Richard Godfrey 1735-1825 Lydia Doane 1741

Richard Godfrey
Parents: George Godfrey and Mercy Knowles
Born 1735 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Occupation: Mariner

Married Lydia Doane 23 Dec 1756 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Note: Marriage intention (engagement) announced 4 Dec 1756 Chatham Barnstable, Massachusetts

Marriage record for Richard Godfrey and Lydia Doane
Transcription: December 23, 1756 the marriage covenant was solemnized between Richard Godfrey jr (not sure why it claims Jr., as his father's name is George)  and Lydia Doane, both of Chatham, before the Reverend Mr. Stephen Emery, the Minister of the Gospel at Chatham, as appears under his hand so to me James Covel, Town Clerk

Died  after 1800 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Buried
Sources
North America, Family Histories

Marriage: Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records
Mayflower Births and Deaths Vol 1 and 2

Mayflower Families Through Five Generations; Volume 6 (Stephen Hopkins), John D. Austin, General Society of Mayflower Descendants; Plymouth, Massachusetts; 1992, Page number: entry 425, page 454, child i (meaning first child)
1800 US Census Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
New England Historical and Genealogical Register page 46 Vol 127

Occupation: his son-in-law's estate papers

AGBI

Family Search
ancestry.com

Lydia Doane
Parents: Colonel Joseph Doane and Dorcas Eldredge

Born 25 May 1741 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Died

Buried
Sources
Marriage: Massachusetts Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records

North America, Family Histories

New England Historical and Genealogical Register page 46 Vol 127

Mayflower Births and Deaths Vol 1 and 2

AGBI

Family Search
ancestry.com

CHILDREN

Richard and Lydia's family according to book,
Chatham statistics and Town Meetings

Doane Godfrey
Born 11 Dec 1759 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Military: Private, Revolutionary War, Massachusetts 16th Regiment, Enlisted 8 Sep 1777. He was still there in December.
Married ?
Died
Buried
Sources
Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records
Book: Mayflower Births and Deaths Vol 1 & 2
Military: U.S. Revolutionary War Rolls
AGBI
Family Search
ancestry.com
Joseph Godfrey
Born 11 Jan 1763 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married?
Died Perhaps died young?
Buried
Sources
Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records
Book: Mayflower Births and Deaths Vol 1 & 2
New England Historical and Genealogical Register
AGBI
Family Search
ancestry.com
Molly Godfrey
Born: 26 May 1766 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married: Captain Levi Young 25 Mar 1788 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Children: Joseph, Phoebe, Lydia, Eliza, Polly, Levi, Joshua, Richard, Mercy, Asenath

Levi Young and Molly's marriage record
Note: Their marriage intention was published 15 Mar 1788

Note:  Levi, a mariner, died before 14 January 1810, as proven in probate/estate papers.

Molly on 14 January 1810 gave permission for her father, Richard Godfrey, to become administrator of her late-husband's estate. 

Her brothers (James and Benjamin) were also signers on the estate papers. Between them and their father, they had to pay the Judge $4,000 and had to make a full inventory list by 30 April 1810.

The children (Joseph, Phebe, and Lydia, who was not listed among their children prior to this) signed a letter stating they wished their mother to be their legal guardian on 1 May 1810. The letter was also signed by Richard Godfrey, their grandfather.

The problem is that Levi left behind an enormous debt of $1109.55 (the equivalent of $21,615.45 in 2020).  Molly had no means of income that I've found.

26 June 1810, Richard had posted the auction in The Eagle (newspaper) printed in Castine, Maine and given the court a copy. He made sure he had it posted in public for three weeks prior to the auction.

The required court-ordered public post of the auction of Levi's and Molly's belongings

Partial Transcription (couldn't read all of it):
Notice: to be sold at public auction by order of cort at the dwelling house of Molly Young the 25th day of July next at two of the ...in the after noone the estate of Levi Young late of Orrington, deceased, consisting 31 acres of land, half of a good dweling house - wood house with a good well of water under the same and half of a good barne said estate...the county made and is within half  a mile of ... John Brewer

Also at the same time and place will be sold by order of Hon. Jbe Nelson, Esqr, Judge of .... the reversion of widowes dower consisting of half a good house and ...acres land conditions made known at the time and ....of sale

Orrington, April 15, 1814 (signature of Richard Godfrey, Molly's father)
Adjoined to August the seventh at the same place when with her sold to the administrator without ...... (followed by another signature of Richard's)

27 June 1810, Richard petitioned the Judge and claimed the estate was insolvent.

6 February 1812 Richard again petitioned the court stating that after the "widow's third" had been given to the widow (Molly) and everything else sold (land, etc.) there wasn't enough money to pay the claims against the estate. After selling all they could, they only came up with $544.55. 

On 24 March 1812, the petition was granted.

  

Died after April 15, 1814 - since Richard presumably dated the last part of the auction post that way 

Buried
Sources
Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records
Book: Mayflower Births and Deaths Vol 1 & 2
North America, Family Histories

New England Historical and Genealogical Register
AGBI
Maine Wills and Probate Records, Hancock estate files 1790-1915, Images 1827-1848

Family Search
ancestry.com
Captain Richard Godfrey 
Born 20 Aug 1769 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Occupation: Mariner?
Married Mercy Young 15 Feb 1790 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Children:  Doane, Elisha, Richard, Mercy, Lydia, Alva, Phebe, David 

Richard Godfrey and Mercy Young's family

Died 5 October 1827 Orrington, Penobscot, Maine
Buried
Sources
Book: Mayflower Births and Deaths Vol 1 & 2

Marriage: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records

1810 US Census Orrington, Penobscot, Maine

1820 US Census Orrington, Penobscot, Maine

AGBI Vol 64 page 58

New England Historical and Genealogical Register

Death: US newspaper extractions from the Northeast and listed as posted in the Columbian Centinel newspaper, 14 Nov 1827 issue

Family Search
ancestry.com
George Godfrey
Born 23 May 1771 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married?
Died May have died young
Buried
Sources
Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records

Book: Mayflower Births and Deaths Vol 1 & 2

New England Historical and Genealogical Register page 47 Vol 127

AGBI Vol 64 p 35

Family Search
ancestry.com
Polly Godfrey
Born 12 Jun 1773 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Note:  also seen her name as Paula
Married?
Died
Buried
Sources

Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records

Book: Mayflower Births and Deaths Vol 1 & 2

AGBI page 47 Vol 127

Family Search
ancestry.com

Lydia's headstone

 *Lydia Godfrey

-H-
4th Ggrandmother

 Born 9 May 1775 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
 Married 1) Isaiah Nickerson 12 Oct 1793 Chatham, Barnstable,   Massachusetts
  Children: George, Ruth, Isaiah, Polly, Lydia         
 2) William Parsons 13 Dec 1807 Massachusetts

 Died 14 Sep 1836 Sangerville, Piscataquis, Maine

 Buried: Knowlton Mills Cemetery, Sangerville, Piscataquis, Maine

 Sources                                             

Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records

Book: Mayflower Births and Deaths Vol 1 & 2

AGBI page 47 Vol 127

Family Search
ancestry.com

Dorcas Godfrey Knowles headstone

Dorcas Godfrey
Born 31 Jul 1777 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married Dr. Abner Knowles 9 Jul 1795 Eastham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Children: Chloe, Hannah, Narcissa, Dorcas, Mary, Abner, Ruth, Lydia, Jerusha, Eliza, Hezekiah
Died 1846 Dexter, Penobscot, Maine
Buried Elmwood Cemetery, Dexter, Penobscot, Maine
Sources

Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records

Book: Mayflower Births and Deaths Vol 1 & 2

AGBI page 47 Vol 127

Family Search
ancestry.com

Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100495530/dorcas-knowles
James Godfrey
Born 15 Aug 1779 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married Mehitable Swett 2 Dec 1802 Orrington, Penobscot, Maine

Children: Lavina, Mehitable, Elmira, Alfred, George, Patty, Betsey, Alfred, Sarah

Died 15 Mar 1844 Orrington, Penobscot, Maine

Buried: Dean Hill Cemetery, Orrington, Penobscot, Maine
Sources

Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records

Book: Mayflower Births and Deaths Vol 1 & 2

AGBI page 38 Vol 64

North America, Family Histories

Family Search
ancestry.com

Memorial: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/84364345/james-godfrey
Benjamin Godfrey
Born 9 May 1782 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married Polly Gould 30 Dec 1812 Orrington, Penobscot, Maine
Children: Dorcas, Sarah, Benjamin, Louisa, Anna, James, Cinderilla, Mary

Benjamin and Patty's family

Died

Buried
Sources

Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records

New England Historical and Genealogical Register page 46 Vol 127

Book: Mayflower Births and Deaths Vol 1 & 2

AGBI page 26 Vol 64

North America, Family Histories

Family Search
ancestry.com

Isaiah Nickerson1769-1805 Lydia Godfrey 1775

-H-
4th G grandparents

Isaiah Nickerson

Parents: Thomas Nickerson and Ruth Hinckley
Born 10 Apr 1769 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Birth record for Isaiah 

Married Lydia Godfrey 12 Oct 1793 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts

Note: Intention to be married (engagement) published on 7 Sep 1793

Also, the New England Historical and Genealogical Register claims they were married 12 October 1791 page 47 volume 127
Died 29 Oct 1805 (Drown at sea, so no headstone)

Note: A quote from an letter addressed to Colonel Porter and written by William E Mann (who was a druggist at the city drug store in Bangor Maine)  Claimed: "Isaiah married, moved to Maine and was drowned." This letter was printed in the book: Brewer Orrington Holden Eddington, History and Families by Mildred N Thayer and Agnes H Ames published by L.H. Thompson Inc., in 1962 

Sources

Birth: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records
1800 US Census Orrington, Hancock, Maine
Family Search

ancestry.com

Book: Brewer Orrington Holden Eddington, History and Families by Mildred N Thayer and Agnes H Ames published by L.H. Thompson Inc., in 1962 

Lydia Godfrey
Parents: Richard Godfrey and Lydia Doane

Born 9 May 1775 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Married 2) William Parsons 13 Dec 1807 Massachusetts

Children: Philemon, Almira

Lydia's headstone

Died 14 Sep 1836 Sangerville, Piscataquis, Maine

Buried: Knowlton Mills Cemetery, Piscataquis, Maine 

Sources

Mayflower Births and Deaths Vol 1 and 2

Birth: NEHGR

Family Search

ancestry.com
Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64194116/lydia-parsons

CHILDREN

George Nickerson
Born 1798 Chatham, Barnstable, Massachusetts
Occupation: 1850: Shoemaker (except rubber) and farming: in census, he has $500 cash value of property: 20 acres of improved farmland, 28 unimproved, $15 worth of implements, he owns some animals worth $105: 2 'milch' cows, 2 oxen, 1 other 'cattle, 9 sheep and he grew 5 bushels of Indian corn and 10 bushels of oats

Married: Jane Holt 2 March 1826 Bangor, Penobscot, Maine

George and Jane's marriage record - including where they were from (George from Brewer, Jane from Bangor) dates of publishment (28 Jan 1826) and date of certificate (28 Feb 1826) and the marriage itself (2 March 1826). Note that the bride's name is given as Jane, not Susan Jane

Children: Mary, Horace, Levi, George, Louisa, Frederick,  Hannah, Rebecca, Walter, Winifred, George
Died 1857 Guilford, Piscataquis, Maine
Buried
Sources
1840 US Census Abbot, Piscataquis, Maine (age - probably 42)

8 August 1850 US Census Abbot, Piscataquis, Maine (age 52)
Marriage: Maine Marriages and Maine Vital Records
Family Search

ancestry.com

Ruth Nickerson headstone 
which also reads: A Christian woman
consistent and faithful

Ruth H Nickerson
Born 1799 Massachusetts

Note: likely  named after her paternal grandmother
Occupation: (1860) Servant

Never Married
No Children
Died 21 March 1861 Sangerville, Piscataquis, Maine
Buried: Knowlton Mills Cemetery, Piscataquis, Maine
Sources

1850 US Census Sangerville, Piscataquis, Maine (living with the Mitchell family)

14 June 1860 US Census Sangerville, Piscataquis, Maine (age 60)

Nathan Hale Cemetery Collection

Family Search

ancestry.com

-H-
4th G grandfather

Isaiah Nickerson (Jr)
Born 2 Oct 1800 Brewer, Penobscot, Maine
Occupation: (1850-60) Farmer

Married 1) Mary Ann Orcutt 22 Apr 1827 Brewer, Penobscot, Maine
Children: James, John, Isaiah, Joseph, Samuel, Charles
2) Mary Ann Orcutt 4 Jul 1843 Brewer, Penobscot, Maine
Children:  Henrietta, Maranda, Horace
Note: Yes, he married two women with the same name. It isn't a mistake. The two women were first cousins.
Died 3 Feb 1870 Holden, Penobscot, Maine

Buried

COD: Consumption

Buried Harts Corner Cemetery, Holden, Penobscot, Maine
Sources
1810 US Census Eddington, Penobscot, Maine

1830 US Census Brewer, Penobscot, Maine (should be age 29) with first wife and first two sons; James, John)

1840 US Census Brewer, Penobscot, Maine (should be age 39) with first wife and their five surviving sons; Joseph had died)

1850 US Census Brewer, Penobscot, Maine (age 49, with second wife and children from both marriages, who also just happened to be cousins)

1860 US Census Holden, Penobscot, Maine (age 58)

Book: Brewer Orrington Holden Eddington, History and Families by Mildred N Thayer and Agnes H Ames published by L.H. Thompson Inc., in 1962 page 30

Marriage to first wife: Maine Marriages

Marriage to second wife: Massachusetts Town and Vital Records and Maine Marriages

Death and cause thereof: US Mortality Schedules for Holden, Penobscot, Maine

Family Search

ancestry.com
Memorial: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/94057440/isaiah-nickerson
Polly (Mary) Nickerson (did not find any record, so far, to tie her to Isaiah and Lydia)
Born about 1802
Married John D Finson II 13 March 1830 Dover-Foxcroft, Piscataquis, Maine, United States

Note Marriage intentions: 15 Feb 1830, 8 March 1830
Children?
Died - may have died young?
Buried
Sources

Marriage: Maine Marriages

Note: this is the only official record I've found and it doesn't name her parents.

Family Search

ancestry.com

Lydia Doane Nickerson (did not find any record, so far, to tie her to Isaiah and Lydia)
Born about 1804
Married?
Children
Died  - may have died young?
Buried
Sources

Family Search

ancestry.com