Francis Godfrey of Duxbury and Bridgewater, Mass., died 1669

Francis Godfrey is my 10th great-grandfather on my grandfather Art Washburn Davis’ side of the family. I haven’t found a great deal of information on Francis, so this is very much a work in progress. 

Francis Godfrey was likely born in England, say about 1599. Sometime around 1624 he married a woman,  Elizabeth —-?—-.  He immigrated by1638 when he is granted land. 

Francis was a carpenter and a bridge builder. He is on the 1643 list of men able to bear arms, in the Duxbury section. [PCR 8:189]. In August 1643 he appears on the muster roll of the Duxbury Company commanded by Captain Myles Standish. 

From the 24 January 1643/44 list of town of Marshfield debts: To Francis Godfry, 2 shillings paid for cleaving lathes. [Jeremy D. Bangs, Mayflower Descendant, “The 17th Century Marshfield Town Records,” 61:123, 2012]

At Marshfield town meeting 30 March 1646 it was agreed that Edward Winslow [the future Governor] should agree with F. Godfrey for making a bridge over South River and what he shall agree the town are ready to perform. Marshfield formed from a section of Duxbury, so people didn’t necessarily relocate to be living the new town but I’m not sure if this was the case with Francis. 

image from Movementum Realty video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqlaS4UQ5cM

Francis and, I assume Elizabeth, had one daughter named Elizabeth who was born about 1624, probably in England. She married in June 1644 John Cary/Carye/Carew. [PCR 2:79] I wrote about that couple here.

Francis was a man of means as he owned considerable land and in his will mentions two servants. He had some education as he signed a deed, and the Providence portion of his inventory include "1 Bible" valued at 8s. and "3 small books" valued at 1s. 6d.

On 3 September 1638, "Francis Godfrey is granted twenty acres of lands lying on the norwest side of Greene's Harbour River, and a garden place at Stony River, near Edward Bumpasse, to be viewed & laid forth for him by Mr. Collier, Jonathan Brewster, & W[illia]m Basset (which land was, the 28th October, 1640, by them laid forth as aforesaid …)" [PCR 1:95, 135].

On the "last of February 1644 [/45?]…Roger Chaundler of Duxborrow" sold to "Francis Godfrey of the same" twenty-five acres "lying on the northern side of the freshet that runneth into Greene's Harbour." [PCR 12:109]

On 16 December 1646 the freeman of the town of Marshfield acknowledged land promised to James Pitny that is lying between the lands of Francis Godfrey and Mr. Ralph Patridge’s fence, west of the Greenshar Bar River. Also nearby are Thomas Burne and Josias Winslow. [Jeremy D. Bangs, Mayflower Descendant, “The 17th Century Marshfield Town Records,” 62:141, 2013]

On 26 February 1648[/9?], "Constant Sowthworth of Duxbery and Thomas Sowthworth of Plymouth his brother" sold to "Francis Godfray of the town of Duxbery ... carpenter ... a certain parcel of upland ground containing an hundred acres or thereabouts be it more or less lying at the North River." [PCR 121:163]

On 23 Oct 1648 John Cary sold to James Lindell all the land, both upland and meadow, granted him by the town and at the same time “testified and affirmed” that his father-in-law Francis Godfrey, “did acknowledge and confess that he had sold his present right and interest of his said land lying upon Green Harbor River” to James Lindel.

On 10 December 1650, "Francis Godfry of Marshfield ... carpenter" sold to "Anthony Eames and Mark Eames the son of the said Anthony both of them of Hingham ... a certain parcel of land containing one hundred acres be it more or less together with one dwelling house upon it with all the appurtenances belonging thereunto lying upon the North River.” [PCR 12:206]

He removed to Bridgewater where he took the Oath of Fidelity in 1657. He is not on the 1656 list of original proprietors for that town. 

On 9 October 1665. Francis Godfrey received land in an allocation of lots by the town of Bridgewater. [“Massachusetts Land Records, 1620-1986” database on FamilySearch.org]

Francis Godfrey died Bridgewater between 26 February 1666[/67] (date of will) and 30 July 1669 (probate of will), likely closer to the 1669 date. 

Elizabeth is named in her husband’s will, so she died after 26 February 1666[/7], 

A significant portion of his estate was in Providence, now in Rhode Island, but he’s not mentioned in published records there, so I’m curious as to how that came about.

In his will, dated 26 February 1666[/7] and proved 29 October 1669, "Francis Godfrey, aged inhabitant of the town of Bridgwater," made "my wife Elizabeth Godfrey my sole executrix, and Mr. James Browne of Rehoboth and Samuell Edson of Bridgwater my overseers.” Bequests: 

• wife Elizabeth Godfrey whole complete purchase of lands, both already laid out and to be laid out, with all the immunities and privileges belonging thereunto, with my dwelling house and outhouses ...lands laid out lying and situated as followeth: forty acres of upland lying at a place usually called Salisbury Plain running cross the way usually called the Bay Path, and twenty-four acres of upland lying upon the river usually called John's River …twenty acres of upland lying upon the Town's River ...ten acres of upland more joining meadow land upon the Town's River, two acres of meadow land more or less lying in the meadow called Flaggy Meadow, two acres and a half more ... joining on the one side to Arthur Harris his meadow and on the other side to John Carye Senior, and one share more at the north end of the plain called Salisbury Plain
• to my wife Elizabeth Godfrey, one broad and one narrow axe, one handsaw, one hatchet, one square, one drawing knife, one adze, one hammer, one pair of chisels, two augers, one mortising auger, one smaller auger, three plains, one jointer, one smoothing plain, one rabbeting plain, all the best I have
• wife Elizabeth also to receive residue of “estate goods cattle whatever” 
• to my grandchild John Carye a complete purchase of lands both upland and meadows both already laid out or to be laid out, only I have exchanged six acres of upland with him lying to the lands at my house for six acres lying next to his land at John's River ... the six acres of land at my house belonging now to my house being given the my wife Elizabeth aforesaid”
• to my daughter Elizabeth Cary, two cows called Moose and Dazey, two canvas sheets and my great Bible
• to my grandchild Elizabeth Cary, one heifer
• to my servant John Pitcher one broad axe
• to "my grandchild John Carye, a black mare, green cloak, suit of apparel, trooper's coat, hat, pair of stockings, pair of shoes, and  all my working tools not disposed of as abovesaid
• to my son-in-law John Carye Senior all the rest of my wearing clothes
• to my servant Richard Ginings if he live with my wife Elizabeth Godfrey and carry himself as he ought until he’s twenty years of age, ten pounds

The will was signed by the initials F.G. and is witnessed by Wm Brett, Jas Keith, Nathl Willis, John Hill. Inventory 30 July 1669, totaled 117 pounds, 17 s, 5 d. [Plymouth probate records, Vol 7, p 179] 

The inventory of the movable goods and cattle of Francis Godfrey lately deceased being an ancient inhabitant of Bridgwater, was exhibited at the Plymouth court 29 October 1669 on the oath of Elizabeth Godfrey, widow. The goods at Bridgewater were appraised 30 July 1669, by William Brett and John Willis and totaled 63 pounds, 12 shippings, 11 pence. The goods and cattle appraised at Providence by John Field and Resolved Waterman taken 27 July 1669 and totaled 54 pounds, 4 shillings, 6 pence. Inventory was taken 30 July 1669. Total of both inventories is 117 pounds, 17 shillings, 5 pence; no real estate is mentioned. [MD 17:155-56, citing PCPR 2:2:57-58]

Note: Some researchers have him born Bath, Somerset in 1590 to Richard Godfrey and Isabel Ramsdale, but I haven’t found a source for this. 

Sources Not Included Above:

Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700

Seth C. Cary, John Cary the Plymouth Pilgrim, 1911

NEHGR, “Abstracts of the Earliest Wills Probate Office at Plymouth,” vol 7, p 179, 1853

New England Families Genealogical and Memorial,Third Series, Volume III, p. 1224