John Goodridge 1848 - 1923

John was born on 10th December 1848 in Horsham and his birth was registered in the first quarter of 1849. He was the eldest child of William and Jane Goodridge. The 1851 Census records that his father was a milkman in living at New Street in Horsham and the family then had two children as Elizabeth had arrived in 1850.

The 1861 Census show that his father was still working as a milkman, his mother a dairywoman and that three more siblings had been born. William in 1853, Sarah in 1855 and Fanny in 1861. John was a scholar. In 1862 he was attending the Horsham Free Grammar School. (The changes in education over the next 125 years saw the Free Grammar School become College of Richard Collier, a 6th form college. In the late 1990's one of John's gr.gr. grand daughter's was a student at there for two years.)

John moved to Brighton in 1868, aged 18. According to his son, John Povey Goodridge he'd fallen out with his employer in Horsham, left his job and walked to Brighton with a friend. The 1871 Census shows that he was working as a butchers assistant and was a boarder at 18, Boss's Garden in the town. (In 1851 his future mother-in-law Jane Povey was living at 15, Boss's Gardens with her first husband.)

John married Sarah Anne Hylden on 25 Dec 1871 at Saint Nicholas, Brighton, and their first home was at 20 Bedford Street Brighton. (It is interesting to note that a witness at Jane Povey's marriage to her first husband Richard was Sarah Anne's mother, Ann Hylden. His son later said that 'marriages were free that day'.)

In 1872 he bought a butcher's business at 26 Upper St James St. for £100. This bought him the equipment and Goodwill. He took a lease on the property. Later he rented fields Ham Lane, Lewes  and also built up a substantial portfolio of rented property in Brighton. He was able to do this because he inherited a substantial sum from his childless widowed aunt (see separate notes).

His first child, Sarah Edith Alice was born in 1873 with her birth being registered during the second quarter of that year in Brighton.

His father, William died in 1877, aged 56.

The 1881 Census records that John and his family were living at 26 Upper St James Street in Kemp Town area of Brighton. The Goodridge household included his wife Sarah and their only daughter Sarah Edith. The residential accommodation was above his butchers shop.

His wife died sometime before the end of 1885, but I have not been able to find any records showing when this happened. John married Emma Povey who was a cousin of his first wife on 4th October1885. (His son later said that 'marriages were free that day'.)

Emma gave birth to his second child, John Povey Goodridge in the bedroom above the shop on 8th June 1890. The 1891 Census records that the Goodridge household consisted on John, his wife Emma, daughter Sarah Edith and so John. There was domestic servant, Kate Ayling and a live-in butchers assistant Joseph Wellsman.

John's daughter, was married to Percy King in the third quarter of 1899. She is recorded in the register of marriage as Edith Alice S. The 1901 Census records them living in Lewes.

In 1901 John was living with his wife and their ten year old son. His mother Jane in Horsham in 1901, she was 79.

The 1911 Census shows that John, Emma and their son were living at 26, Upper St. James Street, the residential part of the building consisted of 6 rooms.. He and his wife had been married for 25 years.

The years of the First World War brought significant change to the Goodridge's way of doing. On 21st September 1915 his younger brother, Harry died. Harry had run a butchers shop at 6 Richmond Street in Brighton. In 1916 he was forced to sell the farm because of the labour shortage caused by WW1. His own son had joined the army.

He was also Treasurer of the local ratepayers association.

John died on 27th June 1923 leaving an estate valued at £4225 7s 1d. His son was granted probate.

John Goodridge's page on Wikitree.

John Goodridge post cards.

The Sale Documents of Ham Lane Farm

Receipt for purchase of butcher's shop and goodwill at

26 Upper St James's Street, Brighton for £100.