary Ann Guy (1906), St Simon register 1904-1911, p. 15, no. 30 (Reliability: 3).