48 Book: Memoirs of an Ancient Lady by Jessica nee Goatcher Godwin (48.html)
(To enlarge .....Click it)
Memoirs of an Ancient Lady
Jessica Godwin (nee Jessie Goatcher) published her `memoirs` (ISBN:1 872795 64) in 1992 on her 100th birthday.
In her book (see Book 1) under "Acknowledgement", Jessica wrote:
William Bloomfield Esq., for his help, support and encouragement.
David Cole created a list of all persons mentioned in Jessica's book, with a list of all the pages where each person
is mentioned. This list can be viewed here: Person List
Jessica: Reader of Tea leaves
Jessica, her mother and some of her descendants were tea-leave readers. She mentions this in her book on page 28:
"Miss Goatcher is the lady`s name.
On contractor work she gained some fame
By climbing hedges smashing gates
And by the tea-leaves telling fates."
The webmaster has written an article about "Reading Tea Leaves". It is named Gen: Taasseography 101 (88.html) and can be found in Source 13.
The family members and descendants who can read tea-leaves are:
1 Sarah Jane Goulton (1853-1946) (tea-leave reader)
2 Jessie Goatcher (tea-leave reader)
2 Philip Goatcher
3 Doris Goatcher (tea-leave reader)
3 Marion Goatcher
4 David Cole (tea-leave reader)
5 Barbara Cole (tea-leave reader)
6 Tristan Marcoux (tea-leave reader)
6 Emma Marcoux (tea-leave reader)
Jess and her good friend Harry Elkins
"A day out at Clevedon"
This is a seldom mention of Harry's surname. (his surname is not mentioned in Jessica's memoirs). But Jessica and her friend, Harry Elkins, and this very photo
were mentioned on page 2 in a Bath News newspaper article on Monday March 2, 1998 (Source 10).The caption read:
LOOKING BACK: Jessica in her 50s with family friend Harry Elkins . . .
Harry was a good friend indeed. In his will, he left Jessica all of the interest on much of his money for the rest of her life. And remember . . . she died at
the age of 106. Needless to say, his other beneficiaries waited a long time for her to die. See the notes below that lead us to believe that this
is the same Harry Elkins who was the miller at the well-known Sturnminster Bridge. This bridge is approximately 40 miles due South of Bath.
On one occasion, Jessica confided to the author (David Cole), "Poor old Harry, what a dear! He loved me so! He asked me to marry him, you know, but I felt I didn't need
a third husband. I wonder how I could have managed without all the money he left me."
(To enlarge .....Click it)
Clevedon, Somerset (as Jessica may have remembered it)
Harry Elkins
There is mention of a person named Harry Elkins (c1880-retired in 1946) in Source 8. It may or may not be the same person that knew
Jessica Godwin. But the
years of his life span match those of Jessica Godwin (1892-1998) remarkably well!
Dorset Life said:
"Dorset has certain iconic images, of which the Cerne Abbas Giant and Corfe Castle come immediately to mind, but up there with them
is the instantly recognisable Sturnminster Newton Mill [alternate spelling: Sturminster Newton Mill] ........."
"When the Museum Society took over the mill, they advertised in the Blackmore Vale Magazine for someone to run it. Peter Loosmore had
been born in one of he cottages opposite Sturnminster Bridge. The mill was in his blood: his grandfather, Harry Elkins,
had been the miller from 1904 and through into the Blandford & Webb days, retiring in 1946. The mill was then taken on by his nephew,
Sam, who ran it until its closure in 1970. ..."
Note that Sturnminster Bridge is approximately 40 miles due South of Bath. For more info, see Source 11.
Sturnminster Newton Mill
(To enlarge .....Click it)
Sturnminster Newton Mill
In conversation with the Vicar
In Book 2 of the bibliography below, we find the following description (written in 1982) of Mrs Jessica Godwin:
The sprightly young-looking lady who sits near the sacristy at the Family Communion every Sunday
recently celebrated her ninetieth birthday. We extend to her our hearty congratulations.
The other Sunday she told me, "I had five people to dinner last night. I did not get to bed until
1.30 a.m. after a wonderful evening, and I was up again this morning at 6.30, so I am a little tired."
"Why did you get up at 6.30?" I asked her, "Oh! I always get up at 6.30" she replied. "Then what time
do you normally go to bed?" I enquired. "Always at 11 o'clock" was the answer.
Mrs Jessica Godwin is indeed a Christ Church personality. She was born at Worthing where her
father was a master baker. He died when Jessica was only three, and [her] mother was left with a baby two days
old, as well as two other sons and two other daughters besides Jessica.
Mother had difficulties in bringing the family up. Do you wonder? After a time, mother's brother
came forward to take over the responsibility of the children's up-bringing, all except the baby. Jessica
was put into Doctor Toye's Home for the Fatherless at Lewisham where she remained until her mother
remarried when Jessica was eight years old.
"At the time I was at the Home, I was a sickly child. I had a great deal of excema and was brought
up on cod-liver oil and malt. They always referred to me as "Little 85' - a number instead of a name."
When mother remarried, Jessica went back with her and her step-father and her younger brother to
Brighton where she attended St. Margaret's Church. It was a most unhapppy time, for her step-father was
strict and severe and made frequent use of a strap. Jessica's mother had a friend who had a daughter in
London and when Jessica was fourteen she went off to be with her as a companion. "It was a dull period
of my life." she said.
At the age of twenty-four Jessica left and joined the [Women's] Land Army. She was sent to Guildford for her
first consignment and then went to work on the Prime Minister's land at Chequers. she worshipped at
Aylesbury Parish church were she was confirmed. Later she was transferred to the Tractor Section of the
Land Army at Abingdon. "There we received the first Fordson tractors to come to this country [from America].
Two Americans came with them to show us how to manipulate them! "
I saw Jessica's Certificate of Discharge on demobilization. She was referred to as "a tractor
driver of exceptional ability."
It was at Abingdon that Jessica met her first husband, Albion [Godwin]. He was the District Executive
Officer for the Board of Agriculture. All her family were by now in Canada, and, after demobilization,
Jessica went to stay with them. She remained in Canada for eleven months and returned to England in
1921. In August of that year she and Albion were married at St. Peter's [in] Brighton. They lived at Wantage
for a short period, and then took over a five hundred acre farm near Basingstoke - where they remained for
seven years. "We had rented it and were losing money, so we sold all the equipment and came to Bath. We
bought an Apartment House in Belvedere. We found it difficult to make ends meet and when the maids left in
1943, we turned it into flats."
In 1945 she went to Canada to see her mother who was very ill. Following her mother's death, she
returned to Belvedere, bought two cottages at Wick, turned them into one, and later Jessica and Albion
moved out of Belvedere and moved to Wick. Within ten months, Albion had died. He was buried at Wick church.
Jessica remaind at Wick for five years. Then one day she was on the underground in London. She was
struck by a handsome gentleman sitting opposite her. When she got out at Richmond (she was to be met by
her brother) the handsome gentleman also got out. To her amazement her brother not only greeted her, but
also introduced the handsome gentleman to her as his brother-in-law [named George Lilof].
After such a romantic coincidence, I was not surprised to hear that Jessica and George were later
married - at Wick Church.
The cottage at Wick was sold and Jessica and George went off to live at Bournemouth - but only for
eighteen months. Then they came back to Bath and lived at the house which Jessica still owned at
Belevedere. Sadly in 1969, George died from pneumonia. Jessica remained at Belvedere until 1980 when she
moved to Green Park and it is from there that she comes to worship with us every Sunday.
I asked her for her comments on the Church of England in 1982. How wise was her answer;- "Of course
I prefer the old language of the Prayer Book, but I am not qualified to pass comments on the
liturgical principles behind the new services."
"Of course I received no education at all really", she added. What an amazing statement, for I consider
Jessica to be a cultured and educated lady. "You mean you received little education in school," I retorted
"but life itself is a great educator if you approach it in the right way and this you have done."
How fortunate we are to have Jessica as a member of our Christ Church family! She tells me she is
writing her life story. We look forward eagerly to reading it.
R.R.B. [Revd Roger Roberts]
1917 Fordson Tractors
The first Fordson Tractor was built in 1917 and some of them "were exported to the U.K. in 1917 to expand
British agriculture." according to Source 9 (Wikipedia). At age 24, in 1916, Jessie Goatcher joined the Women's
Land Army. It should not surprise us that she was trained to drive a tractor that was first exported to England in 1917.
St Bartholomew's Church in Wick, between Bristol and Bath
Jessie (Jessica) nee Goatcher Godwin is buried at Old St Bartholomew's Church in Wick, South Gloucestershire, England.
In her autobiography, Jessie refers to it as [Old] Wick Church which is shown in the photos above. Both Jessica Godwin and her first husband,
Albion Godwin are buried at Old Wick Church. The official name of the church is Church of St Bartholomew. Some refer to it as "Old St. Barts.". It is List entry Number: 1216152 in
Historic England. For more information refer to Source 12. This church, sometimes referred to as
"Old St. Barts.", is situated approximately 10 houses East of Court Rd on A420. This is approximately 9 miles NorthWest of Bath, Somerset,
England as can be seen in the map below.
It is located at:
106 Church Rd
Wick, Bristol BS30, UK
51.453033, -2.438181
Albion GODWIN (1874-1954) and Jessica nee Goatcher GODWIN (1892-1998) are both buried at the Old St. Barts' Cemetery just west of Wick. The address of the Old St. Barts' church and cemetery is 106 Church Street. Their headstone reads:
In memory of
ALBION EDWARD GODWIN
the dear and loving
husband of Jessica
who fell asleep March 15, 1954
aged 79 years
also
JESSICA GODWIN
the dear and loving
wife of Albion
who fell asleep March 18th, 1998
aged 106 years
Music Box Gift from Aunt Jess
(To enlarge .....Click it)
Music Box gift from Aunt Jess
The Music Box shown above was manufactured by Nicole Freres in Geneva. It was purchased by Jessie GOATCHER around 1990. A description of this actual music box appears in Source 15. A professional description of this type of music box appears in Source 16.
A Carrot for the Donkey
An early version of Jessica's memoires (Book 1) exists. A manuscript of this early version (Book 3) was called "A Carrot for the Donkey". I believe that this name was chosen to afford some anonymity for the people named in the manuscript. Two copies of this typed manuscript exist in the archives of David Cole. One was in the possession of my mother, Marion nee Goatcher Cole, the other of my aunt, Doris nee Goatcher Redmond North.
The first page of "A Carrot for the Donkey" begins:
Chapter 1
A Carrot For The Donkey
It was in the year 1892 when my mother walked home along the Worthing Front.
It was a lovely evening in June and she would have liked to sit and rest and
at home was a sick husband & 5 children
watch the sea and the late promenaders, but ^ I was the youngest, a puny baby
of 3 months! "I wonder" said my mother to herself, "if that poor mite is
still alive!"
I hope she was relieved to find that I was, for poor dear, it must have been
very hard going to earn enough to feed us all and keep the home together, but
whatever harsships she suffered then, it was nothing to what she had to bear
later!
. . . . . . . .
Sources
Books
Book 1: Memoirs of an Ancient Lady by Jessica Godwin (nee Jessie Goatcher) ISBN:1 872795 64, Publisher: Anthony Rowe Ltd (Source 3), Date: 1992
Book 2: Christ Church Personalities [page 5] of the Christ Church Challenge [monthly booklet] 1982 E May
Book 3: A Carrot for the Donkey (manuscript) by Jessica Godwin c1980 Early version of Book 1
Web Sources
Web Source: S048:01: Alice GOULTON DOB: c1860
by David KC COLE, Date: 2014 F Jun 30
Web Source: S048:02: Anthony Rowe Ltd, Bumpers way, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN14 6LH, England, UK, as of 2015
Web Source: S048:03: List of persons mentioned in Book 1
by David KC Cole, Date: Apr 15, 2006
Web Source: S048:04: List of persons mentioned in Book 1
by David KC Cole, Date: Apr 15, 2006
Web Source: S048:05: Gen: Zeals School by David KC COLE, Date: 2014 F Jun 13
Web Source: S048:06: Article:1953 Zeals-More Info re Jessie Goatcher by David KC COLE, Date: 2014 F Jun 13
Web Source: S048:07: Zeals in 2015 WhiteSheet Primary Academy, Date: 2015 D Apr 12
Web Source: S048:08: Mention of a Harry Elkins Dorset Magazine, Date: 2010 B Feb
Web Source: S048:09: Fordson TractorsWikipedia, Date: Aug 3, 2015
Web Source: S048:10: Bath [England] News page 2, Monday March 2, 1998 Article Title: 106 Today: Jessica aims to see in new century for a second time.
Web Source: S048:11: Hilly Ground Cottage HolidaysAdvert. Date: Aug 3, 2015
Web Source: S048:12: Historic England: St Bartholomew Church in South GloucestershireBuilding # 4 in the center of the map
Web Source: S048:13: Gen: Tasseography 101 Reading Tea Leaves by David KC COLE, Date: 2014 F Jun 13
Web Source: S048:14: Jessie GOATCHER 
at FamilySearch world family tree
Web Source: S048:15: Nicole Freres Music Box from Jessica GODWIN by David KC COLE, Date: 2020 L Dec 02
Web Source: S048:16: Nicole Freres Music Box Professional Description pg 389 by Jocelyn R. Walker, Date: 1967
Written: 2014 A Jan 15
Updated: 2023 G Jul 13
By WebMaster: Ye Old King Cole
/48.html
