Biography of William Godolphin 1st Baronet 1640-1710

Paternal Family Tree: Godolphin

Maternal Family Tree: Anne Fitzwilliam 1504-1588

1661 Coronation of Charles II

1678 Popish Plot

Before 1640 [his father] Francis Godolphin (age 34) and [his mother] Dorothy Berkeley (age 37) were married. They were second cousin once removed.

Around 1640 William Godolphin 1st Baronet was born to Francis Godolphin (age 34) and Dorothy Berkeley (age 38).

Coronation of Charles II

On 29 Apr 1661 William Godolphin 1st Baronet (age 21) was created 1st Baronet Godolphin.

In 1665 William Godolphin 1st Baronet (age 25) was elected MP Helston.

Evelyn's Diary. 03 Sep 1678. I went to London, to dine with Mrs. Godolphin (age 26), and found her in labor; she was brought to bed of a son, who was baptized in the chamber, by the name of Francis, the susceptors being Sir William Godolphin (age 38) (head of the family), Mr. John Hervey (age 62), Treasurer to the Queen, and [his sister] Mrs. Boscawen (age 35), sister to Sir William and the [his brother] father (age 33).

Evelyn's Diary. 17 Sep 1678. She was, accordingly, carried to Godolphin, in Cornwall, in a hearse with six horses, attended by two coaches of as many, with about thirty of her relations and servants. There accompanied the hearse her husband's brother, Sir William (age 38), two more of his brothers, and three sisters; her [his brother] husband (age 33) was so overcome with grief, that he was wholly unfit to travel so long a journey, till he was more composed. I went as far as Hounslow with a sad heart; but was obliged to return upon some indispensable affairs. The corpse was ordered to be taken out of the hearse every night, and decently placed in the house, with tapers about it, and her servants attending, to Cornwall; and then was honorably interred in the parish church of Godolphin. This funeral cost not much less than £1,000.

Popish Plot

Evelyn's Diary. 15 Nov 1678. The Queen's (age 39) birthday. I never saw the Court more brave, nor the nation in more apprehension and consternation. Coleman (age 42) and one Staly had now been tried, condemned, and executed. On this, Oates grew so presumptuous as to accuse the Queen of intending to poison the King (age 48); which certainly that pious and virtuous lady abhorred the thoughts of, and Oates's circumstances made it utterly unlikely in my opinion. He probably thought to gratify some who would have been glad his Majesty should have married a fruitful lady; but the King was too kind a husband to let any of these make impression on him. However, divers of the Popish peers were sent to the Tower of London [Map], accused by Oates; and all the Roman Catholic lords were by a new Act forever excluded the Parliament; which was a mighty blow. the King's, Queen's, and Duke's servants, were banished, and a test to be taken by everybody who pretended to enjoy any office of public trust, and who would not be suspected of Popery. I went with Sir William Godolphin (age 38), a member of the Commons' House, to the Bishop of Ely (Dr. Peter Gunning (age 64)), to be resolved whether masses were idolatry, as the text expressed it, which was so worded, that several good Protestants scrupled, and Sir William, though a learned man and excellent divine himself, had some doubts about it. The Bishop's opinion was that he might take it, though he wished it had been otherwise worded in the text.

Evelyn's Diary. 01 Jul 1679. I dined at Sir William Godolphin's (age 39), and with that learned gentleman went to take the air in Hyde Park [Map], where was a glorious cortège.

Evelyn's Diary. 22 Oct 1684. I went with Sr William Godolphin (age 44) to see the Rhinoceros, or Unicorn, being the first that I suppose was ever brought into England. She belong'd to some East India merchants, and was sold (as I remember) for above £2000.

Evelyn's Diary. 04 Jun 1685. Came to visite and take leave of me Sr Gab. Sylvius, now going Envoy extraordinary into Denmark, with his Secretary and Chaplaine, a Frenchman, who related the miserable persecution of the Protestants in France; not above 10 Churches left them, and those also threaten'd to be demolish'd; they were commanded to christen their children within 24 houres after birth, or else a Popish Priest was to be call'd, and then yc infant brought up in Popery. In some places they were 30 leagues from any minister or opportunity of worship. "This persecution had displeas'd the most industrious part of ye nation, and dispers'd those into Swisse, Burgundy, Holland, Germany, Denmark, England, and the Plantations". There were with Sr Gabriel, his lady, Sr Wm Godolphin (age 45) and sisters, and my [his brother] Lord Godolphin's (age 39) little son, my charge. I brought them to the water side where Sir Gabriel embark'd, and the rest return'd to London.

Evelyn's Diary. 03 Jul 1688. I went with [his brother] Dr. Godolphin (age 39) and his brother Sir William (age 48) to St. Alban's [Map], to see a library he would have bought of the widow of Dr. Cartwright [NOTE. Assume Cartwright a typo for Carter], late Archdeacon of St. Alban's, a very good collection of books, especially in divinity; he was to give £300 for them. Having seen the GREAT CHURCH [Map], now newly repaired by a public contribution, we returned home.

Evelyn's Diary. 11 Jun 1693. I dined at Sir William Godolphin's (age 53); and, after evening prayer, visited the Duchess of Grafton (age 25).

On 27 Aug 1710 William Godolphin 1st Baronet (age 70) died. Baronet Godolphin extinct.

Royal Ancestors of William Godolphin 1st Baronet 1640-1710

Kings Wessex: Great x 18 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England

Kings Gwynedd: Great x 15 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd

Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 21 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth

Kings Powys: Great x 16 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys

Kings England: Great x 8 Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Kings Scotland: Great x 17 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland

Kings Franks: Great x 14 Grand Son of Louis VII King Franks

Kings France: Great x 10 Grand Son of Philip IV King France

Ancestors of William Godolphin 1st Baronet 1640-1710

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Godolphin

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Godolphin

Great x 2 Grandfather: Thomas Godolphin

Great x 1 Grandfather: Francis Godolphin

GrandFather: William Godolphin

Great x 2 Grandfather: John Killigrew

Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Killigrew

Father: Francis Godolphin

William Godolphin 1st Baronet 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Berkeley 7 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Berkeley of Stoke Gifford 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Stafford

Great x 2 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Humphrey Coningsby

Great x 3 Grandmother: Elizabeth Coningsby

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Ferriby

Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Berkeley 10 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Blount 3rd Baron Mountjoy 11 x Great Grand Son of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Blount 4th Baron Mountjoy 8 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Lora Berkeley Countess Ormonde 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 2 Grandmother: Catherine Blount 9 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Keble

Great x 3 Grandmother: Alice Keble Baroness Mountjoy

GrandFather: Henry Berkeley of Bruton 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Lygon of Madresfield Court

Great x 3 Grandfather: Richard Lygon 8 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Anne Beauchamp 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 2 Grandfather: William Lygon 9 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Greville

Great x 3 Grandmother: Margaret Greville

Great x 1 Grandmother: Margaret Lygon 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Walter Denys

Great x 3 Grandfather: William Denys

Great x 2 Grandmother: Eleanor Denys 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Maurice Berkeley 3rd Baron Berkeley 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Berkeley 5 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Isabel Meade 3rd Baroness Berkeley

Mother: Dorothy Berkeley 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: George Neville 4th and 2nd Baron Bergavenny 2 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: Edward Neville 3 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Margaret Fenne Baroness Bergavenny

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Neville 4 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Andrew Windsor 1st Baron Windsor

Great x 3 Grandmother: Eleanor Windsor Baroness Scrope Masham 8 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Blount Baroness Windsor 7 x Great Grand Daughter of King Henry III of England

Great x 1 Grandfather: Henry Neville of Billingbear 5 x Great Grand Son of King Edward III of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: Richard Gresham

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Gresham

Great x 4 Grandmother: Audrey Lynne

Great x 2 Grandmother: Frances aka Elizabeth Gresham

Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Thwaytes

Great x 3 Grandmother: Frances Thwaytes

GrandMother: Elizabeth Neville 6 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward III of England

Great x 3 Grandfather: John Killigrew

Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Killigrew

Great x 1 Grandmother: Anne Killigrew 12 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: John Cooke of Gidea Hall

Great x 3 Grandfather: Anthony Cooke

Great x 4 Grandmother: Alice Saunders

Great x 2 Grandmother: Katherine Cooke 11 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England

Great x 4 Grandfather: William Fitzwilliam 9 x Great Grand Son of King John of England

Great x 3 Grandmother: Anne Fitzwilliam 10 x Great Grand Daughter of King John of England