By Evangeline Gossett Newcomer
November 1954
Evangeline Gossett Newcomer
|
|
In recent years, three genealogical periodicals have published information on Gossett families. The Detroit Society for Genealogical Research Magazine published in June 1945 a contribution by Clara Hageman Sipperley, who is a descendant of William Gossett (1790-1845). Then, Tyler's Quarterly Historical and Genealogical Magazine, October 1947, and January and April 1948, included data on Miss Josie Gossett's line, which she embodied in Tchudy and Allied Families. For the third magazine publication, Miss Gossett augmented her material with information on other branches and assembled an article, The Gossett Family, which was issued, April 1951, in The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society.
There have been other publications on Gossett families. A chapter on a branch in South Carolina appears in The Steen Family by Rev. M. D. A. Steen, published by Montfort & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, 1917, pp. 73-90. The book contains two portraits of Gossett men, intelligent and fine-looking, corporation executives. One is a student of metaphysics.
Another book, The History of Houston County, Texas, by Armistead Albert Aldrich, published 1943, pp. 152-4, presents The Gossett Family by Mrs. Josie Gossett Newton of Galveston.
My father, Joseph Gossett of Palo Alto, California, owned the Bible which belonged to his father (d. 1855). A few names and dates of his relatives in Ohio and a reference to the family background were recorded. The statement reads: "The Gossetts descended from one of the oldest noble families of Europe. During the religious wars they fled from France to England. In the early days the Gossetts emigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania. John Gossett, son of Matthias Gossett, came from Virginia to Ohio."
That brief inscription was the impetus which prompted me to undertake the preparation of this history.
Originally the name was Goussé (pronounced Goo say´). Then the name became Goussét, finally Gosset or Gossett. Gosset with one "t" is generally used in France and in England. In America the more Anglicized form with double "t" is universally adopted. In this volume the Gossett name will be spelled with double "t" except when direct references are being made to English and French families.
This book, entitled The Family of Gossett presents the European background of the Gossett family and an account of Jean (John) Gosset, who was a member of a noble family in Normandy, France. His oldest son was John Gosset, the father of John and Peter Gosset who came to America. Also, this book provides information on descendants of Jean Gosset, especially on descendants in America.
Although dealing primarily with one branch, this chronicle portrays the background of every Gossett family because the Gossetts were nobles of ancient lineage in France. All of the children of a nobleman in France were nobles, while in England a peerage descended only to the eldest son in the nature of an office.
In connection with tracing the Gossett ancestry back to the invasion of Normandy, an effort has been made to illustrate the progress of social life in France from the time of the first crusade, so that more clearly can we understand the role the Gossetts played.
Information has been obtained from the works of historians on medieval life. Relatives have aided by furnishing data, and genealogists have searched diligently to secure records. Valuable assistance was received from the Library of Congress as well as other public libraries. To all I wish to express my deep gratitude.
