Thanks everyone, you have given me several ideas of next steps to try.
Help came from many places including British Columbia, Canada and New
Zealand.
Phil Bufton suggested I try the Gloucestershire FHS.
SEVERAL suggestions were made about free bmd search of birth of Clara
Teresa Jane Williams Gooden.
a. The most promising came from multiple individuals: Evelyn,
Nicola, Philip, Clive, Mal--Clara J. WILLIAMS, Cheltenham district, March
quarter 1866, volume 6a, page 407. I did not know I could search just
for Clara in Cheltenham in a specific time period on free bmd, so this
idea from a couple of listers was a most helpful idea to use in the
future. I think I will order this certificate first.
--Nicola commented that Clara could have been adopted or
illegitimate.
--Marilyn commented that this entry could also explain the
widowed Jane WILLIAMS with Clara on the 1851 census.
--Clive suggested Clara may have been registered as a
WILLIAMS and adopted the surname GOODDEN later.
b. Jeff, Rhianon, and Liz suggested Clara GODDEN, Evesham
district, March quarter 1865, volume 6c, page 364. Jeff commented that
Cheltenham and Evesham are about 16 miles apart.
c. Rhianon also suggested Clara Jane GOODEN, March quarter 1864,
Bath district, volume 5c, page 740.
d. Shirley suggested Clara WILLIAMS in Glouchester district,
March quarter 1865, volume 6a, page 241.
e. Clive suggested Clara Jane GREEN, also Cheltenham, volume 6a,
page 380 as a remote or slim misspelling for Goodden.
It appears Clara's father (as listed on her marriage certificate) Matthew
GOODDEN may have had three wives:
I. The first wife Hannah appears with Matthew on the 1851 census as I
mentioned earlier. Hannah was 23 and born in Cornwall, England.
a. Free bmd shows a possible marriage March quarter 1846 in
Honiton district, Devonshire between a Matthew GOODDEN and a Hannay
MUNDY.
b. Clive found a death for a Hannah GOODDEN, June quarter 1862,
in Northleach district. It is a short distance ESE of Cheltenham. This
looks like a possible certificate to order.
II. Wife number two, Ann, is still challenging and interesting.
a. Because of ages, she cannot be the Hannah from 1851 census as
that Hannah would be about 43. Also she was born a different place than
the first wife Hannah.
b. Ann GOODEN, on the 1871 census is age 24, born in
Gloucestershire, England. Cannot read the place of her birth.
c. Mathew GOODDEN, age 48 on the 1871 census is in a town prison
in Nottinghamshire, England.
d. Shirley wondered if Ann might be a daughter of the Jane
Williams with Ann and Clara on the 1871 census. She did find an 1851
census with a Jane and John Williams and several children, including an
Ann born in 1847. However she could not find a marriage between Matthew
GOODDEN and an Ann WILLIAMS and wondered if they never married.
e. Clive wondered in Ann in 1871 might be sister of Matthew who
was looking after Clara while Matthew was absent. This would only work
if Matthew was the eldest of the GOODDEN children and Ann was the
youngest with 24 years between their births.
III. Wife number three Harriet appears to be with Matthew the longest as
she is found on at least two census records.
a. On 1881 census Harriet is 43, born in Crasbury,
Worcestershire, England. This came from indexed record as the image was
very hard to read as I recall.
b. The 1901 census has Harriet, age 64, born in Cradley,
Worcestershire, England. Thank you Bernadette for sending an image of
this census. Gerald indicated Matthew was indexed as Marthen on that
census.
c. John, who lives in Cradley, knows of no place called Crasbury
in Worcestershire.
Annette sent a number of images from newspapers in Bristol and London
that explain the fraud Matthew GOODDEN was accused of and spent time in
prison for. These ranged from 1847 to 1890, so it seems to be a
persistent pattern in his life. These even mention other males in his
family as well.
Thanks again to everyone for all their help.
Ruth Ann Tolman Baker in the United States
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