vital records sources

John was probably born in Norton Subcourse, Norfolk, England. Strong evidence points to John Gooch and Martha Townrow as his parents. The first record of either of them is their marriage in Topcroft, Norfolk, in 1725. John, Sr., was by then a widower and both were from Norton Subcourse. Marrying outside your hometown was commonplace at the time, for various reasons. Their only of record was Robert, baptized in Norton Subcourse in 1730. The original parish records appear to be complete. John, Jr.'s, baptism isn't there, but there's enough other evidence to still point to this being his family.
     John can be connected to John, Martha and Robert through several other types of records. John Gooch, son of John, was apprenticed to butcher Jabez Taylor of Norton Subcourse on 31 May 1741.1 John Gooch of this article would have been about 13-14, which was a typical age to start an apprenticeship. John and Robert Gooch granted title of land ("one pightle [enclosure] of one acre abutting Briggate Street") at Norton Subcourse in 1755.2 This may have been done as co-heirs to John, Sr., but no will or administration has been found for corroboration. John, butcher of Sibton, Suffolk, married "Honor Tunmer" of Sibton at Mickfield, Suffolk. On 19 April 1756, John, butcher of Haddiscoe, Norfolk, and Honour, "co-heiress" of James Tunmore with her sister Ann (wife of John Peck), agreed to alterations of land that was their father's.3 Norton Subcourse and Haddiscoe are within three miles of each other. Robert Gooch of Norton Subcourse was involved in this as a grantee of some sort, although what sort is buried somewhere in a densely worded document yet to be read. Also, John and Honour named a son Robert. This leaves little doubt that John belongs in the Norton Subcourse family. The lack of a baptism record is a frustrating mystery.
     As for their parents, John died in May 1730. Martha remarried in January 1730/31 ("Old" and "New" style date) and again in November 1731, having been widowed three times in a year and a half. Third husband John Salter died in Norton Subcourse in 1754 and Martha tried again with Thomas Chesnut soon after. The trail runs out, at least for now, with the Chesnuts.
     Guided by the documents mentioned earlier, John, Jr., can be traced to Sibton, where he married, then Haddiscoe, where he lived and had a butcher shop. Their first child was baptized there in 1752, followed by five more. That last was baptized in 1761. The family then moved to Stoven in Suffolk. He may have been a butcher there as well, but at some point he became a gentleman farmer and landlord, bringing in rent from the Tunmore property in Rendham. That lasted to 1773, when a document abstract infers he sold it.4 A Norfolk tax record taken in 1768 describes him as being of Stoven, but taxed for property in Haddiscoe. He may have bought the lease for his home and butcher's shop there and retained it after he moved away, so adding to his rental income. In 1768 Widow Boonfellow was his tenant.5 It's tempting to think she also had a butcher shop there. There was a Francis Boonfellow, butcher, in nearby Beccles, but the widow may have been Ann, the wife of Robert of Raveningham, close to Haddiscoe. Nothing specific about this family has turned up to suggest what she was doing in Haddiscoe.
     Where the Gooches lived in Stoven isn't obvious, but it was very likely at what became knowns as "Church Farm." It seems to have passed to his daughter Louisa and her husband Martin Button, then to Louisa's brother Robert Gooch. The farm has a house on it dating probably from the late 16th or early 17th centuries. There must have been an older residence here,= since it's still partially surrounded by a moat. John lived in Stoven for about 40 years.

Church Farm, Stoven, where the Gooches probably lived in the late 1700s

The Ipswich Journal has a notice of an estate sale to take place in early October 1802, naming John Gooch of Stoven, "who is retiring from business."6 The advertisement gives us an inventory of things he was leaving behind when he moved to Lowestoft.

All his farming stock, dairy utensils, and household furniture. The farming stock comprises 11 cart mares and geldings, the greater part of which are capital, and 2 of the mares have foals at the foot, 3 good 2-year old colts, 7 capital milch cows in calf, and calves by their sides, a bull, 12 scots and 2 homebred steers forward in fatting, 25 of the hog kind, many of which are large shoats, one close buck, 2 half ditto, and one rail'd waggons, hermaphrodite, 4 1/4[?] tumbrels, water cart and cask, 4 gang of harrows, 4 foot ploughs, one double breast ditto, a one horse roll, 2 2-horse ditto, and one kitcat ditto, a considerable quantity of hurdles, straw binns and turnip ditto, good cart and plough trace, and various other useful implements in husbandry; about 15 stone of excellent hemp and a quantity of cheese.

The furniture consists of good featherbeds and bedding, tables, chairs, drawers, looking glasses, excellent 8-day and a 40-hour clocks, coppers; and good kitchen, backhouse, brewing and dairy utensils and other useful furniture.

There isn't a stand-out reason why John moved to Lowestoft. He was a widower, Honour havng died about eleven years earlier, but son Horace may have gone with him. A description of the place puts it in what is a now an industrialized area of the town not far from Gisleham, which is where the Buttons lived. So he was not as alone as it might seem. He was retired, near young grandchildren and near the ocean. It's possible the house can be seen in later Ordnance Survey maps as "Grove House," on London Road (north). The square plan, porched entrance in the middle and gardens suggest it predates the Victorian era. And it would have a great view of the North Sea.

In his will John ordered his real estate to be sold and the profits added to his personal estate. Executors were his son John and son-in-law Martin Button, and they were to get £800 to create a £40 annuity free of taxes (which were to be paid out the personal estate) for John, Sr.'s, son Horace. He was to get the money the first Monday of every month at the porch of the church at Gisleham, Suffolk. Otherwise he gave one-fifth parts of his estate to children John, Jr., Thomas and Louisa Button. Two-fifths were to be invested by John, Jr., and Martin and the proceeds to go equally to John, Sr.'s, son Robert and daughter Elizabeth, wife of Francis Balls. Another £300 was to be invested by the executors for Elizabeth. John, Jr., died before his father, prompting a codicil that gave sole executorship to Martin Button and the bequest for Horace arranged differently. "John Gooch, gent." was buried in Stoven churchyard, where gravestones for him and Honour can be seen. His says he was "in the 83rd year of his age." Technically this means he was 82.

This is from the transcripion of John's will, with some punctuation and paragraphing added to make the obtuse and very long-running sentences more readable.

This is the last will and testament of me, John Gooch of Lowestoft in the Cunty of Suffolk, gentleman. ffirst I appoint John Gooch, my eldest son, and Martin Button, my son in law, exers of this my will, and I so hereby authorize and direct them my said exers or the survivor of them his exers or admers as soon as conveniently can be after my decease to make sale and dispose of all and singular my messauges or tenements, ffarms, lands and heredits whatsoever both freehold and copyhold situate lying and being in Stoven, Brampton and Lowestoft or elsewhere in Suffolk with their and every of their rights, members and appurts in such a manner as they shall think proper for the best price or prices that can conveniently be obtained for the same and to convey the said heredits and premises respectively with the appurts. to the respective purchasers thereof by such mode or modes of conveyance as shall be thought proper and expedient and to receive and take the purchase monies for which the same premises shall be respectively sold and also the rents and profits thereof until sale and conveyance thereof and to give full and sufficient receipts and discharges for the same purchase moneys and rents respectively.

And I do hereby declare that the respective purchasers or tenants of the aforesaid heredits and premises shall not after their respective purchase monies or rents shall be so paid and such receipts given as aforesaid be any ways answerable or accountable for the misapplication or nonapplication thereof to any person or persons whatsoever, and the monies arising from such sale or sales and also the rents and profits thereof up to the sale and conveyance of the said heredits respectively I direct shall be considered as part of my personal estate and be disposed of as hereinafter is mentioned.

And I do hereby direct my said exers as soon after my decease as conveniently may be to pay all my just debts and ffuneral and testamentary expenses with and out of my personal estate.

Also I do hereby give and bequeath to the said John Gooch and Martin Button their exers. and admers. the sum of eight hundred pounds to be raised by them out of my personal estate immediately after my decease upon the trusts hereinafter mentioned (that is to say) upon trust that they my said trustees or the survivor of them his exers. or admers. shall and do forthwith place out the said sum of eight hundred pounds at interest on such good security as they shall approve of and with and out of the interest and produce thereof pay to Horace Gooch, my son, an annuity of fforty pounds during his life by twelve monthly payments on the first Monday in every month in the church porch of the parish of Gisleham, and the first payment thereof to be made on the first Monday of the month next after my decease.

And I do hereby direct that the said annuity of forty pounds shall be free and clear from all taxes and deductions and that the property tax and all other charges and impositions payable in respect thereof shall be paid and discharged with and out of my personal estate and I do hereby declare that the said annuity so given to my said son Horace shall not be liable to be sold or disposed by him and that they my said trustees shall not be compellable to pay the same except into the proper hands of the said Horace Gooch, and from and after the decease of the said Horace Gooch I do hereby give and bequeath the said sum of eight hundred pounds together with such part of the interest thereof as shall then remain unpaid to him unto all such children of the said Horace Gooch lawfully begotten as he shall have at the time of his decease and to the children of such as may then be dead to be paid to and equally divided amongst them share and share alike (such grandchildren taking only the shares which their respective ffathers or mothers would have been entitled to if living) within six months next after the said Horace Goochs decease or when as they severally shall attain their ages of twenty one years which shall last happen, and in case the said Horace my son shall die without having any children by him lawfully begotten or bearing such all shall happen to die before their respective shares of the said sum of eight hundred pounds shall become payable then I direct that the same shall [?] into the residue of my personal estate and be subject to the dispostion thereof hereinafter mentioned.

Also I do hereby give and bequeath to the said John Gooch and Martin Button their exers. and admers. the sum of three hundred pounds upon the trust hereinafter mentioned and as to all the rest residue and remainder of all my monies, securities for money stock in the public ffunds, household goods, furniture, plate, linen, china, effects and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever after payment of all my just debts ffuneral and testamentary expenses and a fair and reasonable compensation to my said exers for their loss of time trouble and expenses in and about the exen. of this my will (which I do hereby authorize and direct them to deduct and retain for them for themselves), I do hereby give bequeath and dispose thereof as follows (that is to say):

I do here by give and bequeath to the said John Gooch my son one fifth part thereof to Thomas Gooch my son one other fifth part thereof and to Louisa Ann Button my daur. the wife of the said Martin Button one other fifth part thereof.

And I do give and bequeath the remaining two fifth parts thereof unto the said John Gooch my son and Martin Button their exers. and admers. upon the trusts and for the interests and purposes hereinafter mentioned concerning the same respectively (that is to say) upon trust as to one of the said fifth parts that they my said trustees or the survivor of them his exers. or admers. shall and do as soon as conveniently can be, invest or place out the same at interest upon government or other good security and shall and do receive and take the interest dividends and proceeds thereof as and when the same shall become due and payable and pay the same over to Robert Gooch my son during his life by equal half yearly payments on the eleventh day of October and sixth day of April in every year or within twenty days afterwards to and for his own use and benefit, and immediately and after the decease of the said Robert Gooch my son then upon trust that they my said trustees or the survivor of them his exers. or admers. shall and do pay the said fifth part or share of the residue of my said personal estate unto all such children of the said Robert Gooch as shall be living at the time of his decease and to the children of such as shall then be dead to be equally divided amongst them share and share alike (the children of such as shall be then dead to take only the shares which their respective ffathers or mothers would have been entitled to if living) and to be paid to them when and as they shall severally attain their respective ages of twenty one years or within six months next after the said Robert Gooch's decease which shall last happen, and if any of them shall die before their said legacies shall become payable the shares of such of them so dying to be paid to and divided amongst the survivors together and like manner with their original legacies, and in case the said Robert Gooch shall die without having any children or grandchildren or having such all of them shall die before their said legacies shall become payable as aforesaid then upon trust to pay the said fifth part or share of the residue of my said personal estate unto and amongst the said John Gooch, Thomas Gooch, Louisa Ann Button and my daur. Elizabeth, the wife of ffrancis Balls, or their respective legal representatives, share and share alike within three months next after the decease of the said Robert Gooch without issue as aforesaid or after the decease of the survivor or his children or grandchildren before his or her legacies shall become payable which shall last happen.

And I do hereby declare that the remaining fifth part or share of the residue of my said personal estate and effects and also the aforesaid legacy or sum of three hundred pounds are so given and bequeathed to the said John Gooch and Martin Button upon trust that they or the survivor of them his exers. or admers. shall and do as soon as conveniently may be place out the same at the interest upon government or other good security and from time to time call in and again place out the same in the manner when and as often as they or he shall think necessary during the joint natural lives of the said Elizabeth Balls, my daur., and of the said ffrancis Balls her husband, and also shall and do from time to time receive the dividends interest and produce thereof when and as the same shall become due and payable and pay the same to the said Elizabeth my daur. within one month next after the same shall so from time to time be received to and for her own sole separate and peculiar use.

And I do declare that the receipt of the said Elizabeth, my daur., under her own hand only shall (notwithstanding her coveture) be good and sufficient discharges? to my said exers. for so much of such dividends or interest money as shall be hereby expressed to be recorded, and in case the said ffranis Balls shall happen to die in the life time of the said Elizabeth, his wife, then upon trust that they my said trustees or the survivor of them his exers. or admers. shall and do pay the said fifth part or share of the said residue or surplus and also the said legacy or sum of three hundred pounds together with all interest then due thereon respectively unto the said Elizabeth my daur. to and for her own use and benefit within three calendar months next after the decease of the said ffrancis Balls, but in case the said Elizabeth, my daur., shall die in the life time of the said ffrancis Balls then upon trust to pay the aforesaid fifth part or share of the said residue or surplus and also the said legacy or sum of three hundred pounds together with all the accruing dividends and interest due thereon unto them the said John Gooch, Thomas Gooch Senior, Ann Button and Robert Gooch or their respective legal representatives share and share alike within six months next after the decease of the said Elizabeth Balls.

And I do hereby declare that all such sum or sums of money as I have already lent or advanced or shall at any time hereafer lend or advance to any of them my said sons and for which I have taken or shall take any promissory note, accountable receipt or other surety shall be derived and considered as part of my personal estate and shall be paid by them my said sons respectively to my said exers. within twelve calender months next after my decease.

Also I do hereby authorize and empower them the said John Gooch and Martin Button my exers. and trustees and the survivor of them his exers. or admers. from time to time to place out at interest any money to which any infants shall or may become entitled by virtue of this my will upon such security and in such manner as is hereinbefore mentioned concerning the said Elizabeth Ball's legacy during the minority of such infants respectively and from time to time to pay, lay out and apply all or any part of the interest or dividends among thereupon to or for the maintenance, cloaking, education and bringing up of such infants respectively during their respective minorities.

And I do hereby declare that they my said exers. and trustees shall not be answerable or accountable for the acts or receipts of each other but each of them for his own acts and receipts only, nor shall they or either of them ? of their heirs, exers. or admers. be answerable or accountable for any more money than shall be actually received by them or come to their hands by virtue of this my will, nor for any loss or losses which shall or may happen or be sustained by placing any money out at interest in pursuance hereof or in lodging or depositing the same in the hands of any banker or other person for safe custody (unless such loss shall be occasioned by their or his willful neglect or default)

And lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former wills by me made and do declare this to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I the said John Gooch the testator to this my said last will and testament contained in six sheets of paper (affixed together at the tops) have to the first five sheets thereof set my hand and have set my hand and seal to this last sheet thereof the thirteenth day of June in the year of our Lord 1805.

Jno. Gooch Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said testator on and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto

Robert Edmonds
Joseph Denny
Jas. Barrett

This is a codicil to the will of me, John Gooch of Lowestoft in the County of Suffolk, gentleman, which will bears date the thirteenth day of June 1805. Whereas I have by my said will given to my exers. therein named the sum of eight hundred pounds upon trust to place the same out at interest and with and out of the interest and produce thereof to pay to Horace Gooch my son an annuity of fforty pounds during his life by twelve months payments as therein mentioned.

And whereas since the date of exen. of my said will John Gooch my son and one of the exers. and trustees named in my said will hath departed this life and whereas I am desirous of making some further provision for the said Horace Gooch my son, now I do hereby revoke and make void the said bequest of eight hundred pounds so made by my said will to my said exers. upon trust as aforesaid and in lieu thereof do give to my son in law Martin Button (whom I do hereby nominate and appoint the sole exer. of my said will and of this my codicil) such sum of money as shall be equal in amount to one sixth part of the residue and surplus of all my monies, securities for money stock in the public ffunds, household goods, furniture, plate, linen, china, effects and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever after payment of all my just debts, ffuneral and testamentary expenses the legacies given and bequeathed in and by my said will and by this my codicil and all charges and expenses attending the exen. of the same upon trust to place the same out at interest in manner in my said will expressed concerning the said sum of eight hundred pounds and to pay all the interest and produce thereof to the said Horace my son during his life by two half yearly payments at such and the like times and in such and the like the manner in every respect as in my said will is mentioned and expressed concerning the legacy or share of my personal estate thereby given and bequeathed to my exers. therein named in trust for the benefit of Robert Gooch my son.

And from and after the decease of the said Horace Gooch I do hereby give, bequeath and dispose of the said sixth part of the said residue of my said personal estate together with such part of the interest thereof as shall then remain unpaid unto such and the same persons and in such and the same manner in every respect as in my said will is expressed concerning the said sum of eight hundred pounds, and it is my will and I do hereby declare that the share of my personal estate in and by my said will given and bequeathed to the said John Gooch my son and all and every sum and sums of money thereby given to him for his own use or which might upon any contingency therein mentioned have come to him by virtue thereof shall be paid to and equally divided amongst all his nine children share and share alike to whom I do give and bequeath the sum accordingly and direct that their respective shares thereof shall be paid to them respectively as and when they shall respectively attain their ages of twenty one years or as to such sums? the payment whereof may depend upon any contingency at such period after such contingency shall or may happen as in my said will is mentioned for payment thereof to my said son which shall last happen with the like benefit of survivorship in any respect as in my said will is expressed concerning the legacies of any of the infant legatees therein mentioned.

And I do hereby give and bequeath unto the said Horace my son an equal part of share with my other children of and in all such legacies or shares of my said personal estate as may become due and payable to them respectively by virtue of my said will in consequence of the death of the said Robert Gooch, my son, and Elizabeth Balls, my daur., or either of them under the circumstances and contingencies therein mentioned.

And I do hereby confirm the appointment of the said Martin Button as trustee for sale of the ? in my said will mentioned and for facilitating the sale thereof do hereby give and devise to him the said Martin Button all the ffreehold and charterhold parts of the estates and premises in and by my said will directs to be sold with their appurts. to hold the same to the said Martin Button his heirs and assigns for ever upon such and the same trusts and to and for such and the same uses, intents and purposes as in my said will are particularly mentioned and expressed of and concerning the same.

And in all other respects I do confirm my said will in witness whereof to this codicil (which I direct to be taken and considered as part of my said will) I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of June in the year of our Lord 1809

Jno Gooch

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said testator on and for his codicil in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto

Rt. Crabtree
Thomas Holmes
Rt. Foreman

Proved at London with a codicil 8th October 1810 before the judge by the oath of Martin Button the sole exer. named in the codicil being sworn by ? duly to adminster.

"se'ennight" refers to a week (seven nights)

A newspaper notice, again in the Ipswich Journal, advertises the sale of John's land according to his wishes in the will:7

No sale occurred in December and the properties went up for auction again the following April. Robert Gooch and his wife started baptizing children in Stoven in 1803, following one elsewhere in 1801. This suggests that he moved into Church Farm after his father moved out of it. He was still there in 1811. Although Martin Button was given title to these properties to sell, he must have opted to buy what was likely Church Farm and it's related lots. Robert had eleven more years left in his sublease, so he may have stayed there at least to 1822 and payed rent to Button. Alternatively, he may have bought from the estate the lease to the smaller property on Stoven Green with its "newly erected substantial cottage." Robert definitely owed the lease to what later was known as "First Farm," and "Fruit Farm," on the Green. The choices are few about which properties were which on the Green, so it's likely "First Farm" was the one mentioned in John's estate sale. This is probably where Robert died. It passed to his son Thomas, then to Thomas' brother Daniel Knights Gooch. Church Farm, if it was that farm, was part of Martin Button's estate after he died in 1833, and his heirs sold it in 1848.
     Less clear is what happened to the Brampton Farm, which was close to Stoven, but that was likely sold in 1811. Certainly sold at the first auction was John's interest in the "good brig" Active. A shipping news notice in a New York paper says the ship was cleared to sail to Lisbon and Cadiz in August 1811.8 It was lost at sea in December 1814.9
     Martin Button appears to have held on to John Gooch's Lowestoft property, either as owner or as the estate administrator, until June 1811. An advertisement in the Ipswich Journal give this description:10

Granted the description "new-built," this surely was the house in which John was living when he died, if he it was here at all. Maybe it was built closer to 1810 than 1802, but it's reasonable, in a place where old buildings could date back many centuries, that this referred to a place about eight years old. It's hard to imagine why it would have been built in the ten months since his death. In any case, it was obviously a gentleman's residence at it fits the description in the auction notice.

children of John Gooch and Honour Tunmore:

i. Elizabeth bap. 8 October 1752, Haddiscoe, Suffolk, m. Francis Balls 20 October 1789, Weston, Suffolk
ii. Honour bap. 20 May 1754, Haddsicoe, d. 27 December 1754
iii. John bap. 28 December 1755, Haddiscoe, d. 15 January 1756
v. Jane bap. 7 August 1757, Haddiscoe, d. 2 January 1759
vi. Jane bap. 20 April 1760, Haddiscoe, d. 10 September 1760
vii. Jane bap. 30 August 1761, Haddiscoe, m. John Adams? 10 July 1789, Flixton, Suffolk (not in will)
viii. John b. 1762/63, prob. Stoven, m. 1. Elizabeth Peck 23 June 1782, 2. Mary Knights 10 June 1791, both at Sotherton, Suffolk
ix. Robert bap. 12 December 1764, Stoven, m. Elizabeth Knights 9 July 1793, Sotherton
x. Thomas Gooch b. 24 December 1765 (family Bible), bap. 22 January 1766, Stoven
xi. Horace bap. 16 November 1767, Stoven, m. 1. Sarah Simes? 26 March 1794, St. Marylebone, London, 2. Charlotte Stone 16 Nov 1813, Lowestoft, Suffolk, 3. Mrs. Amelia Reeves 25 August 1825
xii. Louisa Ann bap. 4 June 1769, Stoven, m. Martin Button 19 October 1788, Stoven

vital records sources:

1. "UK, Register of Duties Paid for Apprentices' Indentures, 1710-1811," ancestry.com, database online, image 900, from original mss "Board of Stamps: Apprenticeship Books," Series IR 1; The National Archives of the UK.
2. Norfolk Record Office, catalogue ref. #STA 813.
3. Suffolk Record Office, Ipswich, ref. #HD2604/3/10.
4. Suffolk Record Office, Ipswich, ref #HD2604/3/1/11, 12-13 Jan 1773, John Gooch of Stoven,
yoeman, to Richard Freeman, plumber and glazier of Saxmundham. John is called a yoeman, and not yet a "gentleman." 5. "UK, Poll Books and Electoral Registers, 1538-1893," ancestry.com, database online, image 614, from an original mss at London Metropolitan Archives and Guildhall Library.
6. 15 Sep 1802, 1.
7. 10 November, p. 3, and subsequent issues into December, then again starting 6 April 1811 without reference to the ship.
8. New York Post, 17 Aug 1811, 3.
9. Suffolk Chronicle, 3 Dec 1814, 4.
10. Ipswich Journal, 1 June 1811, 1.