1240. Col. Thomas Godwin Jr & 1241. Martha Bridger [VA]
~1655 Thomas born in Nansamond County, VA; s/o 2480. Thomas Godwin Sr & 2481. Elizabeth ?.~1660 Martha born in Isle of Wight, VA; d/o 2482. Joseph Bridger.
3/24/1677 Thomas named executor in his father’s will.
1679, Thomas married Martha.
10/6/1679, Thomas and Barnaby Kearney ( 1244) attended a Quaker wedding in Nansemond Co. of Thomas Jordan and Elizabeth Burgh. (S) Souther Hist. Assoc., V7, PP96-9.
1682, “Col. Thomas Godwin, Esquire” a member of the Quaker meeting at Chuckatuck. (S) Wm & Mary Qrtly.
1680, Thomas a member of the Nansemond Co. Court; and Capt. of the Nansemond Co. Militia. (S) Seventeeth Century Isle of Wight County, Virginia; Boddie, 1938, P168.
8/3/1683, Martha “Godwin” named in her father’s will. (S) See No.2482 Family notes.
11/11/1685, “Capt: Tho: Goodwin Sheriffe of Nanzemond County”. (S) Leg. Journals of the Council of Col. VA, Waine, P69.
7/16/1686, Thomas Godwin “received of Mrs. Hester Bridger ( 2483), Extx. of Col. Joseph Bridger, legacy left my wife Martha”: 203 pds 8sh and 5 pence, one cover of a silver tobacco box and two silver candlesticks, containing 70 ounces; 5836 pds tobacco and caske in blls, 14 cattle, 7 hogs, 3 horses, it being her proportion, except of a sloop not yet appraised and of ninety-two hhds tob. shipped to London and consigned to Mr. Perry and Lane. (S) Isle of Wight, WB2, P254.
Col. Thomas commander of the Nansemond Militia & Presiding Justice of the Co.
1693, Thomas is a Burgess member from Nansemond Co., VA.
6/5/1699, “Ordered, That mr Attorney Generall doe prosecute the Said Majr Thomas Godwin & Andrew Ross as the law directs.” (S) Leg. Journals of the Council of Col. VA, Waine, PP273.
4/22/1704, Thomas witnessed the will of his father-in-law Samuel Bridger.
1705, Thomas removed as Col. of the Militia by Governor Francis Nicholson.
1/17/1708, Thomas acquired 1 acre in the Isle of Wight, VA.
5/3/1712, Thomas wrote his will.
Bef. 5/2/1714, Thomas died. (S) Will proved.
(S) Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography, V1, Publ. 1915.
Family notes:
• Thomas’ will: Glory be to God Amen! I Thomas Godwin of Nansemond County, knowing the uncertainty of life and certainty of death, do make and declare this to be my last will and testament as followeth: Imprimis, I give to my well beloved wife Martha Godwin my new dwelling plantation houses and out houses my mill and the appurtenances, the one halfe the orchard and halfe the land purchased of Thomas Jordan, I say unto my beloved wife Martha Godwin during her natural life and after her decease then to my son Thomas Godwin and to his male heirs forever, and for want of such heirs then to my son William Godwin and his heirs. Item. I give the other half of the land purchased of Thomas Jordan and half of my orchard to me son Thomas Godwin and to his male heirs forever, and for want of such heirs to return as aforesaid. Item. I give to my son Joseph Godwin and his two sons Joseph and Thomas the plantation, houses and orchards whereon he lives and land purchased from Mr. Richard Prestwood, excepting sixty acres thereof for the use the ? plantation aforesaid for firewood and fencing, I say unto my son Joseph Godwin and his two aforesd. sons and to the heirs male of their bodys or to the survivor of them forever; and the sixty acres aforesaid to take its length along Col. Pitt's line to the mill. Item. I give to my son Edmond Godwin the plantation and lands whereon he now lives purchased of Mr. Scott and of Mr. Butler to him and his heirs forever. Item, I give to my son William Godwin one hundred acres of land purchased of Henry Johnson and Barnaby Kearny lying upon the north side of his brother Thomas Godwin's land and likewise two hundred acres of land, parcell of a quarter tract purchased of Mr. ? and his choice thereof, I say unto my son William Godwin and to his heirs forever, as also one small parcell more lying betwixt Bunchley's line and my great pasture swamp. Item. I give the remaining part being four hundred acres purchased of Mr. ? unto my two daughters Elizabeth and Martha to be equally divided between them and each of their heirs forever. Item. I give all that parcell of land I purchased of William Carter, and that also which I purchased of Mr. Joseph Ashley, both of whom unto my son James Godwin and to his heirs forever. Item. I give all that plantation and land upon Black Creek unto my daughter Mary Godwin and her heirs forever, and my will and mind is that what stock of cattle and hoggs do belong to that plantation may be equally divided between my daughter Mary and my sons William and James equally. Item. As touching the remaining part of my estate both reayll and personall of what nature quality or condition soever it may be I give the use thereof to my well beloved wife Martha Godwin, during her natural life and after her decease I give the same, if any to my three youngest children viz: William, James and Mary equally to be divided between them or to the survivors of them forever. Lastly I ordain, nominate and appoint my two sons Samuel Godwin and William Godwin to be my executors of this myn last will and testament hereby revoking and annulling all former and other will or wills, and this to be my only last will and testament. In testimony & witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and fix my seal this third day of May, Anno Domi: one thousand and seven hundred and twelve. Thomas Godwin (seal). Signed sealed and published and delivered by ye Tesyator to be his last will and testament in the presence of us Bar: Kearne, John # Gray, James # Snowden, John # Kinder, James Webb.
• Thomas Jr, unlike his father was not a slave owner and was very vocal against owning slaves.
• Undated: “Samuel Forment and wife, Joyce Forment, of Chuckatuck Parish in Nansamond County to Col. Thomas Godwin and his son, William Godwin, of the same ... 1 acre in the lower parish of Isle of Wight (being part of the land I now live on) on the main run of Chuckatuck Creek at Godwin’s Dam with ½ acre on each side of the swamp. Capt James Webb has Power of Attorney.”
Children of Thomas and Martha:
i. Thomas Godwin III, born ~1680 in Isle of Wight Co., VA.
1699, Thomas elected to Burgess, but it was set aside by the Assembly in favor of Thomas Milner.
Thomas married Mary Pitt No. 1242i), sister of his brother William’s wife.
1710-1714, Thomas a member of the Burgess.
5/3/1712, Thomas named in his father’s will.
1723-1726, Thomas a member of the Burgess.
1731, 1732, 1734, Thomas a Sheriff of Nansemond Co.
8/28/1746, Thomas Godwin, Jr., 100 acres, Isle of Wight County, by the Island Pond side, by a path; between the lines of … Barnaby Kerny & James Webb. (S) VA Land Office, PB25, P198.
~1749 Thomas died.
ii. William Godwin Sr ( 620), born ~1681 in Nansamond County, VA.
iii. Joseph Godwin , born ~1682.
5/3/1712, Joseph named in his father’s will.
iv. Edmund Godwin , born ~1684.
Edmond married Sarah Bembridge, d/o Thomas.
5/3/1712, Edmund named in his father’s will.
[The part of Northampton Co. where brothers Edmund, Samuel, and William Godwin lived was in the Ahosky, Horse Creek, Flatt Creek area of Northampton. In 1759 this part of Northampton became Hertford Co.]
2/21/1712, Edmund wrote his will: wife, sons William, Samuel, Edmund, Joseph; daughters: Sarah, Eliza, Joseph, Martha, Patience, Margaret, Mary.
v. Elizabeth Godwin ( 623), born ~1685 in Nansamond County, VA.
5/3/1712, Elizabeth named in her father’s will.
vi. Samuel Godwin , born 3/20/1687.
5/3/1712, Samuel named in his father’s will.
vii. Martha Godwin, born ?.
5/3/1712, Martha named in her father’s will.
viii. Mary Godwin, born ?.
5/3/1712, Mary named in her father’s will.
ix. James Godwin , born 1695.
5/3/1712, James named in his father’s will.
