Letters to America From Folkestone

Charlotte Ann PAGE married Frederick Steed GODDARD, son of Samuel and Jane (nee RAYNER) GODDARD on 10th September 1865 at Christ Church Folkestone Kent. At the time of her marriage Charlotte was a 22 year old spinster and Frederick was aged 19. Charlotte and Frederick were my great great grandparents.

In the summer of 2001 my cousin Janis JACOBS came over from Colorado to spend a holiday with us and bought with her an absolute treasure trove of copies of photographs, documents and letters that her family had kept for nearly a century. Among them were five letters that my great, great grandmother Charlotte GODDARD had written to her son ( Jan's grandfather ) Bertram Charles GODDARD.

Bertram emigrated some time after 1908 and settled in Olathe, Colorado becoming a very highly respected member of the community.

The letters span a very short time from 1919 until a few months before Charlotte's death in 1921 and I finish the selection with two written by Bert's sisters Louisa and Nell following their mother's death. Touchingly these letters have a black border around them which makes me think that in those days there was special mourning writing paper.

Nell, who remained a spinster after her fianc� was killed in the first world war, was still alive and living in Folkestone in 1966. Louisa was very famous in Folkestone and the whole country following the tragic loss of her husband. I will be sharing her story with you in the very near future.

Each of the letters from Charlotte have the address 65 Foord Road which was our family home for many years. I have copied the letters as they are written leaving in the spelling mistakes and the lack of punctuation. I hope you enjoy them, maybe you will recognise family in them and make contact with me.

March 1919

My Dear Son and Daughter. It is some time since I heard from you so I thought I would write a few lines and trust you are all keeping well and that your finger is not troublin you you will be sorrie to hear that poor Emelly passed away on th 1 of March she was 26 years of age and Died just 3 months after poor little Mack (looks like Mack but hard to read) She ad been married 1 year and 5 days and was ill nearly all the time she was Berried on the 10 of march she ad a Lovily lot of flours about 25 Butifull reefs Loue came down to the funeral. She was a great sufferer but know them all to the last she sung a verse of a him not long before she died it is a great Blow to Fred and emelly and her husband is Deapley greaved at her loss I am truley sorry for him.

I am very poorly myself and have been for some time. I do hope it will please God to spare me until thay get over it a little as it is so sad to go throu it again so soon it bringing it all back.

All the rest are well I am glad to say how is the weather there it is fine and bright but rather cold I do hope ure all keeping well and that you have work there are regments of unimplid hear.

Now with much love to you all your loving mother C. Goddard.

Foord Road
June 2 1919

My Dear son and Daughter I receved a letter from you last week and it was thankfull to hear that you was all keeping well you do not say f you have got work I do hope you have for I am afraid given in to the army as been a great loss to you I hope you got my letter saing receved the Photos all right and how Pleased we was with them also saying young Jack as got home he is looking better then he was when he first arived the War Office as aloued him a penchon of 10 shillings a week for 6 months for his health to improve I hope he will be stronger in that time Dear Bert I have sent the few bits that we got it was no youse waiting anne longer as things are not to be got.

Walter Philpot came home yesterday from France he is looking well. I am better then I was last week when I rote to you all the rest are well.

Nellie is given for her hoada this week her Ladie as given her 3 weeks she is given to Linking Shear. Now with much love to Alta and the childring and the same to your self your loving mother C. Goddard

I translate the last paragraph as follows. Nellie (Ellen) is in service. Her Lady has given her three weeks holiday and Nellie has gone on holiday to Lincolnshire. Alta is Bertram's wife . Joan.

Foord Road
June 30 1919?

My Dear son and daughter. I have not recceved a letter from you for 5 weeks and that one was dated the 7 of may so it is 8 weeks since my last letter left you I do hope you are all keeping well and that you are all right. I sent the few German bits that Fred got a month ago I hope you got them it was not much but it was all I could get. it is a blessing that peace is sined isent it the peapel went mad in the streets on Satarday and the sirens went for nearly half an hour the one on the baths is so close to us that the noise is deffing the town is bedecked with flags yesterday was thanksgiving sunday I went to church the servis was verry Butifull.

I do hope the Germans will act up to what they have sined. We are all well hear thank god and hope you are the same. I hope you got my letter saing I got your photos all right and your pleased we all was with them. now with much love to Alta and the chirldring and the same to your self your loving mother C. GODDARD.

thanks be to god how giveth us Victory

65 Foord Road,
Folkestone
1920?

My dear son and daughter I received a letter from you yesterday the first for a month so I was thankfull to hear that you was all keeping well as I am better myself then when I last rote to you and all the rest are well except poor Emily Freds Wife she is verry ill with a quinsy throat she as been bad for som time I feel quite worred a bout her with all them littel chidring. the strike onley lasted a week but Fred and Jack lost a weeks work over it. Kate and Jack are given to London for a few days on Saturday Jack gets a weeks holada with a free pass so they are given to see Louisa.

Kathleen (Louisa's daughter) is in a office as a short hand tipest and gets �1.10 a week. Mabell is still at the Harber telgraph office and gets on very nicely.

I sopose you got my letter telling you Sams girls getting married. We have some nice weather lately bright and sonnie days and cold nights.

I think this is all this time so with my dearest love to Alta and the chirldring tell me how old thay are now. with much love to your self your loving mother C GODDARD.

65 Foord Road.
14 Feb 1921

My dear son and daughter I thought I would right a few lines to let you know I receved your letter and to say how thankfull I was to hear and to know your hand was not trubeling you much and to hear that you was all well you did not say if you ad a happy xmas but I hope you did.

I am still not verrey well myself I have been verry poorley for some time all the rest are well thank god except poor Emely she dos not get anny better she as taken to her Bead again now she looks like a Block of marbull and almost skeleton it is a year come march she as taken ill it is enemick blood I am so sorry for her husband he is a nice young man and most kind to her. we have ad it verry cold for some time but to day is a nice bright day now with much love to Alta and the chirldring and the same to your self your loving mother C.Goddard

4 years ago to day Alf SHEEN died.

Charlotte Ann GODDARD nee PAGE, widow of Frederick Steed GODDARD, general labourer, died on July 27th 1921 at 49 St Johns Street Folkestone aged 79 years.

49. St Johns Street
Folkestone
England
July 31st

My dear Bert

I hope you received our cable telling you our dear mother had passed away, it was just a little before 12 o'clock on the night of July 27th, we could see her getting weaker every day and it was marvelous how she existed so long on the little sips she was able to take. She was perfectly conscious till the end & about 11-30 she looked up and told us to go to bed. That had been one of her great troubles during her illness that she would keep us from our rest. We never sat up with her, because when bed time came she was so anxious for us to go to bed but one or the other was in and out of her room during the night, & if I sat beside her for a little while she would always say "go back to bed "& dear Bert last Sunday evening we were all sitting with her & she had been dozing a little then she roused up and beckoned me to her bedside & said "give my dying love to Bert, he came and looked over me just now" I said "yes mother & he is sure to be thinking of you" The end was quite peaceful, she was very restless all day, she said she was not in any pain but so weary & every now and then she prayed to be taken, but at the last after she had told us to go to bed she settled her head on the pillow and gradually went in her sleep. We laid her to rest with father yeasterday (Saturday) it was a beautiful summer day, & it was mother's wish for Mr Camb???? to carry out the arrangements & St John's clergyman to take the service. We were afraid that there would be a difficulty about the latter as mother had left that parish but it was all arranged just as mother would have liked. We took her in to St John's church and Mr Low conducted the service, everything went off quite satisfactory & our only regret was that you were unable to be with us. There was beautiful flowers for her & I put your name with mine as I was one alone of course. Bert don't please don't think of sending money for it but I knew it would be a little comfort to you to know you were included & and if you could have let me know in time you would have wished me to do so, it was a lovely cushion of white flowers with mother in mauve flowers. There were photographs taken, so I hope to send you some later on. Now dear Bert try to think as we do that mother has been spared much suffering as we know with her complaint & great age she could have not have good health again & we know she is at rest. I will write again very soon of business arrangements, but I can't go with it just now. Please give my love to dear Alta & kisses to the children.

Lou and Kath.

Nell has added a note to Lou's letter. All here & all join with me in fondest love to you all. Your other sister Nell.

My Dear Bert

Your letter of the 28th July arrived on Friday & I was glad to know the sad message reached you safely. I could not bear the idea of you not knowing till a letter could reach you, so I took it on myself to send to you & the others were pleased I had done so & now Fred insists that the money for it should come out of the funeral expenses. I think Fred will arrange for next Saturday (Aug 20th) to be settling day. We have the Dr's bill so there is nothing more to wait for, except we have to notify the bank a few days before withdrawal. I will send you things off tomorrow, I have got a good strong box & I do hope they will not get broken & please let me know when you get them & if they are all right. The box will contain the needlework picture, one pair of blue stone china ornaments, 1 small china ornament (dog) & 1 pair brass candlesticks, it was Lou's suggestion that you would like the candlesticks & we thought they would pack easy, the other small dog got broken long ago, they used to be on the mantle shelf in mother's room, I expect you remember them & the blue ornaments came out of grandmother Sam's old home & the picture from the other grandmother's, it used to hang in the back bedroom, the candlesticks were a wedding present from aunt Polly to mother. It has not been definitely settled about the marble stone yet, but I will let you know what is done about it. At least it has been settled that we will put a marble stone, but the last time I saw Fred he was waiting for another estimate of cost. I think I told you dear Bert in my other letter about the last few days mother was alive, if there is anything else you want to know please ask me. Dr Liderdale (Liddendale on death cert) attended her and it was her wish for Mr Camburn? to arrange the funeral. Old Mr C does not personally attend to much business now as he is not in good health & he has given up altogether attending funerals, one of the sons take his place, everything was carried out very nicely & just has mother would have wished. Now I must close with fondest love to you all & kisses to the children

From your loving sister Nell.

Wreath from Kate and Jack
Cross from Mabel Evelyn and Jack (Kates children)
Wreath from Steve and Family
Wreath from Sam and Family (My great grandfather)
Cushion from Fred and Family
Cushion from Lou and Kathleen
Cushion from Nellie and Bert
Wreath from Aunt Lizzie Uncle Jim
Wreath from Aunt Polly (Uncle Jack's widow)
wreath from Ernie Robus (Emmies husband)
Wreath from Mr & Mrs Lawrence
Wreath from Mrs Butler Brooke (My Mistress)
Wreaths from Charlie Page & wife, Dover
Wreath from cousin Polly Thorne & her brothers the Phillpotts.

Bouquets of flowers

Mrs Kingsmill
Mrs Powell (London)
Mrs Owen
Four niece's Aunt Polly Pages daughters

The Story of Robert Bentley and the Houndsditch Murders

If you recognise family in these letters please make contact with Joan.