Bluebell Family History Research

If you have watched the film or musical production of Kinky Boots then possibly aware that it is based on a true family ¹ and events around Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, England.

Therefore, it is quite likely that the WJ Brookes factory, along with the filming location Trickers factory ² in Northampton, Northamptonshire have similar histories to members of the GOOSEY family as many worked in the shoe manufacturing trade.

Thomas William GOOSEY was born on 31 August 1817 to Thomas GOOSEY and Sarah KEACH. We know the actual date per his baptismal entry ³ on 16 July 1837. It very clearly states his birth date was almost 20 years earlier. The father’s profession is given as Shoemaker.

He was the youngest of their eleven children that had been born over a period of about twenty years since their marriage ⁴ on 12 December 1796 in Irchester, Northamptonshire, England. It seems that two died in infancy and one at the age of 10 but the rest reached adulthood.

On 22 March 1839 he marries ⁵ Ann WILKINS at the Parish Church, Irchester, Northamptonshire, England. They are both of full age, neither married before and residing in the town. He is given as a Shoemaker and she is a Lacemaker.

His father is listed but there is not an entry for hers so presumably not sure who he was and did not provide a false name which is often the case seen documented presumably for propriety’s sake. Both bride and groom do not appear literate as sign with the mark of a cross.

The couple have a daughter, Harriet Wilkins GOOSEY, registered in Wellingborough District, Northamptonshire, England. This was in Q2 1839 so only a short time after they married. This was quite a common practise for them to be significantly pregnant at time of the wedding [citation needed].

In the 1841 census ⁶ the family has been transcribed as GODSEY. With the rounding of ages Thomas William GOOSEY is put as 20 whilst Ann WILKINS 25 and Harriet GOOSEY aged 2. On the same page is also Thomas GOOSEY and Sarah KEACH with both their ages given as 65.

All five are described as born within county and both men listed as Shoe Makers. Scrolling back several pages in the return we find an address given as Town Street and then ditto notation continues for the next fifteen pages before a different location included.

In Q3 1842 they have a son ⁷ George Wilkins GOOSEY. The middle name being mother’s maiden name is not attributed to these two children initially but becomes used later on.

As you will note the mother is not my 3x Great Grandmother and so sadly the year afterwards we find evidence of the death for Ann WILKINS at just the age of 27 leaving two small infants. She was buried ⁸ on 10 April 1843 in Irchester, Northamptonshire, England.

The following year on 16 September 1844 in the same location Thomas William GOOSEY remarries ⁹ and this time it is to Mary ARCHER. He is listed as a Widower whereas she is a Spinster but of Full Age.

Both Thomas GOOSEY and his father are still listed as Shoemakers whilst her father Thomas ARCHER is a Carpenter.

I believe Thomas ARCHER and his wife Ann (possibly MILLER or MYERS) had about ten children with Mary ARCHER being born about seventh. At least one I do not think survived infancy as appears the name was reused.

A Mary ARCHER was baptised on 30 April 1825 in Barrowden, Rutland, England that I believe to be the right individual based on later census responses. This is over 20 miles north of Irchester, Northamptonshire, England.

There seems to have been many families of similar names around the area and more work is required (including perhaps seeing if any DNA matches would assist) to try and clarify her correct parentage especially as not traced them in the 1841 Census.

Their first child, a boy, Thomas Archer GOOSEY was born on 27 May 1845 but sadly passed away just days later. Just under two years on they had a daughter Anna Maria GOOSEY, but she only lived from 23 March 1847 to before 03 May 1847.

Perhaps after this Mary ARCHER realised her husband’s first children had not been baptised or there was no evidence of it so on 12 December 1847 this took place in Irchester, Northamptonshire, England and she is erroneously listed as their mother.

She also must have become pregnant very quickly as on 12 March 1848 the baptism took place of a second Thomas Archer GOOSEY. Another couple of years and Sarah Ann GOOSEY joined the family with birth on 22 February 1850 and baptism on 07 April 1850.

In 1851 Census ¹⁰ the family is shown as six strong with father 33, mother 26 and four children at 11, 9, 3 and 1. Both parents and the older two children are all listed with the occupation Shoe Maker.

The property location is given as Boddington Square, believe it was actually called Poddington Square, which is just off the Main Street of Irchester, Northamptonshire, England.

The full list of GOOSEY individuals transcribed by Rushden Hearts and Soles is given which has 26 by that surname on the 30 March 1851 that appears to be across four properties.

Thomas William GOOSEY‘s parents are not listed and research indicates that they were buried on 30 May 1845 (her) and 03 December 1846 (him) in Irchester, Northamptonshire, England.

Having visited the parish church, St Katharine’s, ¹¹ and spoken to members of the clergy there it seems that they do not hold many records on site and were only able to find a single GOOSEY entry.

Many gravestones have been moved to the edges of the property for safety and did find one that was potentially a distant family member. ¹² Having looked at Irchester Saint Katherine Churchyard Memorials on Find a Grave it seems there are 35 matching records but no details and most only have the year of death.

There is also a large cemetery behind the church, that has been in use since 1929, but having had a look around some of it did not find any people with the GOOSEY name listed. Perhaps those that did survive moved further afield in the search for work.

Before the next census date of 1861 they have another five children. Nathaniel GOOSEY (bp 18 July 1852) ¹³, Annie Maria GOOSEY (bp 23 April 1854) ¹⁴, Emily GOOSEY (bp 27 April 1856) ¹⁵ , Christopher GOOSEY (b 04 January 1858 and bp 31 January 1858) ¹⁶ and Mary Elizabeth GOOSEY (bp 17 June 1860) ¹⁷.

Sadly the eldest child Harriet Wilkins GOOSEY had died during this period with her death being registered in Q4 1856 ¹⁸. She was aged just 17 and buried on 19 November 1856 ¹⁹ .

Unfortunately cannot confirm the family whereabouts on Sunday 07 April 1861 as it has been confirmed that the record for this specific location has been misplaced or destroyed.

Another daughter passed away. Annie Maria GOOSEY was buried on 11 May 1869 ²⁰ at just 15 years of age. So four of the fourteen children had died.

The 1871 Census places some of the surviving family members at Main Street, Irchester at number 86 on the schedule. The youngest six children are still with their parents with their ages ranging from 15 down to 4.

The eldest, Emily GOOSEY, is a Shoe Closer like her mother and son Christopher GOOSEY a labourer. Perhaps he thought this would be a better career choice. The others are described as scholars.

Between properties recorded as 85 and 86 is noted the phrase Parish Church, St Katherine’s so would appear they literally lived next door to it. Think I worked out from other references that it must have been on the side that is directly opposite the pub.

There are now more modern properties in the area that they would have been found. People at properties number 81, 82, 83, 87 and 88 from just those two census pages are also employed in the shoe making trade whilst a “Shoe Factory” ²¹ is recorded at 112 with the head of household there being a Shoe Agent.

Four years on and another two of the children die. FirstlyRosanna GOOSEY, aged 12, was buried on 06 February 1875 ²² and then Emily GOOSEY, at 19, was buried on 22 June 1875 ²³.

Few months later and Mary ARCHER died as there is reference to her being buried on 09 February 1876 aged 50 ²⁴. Although very sad at least the youngest child was coming up ten years of age and so would have been able to look after himself to some extent whilst Thomas William GOOSEY was working.

There has been a change by Sunday 03 April 1881 as now it appears he is no longer working in the same industry but described as an Iron Mines Signal Man. Also under the roof is the youngest child, who at 15 is a Farm Labourer, and as a different household within the property is another son with his wife.

The surviving Thomas Archer GOOSEY is described as an Iron Stone Miner whilst his wife is in the shoe industry along with some of their neighbours still. Would appear to be the same property because although the church is not referenced Farm House is as the previous property and that matches with the 1871 Census description.

Soon after the 1881 Census was taken it would appear that on 26 May 1881 Thomas William GOOSEY was admitted to Berrywood Asylum ²⁵. He is listed as a male pauper and remained a patient until his death fourteen years later on 27 November 1895. Cannot find him on an 1891 Census unfortunately.

It later became St Crispin Hospital ²⁶ and have established that the Northamptonshire Archive Services do hold the records as to his time there and so will need to arrange a trip to find out more about this sad situation.

In the 1890s two more of the children died. The youngest James Myers GOOSEY was buried on 13 April 1891 at 24 ²⁷ and then next youngest William Newman GOOSEY in Q1 1898 aged about 33. He also seems to have ended up in Berrywood ²⁸ but only for the few days before he died.

All the others do at least live to see the turn of the century. I believe most of the children stayed around the vicinity of Northamptonshire whereas my direct ancestor moved away presumably in the hope of a better life. Majority of those that reached maturity do seem to have married and had families of their own.

Thomas William GOOSEY and Mary ARCHER had twelve offspring together but as shown quite a few did not live to adulthood. Overall it seems he had the following fourteen children noted with the following details in indexes –

1. Harriet Wilkins GOOSEY (1839 – 1856), AAD 17
   • Birth Harriet GOOSEY, mmn WILKINS, Q2 1839 Wellingborough Vol 15 Page 416
   • Death Harriet GOOSEY, Q4 1856 Wellingborough Vol 3b Page 87, Age 17 ²⁹
2. George Wilkins GOOSEY (1842 – 1909), AAD 66
   • Birth George GOOSEY, mmn WILKINS, Q1 1842 Wellingborough Vol 15 Page 410
   • Marriage George William GOOSEY, 05 July 1865 to Ann Maria SMART (1835 – 1903) at St Giles, Northampton, Ages Full and Full
   • Death George Wilkins GOOSEY, Q1 1909 Northamptonshire Vol 3b Page 46, Age 67
3. Thomas Archer GOOSEY (1845 – 1845), AAD 3 days
   • Birth Thomas Archer GOOSEY, mmn ARCHER, Q2 1845 Wellingborough Vol 15 Page 410
   • Death Thomas Archer GOOSEY, Q2 1845 Wellingborough Vol 15 Page 314
4. Anna Maria GOOSEY (1847 – 1847), AAD <9 months
   • Birth – GOOSEY, mmn ARCHER, Q3 1846 Wellingborough Vol 15 Page 406
   • Death Anna Maria GOOSEY, Q2 1847 Wellingborough Vol 15 Page 289
5. Thomas Archer GOOSEY (1848 – 1926), AAD 78
   • Birth Thomas GOOSEY, mmn ARCHER, Q1 1848 Wellingborough Vol 15 Page 402
   • Marriage Thomas Archer GOOSEY, 06 July 1873 to Mary Ann MINARDS (1849 – 1932) in Irchester, Ages 25 and 23
   • Death Thomas Archer GOOSEY, Q2 1926 Wellingborough Vol 3b Page 143, Age 78
6. Sarah Ann GOOSEY (1850 – 1925), AAD 74
   • Birth Sarah Ann GOOSEY, mmn ARCHER, Q1 1850 Vol 15 Page 418
   • Marriage Sarah Ann GOOSEY, 02 September 1873 to George Spencer BUXTON (1850 – 1919) in Irchester, Ages 23 and 23
   • Death Sarah BUXTON, Q1 1925 Burton upon Trent Vol 6b Page 471, Age 78
7. Nathaniel GOOSEY (1852 – 1916), AAD 64
   • Birth – GOOSEY, mmn ARCHER, Q1 1852 Wellingborough Vol 03B
   • Marriage Nathaniel GOOSEY, Q1 1873 Wellingborough Vol 3b Page 219 [spouse options Emily HOUGHTON (1847 – 1885) or Emma FENNELL]
   • Marriage Nathaniel GOOSEY, Q2 1895 Wellingborough Vol 3b Page 352 [spouse options Ellen Elizabeth BAKER or Mary LOVELL – the latter born Mary ROGERS (1853 – 1930)]
   • Death Nathaniel GOOSEY, Q4 1916 Wellingborough Vol 3b Page 157, Age 64
8. Annie Maria GOOSEY (1854 – 1869), AAD 15
   • Birth Anna Maria GOOSEY, mmn ARCHER, Q1 1854 Wellingborough Vol 03B Page 117
   • Death Annie GOOSEY, Q2 1869 Wellingborough Vol 3b Page 86, Age 15
9. Emily GOOSEY (1856 – 1875), AAD 19
   • Birth Emily GOOSEY, mmn ARCHER, Q1 1856 Wellingborough Vol 03B Page 134
   • Death Emily GOOSEY, Q3 1875 Wellingborough Vol 3b Page 87, Age 19
10. Christopher GOOSEY (1858 – 1915), AAD 57
    • Birth Christopher GOOSEY, mmn ARCHER, Q1 1858 Wellingborough Vol 03B Page 75
    • Marriage Christopher GOOSEY, 07 May 1881 to Fanny POOR (1863 – 1906) in West Dean, Ages 22 and 18
    • Death Christopher GOOSEY, Q1 1915 West Ham Vol 4a Page 251, Age 57
11. Mary Elizabeth GOOSEY (1860 – 1933), AAD 73
    • Birth Mary Elizabeth GOOSEY, mmn ARCHER, Q2 1860 Wellingborough Vol 03B Page 140
    • Death Mary E GOOSEY, Q3 1933 Wellingborough Vol 3b Page 122, Age 73
12. Rosanna GOOSEY (1862 – 1875), AAD 12
    • Birth Rosanna GOOSEY, mmn ARCHER, Q2 1862 Wellingborough Vol 03N Page 144
    • Death Rosannah GOOSEY, Q1 1875 Wellingborough Vol 3b Page 113, Age 12
13. William Newman GOOSEY (1864 – 1898), AAD 33
    • Birth William Newman GOOSEY, mmn ARCHER, Q4 1864 Wellingborough Vol 03B Page 129
    • Marriage William Newman GOOSEY, 11 November 1891 to Naomi COLEMAN (1870 – 1940) in Irchester, Ages 27 and 21
    • Death William Newman GOOSEY, Q1 1898 Northampton Vol 3b Page 68, Age 32
14. James Myers GOOSEY (1866 – 1891), AAD 24
    • Birth Thomas GOOSEY, mmn ARCHER, Q4 1866 Wellingborough Vol 03B Page 137
    • Death James Myers GOOSEY, Q2 1891 Wellingborough Vol 3b Page 119, Age 23

Why did so many die young? Was it because they were just quite a poor family and therefore unable to perhaps feed all those mouths? Or is it possible that chemicals used in the shoemaking business had adverse affects on the family members?

Is this what caused the father to end in an asylum for such a time? Perhaps in time can purchase the death certificates for them all and see if this sheds more light on the family circumstances.

Other future research to look into includes finding maps of the area over the time frame to see if can make more sense of the lie of the land whilst they lived there and revisit to spend more time now have found more evidence.

Would also like to connect with more GOOSEY family around the globe and visit all the places that my direct ancestor moved through his lifetime. Had hoped to do this in 2020 with my family but unfortunately was unable to fulfil this that year and personal circumstances have changed since this date.

Footnotes –

More references to be provided for evidence at a later date and improved detail.

1. Boss In Boots – https://www.bossinboots.co.uk/ ↩︎
2. West Northamptonshire Council – https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/filming-northamptonshire/filming-locations ↩︎
3. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/9200/records/302614589 ↩︎
4. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9199/records/1181021 ↩︎
5. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9199/records/3895391 ↩︎
6. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8978/records/8779346 ↩︎
7. FreeBMD births – https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl ↩︎
8. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9840/records/15229998? ↩︎
9. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9199/records/3895420 ↩︎
10. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/8860/records/17569570 ↩︎
11. A Church Near You – https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/16617/ ↩︎
12. Find A Grave – https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2651767/ ↩︎
13. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/9200/records/746016 ↩︎
14. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9200/records/2615152 ↩︎
15. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9841/records/164780933 ↩︎
16. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9200/records/2615351 ↩︎
17. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/9200/records/2615463 ↩︎
18. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9201/records/2615276 ↩︎
19. Find A Grave – https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/206112401/harriet-goosey ↩︎
20. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/9201/records/2615786 ↩︎
21. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/7619/records/14415106 ↩︎
22. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/9840/records/15049445 ↩︎
23. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/9201/records/620159 ↩︎
24. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/9201/records/2616092 ↩︎
25. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9051/records/120984 ↩︎
26. County Asylums – https://www.countyasylums.co.uk/st-crispinduston/ ↩︎
27. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9201/records/620569 ↩︎
28. Ancestry – https://www.ancestry.co.uk/search/collections/9051/records/258926 ↩︎
29. FreeBMD marriages and deaths – https://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/search.pl ↩︎

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