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Edward Goffe (abt. 1593 - 1658)

Captain Edward Goffe aka Gaffe
Born about in Ipswich, St. Nicholas, Suffolk, Englandmap
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married 1629 in Englandmap
Husband of — married about 1639 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap
Descendants descendants
Father of , , , and
Died at about age 65 in Cambridge, Middlesex, Massachusetts Bay Colonymap
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Profile last modified | Created 25 Sep 2010
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There are disproven, disputed, or competing theories about this person's parents. See the text for details.
The Puritan Great Migration.
Edward Goffe migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Great Migration (Series 2), by R. C. Anderson, vol. 3, p. 92)
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Contents

Biography

This profile is part of the Goff Name Study.

Edward Goffe was likely born about 1593 (aged "about 63" in 1656).[1]

He was one of the wealthiest men in Cambridge, Massachusetts, owning many properties. He was educated, as he wrote his own will and his estate contained books.

Immigration

Edward sailed for New England on 16 October 1634, from Harwich aboard the "Hope' of Ipswich. A great storm drove the ship northward and it was wrecked. He and his companions were rescued at Great Yarmouth.[2][3] The next year, he completed the voyage successfully with his family, however, the name of the ship isnot known.[4]

At New England

He lived first in Watertown, and was made a freeman on 25 May 1636.[5]

Edward is mentioned numerously in the town records at Cambridge. The first mention of him was on 8 February 1635/6 when he sold land at "Rockie Meaddowe" to John Page of Watertown, though he may still have been resident at Watertown.[6] He was a selectman at Cambridge on 6 November 1636,[7] and again chosen a townsman there on 4 September 1637.[8] On 2 June 1641 he was appointed one of three men as commissioner for Cambridge.[9]

Edward wrote his own will 21 June 1657 (preamble) or 2 April 1657 (written in another hand at the end). It was sealed and delivered to court 23 December 1658 [23 10 mo. 1658].[10]

He died at Cambridge on 26 December 1658.[11][12][13]

His will was shown at court 28 December 1658.[10] His real estate was valued at £619-10-00, and his lifestock at £210-05-00.[14][15]

Edward's widow, Margaret, remarried at Cambridge to John Witchfield in December 1662.[16] He lived in Windsor, Connecticut, which is where she died 27 July 1669.[17]

Children

Edward's family was recorded in the Cambridge church records after his death.[11]

He married first Joyce (possibly "Joice Frost" in 1625 at Wherstead, Suffolk). She died in November 1638 at Cambridge.[18] They had:

  1. Samuel Goffe, "aged about 7 years [when they came to Cambridge]"[11], thus born, presumaby England, about 1629 (if his father was admitted to the Cambridge church in 1636).[19][20]
  2. Lydia Goffe, born, presumably England, say 1631 (age at marriage),[21] baptized Cambridge, 16__.[11][20]
  3. Mary Goffe, born, presumably England, say 1633,[22] buried Cambridge, 23 April 1646[23]
  4. Nathaniel Goffe, born Cambridge, February 1637[/8?], presumably died there, 23 August 1645 (recorded as birth).[24][20]

He married second, surely Cambridge, Margaret Wilkinson.[25] They had:

  1. Deborah Goffe,[11] born Cambridge, 15 December 1639,[20] died there 21 November 1660.[26]
  2. Hannah Goffe,[11] born Cambridge, 23 March 1643[/4?].[27]
  3. Abiah Goffe,[11] born Cambridge, 1 April 1646.[28]

Research Notes

Origins and Parentage. In 2003, Robert Charles Anderson gave no origin for Edward Goffe, though cites a Chancery Proceeding abstract connecting Edward Goffe of Cambridge, New England, to "a copy and freehold in Burgh Castle [in Suffolk]."[29]

Robert Thompson's 2004 article "Edward and Joyce Goffe: New Information about their Origins," suggests that Edward Goffe was the eldest son of Edward Gough/Goffe and lived and grew up in St. Peter's Parish, Ipswich, Suffolk.[1]

A prior version of this profile attached Stephen Goffe and Deborah West as his parents, without source.

Birth. The date of Edward's birth is not known. Anderson (2003) estimated his birth by at least 1604, based on the estimated date of his first marriage. In 2004, Roger Thompson identified a record and wrote, "On 1 April 1656, Edward Goffe petitioned to be excused from military training because of disablement; he there described his age as "about 63," placing his birth at around 1593."[1]

Thompson also makes a convincing argument that Edward Goffe was the eldest son of Edward Gough/Goffe and lived and grew up in St. Peter's Parish, Ipswich, Suffolk, England, a major emigration point for emigrants to New England He bases his theory on several wills recorded in the area.[30]

Edward Goffe was married twice. He married first in England, and his wife Joyce accompanied him to Massachusetts, as she was in fellowship with the church at Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1636. The Third Supplement to Torrey says that Joyce's marriage to Edward Goffe occurred in about 1629.[31] Her maiden name has been unknown. Some say that her name was Cutter, but there is no clear evidence of this. In addition, Thompson references the record of a marriage "1625 ; Edw. Goffe  ; Joice Frost ; Wherstead," Suffolk,[32] which is just down river from Ipswich. If his theory about the father and birth place of Edward is correct, he may well have found Edward's wife and the correct marriage date.

Sources

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Thompson, "Edward and Joyce Goffe: New Information about their Origins," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 158 (2004):101-104, citing Middlesex County Court Record Book 1:95.
  2. ↑ Thompson, NEHGR 158, Page 103, citing McGiffert, "God's Plot", 56-57.
  3. ↑ Alexander Young, Chronicles of the first planters of the colony of Massachusetts Bay, 1623-1636 (Boston, Little, Brown, 1846), 499-558 (Thomas Shepard's Memoir of Himself) at 533- (1634 failed voyage), in particular, 539, 539n (Goff; Edward Goffe); digital images, HathiTrust.
  4. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III, G-H (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), 92- 99 (Edward Goffe); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  5. ↑ Shurtleff, Nathaniel, ed. Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England (Boston: William White, 1853), vol. 1, p. 372.
  6. ↑ The Records of the Town of Cambridge (formerly Newtowne) Massachusetts, 1630-1703 (Cambridge, Mass., 1901), p. 27.
  7. ↑ The Records of the Town of Cambridge, p. 23.
  8. ↑ The Records of the Town of Cambridge, p. 29.
  9. ↑ Records of the Governor and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, vol. 1, p. 328.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Middlesex County, Massachusetts. "Probate Papers," file no. 9283 "Edward Goffe," will of Edward Goffe. Digital images of Microfilm, FamilySearch, DGS film 007553467, image 1091 of 1203.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Stephen Paschall Sharples, Records of the Church of Christ at Cambridge in New England, 1632-1830 (Boston: Eben Putnam, 1906), 5-6; digital images, InternetArchive.
    Edward Goffe lately deceased (viz on Decemb. 26 1658.) was a member with us in full Communio[n] So was and is also Margaret his wife.
    His children by a former wife ( who was also in fellowship with this Ch. ) are
    Samuel baptized in England & when His father Joyned here aged about 7. years.
    Lydia
    His children by Margaret now living are
    Deborah
    Hannah
    Abiah all baptized in this church
  12. ↑ Edward Goffe 1658 death, Thomas W. Baldwin, Vital records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston, Mass. [Wright & Potter Print. Co.] 1914-1915), 2:573-574 (Goffe deaths) at 574; digital images, HathiTrust, "[Goffe], Edward, Dec. 26, 1658."
  13. ↑ Cambridge MA Death Records; by subscription, https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/2495/41254_265486-01508?pid=80927149
  14. ↑ Middlesex County, Massachusetts. "Probate Papers," file no. 9283 "Edward Goffe," inventory of Edward Goffe. Digital images of Microfilm, FamilySearch, DGS film 007553467, image 1092 of 1203.
  15. ↑ “Probate records v. 1-3 1654-1673”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9D5-B3L4 : 7 May 2023) or (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89D5-B5W7  : Transcription), FHL microfilm 007554513, image 103-109, Middlesex, Massachusetts, Vol 1, 1654-1661, Page 190-202.
  16. ↑ Thomas W. Baldwin, Vital records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston, Mass. [Wright & Potter Print. Co.] 1914-1915), 2:165 (Goffe marriages); digital images, HathiTrust.
  17. ↑ Citing "CTVR 22; see also Grant 83," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Volumes I-III, 3 vols., paginated consecutively (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1995), 2042-2044 (John Witchfield) at 2043; digital images by subscription, AmericanAnderson.
  18. ↑ Joyce Goffe 1638 death, Thomas W. Baldwin, Vital records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston, Mass. [Wright & Potter Print. Co.] 1914-1915), 2:573-574 (Goffe deaths) at 574; digital images, HathiTrust, "[Goffe] Joyce, w. of Edward, Nov. ---, 1638."
  19. ↑ Citing "CaChR 6," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III, G-H (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), 92- 99 (Edward Goffe) at 97; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Thomas W. Baldwin, Vital records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston, Mass. [Wright & Potter Print. Co.] 1914-1915), 1:294 (Goffe births); digital images, HathiTrust.
  21. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III, G-H (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), 92- 99 (Edward Goffe) at 97; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  22. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III, G-H (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), 92- 99 (Edward Goffe) at 97; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  23. ↑ Mary Goffe 1646 burial, Thomas W. Baldwin, Vital records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston, Mass. [Wright & Potter Print. Co.] 1914-1915), 2:573-574 (Goffe deaths) at 574; digital images, HathiTrust, "[Goffe] Mary, d. of Edward and Judith, bur. Apr. 23, 1646."
  24. ↑ Citing "NEHGR 4:56" and "NEHGR 9:169," Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III, G-H (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), 92- 99 (Edward Goffe) at 97; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors, with further comment that if Nathaniel born 1637[/8] did not die 23 August 1645, then "we have birth records for two sons named Nathaniel, with no later record for either."
  25. ↑ Vital Records of Cambridge, vol. 2, p. 165.
  26. ↑ Deborah Goffe 1660 death, Thomas W. Baldwin, Vital records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston, Mass. [Wright & Potter Print. Co.] 1914-1915), 2:573-574 (Goffe deaths) at 574; digital images, HathiTrust, "Goffe, Deborah, Nov. 21, 1660."
  27. ↑ Hannah Goffe 1643 birth, Thomas Baldwin, Vital records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, 2 vos. (Boston, Mass. [Wright & Potter Print. Co.] 1914-1915), 1:294 (Goffe births); digital images, HathiTrust, "[Goffe] Hannah, d. Edmund and Margaret, Mar. 23, 1643."
  28. ↑ Abiah Goffe 1646 birth, 1:294 (Goffe births); digital images, HathiTrust, "[Goffe] Abiah, d. Edward and Margaret, Apr. 1, 1646."
  29. ↑ Citing "NEHGR 100:218, citing 'Chanc. Proc., Charles I, W 92/31,'" Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III, G-H (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), 92- 99 (Edward Goffe) at 98; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  30. ↑ Thompson, NEHGR158:101-104.
  31. ↑ Lutz, New England Marriages Before 1700 Supplement, Page 114
  32. ↑ Boyd's marriage index, Suffolkvolume=Vol. 7 Grooms Index, n.p., manuscript with film FamilySearch, Page 225

See also--

  • Roger Thompson, "Edward and Joyce Goffe: New Information about their Origins," The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 158 (2004):101-104; digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  • Robert Charles Anderson, The Great Migration, Immigrants to New England, 1634-1635, Volume III, G-H (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2003), 92- 99 (Edward Goffe); digital images by subscription, AmericanAncestors.
  • Thomas Baldwin, Vital Records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the Year 1850 (Boston: Wright & Potter Print. Co., 1914); digital images, OpenLibrary.
  • Sanborn, Melinde Lutz. Third Supplement to Torrey's New England Marriages Prior to 1700; Genealogical Publishing Co.; Baltimore, MD; 2003.
  • Boyd's marriage index, Suffolk Vol. 7 Grooms Index, n.p., manuscript with film FamilySearch
  • Filby, P. William, ed. Passenger and Immigration Lists Index, 1500s-1900s. Name: Edward Goffe to Massachusetts. 1636. Primary Immigrant: Goffe, Edward Source Bibliography: Paige, Lucius R. List of Freemen of Massachusetts, 1630-1691. Baltimore: Clearfield Co., 2002. Page 14; Banks, Charles Edward. Topographical Dictionary of 2885 English Emigrants to New England, 1620-1650. Edited, indexed and published by Elijah Ellsworth Brownell. Philadelphia: Bertram Press, 1937. 295p. Reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, 1957. Repr. 1987. Page: 116
  • Henry Pope, "Pioneers of Massachusetts", page 190
  • Find A Grave: Memorial #206859775 (Note: No photo, references Anderson)




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Comments: 10

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Ann Browning
This looks likely to be his marriage Wherstead is about 3 miles south of Ipswich

Edward married Joice Frost in 1625 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England.<ref> Marriage: "England, Boyd's Marriage Indexes, 1538-1850"

FindMyPast Transcription (accessed 8 May 2023)

Edward Goffe marriage to Joice Frost in 1625 in Wherstead, Suffolk, England. </ref>

posted by Ann Browning
GeneJ X
(1) Lacking some other contemporaneous record, the child list baptisms given for Nathaniel, Nathaniel (again), Deborah, Hannah and Abiah were published as dates of birth.

Reference--Thomas W. Baldwin, Vital records of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to the year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston, Mass. [Wright & Potter Print. Co.] 1914-1915), 1:294 (Goffe births); digital images, HathiTrust, relevant chronological entries.

  • [Goffe] Nathaniel, s. of Edmund [sic] and Joyce, Feb. ----, 1637.
  • [Goffe] Deborah, d. of Edward and Margaret, Dec. 15, 1639.
  • [Goffe] Hannah, d. of Edward and Margaret, Mar. 23, 1643.
  • [Goffe] Nathaniel, s. of Edward and Joyce [sic], Aug. 23, 1645.
  • [Goffe] Abiah, d. of Edward and Margaret, Apr. 1, 1646.

(2) About the Nathaniel, 1645 birth, Savage wrote, "A vexatious rec. in Geneal. Reg. IX. 169, makes Nathaniel b. 23 Aug. 1645 by his w. Joyce, wh. d. near seven yrs. bef. when he was, of course, s. of Margaret; beside enrich. him with w. Judith, that he never kn. It must always be borne in mind, that the volume from wh. these transcr. are print. is only a copy, not orig."

Reference--James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary of the first settlers of New England ..., 4 vols. (Boston : Little, Brown and company, 1860-1862), 2:267 (Edward Goffe); digital images, "HathTrust.

posted by GeneJ X
edited by GeneJ X
Thomas B
I've added some sources, and did some general formatting and reorganization (hopefully it's a bit easier to parse now that there is more than just a "Biography" section).

Anderson gives no origin for Edward Goffe. This profile currently has a "Stephen Goffe" as father, but I see no supporting evidence. Stephen's profile claims a lot with little source. This profile cites a 2005 NEHGR article (Anderson was in 2003) which suggests that he is son of an Edward Goffe, however I don't have access to that article. I think a the very least this profile should be detached from the current attached parents (baring any new sources).

posted by Thomas B
Cochoit-2 Joe Cochoit
The evidence in the article is stronger than this profile implies. His father is almost certainly Edward Goffe Sr., clothier, of St. Peter's parish in Ipswich, Suffolk, England who died a widower in 1634. His wife should be Joyce Frost who he married on 6 March 1624/5 at nearby St. Mary's parish in Wherstead, Suffolk, England.
posted by Joe Cochoit
McClain-3310 Scott McClain
I have detached the unsourced parents. I agree with Joe that Thompson's article makes a persuasive case for his origins. Is there already a WikItree profile for Edward Goffe Sr. the clother of St. Peter's Parish?
posted by Scott McClain
GeneJ X
Have posted a comment on the profile of Edward Goffe (abt.1550-), said of Groton, Suffolk, England, seeking more information about the attached source. --Gene
posted by GeneJ X
Miguel Kelley
Goffe-112 and Goffe-3 appear to represent the same person because: Same dates and places of birth and death. Both married to Margaret Wilkinson
posted by Miguel Kelley
Meehan-411 Beryl Meehan
Goffe-3 and Goffe-109 appear to represent the same person because: Please merge. Unsourced data can be ignored...
posted on Goffe-109 (merged) by Beryl Meehan
Aldrich-908 Cheryl (Aldrich) Skordahl
merge completed. some cursory clean-up done.
posted by Cheryl (Aldrich) Skordahl
Meehan-411 Beryl Meehan
Goffe-254 and Goffe-3 appear to represent the same person because: name, death yr, parents, spouse match, just birth yr needs adjusting.
posted by Beryl Meehan

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Categories: Cambridge, Massachusetts | Ipswich, Suffolk | Pre-1700, Goff Name Study | Suffolk, Goff Name Study | Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Goff Name Study | Puritan Great Migration | Goff Name Study