Wednesday 15 February 2023

1st Earl of Godolphin

This family derived its surname from Godolphin (originally written Godolghan), in Cornwall, which word in Cornish signifies a white eagle, and that emblem became the device on the shield of the family. Sir Alexander de Godolghan (c1295-1349) was established as the principal landowner of Godolpin during the 14th century.

His lineal descendant,

SIR JOHN GODOLPHIN, of Godolphin, was High Sheriff of Cornwall, 1505, during the reign of HENRY VII, and joint steward, with Robert, Baron Willoughby de Broke, of the mines in Devon and Cornwall.

His elder son and successor,

WILLIAM GODOLPHIN (c1486-c1570), of Godolphin, married Margaret, daughter and co-heir of John Glynn, and was succeeded by his elder son,

SIR WILLIAM GODOLPHIN (1515-70), Knight, MP for Cornwall, 1539-53, an eminent person in the time of HENRY VIII, who received for his services the honour of knighthood.

Sir William was thrice High Sheriff of Cornwall, and he attained a high military reputation, particularly at the siege of Boulogne.

He wedded Blanch, daughter of William Langdon, and had three daughters, Margaret, Grace, and Anne.

Sir William left no male issue, and the representation of the family devolved, upon his decease, upon his nephew,

SIR FRANCIS GODOLPHIN (c1534-1608), Knight, MP for Cornwall, 1589, Lostwithiel, 1593, who espoused Margaret, daughter of Sir John Killigrew, of Arwennack, Cornwall, and was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR WILLIAM GODOLPHIN (c1568-1613), Knight, MP for Cornwall, 1605, who married Thomasine, daughter and heir of Thomas Sidney, of Wighton, Norfolk, and had issue,
FRANCIS, his heir;
Sidney;
William;
Penelope.
Sir William, who received the honour of knighthood in 1599 at Dublin Castle, was succeeded by his eldest son,

SIR FRANCIS GODOLPHIN KB MP (1605-67), of Godolphin, Breage, Cornwall, who was appointed a Knight of the Bath at the coronation of CHARLES II.

He wedded Dorothy, daughter of Sir Henry Berkeley, of Yarlington, Somerset, and had a numerous family including,
William, his heir;
SIDNEY, of whom we treat;
Henry (Very Rev), Dean of St Paul's;
Elizabeth; Ursula; Jael.
The second son,

THE RT HON SIR SIDNEY GODOLPHIN KG MP (1645-1712), of Whitehall, QUEEN ANNE'S chief minister, was elevated to the peerage, in 1684, in the dignity of Baron Godolphin, of Rialton.

He espoused, in 1675, Margaret, daughter of Thomas Blagge, and had issue, an only child, FRANCIS, his successor.

Photo Credit: National Portrait Gallery, London

His lordship was advanced, in 1706, to the dignities of Viscount Rialton and EARL OF GODOLPHIN.

He was succeeded by his only son,

FRANCIS, 2nd Earl (1678-1766), who married, in 1698, the Lady Henrietta Churchill, daughter of John, 1st Duke of Marlborough, and had issue,
WILLIAM, his successor;
Henry;
Margaret;
Henrietta, m 1st Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne;
Mary, m 4th Duke of Leeds.
Without living male heirs, the titles expired.

GODOLPHIN HOUSE, near Helston, in Cornwall, was once the ancestral seat of the Earls of Godolphin.

First published in February, 2019.  Godolphin arms courtesy of European Heraldry.

7 comments :

Unknown said...

You ought to take a look at delving into the history of William Godolphin d. 1613, husband of Thomasine Sidney whom you cite, as he has an Irish connection at the time of the Flight of the Earls - he was fighting in Ireland under Essex and Mountjoy and was knighted at Dublin Castle.
Enjoy your research
Ann Clegg
Secretary - Friends of Godolphin - A National Trust Supporter Group

Unknown said...

Ursula Godolphin?? Daughter of Sir Francis Godolphin, what is she married to John Crudge?

Anonymous said...

Hi
Ursula Godolphin was one of the daughters of the first Francis Godolphin who was Governor of Scilly. Ursula did marry John Crudge who was Lieutenant in the Garrison on St. Mary's, Scilly. He was responsible for setting up the first customs station on St. Mary's in 1682 to prevent smuggling and he appointed Jonathan Wharton as the first Customs Supervising Officer.
Ann Clegg, Secretary, Friends of Godolphin - NT Supporter Group

Unknown said...

Ok? So Ursula Godolphins father was Sir Francis Godolphin born 1534–1608, or Sir Francis Godolphin born 1605–1667? They have the same name and titles ! I'm confused I know they had a son called William may you shed some light on this! please.

Anonymous said...

No! in the Historical book of The Peerage of England, by Arthur Collins, Who was a renowned historian & geologist, shows Clearly that this John Crudge father of William Crudge Who was Deputy Commissary of Musters, married the second oldest daughter of Sir Francis Godolphin (1605–1667), & His wife Dorothy Berkeley (1602–1668), her name was Ursula Godolphin & she was born in 1643 & Died Around the 17th century. through this marriage they produced a son, William Crudge, Who was registered as the Deputy Commissary of Musters, & was alive in the 1720s. Historical data verifies this in many Historical books. The Ursula you’re talking about died in 1601 & was a daughter of Sir Francis Godolphin (1540–1608) & his wife Margaret nee Killigrew (1542–1598). Their daughter Ursula’s grave registry is available & there’s is a will of her father Sir Francis Godolphin (1540–1608), available Mentioning his daughter Ursula being deceased in the book called The Godolphins, released in 1930. In another book called A Survey of the Ancient & Present states of the Scilly Islands, by John Troutbeck, shows that John Crudge, (1646-1708), father of William Crudge, Deputy Commissary of Musters, had a Grandfather with the Exact same name Mr. John Crudge & this Mr. John Crudge married also a Ursula Godolphin Who died in 1601. This Ursula Godolphin was a daughter of Francis Godolphin (1540–1608). this Ursula Who died in 1601 is always confused with the other Ursula Godolphin, Who was the second oldest daughter of Sir Francis Godolphin (1605–1667), & Wife of John Crudge, Deputy Governor of Scilly, Captain, Esquire of Cornwall (1646–1708), this confusion is because of the identical names.

Timothy Belmont said...

Anon, many thanks for the information.Tim.

Timothy Belmont said...

Dear Ann and commentators, thank you very much for the information relating to the Godolphin family. I have provided a link to Sir William Godolphin, the gentleman who was knighted at Dublin Castle. Tim.