Family History Hiccough

When I first started family history research in 2000 the line I followed was that of my dad William Cox. It was quite easy using the Free Birth, Marriages and Deaths site (FreeBMD) back as far as it went which is 1837. This brought me to my great great grandfather Asa (Esau) Godber and from his marriage certificate I had the name of his father James Godber. I found James on the 1841 census living in Ilkeston in Derbyshire with his wife Ann and son Asa.

I found James' death on 21^st March 1848 at the age of 69. His occupation was given as Out Pensioner of Chelsea Hospital. His name was James Godber alias Parrott.

I found a record of the discharge of James Godber in the Royal Hospital Chelsea admissions book. It said Sergeant Major James Godber was discharged from the militia aged 55 due to acute rheumatism after 35 years of service. I was so thrilled to have this record.

Trying to find the reason for the alias Parrott on James' death certificate led to me finding out his mother Mary Godber was unmarried but when James was a month old she married Edward Parrott. With James using the name Godber I wasn't sure whether or not Edward was his father. I thought maybe they would have changed his name to Parrott but he still used Godber.

This year I was looking at old newspapers on line and came across the story of the accidental death of Sergeant Major James Godber in Cossall, Derbyshire in 1848. Towards the end of the story it said that he had not been married. Could I have the wrong James Godber?

Back to Royal Chelsea Hospital records and I found a record for James Parrott who was discharged from the army in 1808 after 8 years and 6 months service due to loss of vision caused by ophthalmia.

I do have the right James but should have looked at the records more carefully. The first record I found was for a James Godber who was in the militia while the correct one was in the 35^th Regiment of Foot. James Godber (Parrott's) death certificate did say he was from the 35^th Regiment.

I was surprised that James had used the name Parrott to sign up. I found 2 records of his marriage to Ann Burrey in 1811 one gave his name as James Godber and the other as James Parrott Godber.

The James Godber who died due to an accident was 2 years younger than my James Godber but they both died in 1848.

Just shows you can be confused and make mistakes with unusual names not just common ones like Smith and Jones