John Smith's Family Tree Website

Gough family

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Part 3: Joseph Gough Sr (c1767 - 1852)

Working life and marriage to Elizabeth Etheridge

Joseph Gough was born c1767 and baptised 19 March 1768 in Ashleworth, Gloucestershire. His parents were Robert Gough and Hannah Mayo. He married Elizabeth Etheridge (c1767 - 1841) 29 June 1790 in Maisemore. Nothing else is known about Elizabeth or where she was born. At the time, Joseph was living in Badgeworth Parish, situated between Gloucester and Cheltenham. Joseph worked as an ‘ag lab’ – the well-known census abbreviation for ‘agricultural labourer’.

The life of such a labourer was very hard and Joseph was living through a time when agricultural life was changing drastically. His forebears would most likely have been hired by the day working long hours. At harvest time the whole family might be involved in work and earning much needed extra money. To supplement times of unemployment, the family would have had access to common land to graze some animals, collect fuel and hunt for game. Then Enclosure Acts were passed denying this free source. Coupled with the new agricultural machinery being invented which reduced the need for labour, there were more agricultural labourers in dire straits and the inevitable rise in crime and poverty, as well as unrest and rioting.

Later life

Joseph and Elizabeth lived in Maisemore and had four known children: Elizabeth, Hannah, Joseph and John. Elizabeth Sr died 09 February 1841, aged 74, and was buried five days later in St Giles Church, Maisemore. Joseph continued working into his 70s and lived with his son John. However, there came a point when he could no longer work and provide the family with any income and he was classified as a ‘pauper’. Fortunately, he was still able to live with his son. Joseph died 17 May 1852, aged 85, and was buried in St Giles with his wife. The cause of death was listed as ‘decay of nature’ which likely meant he died of natural causes brought on by old age – and Joseph did well to live to such an old age for the time and his position in life. However, one of his sons had just died and been buried the day before and the stress of that may have contributed to Joseph’s own death.

Children of Joseph and Elizabeth

Elizabeth (c1790 - ?) was baptised 01 July 1790 in Maisemore. Nothing else is known of her.

Hannah (c1793 - ?) was baptised 03 March 1793 in Maisemore. Nothing else is known of her.

More information about Joseph (c1797 – 1852) appears in Part 4.

John (c1805 - ?) was baptised 08 October 1805 in Maisemore. Like his father he was an agricultural labourer. However, by 1851 he was a parish clerk, a respected position in the community. This salaried role required him to be able to read and write. An Act of Parliament in 1844 had given many of the clerk’s clerical and ministerial duties to a curate so now a clerk tended to look after important documents.

John married Hannah (c1801 - ?) probably c1825. Her surname name is most likely to be ‘Powell’ as four of their seven children had it as a middle name: Joseph, Ann, William, John Powell, Charles Powell, George Powell and James Powell. There is no confirmed record of John or Hannah after 1851 but John most likely died before 1871.

Next: Joseph Gough Jr

Footnotes