Goodenough, Richard Jocelyn

Submitted by edpope on

Goodenough of Queen Ann St East proposed Society for Constitutional Information 22.12.1780 by John Jebb 2nded Capel Lofft

Eldest son of Rev William Goodenough of Broughton Poggs (will PCC 1768) and his wife Elizabeth nee Serle, his younger brother was Samuel Goodenough DNB 1743-1827, his three younger brothers went ito Oxford, William studied medicine and died (PCC 1770), Samuel & Edmund went inot the church, Richard was articled 1762 to Edward Bathurst attorney of Cirencester (also to Kedgwin Webley?). He inherited property from his uncle Richard Serle (will PCC 1767) and entered the Middle Temple 1768. Took part in amateur dramatics at Hall Place, Berks, seat of Sir William East baronet. His play William and Nanny ran for ten nights at Covent Garden from 12.11.1779 (also called Past 2, altered from his unacted play The Cottagers). He wrote the prologue to Hannah Cowley's The World As It Goes acted at Covent Garden 24.2.1781, and the epilogue to Robert Jephson's The Count of Narbonne acted at Covent Garden 17.11.1781 but on the author's benefit night 20.11.1781 it was replaced by an epilogue by Edmund Malone. Horace Walpole wrote on 16.11.1781 (X!!, 95) "I have been at the theatre, and compromised the affair of the epilogues: one is to be spoken tomorrow, the friend's on the author's night." (Walpole's Correspondence 29. 162 note 33.308 and note, 310). On 22.12.1781 Goodenough shot himself (Middlesex Coroners 23.12.1781 transcribed in London Lives as 29th). He was buried at St Marylebone on 28.12.1781. The London Courant of 25.12.1781 "The sudden death of Mr Goodenough, on Saturday last, has given a real concern, especially to those who had the happiness of his acquaintance, as he was a most pleasant companion, a friendly man, a lover of literature, and as warm an advocate for the Constitution of his Country as ever graced the page of patriotism, as he was known to have died perfectly unembarrassed in his circumstances, the cause of his unfortunate exit yet remains to be assigned." A classic example of journalistic euphemism in italics, the actual fact that he shot himself was not apparently reported in the papers. General Advertiser 18.1.1782 sale of his effects at 74 Queen Ann St East. His will proved PCC 31.12.1781 by Charles Brackenbury Esq of Scremby, Lincs to whom Goodenough had left most of his estates on 20.7.1780, mentioning his two brothers Samuel and Edmund, and in a codicil of 3.8.1781 mentioning Sir William East and Captain Arabin of Moulsey, Surrey. Charles Brackenbury 1751-1816 married May 1780 Ann Hairby