My Family Tree

GODSEFF, Joseph

Events

Parents

Families

Narrative

[E_Cole5H17.GED]

[Cole5H17.GED]

Suicide by hanging
DC0285
DEATH OF MR J GODSEFF, (c5/3/1921 Newspaper cutting)

A TRAGIC END

FUNERAL AT ST ALBANS

Among horticulturalists generally, and among those at St Albans in particular, a keen sense of regret will be experienced at the news of the death under very sad circumstances, of Mr Joseph Godseff, aged 14, at his residence, "Cherry Grange", the Camp, St Albans, on Saturday evening,when he was found by his housekeeper hanging from a rope attached to the bannisters on the stairs. He had been a great sufferer of recent years and, according to a note which was found in his room after his death, he felt that his burden of affliction was too heavv to bear.

For over 5O years Mr Godseff was Manager for Messrs Sander & Son of theOrchid Nurseries, St Albans, and had previously acted in a similar capacity for Messrs William Bull of Chelsea. Before that he had held positions with other such well-known horticultural firms as Mssrs Veitch & Sons of Chelsea and Coombe Wood, and Messrs Saltmarsh of Chelmsford. He was regarded as an authority on orchid cultivation and had been responsible, in collaboration with others, for published works upon that subject and upon horticulture generally. He worked with the late Mr F Sanderin the compilation of "Sander's Orchid Guide" and with Mr F Boyle in "Orchid hunting in Borneo" and other works. He was also a writer for many years for various horticultural papers. He retired from active work with Messrs Sander in 1916.

Mr Godseff was born at High Easter, Essex, 75 years ago next August andit is interesting to note that there are records of baptisms of members of the family there dating back to about 1500. The original family name was "Godsave" and its records can be traced back as far as 1200 when it was associated with Norwich. Portraits of the family by a celebrated Flemish artist are preserved in the Dresden Art Gallery and in the Art Gallery at Windsor.

Mr Godseff some years ago lost his wife suddenly. She was attacked withapoplexy whilst ascending the staircase where he was himself discovered on Saturday. He leaves 4 sons and 5 daughters for whom in their bereavement much is sympathy is felt.

THE INQUEST

Mr T Ottaway, coroner for the St Albans Division, sitting with a jury of which Mr R Nelson was foreman, held an inquest into the circumstancesattending Mr Godseff's death, at the Camp Schools on Monday evening.

Emily Woolley, Housekeeper at Cherry Grange, told how on return to the house at ten minutes past five on Saturday evening, having been away since 3.40, she entered by the back door and found deceased hanging from the bannisters over the front of the stairs and she at once gave information as to her discovery. She said deceased was usually more or less depressed but be had never threatened to take his life to her knowledge.

P.c. Thorpe said on Saturday about 6.20 pm in consequence of a message received from Dr Boys he went in company with P.c. Slipper to Cherry Grange and saw deceased hanging with the rope produced round his neck fromthe bannisters of the stairs. With assistance witness cut the rope andlowered deceased to the ground. Life was then extinct. He searched deceased's room and there found the letter produced. The Coroner read the letter as follows:
"Chronic rheumatism, osteoarthritis, hernia, severe stone in the kidneys, stone in the bladder, stricture, valvular disease of the heart, anaemia, and dyspepsia - the load is too big and too heavy; it is perpetualmisery
-J. G. 5/3/1921."

Dr A H Boys, who was summoned to Cherry Grange at about quarter to six,said Mr Godseff was dead on his arrival. He had attended deceased eversince 1888 when he first came to St Albans. Latterly he bad been very poorly, very depressed and very frail. Witness was not satisfied with him and so got his partner to examine him but he could find nothing definite. Therefore they treated him as best they could. His depression was very marked last week. He had never heard him threaten to commit suicidebut he had said two or three times he wished he was dead. The cause ofdeath was a broken neck.

The jury, having been briefly addressed by the Coroner, retired for a few minutes and upon their return the foreman said considering the doctor's evidence and the number of complaints from which deceased was suffering, they had come to the conclusion that he met his death by hanging,owing to a depressed mind, and that he was not in his normal condition.
The Coroner therefore entered a verdict of "Death by hanging, and that the deceased at the time was not of sound mind."
The foreman, on behalf of the jury, expressed sympathy with the relatives.

THE FUNERAL

The funeral of Mr Joseph Godseff took place on Wednesday at St. Albans Cemetery, when there was a large attendance of sympathetic friends. The service was conducted by the Rev H W Taylor, a very old friend of the deceased. In a short address he remarked that they had been drawn together that afternoon by affection for the memory of him who was gone. The small gathering in the chapel was representative of a large number who were absent, and who were thinking of the relatives in their sorrow and bereavement. With tender memories they would like, by their thoughts andprayers, if not by their presence, to bear testimony to their deep respect and tender memory of him who was gone. He thought the deceased had lived a remarkable life for he was endowed with great gifts in his profession, and he had used them to the greatest advantage, but they could remember something far more important than this, viz., his kindly nature, genial spirit and a heart which was full of tenderness and had something that brought friendship.

The immediate mourners were Messrs Leo Godseff, Joseph Godseff and H D Godseff (sons), Walter Harvey, Ernest Riches, Frank Chennels and Robert Seabrook (sons-in-¡law). Among others present were Messrs McNab, R L Samuel, H T Pitt, W Pullinger, C W Grant, W Orrin, E W Cooper, - Thrower, PR Scott, J Allen, H Tuke, W Gatt, J Broadhurst and J Palmer.

The body was enclosed in a solid English oak coffin with brass fittingsand the breastplate bore the inscription, "Joseph Godseff; died March 51921 aged 74 years."

Beautiful floral tributes were sent by the following:- "From the sons"; "In loving memory of dearest father from Tot and Bob"; in loving memory from Stella, Frank and the children"; "In loving memory from Ern andTid"; "With deepest sympathy from his fellow-workers"; "Mr & Mrs. Armstrong and Mr McNab"; "Mr & Mrs. Broadhurst"; "Mr & Mrs. O'Dell"; Mr & Mrs. Walter, J .Harvey & family"; "Mr Grant and Mr & Mrs. Hall; "Mr & Mrs. Smith"; "L D Hyland"; "From old friends at 67 & 68 Cheapside"; "Mr. FK Sander (St Albans)"; "Miss Woolley"; "A token from his beloved garden"; "Peggy"; Mr & Mrs. Brockett"; also a wreath without any name or inscription.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by Messrs W Page & Son, St Albans.

[source DC0285: email pages from Ann M. Cole, OCR'd and edited by DavidCole, Feb 8, 2004]
/godseff.rtl
/DC0285

Source References

Pedigree

Ancestors