Harry Goodman Naturalisation Documents

HARRY GOODMAN nATURALISATION DOCUMENTS

Harry Goodman (né Aron Gutman), 1885-1953

These are the main details extracted from Harry Goodman's naturalisation papers. By 1920, the process of naturalisation involved the completion of more forms and a much more thorough investigation into the applicant:

CATEGORY

RESPONSE

Name

Harry Goodman

Address

Winstow House, Great Cheetham Street West, Broughton, Salford

Trade

Mantle and Costume Manufacturer

Place of Business

1 Moulton Street, Bury New Road, Manchester

Age

Place and Date of Birth

Radum, Russian Poland¹, 2nd May 1880

Nationality

A Subject of Russia

Marital Status

Married

Date and Place of Marriage

3rd June 1909, the Synagogue, Leeds

Wife's Name

Rachel

Parents' Names and Nationalities

Simon Goodman², Russian

Fanny Goodman, Russian

Place of Residence in Last Five Years

3 June 1909 to 13 March 1913:	12 Sedan Place, Leeds
14 March 1913 to 26 September 1915:	2 Kimbles Terrace, Camp Road, Leeds
27 September 1915 to 30 October 1919:	17 Kent Street, Broughton, Salford
31 October 1919 to date:	Winstow House, Great Cheetham Street West, Broughton, Salford

Reason for Naturalisation

Having lived in England since he was three years of age, he has no other desire but to remain and reside permanently in the United Kingdom.

"My object in seeking to obtain Naturalization rights is in order to be placed on an even footing with British subjects."

Dependent Children

Name	Date of Birth	Place of Birth
Simon Goodman	23 October 1909	Leeds
Ada Goodman	23 January 1911	Leeds
Henry Goodman	31 December 1913	Leeds
Jack Goodman	22 November 1914	Leeds
Lily Goodman	12 October 1916	Manchester

Mark or Signature

Harry Goodman (signed)

Date of Declaration

4th October 1920

(Justice of the Peace Witness)

Wm Parker

Agent

Victor B Parker, Solicitor, 7 Pall Mall, Market Street, Manchester

(Referee for Verification of Address)

Lionel Marks of 248 Bury New Road, Manchester (signed 4 October 1920)

(Referees)

Lionel Marks

Solomon Stone

Harry Stone

Charles Kean

As well is this slightly updated Memorial, the following questionnaire is included, in compliance with the British Nationality and Status of Aliens Acts, 1914-1918:

QUESTIONS	ANSWERS
(1) Have you ever been in any foreign country since you were 21 years of age? If so state the country or countries and the dates between which you were there.	No
(2) Where were you educated?	Leeds Elementary Schools
(3) Have you ever had any Nationality other than your present nationality? If so give particulars.	No
(4) Have you ever had any other occupation or used any other name than your present occupation and name?	No
(5) Have you been in the service of any foreign Government - Army, Navy, Police or otherwise? If so give particulars.	No
(6) Have you ever been convicted of any offence, become bankrupt, or made a composition with your creditors? If so give the facts and dates.	No
(7) What was the nationality of your wife before marriage?	British
(8) Where are your parents now residing?	Leeds
(9) Have you brothers or sisters in any foreign country? If so, give full particulars.	No
Signed	Harry Goodman
Date	4th October 1920
Name of Witness	V Parker
Address	7 Pall Mall, Manchester
Occupation	Solicitor

A long delay followed the submission of this paperwork, during which time Harry and Rachel's sixth child, Evelyn, was born. Harry must have been well-connected, as a letter was received by the Home Office from Sir John Randles³ MP, dated 2 September 1922, stating that Harry had applied for naturalisation two years previously but no reply had been received. This appeared to spur the Home Office into action! They replied to Sir John on 11 September, saying that the Home Secretary, Mr Shortt,⁴ was "now in a position to proceed with the consideration of this case", but giving no explanation for their 23-month delay.

It seems Harry was required to complete much of the application process a second time. One of the new requirements was that notice of pending applications for naturalisation should be posted in local newspapers, using a particular form. This text appeared in the Manchester Evening News on Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 September 1922:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that HARRY GOODMAN, of 107, Gt. Cheetham-street West, Broughton, Manchester, HAS APPLIED TO THE HOME SECRETARY FOR NATURALISATION, and that any person who knows any reason why Naturalisation should not be granted should send a written and signed statement of the facts to the Under-Secretary of State, Home Office, London, S.W. 9.

Strangely, the Thursday's entry gives the postcode as SW1, but the wording is the same on both days. Harry had to fill in an updated version of the above questionnaire, which he did in the following manner:

QUESTIONS	ANSWERS
(1) Have you ever been in any foreign country since you were 21 years of age? If so state the country or countries and the dates between which you were there.	No
(2) Where were you educated?	Gown Street Leylands Board School, Leeds
(3) Have you ever had any Nationality other than your present nationality? If so, give particulars.	No
(4) Have you ever had any other occupation than your present occupation? If so, give particulars.	No
Have you ever used any other name than your present names for private or business purposes? If so, give particulars and date of adoption of new name.	No
(6) Have you been in the service of any foreign Government - Army, Navy, Police or otherwise? If so, give particulars.	No
(7) Have you ever been convicted of any offence, become bankrupt, or made a composition with your creditors? If so, give the facts and dates.	No
(8) What was the nationality of your wife before marriage?	British
(9) Are your parents or either one of them still alive? If so, where are they now residing?	Mother 9 Badlington Terrace⁵, Roundhay Road, Leeds
(10) Have you any brothers or sisters in any foreign country? If so, give full particulars.	No. All in England
(11) How long have you been resident in this country?	Am now 37 years of age, been in England 34 years
(12) Have you lived in any other parts of H.M. Dominions? If so, give particulars.	No
(13) Have you served in H.M. Forces? If so, give particulars of rank, regimental number, unit and length of service.	No. Offered for Service in 1917 and was Graded II and left at Home until called for, by Exemption
(14) Were you engaged in any public service during the war?	No. In exemption I offered myself to the Com'tee and was informed I would be called for when required
Signed	Harry Goodman
Date	September 15th 1922
Name of Witness	Chas. Kean J.P.
Address	80 Woodlands Road, Cheetham, Manchester
Occupation	T. Union Sec'y

Two police reports are also included:

SALFORD POLICE

COPY OF REPORT

22nd September, 1922

re HARRY GOODMAN.

To the Chief Superintendent.

Sir,

I beg to report for the information of the Chief Constable that HARRY GOODMAN, of Winstow House, 107 Great Cheetham Street West, Broughton, in this borough, is an applicant for a certificate of naturalization.

The applicant is a Jew, and he states that he was born at Radum, near Warsaw, Russia, on the 2nd May, 1880, of Russian parents. His father (deceased) was named Simon Goodman, and his mother is named Fanny Goodman nee Freedman. He has no documentary proof of birth. He came to England when he was three years of age, and has never been out of England since then. He was educated at a Leeds school. He speaks and reads English well, and writes it good. He is a Mantle & Costume manufacturer carrying on business at 1 Moulton Street, Manchester. I do not know of anything detrimental to his character. He is apparently a respectable hardworking man. He states that it is his intention to reside permanently in this country, and his reason for applying for a certificate of naturalization is that he has lived most of his life here, was married here, his children are British born, and he desires to enjoy the rights and privileges of a Britisher. The statement as regards residence in this borough is approximately correct, i.e., from 27th September, 1915, to 30th October, 1919, at 17 Kent Street, Broughton, and from the latter date at his present address. He was married on the 2nd (not 3rd) of June, 1909, at the Leeds Synagogue to Rachael, nee Rose, who is British born of Russian father and English mother. There are now six children of the marriage, named, Simon, born 23rd September (not as shown on the Memorial) 1909; Ada, born 23rd January, 1911; Henry, born 31st December, 1912 (not 1913 as shown); Jack, 28th (not 22nd) November, 1914; all at Leeds; Lily, born 12th October, 1916, at Salford (not Manchester) and Evelyn, born 30th November, 1921, at Salford. I have seen the marriage and birth certificates with the exception of the one relating to Evelyn. All the children reside with their parents. The applicant has complied with the provisions of the Aliens Order as regards registration.

The referee Lionel Marks, of 248 Bury New Road, Broughton, is a respectable man of good character and a traveller for Messrs Perry & Hope Ltd., Nitshill, Glasgow. He is a house-holder and a natural born British subject. He is a Jew, and his father was German born, but said to have become a naturalized Britisher in 1857. His mother was British by birth. Marks says he has known applicant about 12 years, but the acquaintanceship in Leeds was only casual. He never visited the Leeds addresses and he only knows Goodman's addresses there because he had an invitation to visit anytime. They have been on intimate terms since applicant came to Salford, and have frequently visited one another.

This referee is competent to testify as to character and residence from September, 1915, and I believe him to be a man whose testimony may be relied upon. He speaks highly of the applicant's good character, and considers him worthy to be granted the desired certificate.

The signatures of the applicant and the referee on the Memorial and Declarations are genuine.

I respectfully suggest that this enquiry be forwarded to Manchester for further enquiry together with a request that it be afterwards sent to Leeds for completion.

(Signed) J. K. MITCHELL.

Detective Inspector.

Submitted

E Johnson

Chief Superintendent.

MANCHESTER CITY POLICE FORCE

COPY OF REPORT

C.I.D. HEADQUARTERS,

20th November, 1922

RE HARRY GOODMAN.

With further reference to the letter from the Salford Police dated the 23rd September last, forwarding an application received from the Home Office for a Certificate of Naturalization by the above named person for completion of enquiries:-

I beg to report that the referees, Solomon Stone, 8, Russell Street, Waterloo Road, Manchester; Harry Stone, 12, Russell Street, Waterloo Road, Manchester, and Charles Kean, who is a Justice of the Peace for Manchester, of 80, Woodlands Road, Cheetham, Manchester, are natural born British Subjects, respectable men and householders.

They have known the applicant for the period respectively stated in the Memorial. They say he is a respectable man and one who in their opinion is loyal to the Crown and worthy to be granted a Certificate of Naturalization.

(Signed) THOS. COGHLAN,

Detective Inspector.

Submitted to:-

(Sgd.) F. TAYLOR,

Chief Superintendent.

The front page of the file, as was traditional, contains a section of "Minutes": notes written by Home Office staff as the application proceeded. The first one reads:

The Salford Report is quite satisfactory and the Manchester report, though very brief, is favourable. I am inclined to think that we need not make any inquiry from Leeds where Goodman lived from 1910 to 1915 - the Salford & Manchester reports cover the period 1915-1922 : on the other hand the residence referee, though competent to speak as regards this latter period, did not know much of him during the Leeds period. It would be safer to complete the Inquiry, and ? forward paper to Ch. Const. Leeds for enquiry as to whether the residence as given in the memorial is correct, and whether he can add anything to the reports from Ch. Consts. Manchester & Salford regarding Goodman.

A.G.

23/11/22

Duly, a copy of a letter written from the Home Office to the Leeds Chief Constable dated 28 November 1922 is included, but his reply is not. This unsigned minute in a different hand is date-stamped as having been received by the Home Office on 11 December 1922:

Leeds Chief Constable reports. Nothing to add to reports previously sent. Goodman had a good character whilst in Leeds.

After which immediately follows, in the original hand:

Nothing to his detriment at Leeds. ? Grant Cert (for £9) Russian - mantle and costume manufacturer, wife's name Rachel, and, in asking for fee, point out that all the children are nat'l born B.S. by virtue of their birth in U.K., - their names will therefore not be included in the Cert.

A.G.

12/12/22

1	This is Radom, the city in SE Poland where Harry's parents married.
2	Simon's naturalisation papers can be seen here.
3	Sir John Scurrah Randles (1857-1945) was a successful businessman and Conservative politician. Having founded the Workington Iron & Steel Company, he entered Parliament in 1900, and served in Cumbrian and Manchester constituencies on and off until his retirement in 1922. A devout Methodist, he was knighted in 1905. Sources: The John Rylands University Library, Wikipedia, FreeBMD.
4	Edward Shortt, KC, (1862-1935) qualified as a barrister in 1890 and became active in the Liberal Party in 1908. He represented all or part of Newcastle-upon-Tyne as an MP from 1910 and, after a short stint as Chief Secretary for Ireland, he was appointed Home Secretary in 1919. He served until the fall of the Liberal government in October 1922, after which he retired from politics and became President of the British Board of Film Censors.
5	The correct spelling was "Badminton Terrace".

After all this delay and repetition, Harry's Certificate of Naturalisation was finally granted on 29 December 1922 and he signed the Oath of Allegiance on 2 January 1923.

TNA refs: Papers: HO144/2237. Certificate: HO334/95/9647. Photo donated by Evelyn Fisher.