Many of the early ancestors in this branch of the
Gosnell family lived
in the village of Newport, in Shropshire,
England. The first reference is to a Margery
Gosnell, who died at Lilleshall in 1634, although a link
between
Margery
and these later Gosnells living in Newport and Lilleshall is yet to be
proven.
Notes: The 1871 census and the marriage
transcript
lists Eleanor
A. Gosnell, rather than Alexandra Eleanor Gosnell. It is probable that
she generally went by the name Eleanor.
Married: James
Bryant
on
30 March 1812 in Newport, Shropshire, England
Sources:
Baptism: IGI Baptismal
records Batch
C034741
Marr: Marriage
records in the IGI
Arthur
William Gosnell
Arthur
William Gosnell
Birth: 14
June 1861, at 4:02 am, in
Newport,
Shropshire, England
Arthur's Birth notice appeared in the Newport
Advertiser and
North
Shropshire Herald on 15 June 1861:
"On the 14th inst., at Newport, the
wife of Mr.
T. Gosnell,
china and glass dealer, of a son."
Baptism: 21 July
1861, at the Independent
Chapel in Newport,
Shropshire, by the Rev. William Paton
Married:Annie
Ethelreda
Plumbe
on 21 February 1889 in the Church of Holy Trinity, Hobart, Tasmania,
Australia. The engagement took place in December 1886.
Children:
Enid Mary Gosnell
Kenneth
Arthur Gosnell
Wilfred Bertram Gosnell
Alan Geoffrey Gosnell
Phyllis Constance
Gosnell
Joan Winifred Gosnell
Occupation: Schoolmaster
Notes: In 1877, Arthur was the Goldsmith's Scholar for Latin and won
the
Skeats
prize for English Language. Arthur went to Cavendish College, Cambridge
when he was 17 (1878), and too young to take exams. (Cavendish College
was formerly County College. It closed for lack of funds in 1892 and
the
premises were occupied by Homerton College in 1894.) When he turned 18,
Arthur took the scholarship exam at Christ's
College, Cambridge, and passed. After three years at
Cambridge, he
got Maths Tripos. After this he "stayed in" and did Science, Chemistry,
Biology and Divinity. He had "rooms out", but dined in the college.
In 1886, the following recommendation was written
by the
headmaster
of the The King's College, Taunton, Somerset, where Arthur had taught
for
three years.
"THE KING'S COLLEGE
TAUNTON
Nov. 5th 1886
Mr. A. W. Gosnell,
B.A.,
Christ's, Cambridge, is now
spending
his third year as a Master in this School. In all that time I have
never
found him otherwise than thoroughly conscientious, loyal &
painstaking.
He has taken the highest Mathematical Form, & one of his pupils
was
26th for Woolwich. He has also taken general
work &
Science.
The School is young & has not yet read high in this subject;
but
several
boys have evinced an interest in the subject which I consider largely
due
to the oral teaching & experiments with which Mr.
Gosnell
has supplemented an easy text-book.
I should have no hesitation in entrusting
him with
more advanced
classes, such as his Cambridge recommendations would entitle him to
undertake.
Under our system, the charge of the the
School at
Preparation has
rested with him as his "week" comes round; & he is now
successfully
taking a Dormitory, for which a vacancy ocurred only this Term.
I should add that Mr.
Gosnell
is a high minded &
consistent
Churchman, of moderate views, a general favourite with both Masters
&
boys, & possesses a patient temper which never fails.
G.O.L. Thomson, M.A. Head Master of the King's College, Taunton Nov. 5th 1886
Christ's
College in Hobart, Tasmania (1890). The building is now known as Domain
House.
The headmaster at
King's College when Arthur worked there
was
George
Thomson, the husband of Louisa Plumbe. Louisa was the sister of Annie
Plumbe to whom Arthur became engaged in in 1886. The family story is
that before Arthur sailed for Tasmania he went to Cookham and
asked for one of the daughters hand in marriage - but no one knew which
one he wanted to get engaged to! Turned out to be Annie. Arthur then
left for Tasmania and a couple of years later Annie joined him in
Hobart, where they married in 1889. Arthur had a job teaching at
Christ's College, at that time a high school that tried to provide an
education reminicent of the English public schools for the boys of
Hobart. The school closed in the early 1890's (it was
eventually
resurrected as a college of the University of Tasmania), probably the
impetus for Arthur to move to Adelaide. The family (then with five
children!) was later to return to
England, leaving Adelaide on 5 August 1899. Arthur's father
had died the year previously, and perhaps he was
obligated to care for his mother and sisters.
During World War II, Arthur, then in his eighties, was
evacuated to
Bridgwater in Somerset, to live with his daughter Joan.
Death: 21 April 1944, in
Bridgwater,
Somersetshire, England
Will: I ARTHUR WILLIAM GOSNELL formerly of "Ranamere"
Knebworth
Road
Bexhill in the County of Sussex but now residing at "Rishworth"
Bouverie
Road Bridgwater in the County of Somerset Retired Schoolmaster HEREBY
REVOKE
all former Wills and Codicils made by me AND DECLARE this to be my last
Will.
1. I APPOINT my daughter PHYLLIS CONSTANCE GOSNELL
of "Ranamere"
Knebworth Road Bexhill aforesaid Spinster and my son ALAN GEOFFREY
GOSNELL
of 40 Scotland Road Melksham in the County of Wilts Clerk to Wessex
Electricity
Company (hereinafter called "my Trustees") to be the Executors and
Trustees
of this my Will.
2. I GIVE to the said Phyllis Constance Gosnell or
in case she
shall
die before me then to my daughter Joan Winifrid Griffin of "Rishworth"
Bouverie Road Bridgwater aforesaid and in either case free of legacy
duty
all my "Personal Chattels" as defined by Section 55 (i) (x) of the
Administration
of Estates Act One thousand nine hundred and twenty-five with the
request
that she will dispose of the same in accordance with any existing or
future
memorandum written or signed by me and deposited with this my Will or
left
among my papers at my death but I DECLARE that the foregoing expression
of my wishes as to the disposal of the said articles shall not create
any
trust or legal obligation even if the same shall be communicated to
either
of them the said Phyllis Constance Gosnell or Joan Winifrid Griffin in
my lifetime.
3. I GIVE to my Trustees free from all duties such
sum as may be
necessary to defray the contributions due or to become due by my
daughter
Enid Mary Gosnell in respect of the Pension Scheme under the Widows'
Orphans'
and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act One thousand nine hundred and
thirty-six
UPON TRUST to pay thereout the said contributions as and when they fall
due until my said daughter shall become eligible to receive a pension
under
the said Act.
4. I DEVISE the following free of all duties:-
(a). To the said Phyllis Constance Gosnell my freehold house
known
as "Ranamere" Knebworth Road Bexhill aforesaid and my freehold plot of
land adjoining thereto on the South side thereof.
(b). To my Trustees my four freehold cottages known as Nos. 1
to
4 Park View Harefield in the County of Middlesex UPON TRUST to sell the
same with power to postpone such sale for such period as they shall in
their absolute discretion think fit and to hold the proceeds of such
sale
and the net income until sale for my son Wilfrid Bertram Gosnell of
Ellangowan
R.R. No. 1 Enderby British Columbia Canada absolutely PROVIDED ALWAYS
that
out of the proceeds of the said sale my Trustees shall deduct the sum
of
Three hundred and thirty pounds (being the amount paid by me in respect
of a mortgage and other debts in connection with the said property) and
the said sum of Three hundred and thirty pounds shall fall into and
form
part of my residuary estate and be divided accordingly.
5. I GIVE DEVISE AND BEQUEATH all the remainder of
my estate
whatsoever
and wheresoever both real and personal not hereby or by any Codicil
hereto
otherwise disposed of unto my Trustees UPON TRUST to sell call in and
convert
the same into money with power in their discretion to postpone the sale
calling in and conversion thereof and after payment thereout of my
funeral
and testamentary expenses and debts and the legacies bequeathed by this
my Will or any Codicil hereto and the duties on any such legacies
bequeathed
free of duty to hold the same UPON TRUST for my children the said Enid
Mary Gosnell Kenneth Arthur Gosnell the said Alan Geoffrey Gosnell and
the said Joan Winifrid Griffin in equal shares absolutely PROVIDED
ALWAYS
that if any of the said Enid Mary Gosnell Kenneth Arthur Gosnell Alan
Geoffrey
Gosnell or Joan Winifrid Griffin shall die in my lifetime leaving issue
living at the time of my death who being male attain the age of
twenty-one
years or being female attain that age or previously marry such issue
shall
stand in the place of such deceased child and take per stirpes and
equally
between them if more than one the share of my estate which such
deceased
child would have taken if he or she had survived me.
IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand this
Seventh
day of September One thousand
nine hundred and
forty-three. A. W. Gosnell Heb Turner
7th
September 1943. Ethel A. Turner. 7th
Sept 1943
SIGNED by the said Arthur William Gosnell
as and for
his last
Will
in the presence of us both being present at the same time who at his
request
in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto
subscribed
our names as witnesses:- A. W. Gosnell
Ethel. A.
Turner 36 Quantock Rd. Bridgwater. Married.
Probate: From Probate records in Somerset House, London 1945:
GOSNELL Arthur William of Rishworth Bouverie-road Bridgwater
Somersetshire
died 21 April 1944 Probate Llandudno 2 January to Phyllis Constance
Goswell
spinster and Alan Geoffrey Gosnell clerk. Effects £4396 18s
2d.
Children: Henry and Fanny certainly had children. The 1881 census is
confusing
on the topic - it list a son, William, aged 35 born in London, and a
daughter
Mary, also aged 35, born in Newport, as well as Gosnell grandchildren.
The most reasonable explanation seems to be that William is the son,
Mary
the daughter in law, but it does seem oddly coincidental that William,
born in London, marries a girl from Newport. More research required
obviously!!
Notes: Emily De Bunsen, the daughter of Jane's employer was born in
Lilleshall,
Shropshire in 1848/49. If Jane was working for the rector at this time,
it might explain why her brother Thomas
chose to
get
married in Lilleshall in 1853 instead of in his home town (Newport,
Shropshire)
or that of his wife (Truro, Cornwall).
Notes: Janet took her matriculation while studying in Newport. She
went first
to Oxford High School as a Maths teacher but later returned to Newport
where she taught for a period (and where we find her in the 1881
census).
In 1884, she went to Clifton, Avon, living at 32 Upper Belgrave. Janet
taught philosophy in Jersey for a period and was the (unpaid)
headmistress
of High School, Cheltenham for 12 months. She took Intermediate in
Bristol
and took a B.A. in 1887. In 1888 she lived at Bideford, Devon and then
again in Clifton, this time at 7 Royal York Crescent. In 1889 Janet
joined
the staff of Girls Grammar School, Hitchin where she remained as
Headmistress
until 1919. The 1891 census finds Janet visiting the Plumbes
in Berkshire (Janet's brother, Arthur,
was engaged to
Annie
Plumbe at the time.)
Will:
This is the
last Will and Testament
of me
Janet
Elizabeth
Gosnell of 49
Queens
Road Tunbridge Wells in the County
of
Kent
Spinster.
1. I
revoke all former
Wills and other
Testamentary
dispositions at any time heretofore
made by
me.
2. I
appoint Eric Arthur Forbes Pennefather
of 22 Ember Farm Way East
Molesey
in the County of Surrey Railway Clerk
to be
the Executor of this my Will.
3.
I give devise and bequeath
all
my
real and
personal estate whatsoever and
wheresoever
unto my two nieces Gladys
Eleanor
Forbes Pennefather and Bessie Theodora
Forbes
Pennefather both of 49 Queens Road
Tunbridge
Wells aforesaid in equal shares or
to the
survivor of them living at the date
of my
death.
In
Witness whereof I
have hereunto
set
my hand this eighth day of June
One
thousand
nine hundred and forty #.
Signed
by the above named Janet
Elizabeth
Gosnell as and
for her
last
Will and testament in
the
Janet E. Gosnell
presence
of us both being
present at
the
same time who at her
request
in
her presence and in the
rpesence
of
each other have hereunto
subscribed
our
names as witnesses
G. Eldridge.
33 Vernon Rd.
Tunbridge Wells Kent
Married
Mary Louisa Gosnell
49 Queens Road
Tunbridge Wells
Spinster
Married:Elizabeth
Vigers on 4 July 1814, in Edgton, Shropshire, England
Occupation: Butcher
1928: Gosnell & Plant, butchers in Water
Lane
Pigot's Directory of Shropshire (1842) lists under
Butchers:
Goslell John, Water Lane, Newport
by 1850, John had moved from Water Lane onto the
High St. and
we
find
in Slater's Directory of Shropshire (1850) under butchers
Gosnell John, High St., Newport
Death: 5/6 August 1867, in Newport,
Shropshire,
England.
The death notice for John in the Newport
Advertiser
and Market
Drayton
Chronicle on Saturday 17 August 1867 reads:
"On the 5th inst., at
Newport, Mr.
John Gosnell,
in the
73rd year of his age." The Death Index records his age as
79.
Will: This is the last Will and Testament of me John Gosnell of
Newport in
the County of Salop Butcher made this first day of February one
thousand
eight hundred and sixty five I devise and bequeath all the real and
personal
estate and effects I shall die entitled to unto Benjamin Rees of
Newport
aforesaid Relieving Officer his heirs executors administrators and
assigns
Upon trust thereout to pay my debts funeral and testamentary expences
and
to permit my Wife to have the use and enjoyment of my household goods
and
effects and to receive the income of my real and personal estate during
her life she thereout keeping my real estate in repair and paying the
interest
on the Mortgage secured thereon And on her decease (or in her lifetime
with her consent in writing to make sale of the said real and personal
Estate either by Public sale or Private contract under such conditions
of sale he or they may see fit with liberty to buy in the same and to
resell
again without incurring any resposibility for loss occasioned thereby
and
to do and execute all such assignments and assurances to vest the same
in the purchaser or purchasers thereof And I hereby declare that the
receipt
of the said Benjamin Rees his executors administrators or assigns shall
be an effectual discharge to any purchaser or purchasers or other
person
paying money under this my Will or the trusts thereof And I hereby
declare
that he or they shall stand possessed of the proceeds of the sale of my
real and personal estate after defraying the expences attendent
thereupon
Upon trust to pay to my Granddaughter Mary Jane the daughter of my
deceased
son John a Legacy of ten pounds ( a note in the margin at this
point
reads "8 fifths mentioned. Original so.) And as to two fifth
parts
of the residue thereof Upon trust to pay the same to my son William his
executors administrators and assigns And as to two other fifth parts
thereof
Upon trust to pay the same to my daughter Jane her executors
administrators
and assigns And as to two other fifth parts thereof Upon trust to pay
the
same to my son Thomas his executors administrators and assigns And as
to
the remaining two fifths parts thereof Upon trust to divide the same
equally
between my daughter Mary Ann and son George their respective executors
administrators and assigns I devise all Mortgage and trusts estates
vested
in me unto the said Benjamin Rees his heirs executors administrators
and
assigns subject to the trusts and equities affecting the same And I
hereby
expressly declare that the said Benjamin Rees his heirs executors
adminstrators
or assigns shall not incur any responsibility by reason of my Wife
having
the use of my Goods and Effects or the income of my real and personal
estate
for life or for any depreciation or diminuition in the value or
quantity
thereof And that he or they shall be chargeable only to the extent of
his
or their actual receipts and be exempt from responsibility for
involuntary
losses And that he and they shall retain all costs and expences
incurred
in the execution of the trusts of this my Will or in relation thereto
And
I appoint the said Benjamin Rees sole Executor of this my Will hereby
revoking
all former Wills I declare this only my last Will and Testament. In
Witness
whereof I have to the foot or end of this my Will set my name the day
and
year first above written ______ J. Gosnell ____
Signed by the said Testator as and for his last Will and
Testament
in the presence of us both present at the same time who in his presence
at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto
subscribed
our names as Witnesses ____Jno. Sarjeant ____ Robert Jones } Clerks to
Mess. Hearne & Son Solicitors Newport Salop _________
Proved at Shrewsbury the twenty third day of May
1870 by the
Oath of
Benjamin Rees the sole Executor to whom administration was granted
The Testator John Gosnell was late of Newport in
the County of
Salop
Butcher and died on the 6th day of August 1867 at Newport aforesaid.
Under £100.
Birth: Aged either 73
(newspaper
notice) or 79 (Death
Index)
at
death.
Baptism: IGI
Baptismal records Batch
C034741
Occupation: Pigot's
Directory (1842),
Will
Death: England Death
Index (1Q1867 vol
6a p 584).
Probate
record
for John Gosnell gives the date of death as 6 August. Death notice in
the Newport
Advertiser and Market Drayton Chronicle (17 August 1867) has
the
date
as the 5th.
Will: Probate
records, Somerset House,
London
John
Gosnell
Baptised: 25 December 1825 in Newport, Shropshire,
England
Death: 7 June 1955, in Hitchin,
Hertfordshire, England
Will: I
Mary Louisa Gosnell of
Benslow
Nursing Home, Hitchin
in
the County of Hertford
Spinster
hereby revoke all testamentary
impositions
heretofore made
by me and declare this to be my
last
will which I make this
29th day of
June 1953.
I
appoint Francis Goerge
Shilliton
of Hitchin, Herts Solicitor
to
be Executor and Trustee of
this my will.
After
payment of my of
my just debts and funeral and
testamentary
expenses I give
devise and bequeath all
honest
residue and remainder
of my estate of what nature
or
kind soever unto and
equally
between my nieces
Phyllis
Gosnell of Ranamere,
Bexhill on Sea, Mrs
B.
Griffin
of Rushworth, Bouverie
Rd, Bridgwater, Somerset
and
Enid Gosnell.
In
witness whereof I have
heretofore
set my hand this day
and
year first above written.
M L Gosnell
Signed
by the above named
Mary
Louisa Gosnell as her last
will
in the presence of us
both
present at the same time who in
the
presence of each other
have
hereto set our names as
witnesses
Constance
P Davre
Violet K Mc
Dowall
Benslow Nursing Home
Hitchin
Nurse.
Notes: In the 1841 census,
there is a Thomas Gosnell living two doors down from the John Gosnell
in
this family, on Water Lane. In the 1851
census, they appear living close by again, now on the Lower
Bar.
This
Thomas is recorded as aged 62 in the 1851 census which makes this
Thomas,
a maltman, born in 1788 or 1789. Almost certainly he is the Thomas
Gosnel
recorded in the IGI as baptised in Newport on 7 December 1788, the son
of Thomas Gosnel and Ann. This Thomas married Margaret Breeze on 31
March
1834, in Newport. It is possible that the father is the same Thomas,
with
Ann as the first wife and Jane as a second wife. The fact that Thomas
and
John lived so close together gives some support to this theory, as does
the fact that neither of THomas and Jane's two sons were given the name
Thomas, but we certainly have no direct evidence of it yet.
In 1791, a Thomas Gosnell is recorded
as a victualler at the Swan in Newport.
This must have been
one or other of Thomas (m. Ann) or Thomas (m. Jane), or himself if he
married
both! There exists today a Swan on Lower Bar in Newport,. but I don't
know
if this is the same one. ONe further note is that in 1828, the Swan
was being run by a William Plant. The curiousity is that at the same
time,
John Gosnell (Thomas's son) was running a butchery on Water Lane with a
Plant (Gosnell & Plant Butchery)- clearly there are at least
business
links between the Gosnell and Plant families.
Thomas
Gosnell
Baptised: 29 September 1822 in Newport, Shropshire,
England
Death: 13 October 1898 in
Bideford, Devon,
England
Notes: At the birth of his youngest son, Arthur, in June 1861,
Thomas was
resident on the High Street in Newport. In the 1881 census, they are
still
listed as living on the High Street though since numbers are unrecorded
in either instance, it is unknown whether this was in the same house.
We
do know that in 1861, Thomas is listed as a printer (journeyman) but by
1868, as shown in the advertisement below, he had set up shop selling
china
and glass.
In 1868, Slater's Directory of Shropshire
has listed under
China,
Glass &c Dealers
Cartrwright William, High St. Newport
Gosnell Thomas, High St. Newport
Griffiths John, High St. Newport
which tells us of Thomas's competition at this point. Thomas
is still
listed as a china dealer on High St. in Owen's Directory of
Shropshire
(1879) and in Edward Casey and Co's History, Gazeteer and
Directory
of Shropshire in 1871.
In the 1881 census Thomas is still listed as a
glass merchant.
At
this
time, it is likely that they lived above the store in which Thomas
worked.
On one side of Thomas's shop was a milliner and dressmaker's shop, and
next door but one on the other side was an Inn.
Thomas advertised his glass shop in the Newport
Advertiser.
This
is an example from August 22 1868.
CHINA, GLASS, AND EARTHENWARE
ESTABLISHMENT ------
T. GOSNELL Most respectfully draws attention to his
well-selected stock
of
CUT GLASS, CHINA, AND EARTHENWARE which he feels confident will give perfect satisfaction.
The Show Room contains a large variety of English and
Foriegn ORNAMENTS of various kinds from which no
difficulty can be experienced in a good selection.
All kinds of Brown and other ware kept in Stock.
Will: This is
the last and
only Will and Testament
of me Thomas Gosnell of
Newport in the County
of Salop
Printer made this twelfth day of October One thousand eight hundred and
sixty four. I direct payment of my debts funeral and testamentary
expenses
immediately after my decease. I devise and bequeath all the real and
personal
Estate I shall be entitled to at my decease whether in possession
reversion
remainder or expentancy with the appurtenances Unto and to the use of
my
dear Wife Mary her heirs executors administrators and assigns
absolutely.
And I appoint my said Wife Mary sole Executrix
of
this my Will. In witness
whereof I have to the
foot
or end of this my Will set my name the day and year first above
written.
___________Thomas Gosnell.____________ Signed by the said Testator as and for his last Will
and
Testament
in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presence at
his
request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subsribed our
names
as witnesses. _______Jno.
Sarjeant____________Jno.
Slaney.___________Clerks to Hearne & Son Solts.
Newport. Salop.____
On
the
thirtieth day of November 1898
Probate
of this Will was granted at Exeter to Mary Gosnell Widow the Relict the
sole Executrix.
Probate: From Probate records in Somerset House, London 1898:
GOSNELL, Thomas of 7 North Down-road Bideford Devonshire
gentleman
died 13 October 1898 Probate Exeter 30 November to Mary Gosnell widow
Effects
£3699 12s 1d.
Notes: The IGI records the baptism of a John Gosnell in Newport on
17 December
1848, whose parents were William and Elizabeth Gosnell. It seems likely
that this was this William as there were not many Gosnells in Newport,
but this remains unproven. This is also probably the William Gosnell
who
died in Newport in 2Q1897, aged 70. (England Death Index 2Q1897 vol 6a
p 473)
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modifications to the
information
on this page, please feel free to email me.
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