The Goodsell Family

Where do the Goodsell family name link to the Sivyer name? When James Sivyer married Harriet Goodsell  and Harriet's brother marries Jame's oldest son the two Wesleyan Methodist families were tied through marriage. When James and Harriet Sivyer (Goodsell)  left England in 1838 to travel as immigrants to Sydney on board the ship "Arygle" were John and Mary Goodsell. John and Mary were Harriet Sivyer's (Goodsell) mother and father. Also on the Argyle was Frederick John Goodsell (Harriet's brother) and his wife Sara Anne (Sivyer).

From the birth and marriage records of both families it can be clearly seen that they were always very close in their family relationships. They lived in the same areas of Sussex, East Sussex and Kent as they were all listed as agricultural labourers, farmers and dairy hands.


John GOODSELL [Parents] was christened on 20 Apr 1777 in St James' Church, Ewhurst, Sussex, England. He died on 20 Feb 1863 in Newtown, NSW, Australia. The cause of death was Decay of Nature. He was buried on 22 Feb 1863 in Camperdown Cemetery, NSW, Australia. He married Mary FOSTER on 4 Apr 1802 in Guestling, East Sussex, England.

Mary FOSTER [Parents] was christened on 28 Feb 1779 in Guestling, Sussex, England. She died in at sea, bound Australia. She married John GOODSELL on 4 Apr 1802 in Guestling, East Sussex, England.

John and Mary Goodsell decided to emigrate to New South Wales and follow their children who had already done so. From the research of Sivyer family historians it is believed that Mary died at sea whilst making the voyage on the ship "Alfred".

They had the following children: Highlighted are the children who migrated to Australia.

  F i Harriet GOODSELL
  M ii James GOODSELL was christened on 10 Feb 1805 in St James the Great Church, Ewhurst, Sussex, England. He died before 20 Feb 1863.
  F iii Eliza GOODSELL
  F iv Lucy GOODSELL (migrated November 7, 1838 with husband William Payne)
  F v Louisa GOODSELL
  M vi Frederick John GOODSELL
  M vii Thomas GOODSELL was christened on 22 Nov 1816 in St James the Great Church, Ewhurst, Sussex, England. He died before 20 Feb 1863.
  M viii Stephen Foster GOODSELL

The Goodsell family name was to become synonymous with the Sydney suburban areas of St. Peters, Cooks River Road, Newtown, the modern area of Camdenville Park and now the Goodsell Estate Heritage Conservation Area. The Goodsell name and brick manufacturing are an integral part of Sydney's colonial building development.

After 1848 when Frederick John Goodsell (with wife Sarah Ann Svyer) and brother in law James Sivyer (with wife Harriet Goodsell) moved from the Lane Cove area back to Newtown, Frederick John Goodsell entered into the brick making industry.

Further posts will focus on the Goodsell family dynasty of brick making and commerce. There is much confusion in many web articles when the Goodsell family name is discussed in relation to the family hierarchy and who was responsible for what in te brick making industry and at what point in time. As stated further posts will discuss this in more detail.