Arthur Mcgregor GODSALL
A life of tragedy, loss and rejection
Arthur was the son of Arthur Godsall and his wife Edith Vyna Bryden. He was born on April 17, 1913 - the fifth child who included Violet, Wallace, Douglas and Donald. Arthur's mother died 4.9.1921, his Grandfather 10.4.1922 and followed by the death of his Grandmother 24.1.1923
His father was devastated by his mother's death and the close deaths of his supportive parents. He was unable to cope with his family responsibilities, took to drink and became "unstable.". Arthur's father eventually became a patient at the Birmingham City Asylum on 16.4.1924.
Young Arthur was placed under the guardianship of his wealthy uncle, James Richard Bryden. He only remained there for about 7 months before being returned to his family for reportedly, being a difficult child! He was only 9 years old when he was sent to Leominster Orphan Homes in 1922 where he stayed until he had reached the optimum age
of 15. He was then sent to Canada
Arthur arrived in Canada in March of 1930, brought by the British Immigration and Colonization Association. His destination was 87 Osborne St., Montreal, Quebec. From there he would have been placed out onto farms. Arthur was placed on the farm of Albert Hay in Seymour Township and with 2 months of his arrival, trouble began.
FARMER FINED AND JAILED FOR ASSAULTING HELP
Newmarket Era (Newmarket, ON), 16 May 1930, p. 1 ...Peterboro, May 8. -- Fifteen days In jail and a fine of $200 was tho sentence imposed on Albert Hay, Seymour township farmer, to-day by Magistrate Langley for assaulting and doing grievous bodily harm to Arthur Godsali, immigrant farm boy. Ills worship declared tho offence was a very serious one..... listed in the Newmarket Era (Newmarket, ON), 16 May 1930, p. 1
His father was devastated by his mother's death and the close deaths of his supportive parents. He was unable to cope with his family responsibilities, took to drink and became "unstable.". Arthur's father eventually became a patient at the Birmingham City Asylum on 16.4.1924.
Young Arthur was placed under the guardianship of his wealthy uncle, James Richard Bryden. He only remained there for about 7 months before being returned to his family for reportedly, being a difficult child! He was only 9 years old when he was sent to Leominster Orphan Homes in 1922 where he stayed until he had reached the optimum age
of 15. He was then sent to Canada
Arthur arrived in Canada in March of 1930, brought by the British Immigration and Colonization Association. His destination was 87 Osborne St., Montreal, Quebec. From there he would have been placed out onto farms. Arthur was placed on the farm of Albert Hay in Seymour Township and with 2 months of his arrival, trouble began.
FARMER FINED AND JAILED FOR ASSAULTING HELP
Newmarket Era (Newmarket, ON), 16 May 1930, p. 1 ...Peterboro, May 8. -- Fifteen days In jail and a fine of $200 was tho sentence imposed on Albert Hay, Seymour township farmer, to-day by Magistrate Langley for assaulting and doing grievous bodily harm to Arthur Godsali, immigrant farm boy. Ills worship declared tho offence was a very serious one..... listed in the Newmarket Era (Newmarket, ON), 16 May 1930, p. 1
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In 1937 the trail of Arthur is picked up again when he crosses the boarder into the United States. It gives his employer now as Jacob Norr and his home as Homer Ontario (In the Niagara region). He is employed as a farm hand.
Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1954 about Arthur Mcgregor Godsall Name: Arthur Mcgregor Godsall Arrival Date: 12 Sep 1937 Port of Arrival: Niagara Falls, New York, United States Departure Contact: Employer Jacob Norr Age: 24 Birth Date: abt 1913 Birth Place: Birmingham, England Birth Country: England Gender: Male Race/Nationality: English Record has photo?: No Record Type: Cards |
Arthur in Leominster, England
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with thanks from Dawn Heuston
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At some point Arthur must have enlisted, as these photographs show him in uniform.
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On October 9 1946 Arthur returned to England. His destination was given as 8 Park Road in Mosely, Birmingham, England. It is his intention to remain in England.
UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 about Arthur Macgregor Godsall
Name: Arthur Macgregor Godsall
Birth Date: abt 1913
Age: 33
Port of Departure: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Arrival Date: 9 Oct 1946
Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England
Ports of Voyage: Montreal
Ship Name: Empire MacCallum
Search Ship Database: Search the 'Empire MacCallum' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: Cunard White Star
Official Number: 169508
On his return to the UK, he contacted his Bryden uncle but was again rejected. He spent some months living at his
brother Wallace's flat or at his sister Violet's house. He became a drifter who would surface occasionally. Apparently
he sometimes stayed at Salvation Army Hostels. Eventually, he became a "voluntary" inmate of of Long Grove Mental Hospital, Epsom. He remained there until he died 6.4.1987 having lived there for probably 30 years!
As his family says:
The photos of the 9 year old Arthur taken at Leominster Orphanage show a happy little boy - how sad that he should have had such an unfulfilled and possibly unhappy life. What a devastating affect the loss of close family ties can have on a life. His father died 6.3.1927 at the asylum - only one of young Arthur's siblings had a happy life!
UK Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 about Arthur Macgregor Godsall
Name: Arthur Macgregor Godsall
Birth Date: abt 1913
Age: 33
Port of Departure: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Arrival Date: 9 Oct 1946
Port of Arrival: Liverpool, England
Ports of Voyage: Montreal
Ship Name: Empire MacCallum
Search Ship Database: Search the 'Empire MacCallum' in the 'Passenger Ships and Images' database
Shipping Line: Cunard White Star
Official Number: 169508
On his return to the UK, he contacted his Bryden uncle but was again rejected. He spent some months living at his
brother Wallace's flat or at his sister Violet's house. He became a drifter who would surface occasionally. Apparently
he sometimes stayed at Salvation Army Hostels. Eventually, he became a "voluntary" inmate of of Long Grove Mental Hospital, Epsom. He remained there until he died 6.4.1987 having lived there for probably 30 years!
As his family says:
The photos of the 9 year old Arthur taken at Leominster Orphanage show a happy little boy - how sad that he should have had such an unfulfilled and possibly unhappy life. What a devastating affect the loss of close family ties can have on a life. His father died 6.3.1927 at the asylum - only one of young Arthur's siblings had a happy life!
Children listed in this document: Geroge Baker, William James Wilcox, Stanley Charles Hicks, Thomas Charles Edward Bee, Albert Evan Hicks, Maud Mary Jane Griffiths, Maud Alexandra Wragg, Eric Donald Macey, George Amos Cant, Gwendoline Rose Hope, William Jackson, John Hooper Dale, Leonard George Wragg, Elizabeth Sarah Hope, Arthur Macgregor Godsall, Kathleen Scott, Martha Elizabeth Grundy, Frederick John Oliver, James Scott, Gerald George Gadd
James and Emma Godsall, Arthur M Godsall's grandparents
Arthur and Edith Vyna Godsall, Arthur M Godsall's parents
c1901
Wallace, Douglas and Violet Godsall, siblings of Arthur
from the 1909 group shot below
Arthur's parents from the group shot below
Arthur's sister Violet
