Family History 3.03

Goodwin History

A few years after this, another member of the family copied out a family tree, which gives the names of lots of Robert’s relations. I suspect the copier may have been Robert himself, who at the time was perhaps looking for a handwriting exercise. Here is what they wrote:

Some information relating to Robert Smith Family first written Nov 17^th 1728 – copied April 13^th 1848 

The first account I have seen was about 7 years ago in the hands of my kinsman Jacob Smith. I saw a Bible with the name Roger Smith 1707 which was probably the said Roger Smith’s handwriting.  

This Roger Smith lived at Rothwell. He had two sons and some daughters.  His eldest son Roger settled at Great Oakley; he had a son Jacob Smith who lived at Kettering until his death.  He had several sons: Roger, who died lately, and several others. 

The first said Roger Smith’s eldest daughter was named Elizabeth; another of his daughters was named Ann, she was married to John Gotch, shepherd at Glendon.  They had two sons: Thomas the eldest was father to John Cooper Gotch, Esq, the banker.  His second son John was father to John Gotch, butcher of Kettering.  The good old man was very infirm and blind. He has been dead several years. He had a daughter William Clipsham’s first wife and others. 

The first aforesaid Roger Smith’s second son was named Robert, who we shall call in this account Robert Smith the First.  He died soon after Rothwell Fair in the year 1781. His eldest son, who we will call Robert Smith the second shall be more particularly mentioned hereafter. 

His second son William Smith when young went to London and died there. I never could learn whether he left any issue. 

His third son Joseph settled at Kettering. He married Ann, the daughter of Thomas Quince the cowherdsman. Of his children William the eldest settled at Kettering; he has a large family chiefly sons. 

Joseph Smith’s second son was apprenticed and settled at Marborough in Leicestershire and has a family. 

Joseph’s eldest daughter was married to James Paine of Kettering, wheelwright. His youngest daughter was married to Thomas York of Kettering.