Mrs Emma Goodridge nee Povey 1850 - 1924

Emma Goodridge nee Povey

Emma Povey was the second child of Richard and Jane Povey. She was born in Brighton in July 1850. The 1851 Census that was taken when she was 9 months old records that the Povey family was living in a shared house at 15 Boss's Garden in Brighton. Emma's two-year-old brother Edwin is also recorded.

In December 1853 Emma's father, Richard Povey die. He was 27 years old. In July the following year, her mother Jane gave birth to a second brother, Richard.

Things must have been difficult for Jane Povey and her three young children. In the 1850's there would have been little in the way of community support for a family who fell on hard times and the young Povey family would no doubt have been concerned about the prospect of ending up in the Workhouse. Emma's mother Jane is recorded living in Workhouse Lane, Chatteris on the 1841 Census with her older sister, Martha.

It would seem that a solution was found within the family as Jane married Matthew, brother of her first husband Richard in 1859.

The 1861 Census records that the family had moved to 51, George Street in Brighton and Emma's stepfather/uncle is working as a dairyman and greengrocer. (Did Matthew bring funds with him as part of the bargain struck to save his sister-in-law and her young family?) Emma and her older brother are recorded as scholars.

The 1871 Census records that Emma is living with the rest of her family at 51, George Street and is an assistant greengrocer in her stepfather's shop. Her brother Edwin was working as a printer and younger brother Richard was still at school.

Tragedy struck the family in 1871 with the death of her elder brother Edwin and again in 1872 when her other brother Richard passed away.

John and Emma Goodridge

outside their shop and home

26, Upper St James Street

By the time of 1881 Census Emma was a 30-year-old dressmaker still living with her parents above the family greengrocers shop in George Street. With both her brothers having passed away there must have been spare bedrooms in the house as the census records that there were three boarders in residence.

After the death of Emma's cousin Sarah Ann Goodridge she married Sarah's husband, John Goodridge on 25th December 1885. She became step-mother to 12-year-old Sarah Edith. On 8th June 1890, she gave birth to John Povey Goodridge in the front bedroom above the Goodridge butchers shop at 26, Upper St. James Street, Brighton.

The 1891 Census records Emma in a household with her husband, step-daughter, 9-month-old baby son, a domestic servant, Kate Ayling and butchers assistant Joseph Wellsman.

In 1901 Emma was living with her husband John, the butcher and her ten-year-old son John Povey.

Emma's mother, Jane Povey died in 1910.

The 1911 Census shows that Emma and her husband living above the Goodridge Butchers shop in Upper St. James Street with their 20-year-old son. Emma was 60 years old.

The First World War no doubt brought change to Emma's life as her son became a Lord Derby volunteer in 1916 and became an army lorry driver and saw service in France and in the immediate post war period served in Hanover. Alongside the shop, her husband also had a farm at Ham Lane, Lewes producing live stock to sell through his and his brother Harry's butchers shops. The loss of man power to operate the farm led it to be auctioned also in 1916.

Emma's husband John died in 1923 and she passed away on 25th March 1924. She died intestate and her son was granted probate on 6th May 1924 at Lewes. John Povey was executor for several relatives and throughout the rest of his life advised family and friends to write a will following his experience of settling his mother's affairs.

Mrs. Emma Goodridge post cards.

Emma Goodridge's handwriting