Capt David GODFREY

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Son of David Godfrey and Priscilla Baker

Notes:

Name:
The most accurate information that we have of Capt. David Godfrey is from a brief sketch of his life, written by his grandson, George Porter Godfrey, and read before a reunion of the Godfrey Family Association in Michigan at their first meeting in 1887: "...He and his brother, with ten or twelve other families emigrated from Cape Cod to Nova Scotia soon after the close of the French and Indian War in consequence of land bounties and other privileges offered by the king of England. there he lost his first wife and married our grandmother, Elizabeth Harris. Following this, he, and a part of the families who had accompanied him, abandoned their land and in 1769, procured an old sloop and turned its prow toward the Colonies. In his youth he was a sailor and made fourteen voyages to the west Indies and several to South America---how many as Captain we have no means of ascertaining..." Capt. David settled near what is now the town of Otisville where he built a house which is still standing in a good state of preservation.

David Godfrey was a soldier in the Continental Army, serving as a Private in Capt. Abraham Cuddeback's Company, Col. James McClaghery's 2nd Regiment of Ulster County Milita. On Aug. 17, 1790, he was included in a large group of men several of whom were Revolutionary soldiers, who, by right of occupancy, were granted a 7000-acre tract of land in the town of Mamakating, ulster county. A Survey return, dated Sept. 10, 1791, lists him as one of the group owning 200 acres.

The records of the OldSchool Baptist Church show that Elizabeth Godfrey was one of the original constituent members when it was organized in 1785.

Family/Spouse: ? UNKNOWN. ? died before 1765. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. David GODFREY, Jr. was born about 1755 in Nova Scotia, Canada; died on 3 Oct 1801 in Galen, Wayne County, New York.
2. Mary GODFREY was born in 1757; died on 22 Nov 1838 in Near New Vernon, New York.

David married Elizabeth HARRIS about 1765 in Horton, Nova Scotia. Elizabeth (daughter of Lebbeus HARRIS and Alice RANSOM) was born on 22 Feb 1746 in Colchester, New London Co. Connecticut; was buried in New Vernon Old School Baptist Church Cemetery, Otisville, Orange Co., New York. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Daniel GODFREY was born on 21 Feb 1767 in Nova Scotia, Canada; died on 15 Aug 1848 in High View, Sullivan Co., New York; was buried in New Vernon Cemetery, Mamakating park, Sullivan Co., New York.
2. Elizabeth GODFREY was born on 2 Oct 1771 in Orange County, New York; died on 3 Mar 1835 in Near New Vernon, New York.
3. Harris GODFREY was born about 1772; died after 1844.
4. Jonathan GODFREY was born in 1774 in Near New Vernon, New York; died on 28 Jan 1852 in Godfrey's Corners, Chenango Co., New York.
5. Sarah GODFREY was born on 30 Apr 1776 in Near New Vernon, New York; died on 25 Apr 1865 in New Vernon, New York; was buried in New Vernon Cemetery, Mamakating park, Sullivan Co., New York.
6. Olive GODFREY was born on 9 Jan 1785 in New Vernon, Orange Co., New York; died on 31 Oct 1862 in Near New Vernon, New York; was buried in New Vernon Cemetery, Mamakating park, Sullivan Co., New York.
7. Elijah GODFREY was born on 7 May 1786 in Orange County, New York; died on 9 Nov 1862 in Jackson County, Michigan; was buried in Campbell Cemetery, Parma, Jackson Co., Michigan.
8. Lebbeus GODFREY was born in 1789 in New Vernon, Orange Co., New York; died on 20 Apr 1846 in Byron, Genesee County, New York; was buried in Sodom Cemetery, Bryon, Genesee Co, New York.
9. Charles GODFREY was born on 6 Sep 1792 in Near New Vernon, New York; died on 14 Oct 1864 in Dixon, Lee Co., Illinois; was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Dixon, Lee Co., Illinois.

David married Pirscilla BAKER on 14 Oct 1731 in Yarmouth, Massachusetts. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]