East Anglia 866

In an earlier time when an infamous Gooderham planned on emigrating, he had in mind a move to England rather than from it. He was called Guthrum and his destination was East Anglia. One of the dreaded Danish Viking chieftains, his ships raided, plundered, burned and eventually captured all, or most of the Kingdom of East Anglia in 866. It was Viking ferocity which made it possible to conquer East Anglia. Killing was accepted and so was torture. Originally interested only in raiding, they noticed the richness of the land, and decided to stay. The conquered land was divided among his followers with Guthrum assuming the Kingship. According to Augustine Page’s History of the County of Suffolk he died and was buried at the town of Hadleigh (Hidlega).

Guthrum (Guthrin or Gormo) and his followers were quarrelsome raiders, not governors, and a general lack of discipline among his men threatened his control of the Kingdom. To retain his position as ‘King’, Guthrum made a deal with the English barons and consented to become a Christian. He was granted East Anglia and Hadleigh became his capital. He apparently lived there another eleven years and was, they say, a sincere convert to Christianity. He was buried within the grounds of the present Church of Hadleigh which is just down the road from Scole, the 19th century home of the Gooderhams. By this time they called themselves Goodrum and spelled the name in the English manner - Gooderham. They farmed century after century, their warlike history fading even in memory.

(Flag of East Anglia from Wikipedia)