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Mary (“Pollie”) GOTHAM
1896 - 1925 (29 years)
Has 23 ancestors and one descendant in this family tree.
Set As Default Person 
-
Name Mary (“Pollie”) GOTHAM Relationship 
with Teresa Ann GOATHAM Born 12 Jan 1896 Fenton, Staffordshire, England 
- From the 1901 census where shown as Pollie, aged 5
No Pollie in the index on FreeBMD, I guess that this was just a pet name and her birth was registered with her formal name, presumably Mary. This seems to be confirmed by the 1911 census, where her brother Matthew had a 15 year old sister Mary living with him and his family.
This seems to be the only birth of a Mary to fit:
GRO ref: Gotham, Mary q1 1896 Stoke T. RD 6b 250; GRO online index shows mother's maiden name as Eardley
Baptised 9 Feb 1896 St. Michael’s Church, Fenton, Staffordshire, England - From PR entry (image on FMP, viewed 13 Nov 2016)
Shows Mary, parents Matthew & Mary, abode 13 Adelaide Street, father a potter
Under heading 'Baptisms solemnized in the Parish of Fenton ... [1895]' BUT title page of register includes the additional information 'S. Michaels Church'
(Archive reference D5882/7/1, page 5)
Gender Female Residence From 1917 to 1925 83, Selwyn Street, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England Following her marriage - Following her marriage her husband's WW1 service records were amended to have Mary as next of kin rather than John's father. This address was then recorded. It was still her address at the time of her death.
Died 27 Dec 1925 North Stafford Canal, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England Cause: Suffocation from drowning in the canal - GRO ref: Hancock, Mary q4 1925 aged 29 Stoke T. RD 6b 245
Not found Mary in the 1939 register as Mary Hancock, have found a family that looks like could be her husband, daughter and her husband's 2nd wife. That 2nd marriage appears to have been in 1936, suggesting Mary had probably died between 1924 (when her daughter was born) and 1936.
Hence, I think this is probably the death of this Mary. Further evidence in support of this is the death certificate which names her as wife of John Hancock Coal miner
"Boxing Day Tragedy. - An inquest was
held at Fenton Town Hall on Monday on the body of mary Hancock, a married
woman, aged 29, of 83, Selwyn Street,
Stoke, which was recovered from the
canal at Fenton on Sunday morning.
Evidence was given to the effect that
deceased, who was suffering from an in-
curable disease, which caused her to be-
come depressed, left home on Saturday
afternoon, stating that she was going
to visit some friends. As she had not
returned at eleven o'clock at night a
search was made, and the body was taken
from the canal by George William
Bailey, a bricklayer's labourer, of Nur-
sery Street, Stoke. The Coroner (Mr.
Hugh W. Adams) retunred an open ver-
dict."
(from The Staffordshire Advertiser, Saturday January 2, 1926, p.8, col 5, under heading 'Stoke-on-Trent'; image on FMP, viewed 2 Mar 2019)
Siblings5 brothers and 2 sisters Patriarch & Matriarch 
Andrew GOTHAM, b. Est 1585, (probably), Abbotskerswell, Devon, England, bur. 10 Mar 1673/74, St. Mary the Virgin Church, Wolborough, Devon, England (Age ~ 89 years) (6 x Great Grandfather) 
Mary Ann PAWLEY, b. Abt 1836, Hanley, Staffordshire, England, d. Mar Q 1904, Wolstanton Reg Dist, Staffordshire, England (Age ~ 68 years) (Grandmother) Person ID I301458 All | All in the Goatham / Gotham One-Name Study , All subjects of the Goatham / Gotham One-Name Study Last Modified 23 Nov 2023
Father Matthew GOTHAM, b. Sep Q 1857, Fenton, Staffordshire, England , d. Mar Q 1902, Stoke on Trent Reg Dist, Staffordshire, England (Age ~ 45 years)
Other Partners: Mary Ann GARDNER m. 22 May 1898Mother Mary EARDLEY, b. Mar Q 1859, Macclesfield, Cheshire, England , d. Jan 1897, Stoke on Trent Reg Dist, Staffordshire, England (Age ~ 38 years) Married 9 Aug 1880 Christ Church, Fenton, Staffordshire, England - From PR entry (image on FMP, viewed 26 Nov 2014)
GRO ref: Gotham, Matthew q3 1880 Stoke T. RD 6b 222
Mary, the mother of Matthew's children died when the chidlren were aged about 1 to 14. Matthew remarried within 18 months, giving his children a step-mother but then he himself died less than 4 years later.
By 1911 the family had dispersed.
Family ID F300430 Family Group Page | Family Chart
Family John HANCOCK, b. 10 Feb 1896, Bucknall, Staffordshire, England , d. Yes, date unknown
Other Partners: Ethel MACHIN m. Sep Q 1936Married Sep 1917 St. Peter Ad Vincula Church, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England - From John's WW1 service record
GRO ref: Gotham, Mary to Hancock, John q3 1917 Stoke T. 6b 349
(Mary can't be found on FreeBMD by searching on Gotham or Gothan, as entered as Mary GOTHA[mn] - the entry isn't clear as to whether the last letter is an m or an n)
Children 1. Joyce Millicent HANCOCK, b. 22 Jun 1924, Stoke on Trent Reg Dist, Staffordshire, England , d. Jun Q 1953, Plymouth Reg Dist, Devon, England (Age 28 years)▻ Walter George Henry THOMPSON m. Sep Q 1946Last Modified 14 Feb 2017 Family ID F300676 Family Group Page | Family Chart
- From the 1901 census where shown as Pollie, aged 5
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Event Map Click to hide 
Born - 12 Jan 1896 - Fenton, Staffordshire, England 
Residence - Following her marriage - From 1917 to 1925 - 83, Selwyn Street, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England 
Married - Sep 1917 - St. Peter Ad Vincula Church, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England 
Child - Joyce Millicent HANCOCK - 22 Jun 1924 - Stoke on Trent Reg Dist, Staffordshire, England = Link to Google Earth (if installed; see link below to install) Pin Legend 
