The Goodliffe Family of NottinghamJohn Frederick Goodliffe - son of Thomas William Goodliffe and Ann Stafford
John Frederick Goodliffe was born on 30 August 1862 in Nottingham to Thomas William GOODLIFFE and Ann (STAFFORD). He is recorded in the 1871 and 1881 censuses living with his parents Thomas and Ann at 40 Bridlesmith Gate.
Marriage to Mary Jane MILLINGTONJohn Frederick married Mary Jane MILLINGTON in All Hallows Church, Gedling on 24 January 1884. Mary was the daughter of Thomas and Emma MILLINGTON, farmers at Carlton, Nottingham, hence the marriage at Gedling which is nearby.
John and Mary GOODLIFFE had six children:
By the 1891 census, John Frederick, Mary Jane and family were living at 40 Bridlesmith Gate, Nottingham:
In 1901 they had moved to 101 Musters Rd, West Bridgford:
In 1902 the 50 years lease on 40 Bridlesmith Gate expired, so Frederick moved to new premises at 20 Wollaton Street, where he still operated in 1927 when he wrote up the centennial history of the firm. In the 1910 Wrights Directory, Frederick is listed as "Trading as "Reliable"", with Telephone Number of 523. His home was "Premier House", Gregory Boulevard, telephone 2022. In 1911 they were living at Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham. Dora had married in 1905 to Edward DOUBLEDAY:
Mary Jane GOODLIFFE died in Nottingham on 18 October 1923. Probate was granted to John Frederick GOODLIFFE of Westcliffe, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottingham:
John's marriage to Marjorie CALLISONJohn Frederick was not a widower for long. He married Marjorie CALLISON in the Cathedral of St Mary, Manchester on 6 April 1925. Marjorie was aged 28 and John was 63. It appears one of the witnesses was John's son Frederick.
John and Marjorie had two children: June, born in 1926 and William Frederick Kaye born 1929. On 30 March 1928 Frederick and Marjorie holidayed in Gibralter, travelling First Class on the SS Rajputana:
In 1939 John and Marjorie were living at "Westcliffe", Radcliffe on Trent. They had Lucy and Mary North (cousins?) living with them as "Lady's help". Note that the birth year for Marjorie is incorrect - her birth was registered in Chorlton in 1896 under Margery Callison.
John Frederick GOODLIFFE died in the General Hospital, Nottingham on 9 July 1945, aged 83 years, late of 20 Wollaton St. Probate was granted to his widow Marjorie
Marjorie GOODLIFFE (CALLISON) died in Nottingham on 13 June 1970. The children of John Frederick Goodliffe, Mary Jane MILLINGTON and Marjorie CallisonDora Gwendoline GoodliffeDora was born in Nottingham on 17 June 1885. She married Edward Spencer DOUBLEDAY in Nottingham in 1905. In the 1911 census they were living at 32 Bingham Rd, Sherwood. Edward was a lace manufacturer:
Dora and Edward has 2 children: Frederick Edward Francis DOUBLEDAY (born 1 Jan 1909) and Barbara Joan DOUBLEDAY (born 31 August 1911). In the 1939 register Edward, Dora and Barbara were living at Clawson Lodge, High St, Orston, east of Nottingham.
Edward Spencer DOUBLEDAY died at Clawson Lodge, Orston, Nottingham on 7 March 1953. His wife Dora Gwendoline died at St Richards Hospital, Chichester, Sussex on 3 September 1958. Of the two children of Edward and Dora: Frederick Edward Francis was born 1 January 1909 in Nottingham. He graduated with an MA degree and became a schoolmaster. He married Phyllis Margaret Argent HUTLEY, also a school teacher in Dunmow, Essex in 1939 just before the date of the 1939 register. In the register they were living with Phyllis' parents Ernest and Annie Argent (BELCHER) at Kingston Farm, Felsted.
Frederick and Phyllis had two children: Edward born in 1941 and Philipa born 1944. By 1964 Frederick and Phyllis had moved to 35 College Rd, Southgate, London. They remained in the London area. Rhyllis Margaret Argent DOUBLEDAY died at Enfield, London in 1998. Frederick died there in 2001. Barbara Joan DOUBLEDAY was born in Nottingham on 31 August 1911. She appears to have lived with her parents for many years, being with them in 1939 at Kindston Farm, Felsted, Essex, working as a "kennel maid". Barbara joined the WRENS in about 1940 and had risen to Third Officer by 1943, as confirmed in the London Gazette of 1 October 1943. By mid-1945 she had risen to Second Officer:
Barbara remained a spinster. She died on 20 April 2007 at Chichester, Portsmouth. Margaret Mary GoodliffeMargaret was born in Nottingham on 21 July 1886. She is in the 1891 and 1911 censuses living with her parents, but in 1901 was a visitor with the WELLS family at Roman Bank, Skegness:
Margaret married in Nottingham in 1914 to Everard Leaver GUILFORD. They had 2 children: Dennis Leaver GUILFORD (18 April 1916 - 1986) and Philip Arnold GUILFORD (21 January 1919 - 1995). Who was Everard Leaver GUILFORD?Everard Leaver was born 17 November 1882 in Nottingham to Francis Leaver GUILFORD and Ada Mary (STEEGMAN). Francis was an engineer. For many years the family lived at 8 The Ropewalk, Nottingham, overlooking The Park. Ada Mary died on 10 September 1890 and Francis died on 30 March 1894. Everard attended Bedales School in Steep, Hampshire. Today Bedale is about 5 hours by train from Nottingham, much longer in 1901 when he was recorded in the census. Bedales was founded in 1893 "to be a humane alternative to the authoritarian regimes typical of late-Victorian public schools". From Bedale, Everard went to Cambridge and graduated with an MA. By 1911 Everard was back in Nottingham living with his aunt at 23 Lenton Ave, The Park. He lectured in history at University College, Nottingham and later joined the BBC, becoming the manager of the BBC radio 5NG in Nottingham He became secretary of the Thoroton Society, an historical society in Nottingham, and published several books on the history of Nottingham. He and his wife Margaret were well-known for their roles in amateur dramatic productions in Nottingham, featuring regularly on the radio.
Everard attended the Baptist chapel in Nottingham and here he would have met the GOODLIFFE family, including Margaret his future wife. In 1931 the local paper ran a series of articles on local ladies, No.20 was Margaret Guilford. Again in 1950 she was highlighted:
In 1939 Margaret, Everard and their younger son Philip were at The Chestnuts, 5 Kenilworth Rd, The Park Nottingham.
Everard died at The Chestnuts, Kenilworth Rd, The Park Nottingham on 8 June 1945 aged 63. Margaret outlived him by 27 years, dying at The Chestnuts on 1 February 1972 aged 85.
ConstanceConstance was born in Nottingham in 1889 and appears in each census from 1891 to 1911 living with her parents. She married in Nottingham in 1913 to John Angus DOUGLAS, an engineer. ohn had been born in Waterford, Ireland on 7 November 1884. He was the son of the non-conformist Rev. John DOUGLAS and Emily. John obtained a B.Sc degree in engineering from the University at Nottingham in 1907. In 1911 he was in Hull, working on the Grimsby dock for the Dock Engineer of the Northeastern Railway Company.
After marriage John and Constance lived at Hull, where they had two children: Constance Mary born 26 April 1919 and Patricia, born 27 March 1921. John Angus DOUGLAS died at Scarthoe, Hull on 17 March 1939 after a long illness. He was cremated at Wilford Hill Crematorium in Nottingham.
Around 1945 Constance and her extended family moved to 26 Burwood Park Rd, Walton-on-Thames. The electoral roll lists five family members there from 1945 to 1961: Constance DOUGLAS, her two daughters and son-in-law (Constance Mary RICHARDSON) and Patricia & Charles DOUGLAS) and her sister Edith Annie GOODLIFFE. In 1960 they were joined (at 20 Burwood Park Rd) by Julia and Donald ROSEWELL - Constance Mary's daughter. The electoral rolls are important as they establish relationships not corroborated by other records.
Constance died on 30 December 1960. Her address for probate was given as 26 Burwood Park Rd, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Probate, valued at £10,233/17/4 was granted to her daughters Constance Mary RICHARDSON and Patricia DOUGLAS.
Of the two children of John and Constance DOUGLAS:Constance Mary DOUGLAS was born 26 April 1919 (assuming we have the correct person in the 1939 register). She married Charles Sydney (sometimes Sidney) Harold RICHARDSON in 1939 at Thanet, Kent. At the time of the 1939 Register in September, Constance was by herself, apparently on holiday at Barry, Wales. Charles is not with her, nor is he elsewhere in the 1939 register.
Constance Mary RICHARDSON died in 1995, the event registered in December quarter, North Surrey. The death record gives her year of birth as 1919, which agrees with the year of registration of her birth in South Shields. She was not the only Constance Mary, born 1919, to die around this time but the only one in North Surrey where Charles Richardson died two years later. Charles Sydney Harold RICHARDSON died in 1997, the event registered in June quarter, North Surrey. The death record gives his full name and the date of birth as 3 November 1914, which agrees with the date of his birth registration in the December quarter in Lewisham. Charles and Constance RICHARDSON had two children: Julia Mary Douglas RICHARDSON was born late in 1939 at Cardiff. (She was NOT born in Sep quarter 1937 at West Ashford as most trees show - that Julia's parents were Alfred RICHARDSON and Eva CLARK). Julia married Donald Christopher ROSEWELL in 1958 at Surrey. She appears to have emigrated to New Zealand where she died 21 June 1912 in Christchurch. Patricia DOUGLAS did not marry. In 1939 she was working as a secretary and living with her aunt and uncle Edward and Dora DOUBLEDAY at Clawson Lodge, Orston, Nottinghamshire. By 1949 she had moved in with her mother and sister ay 26 Burwood Park Rd, Surrey. She died in 2006 in Surrey. Annie Edith GoodliffeAnnie Edith was the fourth child of John Frederick GOODLIFFE and Mary Jane. She was born in Nottingham on 19 July 1890. Annie (or Edith) is in the 1901 and 1911 censuses living with her parents. By 1939 Edith was working as a housekeeper for two widows at Oxton, Nottinghamshire. By 1945 Edith was back living with her mother, now at 26 Burwood Park Rd, Surrey (see the electoral rolls above for 1945 to 1962) where she lived for the rest of her life. Edith died at 26 Burwood Park Rd on her 82nd birthday, 19 July 1972.
Frederick Millington GoodliffeFrederick Millington (named after his mother's family) was born in Nottingham on 6 January 1894. He is in the 1901 census at Bridlesmith Gate with his parents. In 1911 he was a boarder at Bengal Lodge, Holt, Norfolk, part of the old Gresham's School. The 1911 census has Fishmongers Company written beside the Schoolmaster's oocupation. This relates to ownership or funding for the school being provided by the Fishmongers Company of workers in London. Frederick was originally recorded as Frederick Arnold Goodliffe and the Millington was added later. The schoolmaster made an interesting mistake. There are two family members named Frederick Arnold Goodliffe. One was the great-uncle of Frederick Millington who does not appear to have had any connection with Gresham's School. The other was the son of Arnold Daniel Goodliffe, who by 1911 had become the headmaster of another well-known public school, Huish College at Taunton. But I think the answer is more straightforward - Frederick changed his name to avoid confusion. in April 1912 Frederick sailed from Liverpool to Montreal, the first of several trips to Canada. On the manifest he is recorded as Frederick Arnold. On later voyages he is listed as Frederick A.M. Goodliffe.
Voyage to CanadaWithin a year of leaving school, the young Frederick went to Canada, possibly to source new suppliers and produce for the Goodliffe business. He departed Liverpool on 10 April 1912 aboard the "Cymric", heading for Montreal. He returned from Montreal to London aboard the "Scotian" arriving on 18 September 1912.
Frederick Millington married Daisy RAWSON in Nottingham in early 1914. Soon after the marriage, Frederick and Daisy sailed back across the Atlantic departing Liverpool for Boston on 17 February 1914 on board the "Andania":
After arriving in Boston they may have continued on to Canada, but by the time of the 1915 census on 1 June 1915 they were living at 228 Plymouth Ave, Buffalo, New York. They also have their young son John A.E. (Arnold Frederick according to the New York birth register) GOODLIFFE with them, who was just 60 days old (he was born in Buffalo USA on 5 April 1915).
Frederick, Daisy and John did not remain long in Buffalo but went on to Toronto, Canada. Two years later Frederick Millington enlisted in the Canadian Army on 31 May 1916. His army file extends to 72 pages, many duplicates and some blank. A selection is reproduced here. Click on an image for the full size version.
On 4 September 1916 (middle of the war) Daisy and their young son John arrived in Liverpool from Montreal onboard the "Missanabie". Frederick's Army record shows the change of address for Daisy to 52 Mayo Rd, Nottingham.
Frederick was wounded in the right arm in the war and spent some time in hospitals in England. In 1919 he was demobbed from the Army. Whether he went back to Daisy is unknown but there do not appear to be any further children born to Frederick and Daisy. On 25 June 1926 Frederick travelled alone back to Canada, departing Liverpool on board the "Montclare" arrving in Quebec on 3 July 1926, his intended future residence being in Canada.
Daisy remained in Mayo Rd, Nottingham. But in 1927 she made a short visit to Canada. She was a late addition to the manifest of the ship "Metagama" departing Southhampton on 30 March 1927 bound for St Johns, New Brunswick. A short while later she boarded the same ship for the return voyage from Montreal to Glasgow arriving 16 July 1927.
Not surprising, perhaps, in 1929 Daisy filed a petition for divorce from Frederick Millington GOODLIFFE. This was granted and she married Albert Greville ROBINSON in Basford in 1932.
Albert died on 12 February 1961 and Daisy died in Basford in 1974. Frederick remained in Canada. In 1967 he was living at 1456 East King Edward St. He died in Vancouver on 12 March 1982, aged 88 and is buried in the Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver.
What became of their only son John GOODLIFFE? He travelled from Canada to Nottingham with his mother Daisy in 1916. He did not accompany his father when he returned to Canada in 1926 or his mother when she made a short visit to Canada in 1927. He is not in the 1939 register. He is not mentioned in Frederick's obituary in 1982, suggesting John had alreday died. The answer lies in an obscure In Memoriam reference - John Arnold died in Grenoble, France on 21 July 1935, aged just 20.
Ada Grace GoodliffeAda was born in 1898 in Nottingham. She was aged 12 and living with her family in the 1911 census. In 1919, just after turning 21 she travelled to India alone and there married Lieutenant Ernest WOOD of the Indian Army on 14 January 1920. Ernest and Ada Grace had two daughters born in India - Audrey born in 1923 and Leslie Vivienne born 1930. There is more about the family of General Sir Ernest and Lady Ada Grace WOOD hereJune Callison GOODLIFFE - daughter of John GOODLIFFE and Marjorie CALLISONJune GOODLIFFE was born in Nottingham in 1926 to John Frederick and his second wife Marjorie. By this time John was aged 64 and Marjorie was 29. June was recorded in the early 1950s electoral registers living with her widowed mother and her brother in Montagu Sq. London. June married Charles Richard Babington ELLIOTT in Bingham, Nottingham in 1952. They had four children all born in Nottingham. Charles died in Nottingham in 2006. June died there in 2014. William Frederick Kaye GOODLIFFE - son of John GOODLIFFE and Marjorie CALLISONWilliam GOODLIFFE was born in Nottingham on 18 June 1929 to John Frederick and his second wife Marjorie. William attended the Dolphin School in Nottingham and was evacuated with the school to Winkburn Hall, Nottinghamshire in mid-1939.
William was living at 17b Montagu Square, London with his mother and sister according to the 1951 electoral register. He married Diana Lilian MacKENZIE-WILSON in 1959 at Hamstead. In 1961 they were living at 10 Fairhazel Gardens, Hampstead. They had one son, Harvey GOODLIFFE born 1962 in Hampstead. In 1963 William and Diana with young son Harvey emigrated to Sydney Australia. They are recorded in the 1968-1972 electoral registers at Bronte, a suburb of Sydney close to Bondi Beach.
Apparently the family did not like Australia, or perhaps William's job ended but at some stage around 1972 they returned to the UK. In 1978 William established Klend Limited, an advertising company which he dissolved in 1999. He was living at Farnham, Surrey. William Frederick Kaye GOODLIFFE died in Nottingham on 30 April 2003. Last updated: 06 August 2021 |
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