On This Date in My Family History - John Godfrey

On January 31, 1703/4, my 8th great grandfather, John Godfrey was born.  I have some records indicating he was born in Rhode Island, and others suggesting he was born in Taunton, Massachusetts.

John was the son of Robert Godfrey (born 1660 in Taunton, Massachusetts and son of the immigrant ancestor Richard Godfrey who was born in 1631 in England and settled in Taunton, Massachusetts about 1652).

I have little documented information about John Godfrey.  While trying to find more information online, I did find a new boook to add to my "want" list....

Footprints In The Sand: The Godfrey Story 

The section of the book that I found online indicated that John was a mariner and died at sea, or was washed ashore during a storm and later died.  There were conflicting storied about the date of his death, indicating he may have died at age 49, 53, or 83.

He married Katherine Davis in 1722 in Rhode Island.  They had six children, and lived in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.  Their eldest, Mary, was my 7th great grandmother.

My relation to John Godfrey:

Me

My dad (David Milton Nichols)

My grandfather (Harry Orville Nichols)

My great grandfather (Daniel Merton Nichols)

My 2nd great grandfather (Daniel Webster Nichols)

My 3rd great grandmother (Laura Cooper)

My 4th great grandmother (Mariah Witter)

My 5th great grandmother (Waity Greene)

My 6th great grandmother (Waite Bailey)

My 7th great grandmother (Mary Godfrey)

My 8th great grandfather (John Godfrey)


He is also related through a different line:
Me
My father (David Milton Nichols)
My grandfather (Harry Orville Nichols)
My great grandfather (Daniel Merton Nichols)
My 2nd great grandfather (Daniel Webster Nichols)
My 3rd great grandfather (Ethelbert Nichols)
My 4th great grandmother (Amy Greene)
My 5th great grandfather (Russell Greene)
My 6th great grandmother (Waite Bailey)
My 7th great grandmother (Mary Godfrey)
My 8th great grandfather (John Godfrey)

On This Date in My Family History - January 8

Thursday, January 8

On this date in 1736, my 9^th great grandfather, JOSHUA DAVIS died in East Greenwich, Rhode Island.   

Joshua was the son of Aaron Davis, who was born in England and married to his wife, Mary, in February 1666 in Newport, Rhode Island.  Joshua was born in Newport in 1666.  In 1695, Joshua married Mary Scott.  Joshua was the first settler of Davisville, Rhode Island.  He built a grist mill there in the late 1690’s.  The mill eventually evolved into a wool carding mill where people would bring wool to be carded by machine, instead of by hand.  Later, Joshua’s sons turned the site into a home spinning and weaving industry which ran concurrently with the mill.  Below are signs we found on a trip to Rhode Island and a map of Joshua's residences.

  

Relationship: Martha Ann NICHOLS to Joshua DAVIS Joshua DAVIS is the 9th great grandfather of Martha Ann NICHOLS 9th great grandfather Joshua DAVIS Mary SCOTT b: 1666 b: 01 Feb 1665/66 Newport, Newport, Rhode Island, USA Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA d: 08 Jan 1736 d: 1734 East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA 8th great grandmother Katherine DAVIS b: 1704 East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA d: 1740 Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, USA 7th great grandmother Mary GODFREY b: 1724 East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA d: 01 Nov 1790 East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA 6th great grandmother Waite BAILEY b: 09 Mar 1750/51 East Greenwich, Kent, Rhode Island, USA d: 13 Aug 1791 Pinckney, Lewis, New York, USA 5th great grandfather Russell GREENE b: 20 Jan 1781 Berlin, Rensselaer, New York, USA d: 15 Dec 1841 Pinckney, Lewis, New York, USA 4th great grandmother Amy GREENE b: 26 Jan 1800 Berlin, Rensselaer, New York, USA d: 07 Aug 1882 St Marie, Green Lake, Wisconsin, USA Joshua DAVIS is the 9th great grandfather of Martha Ann NICHOLS 3rd great grandfather Ethelbert NICHOLS b: Abt. 1821 Pinckney, Lewis, New York, USA d: 12 Feb 1892 Medo, Blue Earth, Minnesota, USA 2nd great grandfather Daniel Webster NICHOLS b: 24 Aug 1848 New York, USA d: 21 Oct 1910 Kingsley, Griggs, North Dakota, USA Great grandfather Daniel Merton NICHOLS b: 30 May 1880 Winnebago, Faribault, Minnesota, USA d: 01 Dec 1959 Winnebago, Faribault, Minnesota, USA Paternal grandfather Harry Orville NICHOLS b: 21 Mar 1900 Winnebago, Faribault, Minnesota, USA d: 04 Feb 1990 Winnebago, Faribault, Minnesota, USA Father David Milton NICHOLS b: 06 Sep 1938 Winnebago, Faribault, Minnesota, USA d: 12 Nov 2011 Johnston, Polk, Iowa, USA Self Martha Ann NICHOLS

Sources:

• U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900 (Ancestry.com)
• http://www.rihs.org/mssinv/Mss629-11.htm
• Family Data Collection - Births (Edmund West, comp.. Family Data Collection - Births [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001.), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Database online.
• http://www.nklibrary.org/sites/default/files/pdf/nklibrary/swamptown/VillagesBk2.pdf.
• U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700 (Ancestry.com)