Person:Peter Godson (1)

SARAH GODSON was the wife of Dr. PETER GODSON of Lancaster Co. Va., who later moved to Old Rappahannock Co. Proof of this marriage exists in two Lancaster Co. Va. deeds. The first one, dated 18 July 1658, conveyed 50 acres of land from WILL THOMAS to PETER GODSON, and was signed by WILL and JOANE THOMAS. The second deed was by PETER GODSON, assigning the right to the bill of sale of this land to WILL THOMAS, and was recorded on 1 Apr 1659 (fn 67) and was signed by PETER GODSON and SARAH GODSON. SARAH GODSON was a widow by June or July 1670, at which time she married Dr. PETER HOPEGOOD of Old Rappahannock Co. Va. Just before the marriage, she executed a deed of gift dated 21 June 1670, giving some personal property to her daughters, named in decreasing order of age, SARAH, MARY FRANCES and ELIZABETH GODSON, all under the age of eighteen and unmarried. Immediately after the marriage, PETER HOPEGOOD signed the deed, on 6 July 1670, to confirm the gift. (fn 68) PETER HOPEGOOD died about 1679, leaving a will (fn 69) which left everything to his "daughters-in-law" (that is, stepdaughters) FRANCES and ELIZABETH GODSON, both under sixteen and unmarried at the time the will was written on 28 May 1678. ELIZABETH GODSON was left in the care of THOMAS ROBERTS until 1680 to be kept in school, and FRANCES GODSON was left in the care of Mr. HENRY SMITH until 1680. Overseers of the will were Mr. HENRY SMITH, Mr. WILLIAM YOUNG, and THOMAS ROBERTS.

Details: Footnote: When FRANCES GODSON died unmarried in 1686, she left a will (fn 70) written on 27 Jan 1685/6 and proved 7 Apr 1686 in which she left her money to be divided between HENRY SMITH and TOBY SMITH (sons of Major HENRY SMITH), her land to HENRY SMYTH and the rest of her property together with "what may come out of England from my Unkle" to Mrs. ELIZABETH SMITH. Thus it is possible that Mrs. ELIZABETH SMITH was the former ELIZABETH GODSON, sister of FRANCES GODSON. If so, she was not the first wife of Major HENRY SMITH named ELIZABETH, as ELIZABETH SMITH, wife of HENRY SMITH, appeared in court to release her dower in land sold by her husband to THOMAS HARWAR on 26 Apr 1675. (fn 71) Therefore, it could not have been this ELIZABETH who released the dower. However, there are so many interrelated family connections and so many legal and personal associations between the GODSON, SMITH and HODGKINS groups that it seems unlikely that ELIZABETH SMITH was not a GODSON. _FOOT: When FRANCES GODSON died unmarried in 1686, she left a will (fn 70) written on 27 Jan 1685/6 and proved 7 Apr 1686 in which she left her money to be divided between HENRY SMITH and TOBY SMITH (sons of Major HENRY SMITH), her land to HENRY SMYTH and the rest of her property together with "what may come out of England from my Unkle" to Mrs. ELIZABETH SMITH. Thus it is possible that Mrs. ELIZABETH SMITH was the former ELIZABETH GODSON, sister of FRANCES GODSON. If so, she was not the first wife of Major HENRY SMITH named ELIZABETH, as ELIZABETH SMITH, wife of HENRY SMITH, appeared in court to release her dower in land sold by her husband to THOMAS HARWAR on 26 Apr 1675. (fn 71) Therefore, it could not have been this ELIZABETH who released the dower. However, there are so many interrelated family connections and so many legal and personal associations between the GODSON, SMITH and HODGKINS groups that it seems unlikely that ELIZABETH SMITH was not a GODSON.