Joseph Goodworth Bedford

was the grandson of John Goodworth from Hatfield Woodhouse. You'll find out more about his dates etc. on the Hatfield page. He has a page to himself here because he published several small volumes of poetry. Eventually I'll post some of it here, but I don't think I'll be writing any critical appreciations! One of the books, "Poems", published by Haughton and Co., London, 1873, contains the following autobiographical "Memoir". Material in square brackets [] is by me. I find it interesting that he does not mention what happened to his mother or Rhoades:

I was born of humble parentage at Earland [Ealand] near Crowle, in the Isle of Axholme, Lincolnshire, December 12th, 1844. When about six months old, my father being dead, my mother went to reside with her father who was a coal dealer at Thorne, a small market town in the west riding of Yorkshire. His name was John Goodworth. We lived with my grandfather until my mother was married a second time to James Rhoads, who afterwards became captain of my grandfather's keel.

They were married at Thorne, October, 1847, and I used to sleep at their house, but spent my days at my grandfather's until some time during the summer of 1849, when my grandfather dismissed Rhoads [probably also spelt Rhodes] from his service, and sent me home altogether, because Rhoads neglected his duty through intemperance. I did not remain long at home, for one morning Rhoads came home intoxicated, and after breaking most of the pots in the house, and a large looking-glass, he cam upstairs, dragged me out of bed, and turned me out of doors in my night-clothes. I sought shelter and protection in a neighbour's house, where my mother afterwards found me, and brought my clothes and dressed me, and then sent me to ask my grandfather if he would give me a breakfast. This he at first refused, but afterwards consented through the intercession of my grandmother [as far as I can tell, she was in fact a "step-grandmother". I wonder if he ever knew.]

When about seven years of age, I began to wish I could read like other boys; but owing to my deficiency of sight I had to encounter many difficulties. Yet learn I would if possible; and so many kind friends gave me large excursion bills, sale bills, and other advertisements printed in large type. By this means I learned to tell my letters and spell many words. My grandfather, who could reckon a little by the head, taught me to reckon money. When I was about eight years of age, my grandmother sent me to the Wesleyan Sunday School. Here, although I could not join my schoolfellows in reading, I received much useful instruction, and obtained much scriptural and religious knowledge.

About this time I began to be noticed by Miss Rudd, daughter of the late Rev. Eric Rudd, vicar of the parish of Thorne. She gave me a shilling every Christmas day and every Easter Sunday for several years. Thomas Brown, Esq., also began to notice me, and endeavoured to get me admitted into a certain blind institution; but I was refused admission because I was not in total darkness. Mr. Brown next ordered me to attend Travis's Charity School, for which he was a trustee. After two days' attendance, the schoolmaster sent me home, stating that, although he could instruct me a little, he could not take the trouble, because I required as much attention as a whole class. About this time, I began to work in my grandfather's coal-yard, and continued to do so until I obtained a better situation.

In January 1856, our Sunday school superintendent, Mr. William Priestley, presented me with a large Wesleyan hymn-book. At our Sunday-school anniversary, in September 1856, the Rev. Robert Jackson preached the sermons, and on the following Monday evening he delivered an address, after which he invited all the elder scholars to attend class-meetings. I at once joined Mr. Priestley's class. December 21st, 1856, I was presented with a large Bible, subscribed for by several friends and teachers connected with the school.  About the commencement of 1857, lessons were selected for every Sunday, and the preacher appointed was made acquainted with them. During the summer, Mr. J. R. Birks, of Scrooby, near Bawtry, was appointed, and took his text out of our lesson. This led me to notice his sermon, and was the means of my conversion; his text was John iii. 14,15. Towards winter, I removed from Mr. Priestley's class to one led by the late John Raper on Sunday afternoon, in which I continued to meet until Mr. William Walker, linen-draper, formed a class for young men, when I became one of its first members.

About this time, Mr. Jonathan Ratcliff, formerly Primitive Methodist Minister, taught me the rules of arithmetic; and some time afterwards, Mr. Drake, a private school-master, taught me several rules in mensuration; since then I have endeavoured to improve myself. Early in the year 1861, I delivered two addresses in the Sunday school; these were my first attempts at public speaking, being then about sixteen years of age. It was in this year I composed my first poem on the death of Mr. John Harrison, toll-keeper, who for many years attended sick persons and invalids. Towards the end of the year, I composed my second poem on the death of George Witham, a railway porter who died of consumption. A porter who succeeded him, named William Wordsworth, kindly wrote down the two poems for me.

In 1862, in accordance with arrangements made by the Rev. Richard Aland, Wesleyan Minister, on the evening of Good Friday, I delivered a lecture in the Wesleyan chapel, Hatfield Woodhouse, on "Light and Darkness." In May,1863, I composed my third poem on the death of Emily Jane, fourth daughter of Mr. George Robinson, general merchant, Crowle Wharf, who died suddenly at a boarding school near Peterborough, on the 30th April. About this time, a Mrs. Witham, residing at Bankside, Thorne, through ill-health, became unable to attend the services at the Wesleyan chapel where she had been a member for several years. I and several young met met at her house every Sunday afternoon, and held cottage-prayer meetings until her death, when I composed my fourth poem upon it. About this time I became acquainted with Mr. Samuel Teeson, who was for many years head gardener for Lord Downs, at Cowick Hall, near Snaith, and was also many years a Wesleyan local preacher in the Snaith circuit. He about this time came to reside at Thorne, when he became a local preacher in the Doncaster circuit. I often accompanied him to his appointments, and occasionally assisted him, until his death, when I composed my fifth poem upon it, and took his vacant appointments until the end of the plan.

The Rev. Amos White kindly wrote down my last three poems. About this time I commenced my poem entitled "Repentance." On the evening of Christmas-day, 1863, I delivered a lecture in the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Hatfield Woodhouse on "Home; its Duties and Comforts." During the year 1864, I preached several sermons in various Primitive Methodist Chapels. Towards the end of that year I joined the minister's class; and in the year 1865, preached in several Wesleyan chapels. In this year I composed my poem addressed to John Whaley, Esq., Thorne Quay, on the death of his wife.

On the 22nd of November, 1865, my grandmother died, and in her I lost one of my best earthly friends. She had acted towards me the part of an affectionate and indulgent parent, and offered up many prayers on my behalf, and shed many tears over me. She anxiously desired to see me settled in a comfortable situation that I might be enabled to earn my living; but when she could not live to see this, she committed me by faith and prayer to that kind Providence who has promised his people that their bread shall be given them, and their water shall be sure, and she exhorted me to trust in Him.

On the 30th of April, 1866, I was sent by Mr. George Robinson to Appleby as coal-agent, on the opening of the Trent and Axholme branch of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway. On the 4th of March, 1867, I was removed to Elsham station and now reside at Wrawby.