Thomas Andrew Godwin

Thomas Andrew Godwin
Born	27 January 1837 Lambeth, Surrey, England
Died	14 March 1914 Waratah, Tasmania
Occupation	Publican
Years active	1874-1880
Known for	Ballarat Hotel Sultana Hotel
Home town	Barry's Reef, Blackwood
Spouse(s)	Anne Payton
Children	George Thomas (1859-1860) Thomas Andrew (1860-1923) Adelaide Anne (1862-1926) William John (1864-1948) Albert George (1867-1930) Herbert Augustus Sydney (1868-1919) Pauline Victoria Mary (1871-1872) Margaret Harriet (1873-1873) John Payton (1875-1958) Mary Anne (1878-1878) Ellen (1879-1947)
Parents	George Godwin (father) Harriet Wynn (mother)

Thomas Andrew Godwin was a publican in Blackwood, <1874-1880>.

History

Thomas Godwin was born in Lambeth, Surrey, England, the son of George Godwin and Harriet Wynn. He came to Australia, arriving in Melbourne, in 1858 with his parents. He married Anne Payton, and their first seven children were born in Ballarat, while Magraret was born in 1873 at Barry's Reef.

Godwin wrote to the Ballan Council in August 1873:

Mr. Godwin, of Barry's Reef, said he wanted to get a publican's license, but as there was not time to apply for one at the next licensing meeting he wanted to know what he was to do.-The Council decided that there was plenty of time.

He took the council's advice and advertised his intention to seek a license:

I HEREBY give notice that it is my intention to apply to the Licensing Bench of Magistrates sitting at the Court of Petty Sessions, Blackwood, on FRIDAY, September 26th, 1873, for a certificate authorising the issue of a PUBLICAN'S LICENSE for a house situated at Barry's Reef. The said house contains twelve rooms, besides those required for the use of my family. THOMAS ANDREW GODWIN. Blackwood, August 26th, 1873.

While going through the process of trying to get his license, Godwin must have been employed at the Exchange Hotel in Barry's Reef. In October 1873, Godwin testified about a violent customer:

Police Constable Irwin v, Walter Anderson. Drunk and disorderly, and resisting the constable in the execution of his duty. Constable Irwin said that, on the 25th, prisoner was drunk and very much excited; he violently resisted me, and bit my hand. Thos. Goodwin: Defendant came into Mrs. Paulson's on Tuesday evening; said he was hard up, asked if he could have tea. I said yes, at the proper time. He asked if he could stay; he said he would sleep on the billiard table. Yesterday he was violent, and wanted to fight with any person. He resisted the Police. Fined 10s. for first offence; for second offence £1 10s.; costs, 5s. ; or 10 days imprisonment. On Monday morning a good Samaritan paid the fine, the man offering to work it out.

His application in October 1873 was rejected because he had not completed the application properly:

Thos. A. Goodwin, Barry's Reef, applied for publican's license. The Clerk of the Court said that he had not entered the application because he had not received the requisite number of notices. The Chairman expressed his sorrow that the proper notices had not been given. It appears that applicant should leave three notices with the Clerk of the Court, License refused

Godwin held the license for the Ballarat Hotel at Barry's Reef, Blackwood in 1874. Barry's Reef was a small mining community about 2.5kms north of Blackwood. In April 1874, he transferred his license to the Sultana Hotel, also at Barry's Reef. He renewed the license again in December 1874, 1876, 1877 and 1880. However in December 1879 the license was granted to his wife Anne.

In June 1878, his son, Herbert, had a nasty accident near the hotel:

An accident happened last Saturday to a little boy, ten years of age, son of Mr Godwin, of the Sultana hotel, Barry's Reef. He was playing with some other boys, one of whom in striking a pick into the ground, sent it through his foot. Dr Plews was on the spot, and attended to the little sufferer.

The Godwins moved to the tin and gold mining area at Mount Bischoff after 1880. In November 1881, a Thomas Godwin was injured in a mining accident - is this Thomas (then aged 44) or his son Thomas (then 21)?:

An accident occurred on Saturday at the Wheal Bischoff claim in the No. 2 tunnel, where a man named Thomas Godwin was working when a mass of stuff fell upon his leg, which fortunately was not broken, and he is now progressing favourably.

He became ill in November 1903, and with his wife returned briefly to Victoria in December 1903:

Mr Thomas Godwin is ill with indigestion and has not been able to work for a week; all wish him a speedy recovery.

.

Mr Thomas Godwin is still confined to his bed ; he is not improving nor getting any worse.

Mr Thomas Godwin, accompanied by his wife, left here on Wednesday for Victoria for the benefit of his health, he having been laid up for a number of weeks.

Godwin died on 14 March 1914, at Mt. Bischoff, Waratah, Tasmania. His son's obituary gave a few details of the family:

"The death of Mr. William John Godwin removes another old identity of the West Coast. He was born at Ballarat (Victoria), 84 years ago. He first settled at Waratah with his parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Godwln, at the age of 16 years, and resided there for the rest of his life, with the exception of a few years in West Australia and other mining fields in Tasmania..."