Godden

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The Godden Family lived at Tyneham from around 1906 until at least 1912 but had left before 1918

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William Allan Godden (1872-1952)

William, known as Alan, was born at Portesham, Dorset on 11 January 1872 and baptised there on 3 March 1872. He was the son of agricultural labourer Levi Godden (1822-?) and Sarah Godden nee Bussel (1826-1904).

In 1881, the family were living at Goose Hill, Portesham and Alan aged 9 attended Portesham school. By 1891, Alan was also an agricultural labourer living with his parents at Front Street, Portesham.

Alan married Rose Mary Legg (1880-1971) in late 1897 or early 1898.

Alan and Rose had seven children:

• Annie Rosina Allan nee Godden (1898-1968) – Annie is believed to have married Thomas Cairns Jock Allan although little information – they had a son Anthony William Allan (1927-2009) known as Tony.

• Gladys Maud Brookes nee Godden (1899-1991) – Gladys was born at Portesham on 9 August 1899 – she married Sidney Brookes in 1922 and they had a son Robert Edward George Brookes (1923-1985) and a daughter Kathleen Edith Mary Ralph nee Brookes (1924-1991) – in September 1939 Gladys and son Robert were living at 4A Nile Street, Portsmouth – Gladys died in 1991 aged 91.

• Charles Jesse Godden (1901-1982) – known as ‘Bus’ – was born at Portesham on 2 October 1901 – married Elsie May Godden nee Wilson (1904-1979) in 1936 – was a cordite worker (most likely at the cordite works at Holton Heath – in September 1939 he was at the Cornelia and East Dorset Hospital at Poole – Charles died on 11 January 1982 aged 80 and was buried at Poole Cemetery

• Nellie May Godden (1903-2009) – Nellie was born on 12 December 1903 at Folke, Dorset – Nellie did not marry – she died on 5 October 2009 at the magnificent age of 105 – she was buried at Wareham

• Florence Beatrice Alice Dolton nee Godden (1905-1993) – ‘Florrie’ was born on 13 July 1905 at Bradford Peverell, Dorset – Florrie married George Henry Dolton (1905-1991) in 1931. In 1939 they were living at 37a Spring Road, Bournemouth. George worked as a wood machinist. George died in 1991 and Florrie on 24 July 1993.

• Alan George Godden (1907-1970) – Alan, known as Jack, was born at Tyneham on 4 May 1907 -Jack married Mary Saunders (1913-1995) in 1933 – they had a daughter Kathleen and a son also named Alan – Jack died in 1970 aged 63 and Mary died in 1995 aged 82

• Edward Frederick Godden (1910-1964) – Edward was living with his parents at Edward Crescent, Wareham in 1946 when he was fined 10s for failing to conform to traffic signs while riding a pedal cycle – Edward lived at 27 Edward Close until 1964 – he died at Poole Hospital on 26 March 1964 aged 52

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The Godden family were listed in the 1911 census of Tyneham. The six eldest children appear in the Tyneham school photo taken the following year:

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By 1918 Alan and Rose were living at 33 South Street, Wareham.

By September 1939 Alan aged 67 was working as a general labourer for Wareham Borough Council. He was living at 27 Edward Crescent with wife Rose aged 59, daughter Nellie aged 35, son Edward aged 29 and grandsons James Godden aged 19 and Anthony Allan aged 12.

Alan died on 6 July 1952 aged 80 and his widow Rose died on 4 December 1971 aged 91.

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Page last updated: 1 September 2023