May 2001

Gordon Taylor (dk770taylor2_99 @t yahoo.com) of Ottawa, Ontario is interested in the Rev. Henry Goodwin and his family as his wife, Sophia is a gt.gt.aunt. He asks what would have been the duties of the Chaplain of the Watford Union? Any other information about the Goodwins would be helpful in my search for the family. Any pictures that might have been published, etc, would also be useful.

Did you visit the Watford Page? You will find modern pictures of the Watford Workhouse (now part of the General Hospital in Vicarage Road, Watford), and general descriptions of how the workhouses operated, on the web site The History of Workhouses. There are almost certain to be earlier pictures in some of the modern photographic histories of Watford, but I don't have copies to hand to check. The chaplain looked after the religious welfare of the inmates and may well have instructed the children in religious matters. Following you enquiry I have set up a new web page giving details of the Watford Union in 1882.

While you have undoubtedly seen the 1881 census entry for 121 St Albans Rd, Watford, Herts [FHL Film 1341349 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 1439 Folio 5 Page 3] I reproduce it below:

The "N K" for "not known" is unusual in an entry like this. It was clearly a highly educated family and it is very unlikely that Henry or Sophia did not know where, for example, their son Alfred was born. I suspect that they filled in the form incorrectly - simply giving the county - and the enumerator simply added "N K" when copying the forum into the book, rather than going back to explain to Henry he had done it wrong! (Probably the majority of the forms were filled in by the enumerator himself, from verbal answers, as many people would have had difficulty reading and writing.)

This missing information may be quite simple to rectify. It is obvious that Henry Goodwin moved around and as a minister he is almost certainly listed in trade directories and there may well be a Post Office Directory for Northumberland from about 1869 which would list him. With luck he may be at the same address in the 1871 census, where hopefully the form would have been correctly completed - supplying the missing information. It would also be worth checking the 1861 census for Twyning, Gloucestershire - and possibly a Gloucester Post Office directory of the period. You should also be able to find out more about his career in Crockford's Clerical Directory. (You should check the library catalogue at familysearch to see what directories are available on microfilm at your local LDS Family History Centre.)

Gordon Taylor (dk770taylor2_99 @t yahoo.com) replied giving more information saying Thanks for the information you provided and for the follow-up suggestions. Here are some details that I have that will add to those you provided.

Henry was christened 21 January 1821, St. Stephen Walbrook, London, the son of Edward and Mary Ann Goodwin. There is a period in his life from the mid 1860's to 1877 when he is not accounted for in Crockfords. He was in Scotland and 1866 in Northumberland in 1868. He is listed as Chaplain of the Watford Union from 1880, and he was curate of Whitstable, Kent 1877-1879.

Sophia was born 22 January 1832 at Cropthorne, Worcester, the daughter of Lt-Col Jeremiah Taylor and his wife, Sophia Barton.

Cecil Arthur was born 15 September 1866, at Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland.

October 2013

(Since the original enquiry the world of genealogy has changed. Very little was available online

Cabinet Card of the Rev Henry Goodwin   "Goodwin father of Edward Goodwin"  by J J Southwood 46 Woodford Road, Watford   Plain back Date circa 1904     In 1901 Edward J Goodwin was a 38 year old Wholesale Jeweller's Bookkeeper living with his father, Rev. Henry Goodwin, at 20 Westland Road, Watford.

Time Line for the Rev. Henry Goodwin 1820 Henry Goodwin was born 8th April 1820, the son of Edward and Mary Ann Goodwin, and baptised at St Stephen Walbrook, London 1841 Census Undergraduate Christchurch College, Oxford 1851 Census Vicar of Twyning, M A Church Oxford Church End, Twyning, Gloucestershire 1861 Census Vicar of Twyning Twyning, Gloucestershire 1863 Living sequestered Twyning, Gloucestershire 1866 Son Cecil Arthur Goodwin born Greenock, Renfrew, Scotland 1868 Son Arthur R Goodwin born N. Shields, Northumberland 1871 Census [not located]   1877-79 Curate Whitstable 1880 Chaplain Watford Union Workhouse 1881 Census Chaplin, Watford Union Workhouse 121 St Albans Road, Watford 1891 Census Vicar of Twyning, Gloucestershire 130 Milton Road, Stoke Newington 1901 Census Priest (Church of England) 20 Westland Road, Watford 1908 Death registered in Watford, aged 87

Cheltenham Chronicle, 29 February, 1908