Elizabeth Goode (nee Pearce) (parents unknown as I don't trust any of the LDS stuff I've seen so need to research this more closely) 20 Aug 1820 - still alive in the 1901 census, not sure of death date.

Rachel Cooper (nee Goode) 24 Feb 1850 (Thomas Goode & Elizabeth Good (formerly Pearce), Westbury on Severn 1850 Newnham, County of Gloucester. Taken from her birth certificate.

Rhoda Minnie Goode 6 May 1869 she gives birth to Minnie Goode (father not listed and I've now idea where the name Rhoda comes from but it is used pretty consistently ever after though it is not on the birth certificate). The informant is Elizabeth Goode.

24 Aug 1873 she marries Anthony Cooper 25 years old, son of William Cooper deceased Collier at the registry office, Westbury on Severn, Gloucester.
Minnie Goode marries Albert Smith July 10 (or 18, its hard to read but as this is the day before she has her daughter Olive Elizabeth Smith I doubt it is the 18th).

Albert dies in 1891 as disclosed by a number of forum users (thanks :-)
Name: Albert Smith
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1869
Year of Registration: 1891
Quarter of Registration: Oct-Nov-Dec
Age at Death: 22
District: Runcorn
County: Cheshire
Volume: 8a
Page: 151

Before he dies they have a child Olive Elizabeth Smith (19 July 1888) and as she is my Great Grandmother, I guess thats where my story begins...

There is a Goode marriage here in the parish records Walford 1842
Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Pearce glazier
1841 they are in The High st, Mitcheldean
Thomas 45,(glazier) Ann 45, Elizabeth 21, John 12

FB

To start with:

Rachel COOPER (nee GOODE) born 24 February 1850
Thomas GOODE & Elizabeth (formerly PEARCE)

1851 Census, Mitcheldean, District 10, Page 24, Address: Townsend

All GOODE - All born 'say' Mitcheldean, Glos

Thomas - 30 - Mine Quarryman
Elizabeth - 29
Mary Ann - 9
Ellen - 7
Harriett - 2 or 7 (26 November 1848 - Mitcheldean records)
Henry - 6 (Blind)
Rachel - 1 (9 June 1850 - Mitcheldean records)

There was a member of the Goode family who married a Thomas Barnard in 1799 mentioned on earlier threads if you type in Goode in the forum index there is also another Goode mentioned in Gloucestershire county council archives as being in Gaol for Hawking around 1821,im related to them distantly as Phillip Barnard was my GG Grandmother Charlotte Barnards Father,not sure if these are the same Goode family you are researching?Also on my family tree i have a Cornellius Mason who married a Harriett Cooper both families also mentioned on previous forum threads.All the best with your search, Duncan

Thanks all, for those replies. I have a lot of the Goode connections (well some of them) though there were some real eye openers in what was posted. What I posted was really confirmation of a number of earlier postings (I finally have conclusive proof of the connections, particularly Rachel good being the mother of Minnie and Elizabeth bringing her up so that Rachel was free to go off and marry).

I have a couple of questions though, if someone is freeborn what does that mean? Base born is a nasty term for born out of wedlock, but what is freeborn (born in wedlock?). The other question is general, how much would being illigitimate hold you back in the world of the 1800's? I am beginning to think that there was an incredible stigma?

If anyone finds anything on the Cooper connection I'd appreciate that also.

Cheers all

Lawrence

if someone is freeborn what does that mean

Generally its used to imply not born into slavery etc, what context is the term used in your records ?

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>