Francis Porter Goddard (1797 - 1882)

Born 19 Oct 1797 in Mason County, Kentucky, USA

Ancestors

Husband of Margaret Groves — married 18 Nov 1824 in Fleming, Kentucky

Husband of Elizabeth (Morris) Goddard — married 6 Jun 1872 in Knox Co, Illinois

Husband of Fannie (Franklin) Goddard — married about 22 Mar 1876 in Knox County, Illinois, USA

Descendants

Died 8 May 1882 at age 84 in Abingdon, Cameron, Knox County, Illinois, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Noel Goddard [send private message]

Biography

I just uploaded Francis Porter Goddard's Bible showing 3 pages where he had written the birth dates and names of him and Margaret Groves and all of his children.

I uploaded the Illinois marriage index showing Francis P. Goddard and Elizabeth Morris marriage on 06-07-1872.

FRANCIS PORTER GODDARD was born in Fleming County Kentucky October 19, 1797. His parents were Joseph B. Goddard and Frances Rector. He died May 8th 1882 in Warren County Illinois. He is buried in Silent Home Cemetery near Cameron, Illinois.^[1]

He married first about 1815 to Nancy (maiden name unknown) and the where is unknown. There were four children born of this marriage. Rezin (Reason) Goddard born June 13, 1816; Martha Jane born July 24, 1818; Emily born August 5, 1820; Joshua in 1822.

He paid taxes in a town named Goddard in Fleming County Kentucky. Our Emily was only four years old when her mother died. He then married Margaret Groves and moved to Parks county, Indiana where John, Mary Ann, Sarilda, Francis, William and Sarah were born. He moved to Knox County, Illinois where George was born then he moved to Warren county Illinois. There he had Henry, James, David, Robert, and Angelina.

In 1850, they were living in Warren County, Illinois.^[2] They were still there in 1860^[3] and 1870^[4].

Margaret (Groves) Goddard died on 06-Nov-1871, thats why he married Elizabeth Morris in 1872.

His third wife was his housekeeper, Elizabeth Morris. They married in 1872-06-07 I put in the marriage paper showing Francis's marriage to Elizabeth Morris and there marriage date. Elizabeth (Morris) Goddard died on 18- Jul- 1875 at about age 50.

^[5].

Francis and Fannie Franklin were married on 22-Mar-1876, but there marriage didn't work out. Francis and Fannie had a baby, but it died in infancy. Francis gave Fannie Franklin a house and lot and some money and moved her into it as his kids wanted him to as Fannie wasn't all there in the head and she couldn't cook or do much of any thing to help Francis. He never divorced her and when he died she sued for all his land and property and won the case. She spent and couldn't manage and ended up in in later life in a state menial Hospital. I have all the papers to prove it. That's why he moved in with his daughter Mary (Goddard) Norris. He was getting old and couldn't take care of himself. Francis is my second great grand father.

By 1880, Francis was living with his daughter, Mary Norris. It stated he was married but no wife was with him.^[6]

Francis was a farmer, stockman, preacher and at times a teacher. He raised Morgan horses. He also practiced free medicine among his neighbors and taught his granddaughter Anna some of his knowledge of medicine. Francis gathered his herbs, barks, and leaves with seeds that he used in his medicines and dried them himself. Sometimes he bought bulk drugs such as antimony, copras, quinine and saltpeter. He used the saltpeter to tan his hides and make shoes and boots. He often gave away shoes to needy folks and during the Civil War he gave them to Union soldiers. He made the family soap and toilet soap as well. When his daughter Emily and her husband drown he raised Martha Anna Fletcher his granddaughter. During this time his third wife Margaret was a mid-wife. They both taught Anna about medicine.

He provided meat to the union army in Illinois. He made and sold cure pork in barrels which he sold to the Union army.

He was a religious man who read his bible daily, in his old age he received his second sight and was able to read his bible again without his glasses. He was very strict Methodist. He had many ideas as to what work was fit for women to do. Women, girls and children were never allowed to build a fire, tend lye searching or carry heavy loads. In his environment the children matured early. He himself married first at 18 and was a widower at 23 with four children.

Francis was a good provider and his children often commented they didn't know people could lack for food until they were much older. He was an abolitionist and encouraged his children and his granddaughter Anna to attend rallies. He often spoke for the press.

He taught in a subscription school. In the early days pegged shoes were used. The patrons of the school paid mostly in produce. Sometimes nothing if the family has hard up. He had many books and encouraged the children to read them when they did not have other things to do.

Francis was involved in politics all of his life, the family often sang rally songs at parades where he gave speeches. He was a great supporter of Abraham Lincoln. He had moved from Kentucky because he did not believe in slavery. Perhaps because an ancestor was a bond servant, kidnapped by his step mother and sent to America from England so her son could inherit.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Theresa Ellenwood for creating WikiTree profile Goddard-863 through the import of EmilyGoddardAncestors.ged on Mar 5, 2013.

Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Theresa and others.

Sources

1. ↑ "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVKY-TGXT : accessed 3 June 2016), Francis P Goddard, 1882; Burial, Cameron, Warren, Illinois, United States of America, Silent Home Cemetery; citing record ID 54512800, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M857-WQM : accessed 3 June 2016), Francis P Goddard, Warren county, Warren, Illinois, United States; citing family 280, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXH1-LPS : accessed 3 June 2016), Francis Goddard, 1860.
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M64T-1Y6 : accessed 3 June 2016), Francis P Goddard, Illinois, United States; citing p. 5, family 35, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,740.
5. ↑ : Family Search accessed 3 June 2016), Francis P. Goddard and Fannie Franklin, 22 Mar 1876; citing Knox, Illinois; FHL microfilm 1,412,045.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXK5-YV3 : accessed 3 June 2016), Francis Goddard in household of John M Norris, Floyd, Warren, Illinois, United States; citing enumeration district ED 287, sheet 141A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0256; FHL microfilm 1,254,256.