Member of a London guild known as the Worshipful Company of Grocers, William — the first of the family to arrive in the American colonies — was a man of apparently considerable property. He had in fact sailed from London expressly in hopes of foreclosing on a mortgage. Meanwhile, in London, the plague returned and the Great Fire broke out. William sent for his family and stayed in Massachusetts, settling in Watertown, where he was made a freemason in 1677, farmed, and became a teacher of Latin. A great-great-grandson was one of the first watchmakers in the English colonies. Goddard Space Flight Center is named for his sometime even greater great-grandson Robert H. Goddard, who died 10 August 1945. A Goddard married a Rice, married a Brooks, married a Martine, married a Court.
Source: Cutter, Genealogical and Personal Memoir, vol. 4, p. 2665; Pickering, Nathaniel Goddard: A Boston Merchant, p. 4.
generation no. 1
John Goddard, of Poulton, near Marlborough, Wiltshire. Born 1368. Will dated 1 November 1453, proved 1454. Bequests to churches at Myldenhall and Aldbourne. Names two children.
Note: The name Goddard "in the early New England records is spelled Godard. It appears in this form in the Domesday Book from the time of Henry (I), and has been settled in Wiltshire since the reign of Henry III, when Walter Godard 'Ville,' but also written Godarville, held lands in Chippenham and Aldbourne. He died in 1250, leaving two daughters, but no male issue of record. John and Edmond Godard are found in the same vicinity at a later date. The line of descent is accurately traced from John Godard of Poulton." — Cutter, Genealogical and Personal Memoir, p. 2664.
generation no. 2
John Goddard, of Cherill or Chevell, Wiltshire.
generation no. 3
Walter Godard, of Cherill or Chevell, Wiltshire.
generation no. 4
John Goddard, of Upham, born c 1510 in England, died Saturday, 10 March 1545. Married Elizabeth Berenger, daughter of William Berenger. A charter bearing the seal of Edward I, cites the "'imprepuuate rectory and advowson of the Vicarage of Clyffe from King Henry the Eighth to John Godard de Upham' dated September 30, 1531."
generation no. 5
Thomas Goddard, born at Aldbourne, Wiltshire, died 1598, will dated 2 June 1594 at Aldbourne, proved 12 May 1598. Married before 4 December 1557 Anne Gifford, daughter of John Gifford and Joan Bruges.
Source: Reed and Hopkins, "The Identity of Anne Gifford"
generation no. 6
Richard Goddard, born 15 — , will dated 13 November 1614 and proved 8 May 1615. Married Elizabeth Walrond, daughter of Thomas Walrond and Alice Prater of Aldbourne.
Source: Reed and Hopkins, "The Identity of Anne Gifford"
generation no. 7
Edward Goddard I, born 1584 in Inglisham, christened 11 October 1590, died 1647-48, Lower Upham, buried Aldbourne. Married 11 August 1612 Priscilla D'Oyly in Chislehampton, Oxfordshire, born 11 August 1594, died 15 June 1681.
generation no. 8
William Goddard, born 28 February 1627 in Inglesham, emigrated to Massachusetts, died 26 October 1691 in Watertown, MA. Married in London 1652 Elizabeth Miles, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth, born in 1627 in Ware, Hertfordshire, and died 1 February 1697 in Watertown.
Sources: Reed and Hopkins, "The Identity of Anne Gifford;" Paige, History of Cambridge; Woodward, "Brief Memoirs;" Flagg, The Descendants of Eleazer Flagg; Gozzaldi, History of Cambridge; Hyde and Child, "Child-Foote-Goddard Connections"
generation no. 9
Edward Goddard II, born 21 March 1675 in Watertown, died 9 February 1754, buried Church Hill Cemetery. Schoolmaster. Married 1 June 1697 Susannah Stone, daughter of Deacon Samuel Stone and Sarah Stearns, born 24 March 1675 in Watertown, died 4 February 1754 in Framingham, buried in Church Hill Cemetery.
Sources: Gozzaldi, History of Cambridge; Paige, History of Cambridge; Woodward, "Brief Memoirs and Notices of Prince's Subscribers;" Stone, "Almanac Memoranda of the Stone Family of Watertown, &c"
generation no. 10
Edward Goddard III, born 4 May 1698, Watertown, died 13 October 1777 in Shrewsbury. Married in 1722 Hephsebah Hapgood, daughter of Thomas Hapgood and Judith Barker, born 27 June 1704 in Marlboro, died 19 July 1763 in Shrewsbury.
generation no. 11
Daniel Goddard, born 17 February 1734, Shrewsbury, died 13 January 1796 in Shrewsbury. Married 17 November 1756 Mary Willard, daughter of Joseph Willard and Martha Clark, born 3 April 1730 in Grafton, died 13 January 1796 in Shrewsbury.
generation no. 12
Luther Goddard, born 26 February 1762 in Shrewsbury. Married 19 June 1784 Elizabeth Dakin, born 1767 and died 19 January 1828 or? 24 March 1842.
generation no. 13
Martha Goddard, born 1 July 1789 in Shrewsbury, died c 1830 in Worcester. Married 26 November 1807 Elijah Rice.
Sources: Brooks family records, cemetery record
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