Richard Godfrey (abt. 1651 - 1725)

Born about 1651 in Taunton, Plymouth Colony [uncertain]

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Richmond) Godfrey — married 1 Jan 1680 in Taunton, Plymouth Colony

Descendants

Died 14 Aug 1725 at about age 74 in Taunton, Bristol, Province of Massachusetts Bay

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Biography

Birth & Parents

Richard Godfrey (aka "Godfree"), the son of Richard and _____ (Turner) Godfrey, was born circa 1651, probably in Taunton, Massachusetts (then Plymouth Colony).^[1][2]

Marriage

He married Mary Richmond, daughter of John and Susanna (Hayward) Richmond, in Taunton on January 1, 1679-80.^[1][2][3][4]

Life Facts

It was probably Richard Godfrey, not his father, who was a soldier in King Phillip's War included on lists dated December 10, 1675, and July 24, 1676. He was perhaps among those who thwarted the Wampanoag attack on Taunton July 11, 1676, and among the "party of twenty Tauntonians" who captured twenty-six natives at Norton August 6, 1676.^[1]

On April 5, 1714, a committee of proprietors granted Richard 12 acres upon the right of William Paul, deceased, and 12 3/4 acres on the right of Richard Godfrey, Sr., to be southwestward from Maple Meadow, joining the lands of William Witherell and so joining land of John Briggs and so joining said Godfrey's own land.^[5]

Death & Burial

Richard Godfrey died in Taunton on August 14, 1725, "aged 74 years" (gravestone). He is buried in the Summer Street (Neck O Land) Burying Ground in Taunton, where his gravestone reads:^[1][2][6]

Here lieth yͤ

Body of

Richard

Goodfree he

died Augſt

yͤ 14^Th 1725

aged 74 Years.

Children

Children of Richard and Mary (Richmond) Godfrey, all born at Taunton:^[1]

1. Alice Godfrey, born August 20, 1680; married, June 12, 1705, Gavid Gashit; died probably before March 24, 1732-2 (when her husband had remarried).
2. Richard Godfrey, born March 1, 1681[/2]; married, December 15, 1709, Bathsheba Walker; died before August 13, 1753.
3. Mary Godfrey, born May 29, 1682 [sic, probably 1683]; married, November 25, 1703, John Smith.
4. Abigail Godfrey, born November 5, 1684; married Henry Hoskins; died November 4, 1755.
5. Joannah Godfrey, born July 30, 1686; married Seth Burt; living ca. August 3, 1761, but died by 1769.
6. Sarah Godfrey', born May 15, 1689; married Peter Walker; died November 22, 1760.
7. John Godfrey, born October 31, 1691; married, February 2, 1715-16, Joanne Gooding; died November 4, 1758.
8. Joseph Godfrey, born March 1, 1694-5; married (1) before June 21, 1737, Susannah Makepeace; (2) December 28, 1748, Hannah (Hewett) White; died December 18, 1750.

Will

"Richard Godfree Senior," of Taunton made a will dated January 26 1722-3 (signed by mark), proved October 13, 1725. In it are named, Eldest son Richard (executor) given "House and land," sons John and Joseph given "5th lot in Grate Ceder Swamp." Son John and five daughters, Alice Gashit, Mary Smith, Abigail Hoskins, Joannah Burt and Sarah Walker £20 each. Son Joseph £5 and orders [son] Richard to "give a deed of land where Joseph now liveth." Wife Mary 1/3 income improved land, and all money or cash, debts due &c. Witnesses were Seth Williams, Samuel Pitts, and James Williams. On October 11, 1725, Mary signed (by mark) her approval of the will, and released to her son Richard all her interest in the land.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Ullmann, Helen Schatvat. Richard Godfrey of Tauton, Massachusetts, And His Children And Grandchildren, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register (New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, MA, 2008). Volume 162. Pages 187-198.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Richmond, Joshua Bailey. The Richmond Family, 1594-1896. (privately published, Boston, Massachusetts, 1897). Page 9. Citing: "Mary Richmond ... married, January 1, 1679-80, Richard Godfrey ... Children, (born in Taunton) ..."
3. ↑ Richmond, The Richmond Family: Page 3. Citing: "John Richmond."
4. ↑ Torrey, Clarence Almon. Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc. Baltimore, 1985). Volume 1. Page 626. Citing: "GODFREY, Richard (?1651-1724?) & Mary RICHMOND (1654-1732); 1 Jan 1679, 1679/80; Taunton {TAG 36:137; Reg. 9:316, 17:36; MD 9:59, 22:94; Godfrey (ms) 2, 4; Shaw-Williams 78; Richmond Gen. 9; Waters (1882) 29; Tingley-Meyers 59}"
5. ↑ Paul, Edward J., "Notes of the American Families of Paul or Paull, Volume I", Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1897. Old Colony Historical Society, Taunton, MA 02780
6. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52244205/richard-godfrey : accessed 22 June 2022), memorial page for Richard Godfrey Jr. (1651–14 Aug 1725), Find A Grave: Memorial #52244205, citing Neck O Land Cemetery, Taunton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, USA ; Maintained by Kevin Avery (contributor 47024642).

See also:

• American Ancestry (Joel Munsell's Sons, Albany, N.Y., 1891) Vol. 6, Page 149.