The Goodliffe Family of Lambley Lodge, RutlandAlfred Pitt GOODLIFFE (1839-1917)Alfred Pitt was the 4th son of Thomas and Elizabeth Goodliffe. He was born in Lambley Lodge, Belton on 27 July 1839 but was not baptised int he local church until 1st August 1847 along with several of his siblings.
Alfred was recorded in the 1841 and 1851 censuses with the family at Lambley Lodge. In the 1861 census, Alfred Pitt was working as a grocer, living at 4 South Parade, Nottingham.
Alfred married Ann INNOCENT on 27 Jan 1863 at St Peters, Nottingham.
Alfred and Ann had 7 children:
Alfred and his brother Henry Arnold set themselves up in a partnership as grocers and tea dealers, but they dissolved the partnership in February 1864. Their premises, at 12 Poultry, were required by the Government, probably for road widening. The interesting aspect oft he auction of their stock was the quantities involved - including 400lb of tea and 56lb of cloves.
Alfred then set himself up as a wine and spirit merchant on South Parade, Nottingham. He employed an apprentice, but in February 1865 Alfred accused the apprentice of stealing one Pound. Alfred did not offer any evidence sot he case was dismissed. Later that year Alfred was again appearing in Court, as creditor for John STOKES, bankrupt grocer.
In the 1871 census Alfred and Ann were living at 23a Lister Gate, Nottingham with children George Alfred (7), Ada Jane (4) (and on the next page) John Francis (2) and Charles Edward (6 months). Alfred was now a Wine and Spirit Merchant.
Alfred did not last long in the wine and spirit trade. Bad debts may have been a problem, but there are also several newspaper articles about his involvement in a long-running court case involving bad debts then multiple accusations of perjury by both parties. The legal bill would have been considerable. Also about this time it appears that Alfred and Ann separated. In 1881, Alfred is lodging at 8 Bromley Place, Nottingham, aged 41, married and employed as an Agent. Ann and family (William, Ada, John, Charles and Frederick) are at 21 Stanley Terrace, Nottingham
In January 1882 Alfred GOODLIFEE was charged with embezzlement. It appears Alfred was employed by Mr H. HICKLING as a sales agent in November 1880, Hickling being in the wine and spirit trade. A dispute over accounts arose and Hickling took the matter to court, which dismissed the case. ? In 1891 Alfred was again boarding, this time at 4 Canal St, Nottingham. He is listed aged 52, married and a traveller. Ann is at 4a Mayfield Cres, with George Alfred (27), William Henry (25), Ada Jane (24), Charles Edward (20), Frederick Innocent (17).
In 1901 Ann (Annie) is living at 68 Queens Walk, Nottingham with Charles Edward (31) and Ada Jane (35), both unmarried. Alfred is not easily found in the census (being indexed as Goodlift), but there is an Alfred Goodliffe, C. Traveller, aged 62, born Oakham, boarding at 87 Latimer St, Birmingham. He is listed as widower, the only detail that would appear to be wrong. This could be an error, although it would appear that Alfred had been living alone for at least the last 20 years.
In 1911, Alfred was a visitor with Harry Samples and family, at 58 Thoresby St, Nottingham. Again he is listed as "widowed". Annie is living with her son William Henry, and his new wife at 42 Cranmer St, Nottingham.
Ann GOODLIFFE died at her daughter's residence, 37 Portland Rd, Nottingham on 19 December 1916, aged 77. He was buried in the churchyard at Carrington St John the Evangelist, in Nottingham.
Alfred Pitt GOODLIFFE died at 23 Bromley Place, Angel Row Nottingham on 21 February 1917. He was buried in the churchyard at Carrington St John the Evangelist, in Nottingham.
The Children of Alfred Pitt and Ann GOODLIFFEGeorge Alfred GOODLIFFE (1864-1926)William Henry GOODLIFFE (1865-1937)William Henry was born to Alfred and Ann on 15 June 1865 at 12 Bilbie St, Nottingham. At the time of the 1871 census William was a visitor at the farm of John and Jane BEASTALL. In 1881 he was back living with his mother at 21 Stanley Tce, Nottingham and working as a smallware dealer. In 1891 William was now working as a hosiery factory manager but still living with his mother, now at 4a Mayfield Cres, Nottingham. It is likely that William's uncle, William Frederic GOODLIFFE, assisted William H. into the hosiery business ,being a successful hosiery manufacturer in his own right.
Shortly after the 1891 census William Henry married Sarah Ann HIND in Nottingham. They had 7 children:
By the time of the 1901 census William and his young family had moved to the Old Mill House, Sutton in Ashfield, a small village north of Nottingham where William was now managing a hosiery factory. He may have moved here the cost of leasing a factory building would have been much less than in Nottingham.
Sarah Ann GOODLIFFE died on 23 May 1903 and is buried in the Nottingham General Cemetery. In 1904 William married Frances Mary RICHARDSON in Nottingham. In 1911 William, wife Frances, his mother Ann (INNOCENT) and his seven children were living at 42 Cranmer St, Nottingham. The older children (Eveline, Edith and Winifred) were all assisting in the hosiery business.
In 1916 William was involved in a crash between his motorcyole (with sidecar containing his aunt Mrs WARD) and a bus. He sued the bus company and was awarded £542/10 (about £43,000 in 2026). The newspaper reported that William was taken to hospital but his left arm was so badly crushed it had to be amputated. In 1920 William was again in court, this time being prosecuted by the Inspector of Factories for failing to have his young employees checked by a surgeon. He employed around 55 women and girls at his factory in Tadford Boulevard..
By 1921 William appears to have been running a successful hosiery business. With his wife Frances and children they were living at 75 Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham, an imposing 3-storey property (now a dentist's rooms). Also living with William was "Stanley GOODLIFFE" an adopted son. Stanley had been born in about August 1918 at Alford in Lincolnshire. Although about 120km (75 miles) east of Nottingham, Alford was a town noted for its unmarried mother births, some of whom had come from Nottingham.
Failure of WH Goodliffe & Co LtdAccording to newspaper reports, William began in the hosiery industry as a factory manager, In 1904 he commenced business with a partner, but bought him out in 1916. In 1927 he formed a new partnership with his two sons (Percy and Ernest) but the company foundered in the Great Depression. On 12 August 1931 William wound up the company.
But that was not the end of his financial troubles. Inland Revenue had begun an investigation into his accounts in 1924 and they determined there was income tax and penalties of £3,000 owing, which the liquidated company did not pay. They now pursued William for the money. He was adjudged bankrupt on 4 August 1932 owing creditors (mostly Inland Revenue) £3,006/15/3 (about £200,000 in 2026).
Death of William GOODLIFFEThe business failures would have taken a toll on William. He died on 11 Februry 1937 of a coronary thrombosis at 107 Lenton Boulevard. The informant on death was his daughter Edith. His death was noted in the local paper. Following a service at the Nottingham Southern Cemetery Crematorium his body was cremated and the ashes were scattered in the Garden of Rest.
Ada Jane GOODLIFFE (1867-1941)Ada Jane was born in Nottingahm on 3 May 1867 to Alfred and Ann GOODLIFFE. She was recorded in the 1871 through to the 1901 censuses living with her mother. John Francis GOODLIFFE (1868-1946)Charles Edward GOODLIFFE (1870-1946)Alfred Ernest GOODLIFFE (1872-1875)Alfred Ernesst was born in Nottingham on 15 December 1872 to Alfred and Ann GOODLIFFE. He was not recorded on any census records as he died in Nottiongham on 19 April 1875. He was buried in the Church (Rock) cemetery on 23 April 1875 in a family plot that was later sued for the burials of Arthur and Ann Robotham in 1890 and 1900.
Frederick Innocent GOODLIFFE (1874-1944)Frederick Innocent was born in Nottingham on 24 February 1874 to Alfred and Ann GOODLIFFE. He was named Innocent after his maternal grandparents. He was recorded with his mother Ann in the 1881 and 1891 censuses. By 1891 he was working as a Fancy Goods Warehouseman. However by 1901 he was working as a "servant - asylum attendant" at the Nottingham District County Lunatic Asylum aged 26 and single. By 1911 Frederick had moved to London and was working as a hospital attendant at the Bethlem Royal Hospital (Lunatic Asylum) Lambeth Rd, Southwark.
Frederick Innocent does not appear to be in the 1921 census. He was no longer working for the Bethlem Royal Hospital by this time. In the 1939 Register there is a Fred GOODLIFFE born 24 February 1874 working as a confectionary dealer and living with Grace and Albert LOVE at 32 Kentwell Close. Although there were other Fred GOODLIFFEs born about this time the birth date is the best fit for Frederick Innocent, so it is mostly like him.
Frederick Innocent GOODLIFFE died at Ccamberwell House, 33 Peckham Rd, Camberwell, London on 14 June 1944. He was buried at the New Cemetery Burial Ground Camberwell on 20 June.
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