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John Gibbs and Mary Goddard ©

Baptised in St James the Great Parish Church, Marston Sicca, on the 30^th September, 1770¹.  It is thought John was the third son of John Gibbs and Sarah (nee Wesson).  A convincing clue is the name of John & Mary’s first child: Sally Wesson Gibbs¹.  Nothing is known of John's early life, but it is thought his father may have been a Carpenter, as this is the occupation John followed⁴. 

John married Mary Goddard, after Banns,  on the 18^th October, 1807, in Bretforton, Worcestershire².  As there appears to be only one church in Bretforton, it is assumed the marriage was conducted at St Leonards in Bridge Street.  Both John & Mary signed their names and the record indicates both were from the Parish of Bretforton.  The officiating Curate was  John Tedshill and the witnesses were William & Elizabeth Pardoe and George Sheppard.  William & Elizabeth Pardoe were John’s sister and her husband.

Records tell us Mary was born around 1781, a possible baptism has been found for her on the 29^th April 1781, the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (possibly nee Garret), in the Holy Trinity Parish Church in Churchover, Warwickshire.  Churchover is approximately 60km south-south-west of Bretforton.

Parish records indicate John & Mary had at least three children: Sally Wesson 1809; John 1812; and Ann 1816, she married John Clarke 1839.  All three children appear to have been baptized in Bretforton.  It is thought Sally Wesson Gibbs died quite young, as no record other than her birth has been located.

John and wife Mary can be found on the 1841 Census³ living in New Street, Bretforton, John's age is given as 70, his occupation recorded as a Carpenter.  Mary's age is given as 60.  The record indicates neither was born in Worcestershire.  Next door to John and Mary were daughter Ann and her husband John Clarke.

John died on the 14^th March, 1850 at Bretforton⁴, and he was laid to rest in the St Leonards Churchyard on 19^th March 1850⁵.  He was 79 when he died, the cause of death was given as 'Visitation of God', his occupation as Carpenter and the Informant was a Chas Best, Coroner, Evesham.  ‘Visitation of God’ as the cause of death was used in a more religious time than ours, it meant the death was inexplicable and it was thought that God had decided that it was time for the person to die.  It later came to mean that the person had died of natural causes.

The 1851 Census³ shows us Mary was still living in Bretforton, but now with her daughter Ann and son-in-law John Clark.  Her relationship is recorded as Mother, condition Widow, age 67, occupation Field Worker, and place of birth as Gloucestershire, Mickleton.  In 1861, Mary is still living with Ann and John in Bretforton.  Recorded as Mother-in-Law, Mary's age is now given as 77, her place of birth as Weston Subedge, Gloucestershire, and  there is no occupation listed.

Mary died in Bretforton on the 7^th June, 1867⁴, and was buried in the Parish Churchyard on 11^th of June 1867⁵.  She was 85years old, the Widow of John Gibbs, Carpenter, and cause of death is given simply as 'Old Age'.  Her daughter-in-law Ann Clark was the Informant and she was present at the death.    

References:

1. Parish Baptism Record via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk

2. Parish Marriage Record via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk

3. UK Censuses via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk

4. Death Certificate

5. Parish Burial Record via Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk

Other Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk http://home.ancestry.co.uk/

FamilySearch https://www.familysearch.org/search/

Please contact me for further information