GODDARD, William Roger (1803-1885) — Hull
Bookseller, stationer, printer, publisher, print-seller, engraver and lithographer. Produced, with his partner John William Lancaster, Yorkshire for “York and its vicinity” 1854. In 1848 the partners announced as shortly to be published, A new map of the borough of Hull, from actual survey, some sixty inches by forty, compiled by George Wilkinson and lithographed by Day & Son (see BME 2011). Goddard also published a wide range of other local material.
Born at Wasing in Berkshire 26 Apr 1803, and baptised 20 May 1803, the son of William Goddard and his wife Elizabeth Attwood, who had married in London the previous year. Apprenticed (Stationers) to the London stationer John Bellamy 6 Nov 1821. Made free (Stationers) 2 Jun 1829. In 1831-1837 he was in a partnership as “Goddard & Brown”, with Robert Brown, and was then publishing The Hull Packet — it was a partnership which ended in a court case between the partners (papers in NA). He married Susannah Bellerby (1810-1852) at All Saints, Wakefield, 6 Oct 1835. A subsequent partnership in Hull with Henry Quin, known as “Goddard & Co.”, commenced publishing The Hull and East-Riding Times, and Beverley, Scarbro’, Whitby and East-Yorkshire General Advertiser in 1839, but this partnership was formally dissolved 18 Sep 1839, with Goddard continuing alone. He was in partnership with John William Lancaster as “Goddard & Lancaster” from 1846 to 1858. In 1854, they were advertising for “machine rulers, pressmen, and a superintendent for cylinder printing machines”. By 1856, they had additional premises in York. In January 1858, the partners went their separate ways, with Goddard continuing the Hull business and Lancaster taking over the York branch. Goddard assured the public, announcing that, “I beg to inform you that it is my intention to continue the businesses of stationer, account book manufacturer, lithographer, general printer, and bookbinder, at this place, in all their branches, the same as under the late firm, and to assure you that any orders with which you may favour me, will receive immediate attention” (Hull Packet, 8 Jan 1858). A freemason, Goddard joined the Minerva Lodge at Hull 18 Mar 1858 and subsequently the Kingston Lodge. By 1861 he was employing twenty-one men, seventeen boys, and two women — by then trading as “Goddard & Son”, with his son William Edward Goddard. He retired in favour of his son in 1880 and died 12 Nov 1885, leaving an estate valued at £6,937.4s.8d.
Lowgate, Kingston upon Hull — 1834-1837
15 Silver Street, Kingston upon Hull — 1838-1858
— Lister Street, Kingston upon Hull (home) — 1841
— 12 Wright Street, Sculcoates, Kingston upon Hull (home) — 1851
— and Bridge Street, York — 1856
— 73 Wright Street, Sculcoates, Kingston upon Hull (home) — 1861-1871
— 6 Nithsdale Terrace, Beverley Road, Kingston upon Hull (home) — 1881-1885
BBTI. BNA. Census 1841-1881. Chilton. COPAC. LG. NA.