Thomas Godwin ca 1610 - ca 1665  |  his parents
& Ann Taberer?  |  her parents
of Isle of Wight County, Virginia

   There was a Thomas Godwin who died intestate in Isle of Wight Co Feb 1665/6 who as Dr Barry Hayes suggests may be the father of our William Godwin of Isle of Wight  

 
the bond of Ann Godwin to administer her husband Thomas Godwin's estate
signed the 9th day of February 1665/6 by William Berkley, Knight
copied from the original book by Lowell Avery

   Dr. Barry Hayes writes: ". . .Thomas Taberer and Robert Kea were her bondsmen [in Chapman's Isle of Wight wills p. 63] Ann was likely the daughter of Thomas Taberer. Boddie notes but does not speculate about the lineage of Samuel Godwin who was a "cousin[sic nephew] of Col. Samuel Griffin up on the Rappahannock where a Thomas Godwin first patented, as did Taberer, before their removal to southside Virginia. This Thomas Godwin patented on the Rappahannock with Richard Axom [sic: Exum] twice in 1650 one grant for 550 acres and another for 1,000 acres; one of the headrights on the first patent was a William Cotton.[likely the uncle of John Cotton whose wife was Martha Godwin.] This Thomas Godwin first patented in Nansemond in 1655 but so close to Isle of Wight that, given the border disputes which prevailed for over a century, the property could actually have been in Isle of Wight initially. Thomas Godwin assigned this patent to William Pope who renewed it in his own name in 1662 [Nugent I, 327]. From the family of William Pope came undoubtedly the William Pope [possibly a son] who witnessed the will [1710/20] of William Godwin, father of Martha Godwin Cotton, Elizabeth Godwin Bridger and Mary Godwin Whitehead.. . . .
"As a boy, William Godwin received a cow as a legatee of Humphrey Clarke in 1655 [Chapman, Isle of Wight Wills p2] He was to marry Elizabeth Wright, daughter of Thomas Wright. . .Thomas Griffin, who was very likely a kinsman of the aforementioned Col. Samuel Griffin on the Rappahannock, married Elizabeth Wright Godwin's sister Anne: Griffin's will of 1669/70 refers to William Godwin as his brother and had as witnesses William Godwin and Col. John Pitt ....."

?Children of Thomas Godwin 
1. William Godwin ca 1640 - 1720 Isle of Wight Co, VA
       married Elizabeth Wright ca 1650 - 1727

"Captain Thomas Godwin, the original settler prior to 1616 and ancestor of Godwins of Nansemond County"

bk2-35 - 15 July 1675 Isle of Wight Co VA John Godwyn  Dying intestate, administration requested by his relict, Ann.  

"Capt. Thomas Godwin emigrated to Nansemond County when it was known as "Upper Norfolk", then "Nandsamund" in mid-seventeenth century!"

1652 - represented Nansemond County in the House of Burgesses in 1652 and
other years.
1654 - Capt Thomas Godwin is a Burgess for Nansemond
1655 - Capt Thomas Godwin received his first grant in Nansemond at Chuckatuck.
   His homestead was known as "Old Castle" and was on the border of Nansemond and Isle of Wight Co's
1658 - Capt Thomas Godwin is a Burgess for Nansemond
1674 - "Nevertheless that the house and cleared grounds of Capt. Thomas Godwin, who hath bin an ancient inhabitant of Nansemond Countie Court, be, remain, counted and deemed in the County of Nansemond, anything in this act to the contrary, notwithstanding."(2 Hening, 318)

1678 -   He [or his son] was justice and coroner and Col. Commandant of the County
His will is dated March 24th, 1676-7. and proved in 1678.

Col. Thomas Godwin - 1678 will Nansemond Co, VA had:
1. Elizabeth Godwin 1718 will
    married James Webb died 1675
    a. James Webb Jr. [died 1719/20  no issue]
    b. Patience Webb
         married Mr. Milner
          i. Patience Milner
    c. Elizabeth Webb
         married Col. William Wilkinson 
    d. daughter Webb  [died before April 1717]
         married George Norsworthy
              son of Tristram Norsworthy II and wife Sarah Pitt
           i. Elizabeth Norsworthy
           ii. Martha Norsworthy
          George married 2nd Christian Exum
  married 2nd 1676 Joseph Woory  died 1692 without issue
             nephew of Sir John Yeamans and explored with him the Cape Fear section
  married 3rd 1692 Col. Samuel Bridger died 1713 [will 1704  no issue]
                son of Col. Joseph Bridger I
2. Edmund Godwin died 1713 Nansemond Co 
       member of the Vestry Chuckatuck Parish ca 1705 was sheriff of Nansemond Co VA
   married Sarah Bembridge
               dau of Thomas Bembridge and wife Margaret
     a. Mary Godwin
          married Col. Thomas Godwin III ca 1680 - 1734/40
     b. Joseph Godwin of Nansemond will 1756
        married Elizabeth
           i. Edmond Godwin
           ii. Thomas Godwin
          iii. Shemul Godwin
           iv. Mary Godwin
           v. Esther Godwin
     c. Thomas Godwin will 1747
           i. Edmond Godwin
           ii. Thomas Godwin d bef 1747
                      1. Martha Godwin
                           married James Godwin
          iii. Joseph Godwin
           iv. Joshua Godwin
           v. Burg Godwin
           vi. Bembridge Godwin
                         Member of the Committee of Safety 1776; Lieut. in the Revolution
           vii. Elizabeth Godwin
                  married Godwin
            viii. Sarah Pitt Godwin
     d. Edmond Godwin without issue
     e. Elizabeth Godwin
         married bef 1727 William Price
      f. Sarah Godwin unmarried in 1727
      g. William Godwin
      h. Samuel Godwin
      i. Martha Godwin
      j. Patience Godwin
      k. Margett Godwin 
3. Col. Thomas Godwin II died 1714 will
     married 1679 Martha Bridger 
            dau of Col. Joseph Bridger I of Isle of Wight

     " Family tradition says that originally two Godwin brothers came to Virginia and owing to their different characteristics were called 'Ruffle-shirt' and 'Osnaburgs' Godwin respectively. The former being a sportsman and something of a coxcomb while the latter was an unassuming country gentleman. Tradition goes on to say that these two men afterwards won the nickname of English and Irish Godwin, Osnaburgs having married Miss Bridger and Ruffle-shirt having selected a lady of Irish descent. The tradition or the two men are mixed in some way. It was one of the second generation in Virginia that married Miss Bridger."Mildred M Holladay's account of the Godwins of Nansemond and Isle of Wight included in 17th Century Isle of Wight by Boddie.

Sources: 
John Bennett Boddie's "Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County Virginia"
    chapter XXV on the Godwin Family by Mildred M Holladay
Family History: Virginia Genealogies #1, pre-1600 to 1900s
Genealogies of Virginia Families III, Fl-Ha

Col. Thomas Godwin II died 1714  |  his parents
& 1679 Martha Bridger  |  her parents
of Chuckatuck, Nansemond Co VA

 Col. Thomas Godwin, speaker of the House of Burgess during the Bacon's Rebellion built the present house.

Col. Thomas Godwin II married about 1679 Martha Bridger  dau of Col. Joseph Bridger I of Isle of Wight.

He was the Colonel commander of the Nansemond militia but because of a difficulty with the governor was removed in 1705. At the time of his death he was presiding justice of the county.

Children of Col. Thomas Godwin II died 1714 and Martha Bridger:
1. Col. Thomas Godwin III ca 1680 - 1734/40
     married Mary Godwin his first cousin
2. Joseph Godwin ca 1680/5 - 1761 Isle of Wight Co will
        Burgess for Isle of Wight 1714, 1723; high sheriff and of the court in1719,  1720
          names grandsons , Joseph, Jonathan.
      a. Samuel Godwin bef 1717 -
      b. Elizabeth Godwin bef 1717 -
      c. Matthew Godwin
           i. Joseph Godwin
           ii. James Godwin
      d. Thomas Godwin
      e. Jonathan Godwin ca 1710 - 1769
           i. Samuel Godwin
           ii. Jonathan Godwin
       f. Patience Godwin
            married James Pitt
               James Pitt married 2nd Mrs. Mary Rand Smith
       g. James Godwin 1715/20 - 1750
            married Elizabeth
             i. James Godwin
             ii. Joseph Godwin
      married 2nd Mary Moscrop
           dau of Thomas Moscrop and wife Susanna will 1745 Isle of Wight 
       h. William Godwin
3. Edmund Godwin ca 1680 - 1755
      married Mary Mills ca 1686 - dau of Henry Mills
                 line being researched by Larry Smith
      a. Jonathan Godwin ca 1705 - 1762 
                Parish of Suffolk,  Nansemond Co Will dated 13 March and proved 20 July 1762
          married 1725 Charity Holladay 1710 - dau of Col Anthony Holladay
          i. Mary Godwin 1726 -
              married Robinson
         ii. Charity Godwin 1727 -
               married James Riddick
         iii. Clotilda Godwin 1731 -
                married Christopher Godwin
         iv. Ameliora Godwin 1730 -
                 married 1770 Anthony Godwin 1749 -   of "Sleepy Hole"
          v. Huldah Godwin
              married 1743 William Wilkinson 1723 - 1796
                    1. John Wilkinson ca 1744 -
                    2. Amelia Wilkinson
                          married Joseph Godwin
                           a. Adeline Amelia Godwin
                                married Thomas Henry Pitt Godwin 
            vi. Jonathan Godwin
            vii. Joseph Godwin
                    married Jane Arnette
         married 2nd Mrs Anne Godwin, a widow
             i. Robert Godwin dsp 1814 Suffolk VA lawyer
            ii. Portia Godwin no issue
            iii. Ann Godwin  no issue
                  married 15 March 1792 William Townes
            iv. Talbot Godwin
                 married 19 July 1797 Julia Hatton
                       1. Talbot Godwin dsp
                       2. Jonathan Lewis Godwin
                            married 1829 Julia Campbell dau of Gen Archibald Campbell
                             a. Gen Archibald Godwin CSA 1831 Chuckatuck - 1864 Winchester in the Shenandoah Valley 
57th North Carolina Regiment, Brig. Gen.  a native of Chuckatuck, born in 1831. He moved to California
at the age of 19 to be a rancher and miner. When the war started, he moved back to Virginia. 
He led Hoke's Brigade at Gettysburg and was named Brigader General on August 5, 1864.
Godwin was killed September 19, 1864 at Winchester in the Shenandoah Valley by a shell fragment.
                             b. Augustus de Becque Godwin dsp Portsmouth VA
       b. Col Thomas Godwin of Cherry Grove ca 1710 - will 1778/79
            married Mary Pitt dau of Henry Pitt and his wife Mary West of Isle of Wight
              i. Joseph Godwin studied medicine at University of Edinburgh and died there
                   married Robina Hamilton of Edinburgh Scotland
             ii. Josiah Godwin
                   married 1st Miss Holladay
                   married 2nd Elizabeth Holladay dau of Thomas
                           1. Juliana Godwin 
                                married 1st Alfred Hinson of Bermuda
                                married 2nd Thomas Stowe of Bermuda
             iii. Henry Godwin
                    married Ann Groves 14 children
                           1. Sarah Godwin
                           2. Allen Godwin
                           3. Thomas Godwin
                           4. Henry Godwin
                           5. Julia Godwin
                           6. Marina Godwin
                           7. Elizabeth Slaughter Godwin
                           8. Priscilla Godwin
                           9. Mary Ann Godwin
                                married Sam Corbell
                                 a. Julia Corbell
                                      married 1st Thomas Gibbs
                                      married 2nd Joseph Bunch
                                 b. Mary Mills Corbell
                                      married Dr. Edward Butts
                                 c. Henry Corbell
                                       married Miss Vaughan
                                        i. Edward Pitt Corbell
                                            married Elizabeth Murdaugh
             iv. Mary Ann Godwin
                   married Col. Samuel Corbell
              v. Edmond Pitt Godwin
                   married Elizabeth Mardaugh  no children
             vi. Allen Godwin
                   married Susannah Janet McRae Godwin
                          1. Janet McRae Godwin of Chuckatuck
                               married Joseph Holladay Godwin
             vii. Mills Godwin 2 Feb 1760 - 1825 Cherry Grove
                  married 8 Feb 1780 SH Co Sally Blount 13 Oct 1758 SH co - 1835 Cherry Grove
                                  dau of Thomas Blount and Ann Gray
                            1. Henry Blount Godwin 9 Dec 1781 -
                            2. daughter that lived only six days
                            3. Louisa Caroline Godwin 15 April 1784 -
                                 married 1st John Randolph "from the North"
                                  a. Eliza Kinsey Randolph
                                      married Alex N Godwin
                                       i. Margaret Godwin
                                           married Albertson of NC
                                      ii. Sarah M L J Godwin
                                            married -- Cutchin
                                      iii. Miles Brewer Godwin
                                              married and had issue
                                       iv. Missouri Godwin
                                               married -- Dorsey
                                        v. Eliza Randolph Godwin
                                        vi. Fred Alex Godwin
                                 married 2nd Dr. deBurgh Godwin   no issue
                                 married 3rd Frederick Hall
                                  a. Frederick Hall
                             4. Ann Gray Godwin 23 Feb 1786 - 1856
                                  married James Holladay 1784 - 1848
                                    a. James Gustavus Holladay 1819 - 1886
                                         married Georgianna Watts   had issue
                             5. Thomas Henry Pitt [Holladay] Godwin 25 Dec 1788 -
                                   married 1st Eliza J Godwin
                                     a. Louisa Ann Godwin 1813 -
                                          married Z T Connier of Macon GA
                                   married 2nd A A Godwin
                                   married 3rd Catherine Dixon Godwin
                                  
             viii. Julia Godwin
                     married Col. Edwin Gray
               ix. Louisa Godwin
                     married John Cowper, Esq of Stockley in Nansemond
                             1. Thomas Cowper
                                   married Elizabeth Cowper
                                    a. Mills Cowper
                                        married Diza Saunders
                              2. Allen Cowper
                              3. John Cowper
                                   married Marths Bullard
                                     a. William Cowper 
                                           married --- Rae of NC
                             4. Wills Cowper
                                  married Grizzie Gray
                                      a. Ann Eliza Cowper
                                      b. Caroline Virginia Cowper
4. Samuel Godwin 20 May 1687/88 - 1741
    married 19 Jan 1711 Mary Jessey 1 Feb 1696 - 23 Sept 1720
                  dau of Col James Jessey of Nansemond
      a. Samuel/Lemuel Godwin 29 Mar 1712 - on Saturday - 1751
           married 1748 Mrs Mary Richards widow of Richard
             i. Sarah Godwin
                married 1767 Bartholomew Lightfoot
      b. Thomas Godwin 1 Feb 1714 -   on Tuesday
           married Elizabeth Wilkinson
      c. Mary Godwin 11 Oct 1717 -   on fryday
            married Jacob Dickinson will 1749/50
              i. Christopher Dickinson
              ii. Chastity Dickinson
              iii. Celia Dickinson
            married 2nd Mr. Wilson
            married 3rd Albridgeton Jones
      d. "a sonne dead" 22 Sep 1720 on thursday 
    "My dear & loveing wife Mary Godwin departed this life a fryday morning about sunrize, itt being the 23rd day of Sept 1720"
     married 2nd 19 Dec 1721 Catherine Scott
       a. Martha Godwin 10 Oct 1722 -
       b. Elizabeth Godwin 16 Feb 1723 -
       c. Christine Godwin 23 Dec 1725 - 18 Sep 1726 a daughter
       d. Joshua [Joseph] Godwin 27 Oct 1727 [18 Oct 1729] - ca 1743 Isle of Wight Co
       e. Ann Godwin Sept 1729 -
       f. Richard Godwin 10 Nov 1732 -
       g. Edmund Godwin 29 Oct 1735 -
                         Bible record NCGSJ  VI - 227
       h. William Godwin  - received share of Joshua's estate in 1743
5. William Godwin died 1736
     married by 1729 Ann Pitt dau of John Pitt   wb4p43
       a. William Godwin ca 1720 - 1753 Bertie Co
 Isles of Wight Co Deed Bk page 295 - On the 1st day of February 1749 between William Godwin of Suffolk Parish in the County of Nansemond of the one part and Thomas Bullock of Newport Parish of the County of Isle of Wight of the other part.  . .for 22 pound . . . a certain tract of parcel of Land lying and being in Newport Parish in the County of Isle of Wight est 100 acres + or - . . .being the Plantation whereon this William formerly lived bounding on the lands of Robert Driver, William Driver, Barnaby Godwin, and William Bullock the same Part of a Patent formerly granted to Godfry Hunt for six Hundred acres and by the sd Hunt conveyed to Henry Reves? of Rappahanock who did by Deed of Bargain of Sale bearing Date the 19th Day of December 1688 convey and will two Hundred Acres of the said land to Thomas Godwin of Chuckachuck in Nansemond and the sd Thomas Godwin decd by his last Will and Testament give and bequeath the the sd two hundred Acres unto his Son William Godwin, father of the aforesaid William Party to these presents -- who did by his last Will and Testament bequeath the same to his two sons William and Barnaby Godwin which land has been divided etc . . .
       b. George Godwin
       c. John Godwin
       d. Pitt Godwin
       e. Barnaby Godwin
             married Wilkinson
               i. Lillyora Godwin
                   married John Shivers
               ii. Elizabeth Godwin
                    married John Milner

6. James Godwin
     married bef 1734 Sarah Kinchen dau of William Kinchen of Isle of Wight Co
       a. James Godwin
       b. Martha Godwin
       c. Matthew Godwin  will 1776
           married Charlotte Darley
            i. James Godwin
                     1. daughter
                          married 1783 James Holladay
            ii. Kinchen Godwin [capt in the Rev]
               married dau of Bembridge Godwin
                       1. Wright Godwin
                       2. Burgh Godwin
            iii. William Godwin
            iv. Edwin Godwin
                 married 178x Elizabeth Hunter of Isle of Wight
                 married 2nd Nancy Stokley
            v. Sally Godwin
                married Joseph Corbell
            vi. Charlotte Godwin
           vii. Mary Godwin
           viii. Rachel Godwin will 1801
            ix. Amelia Godwin
7. Martha Godwin nfi
8. Mary Godwin nfi
9. Elizabeth Godwin 1693 - 1761 Halifax Co NC
      married Capt Barnaby Kearney died 1733/37 Nansemond Co
      married 2nd Mr. Davis

Sources: 
John Bennett Boddie's "Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County Virginia"
    chapter XXV on the Godwin Family by Mildred M Holladay
Family History: Virginia Genealogies #1, pre-1600 to 1900s
Genealogies of Virginia Families III, Fl-Ha

. . . . . . . . . . .  . . 

William Godwin Esq  est 1720 - 1753  |  his parents
& ca 1740 Martha  |  her parents
of Bertie Co NC

Children of William Godwin and wife Martha:
1. Barnaby Godwin
2. Julian Godwin [dau] ca 1742 -
     married bef 11 Mar 1757 William Clarke
3. Silvia Godwin
4. Kearney Godwin ca 1748 -
5. Willis Godwin  ca 1749 -
6. Josiah Godwin
7. Courtney Godwin [dau]
8. Martha Godwin

 Isles of Wight Co Deed Bk page 295 - On the 1st day of February 1749 between William Godwin of Suffolk Parish in the County of Nansemond of the one part and Thomas Bullock of Newport Parish of the County of Isle of Wight of the other part.  . .for 22 pound . . . a certain tract of parcel of Land lying and being in Newport Parish in the County of Isle of Wight est 100 acres + or - . . .being the Plantation whereon this William formerly lived bounding on the lands of Robert Driver, William Driver, Barnaby Godwin, and William Bullock the same Part of a Patent formerly granted to Godfry Hunt for six Hundred acres and by the sd Hunt conveyed to Henry Reves? of Rappahanock who did by Deed of Bargain of Sale bearing Date the 19th Day of December 1688 convey and will two Hundred Acres of the said land to Thomas Godwin of Chuckachuck in Nansemond and the sd Thomas Godwin decd by his last Will and Testament give and bequeath the the sd two hundred Acres unto his Son William Godwin, father of the aforesaid William Party to these presents -- who did by his last Will and Testament bequeath the same to his two sons William and Barnaby Godwin which land has been divided etc . . .

Will of William Godwin,Esq.  Bertie Co NC 4 May 1752 - May Ct 1753 Bertie Co
"being sick and weak of body"
- wife Martha
- son Barnaby Godwin - one shilling sterling
- daughter Julian - cows and calves, bed etc
- daughter Silvia Godwin - cow and calves, hogs, pewter dish, etc
- son Willis Godwin - items to be his when he is eighteen
- son Kearney Godwin - plantation, my silver clasps for a band
- son Josiah Godwin - Negro and gun, also a pair of silver studs
- daughter Courtney Godwin - Negro Amy
- daughter Martha Godwin - Negro Will and inscribed ring
legacies to be paid as they come of age or marry
EX: friend John Brickell
WIT: John Brown, Richard Roberts, Gilstrap Williams
from abstract by David B Gammon

Estate records of William Godwin
Martha Godwin was apptd gdn of the orphan Silvia Godwin, 29 Apr 1756.
Inventory of property left the said Silvia in her father's will, 28 July 1755 by her guardian.
Account of sale 29 July 1756 by John Brickell, exr. Buyers were: Martha Godwin, Matthias Brickell, Harmon Hollemon, Edmund Bird and Edward Carter, and this record mentions money settled with the children of the dec'd and their gdn.
Acct. of the estate belonging to the orphan Martha Godwin with John Brickell her gdn from June 1756 to July 1759, mentioning the hiring out of Negro Will.
Samuel Hollaman was apptd. gdn. of the orphans Willis and Courtney Godwin 29 July 1757

Deed Book I-11 William [x] Clarke planter in Bertie Co to Samuel Hollamon planter of same 11 Mar 1757. 10 pounds NC. All my title in the estate of William Godwin dec'd being the legacy of my wife Julian, daughter of sd. Godwin as by his will. Wit: Moses Sumner, Micajah Lancaster. Oct Ct 1757 CC Benjn Wynns

William Murfree's Tax Receipt Book [transcribed by Raymond Parker Fouts]
Barneby Godwin   1 tax 1768;  2 taxes 1769
Kirney Godwin      2 taxes 1769; 2 taxes 1770
Williss Godwin     1 tax 1770