Caroline A. (Brown) Goings (1833 - 1910)

Born 1833 in Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States

Descendants

Died 29 Sep 1910 at about age 77 in Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States

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Biography

Caroline (Brown) Goings is a part of US Black heritage.

Caroline Augusta Brown was born ca 1833 in New Hampshire. Her father was born in Pennsylvania and her mother in New Hampshire according to the 1880 and 1900 censuses. Her parents were John and Rebecca Brown according to her obituary, but her death record says her mother was Anette Brown born in NH.

According to the 1900 census, Caroline had 10 children, of whom only four still lived in 1900. Three sons still lived when Caroline passed away in 1910. We know of five of her children thus far.

Her first husband was William Brown according to her obituary. They had children:

• George W. Brown who lived in Boston OR Portsmouth in 1910 according to her obituary. A son George Brown is listed with her family in 1880, 35 years old (born ca 1845), married, in prison, born in New Hampshire and both parents born in New Hampshire. Problem: was she 14 years old when she had him? And married at the time? Check if I can find his birth or death record. Same as George W. Brown (1845-)?
• Albert W. Brown who lived in Cambridge in 1910 according to her obituary. Albert Brown b. ca 1852 in NH, son of William and Caroline married in 1875 in Cambridge, Mass.
• Jennie (Brown) Cartwright, b. 15 Jan 1857 in Portsmouth, NH. She was the daughter of William Brown and Caroline Roberts, see research notes. Died in 1902. Had daughter Anette.

Caroline married Benjamin Goings ca 1869 (1900 census). They had at least two sons:

• Francisco Goings (1868-1919). Cook. Died 51 years old of tuberculosis. Not married, no children.
• Carmilo Goings (1874-1895). Waiter. Died 20 years old of gastritis. Not married, no children.

In 1880 she was 49 years old and lived on 11, Jackson St in Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA with her husband sailor Benjamin Goings (spelled Goins in the census), their sons Francisco and Carmilo, her son George Brown, her daughter Jennie and Jennie's husband John T. Cartwright and their daughter Nettie.

In 1900, she and her husband Benjamin lived on 4, Sadbury Street in Portsmouth.

Oldest colored woman dead. PORTSMOUTH, N H, Sept. 29 - Mrs. Caroline Goings, aged 77, widow of Benjamin Goings, proably the oldest colored woman in the state, died yesterday at her home at 5 Washington St. She was born in this city, the daughter of John and Rebecca Brown. Her first husband was William Brown and by her first marriage she leaved to sons, George W. of this city and Albert W. of Camebridge. By her second husband she leaves one son, Frank Goings.^[1]

Research notes

Proababy the same person as Caroline (Brown) Roberts (1832-), daughter of John Brown and Anette, but all the contradictions need to be worked out before merging IF enough evidence points to it found.

Data and sources that are supportive

• We know from the 1880 census that Jennie L Brown Cartwright is Caroline Augusta Brown Goings' daughter. We know from Jennie's death record 1902 that her mother was Caroline Roberts.
• In the 1860 census, Caroline (Brown) Roberts (1832-) is listed in the household of John and Anette Brown. This is the best clue that Caroline A Goings neé Brown (married Brown) and Caroline Roberts is the same person.
• In the 1870 census, there is a family that corresponds and tie together the 1860 and the 1880 Caroline households.
• Caroline A Goings's daughter Jennie names her daugher Anette (Nettie). Anette is the name of Caroline Roberts mother (and Goings'). It is common practice to name your children after your grandparents.
• Caroline A. Goings's son George W. Brown aged 35 from the 1880 census is probably the same person as George W. Brown (1845-) listed in the same family as Caroline Roberts in the 1860 census, but listed as son (inferred to John and Anette Brown.) It's all a bit confusing.
• There is a note in the paper that an Elijah Brown is sick in the home of Benjamin Goings. In the 1860 census household where Caroline Roberts is listed with John and Anette Brown, there is an Elijah Brown, inferred brother of Caroline.

Data and sources that are contradictory or problematic

• Caroline Augusta Goings' mother was Rebecca according to her obit in 1910.
• Caroline Augusta Goings' mother was Harriet according to an indexted death record at Ancestry (but no image available to check the original).
• In 1870 in Portsmouth we have above mentioned Benjamin Gaines(!) with wife Caroline and children Albert Brown, Jennie Brown and 62-year old Anette Brown.This looks like the same family as in 1880, EXCEPT for the glaring fact that Benjamin, Caroline and Albert are listed as born in Maine in 1870. The calculated birth years correspond well though, and according to Caroline Goings' death record her mother was indeed Anette (or Harriet or Rebecca, see below under parents). Also, Benjamin and Caroline's son Francisco born 1868 (according to his death record) is not listed with the family.

• 1880 Caraline A Goins, wife, 49 years, Black, Born NH, Father: Pennsylvania, mother: NH.
• 1900: Caroline A Goings, wife, 70 years old, Black, Given birth to 10 children of whom 4 was still living. Born NH (in Feb 1830), father born in Pennsylvania, mother in NH.
• 1902 daughter Jennie L Cartwright's death record: Caroline Roberts b. in Portsmouth, NH.
• 1903 Civil War Pension: Widow Caroline Augusta Goings in record for Benjamin Goings.^[2]
• 1919 son Frank's death record: Caroline A Brown b. in Portsmouth.

Parents

• 1880: Father born in Pennsylvania, mother in New Hampshire
• 1900: Father born in Pennsylvania, mother in New Hampshire
• 1910 her death record: mother Annet Brown born in New Hampshire
• 1910 her death record: morher Harriet Brown (no image to check transcription).
• 1910 her obituary: John and Rebecca Brown

Sources

1. ↑ Obituary for Mrs. Caroline Goings in The Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, 29 Sep 1910, Thu · Page 16. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe/140860314/
2. ↑ U.S., Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934 on Ancestry.

• 1880 Census: "1880 United States Federal Census"
  Year: 1880; Census Place: Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire; Roll: 768; Page: 13B; Enumeration District: 224
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6742 #24035360
  Caraline A Goins (49), wife, Keeping House, in household of Benjamin Goins (40) in Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. Born in New Hampshire.