MARTHA GOODHIND was born on January 29, 1846 in the village of Bradninch, Devon, England. As a 2-year old, Martha came to Dartford, Kent with her family about 1848. She first married GEORGE THOMAS PORTER (born about 1847 in Limehouse, Middlesex) on April 26,1868 at Christ Church, Bexley Heath, Kent. George was a "Lighterman," according to the UK censuses during his lifetime; however, at the time of their marriage and at birth of their first daughter in 1868, his occupation is listed as "Waterman." The couple had 10 children. George died in 1894 in Woolwich, Kent at the age of 47.
About 5 years later, Martha re-married to JOHN WILLIAM GOLDSMITH (born about 1858 in Charlton, Kent) on December 24, 1899 at Plumstead. John was 42 years old and Martha was 52. At the time of the marriage, John was a widower with several children of his own. Interestingly, Martha's niece Mary Ann and her nephew Frank, children of her sister Mary Ann Smith, were the witnesses at Martha's wedding. John was an "Assistant Platelayer" at the Royal Arsenal in the 1911 UK census. Martha and John had no children together.
Martha passed away on April 13, 1926 at the age of 80.
[The informant on Martha's death record, listed as a "daughter" is "E. R. Goldsmith" who may be her stepdaughter ELSIE, from her husband's first marriage to ELIZABETH DRISCOLL. - TSG]
John apprears to have died in Lewisham, London in December of 1931 at the age of 73. The following are the known children of Martha and George Porter:
A. MARTHA PORTER was born on October 31, 1868 at Waterside, Dartford.
B. GEORGE PORTER was born in 1871 at Dartford.
C. HARRY PORTER was born in 1876 at Dartford.
D. ELLEN BEATRICE PORTER was born in 1877 at Dartford. It appears she may have had a child:1. VIOLET PORTER was born about 1900 at Plumstead, Kent. The one-year old child appears with the Goldsmith family in the 1901 UK census of Plumstead. In that census, she appears to be listed as a daughter of Martha. However, in the 1911 census, the 11-year old child is with Martha and John Goldsmith at Plumstead, listed as a "granddaughter."E. LOUISE PORTER was born in 1880 at Dartford.
F. CHARLES FREDERICK PORTER was born in 1881 at Dartford. He married ANNIE MARY BENHAM (born about 1876) on December 26, 1907 in St, Bartholomew's Church, Camberwell, London.
G. LEONARD ARTHUR PORTER was born in 1884 at Dartford. He married MAUD E. GIBBS in 1913 at Woolwich, London.
H. GRACE PORTER was born in 1886 at Dartford.
I. CLARA PORTER was born in 1887 at Dartford.
J. EMMA ELIZA PORTER was born in 1891 at Plumstead.
