Elizabeth (UNKNOWN) Godfrey (abt. 1600 - aft. 1669)

Born about 1600 in England [uncertain]

Wife of Francis Godfrey — married about 1623 in England

Descendants

Died after Oct 1669 after about age 69 in Bridgewater, Plymouth Colony [uncertain]

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Elizabeth (UNKNOWN) Godfrey migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Maiden Name

As established by Francis Godfrey's will and estate inventory,^[1] at the time of his death, Francis was married to a woman named Elizabeth. Elizabeth's maiden name, however, has not yet been determined. A Find-A-Grave profile for Francis Godfrey's wife Elizabeth^[2] and many family trees state that her maiden name was Elizabeth Hall, but no reasonable evidentiary basis for that proposition has been established.

There is a record of the marriage of a Francis Godfrey and an Elizabeth Hall in 1622 at St. Michael le Belfrey, York, England,^[3] which has been suggested as the marriage record of Francis Godfrey and his wife Elizabeth.^[4] The 1622 date of the York marriage is within the estimated date range for the marriage of Francis and his wife (1620-1626), but since the name Francis Godfrey was fairly common at the time (as, of course, was the name Elizabeth), the proposition that this record relates to the marriage of Francis Godfrey and his wife Elizabeth must be considered speculative in the absence of additional supporting evidence.

The Find-A-Grave profile for Elizabeth, the wife of Francis Godfrey, states that she was born September 20, 1601 in Mottram St. Andrew, Cheshire, England. Curiously, no record of such a birth has been found in online sources, but there is a record of the baptism on September 20, 1601 in Mottram-in-Longendale, Cheshire.^[5] Another suggested baptismal record for her is the record of the baptism of an Elizabeth Hall in Ebrington, Gloucestershire on February 2, 1602.^[6] No evidence has been found, however, that connects the Elizabeth Hall in either the Cheshire or Gloucestershire baptismal records to the Elizabeth who was Francis Godfrey's wife. It should be noted that neither Mottram-in-Longendale, Cheshire nor Ebrington, Gloucestershre is close to York (81 miles and 161 miles away, respectively).

Date and Place of Birth

The date of birth of Elizabeth, the wife of Francis Godfrey, is uncertain. Since Francis is estimated to have been born sometime in 1585-1605, she was probably born sometime after 1585. Assuming she was the mother of Francis's daughter Elizabeth (b. probably about 1626), she was probably born sometime in 1590-1605. A best guess date of birth would be about 1600. She was probably born in England, but the location is unknown.

Marriage

Assuming that Elizabeth was the mother of Francis's daughter Elizabeth, then, based on their daughter's estimated date of birth (1626), they were probably married sometime in 1620-1626. Since that date range is before the likely date of Francis's immigration to New England, they were probably married in England.

Children

As established by his will,^[1] Francis Godfrey had the following child:

1. Elizabeth, b. probably about 1626 in England, m. June 1644 probably in Duxbury, d. 1 November 1680 in Bridgewater (see Elizabeth's profile for sources)

Some secondary sources and family trees suggest that Francis may have been the father of additional children. However, the bequests in Francis's will fairly clearly indicate that Elizabeth was his only child who was alive at the time and that, if he had any other children, they had no then living children.

It is uncertain whether Elizabeth was the mother of Francis's daughter Elizabeth, although the fact that they were both named Elizabeth is evidence in favor of that proposition.

Immigration; Residency in Duxbury, Marshfield and Bridgewater

Assuming that Elizabeth was the mother of Francis's daughter Elizabeth, then, as discussed in Francis's profile, they probably emigrated from England to New England in the summer of 1638 or possibly at bit earlier, resided initially in Duxbury, moved to Marshfield sometime in 1648-1651, and then moved to Bridgewater by 1657.^[1]

Death

Elizabeth's husband, Francis, died in 1669. His will was proved on her oath on October 29, 1669.^[1] Elizabeth thus died sometime after that date. No reliable evidence has been found that establishes a more specific date of death. Her Find-A-Grave page states that she died in 1702 in Bridgewater.^[2] Although it is reasonably plausible that she died in Bridgewater, based on her estimated date of birth about 1600, it is unlikely that she lived until 1702. No evidence has been found that supports that date of death.

^{[4] [1] [3] [2] [6] [5]}

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4} See the profile of Francis Godfrey.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Find A Grave: Memorial #191082484
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJHL-7HC : 10 February 2018), Frauncis Godfrey and Elizabeth Hall, 1622; citing York, St.Michael Le Belfrey, Yorkshire, England, reference 2:3Z81T46, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 496,806.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "Holbrook line: Francis Godfrey, Immigrant," Happy Genealogy Dance
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NYKZ-78Y : 11 February 2018, Elizabeth Hall, 20 Sep 1601); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 424,859.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Gloucestershire Archives; Gloucestershire, England; Gloucestershire Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: P131 IN 1/1