Ancestors

William Henry Godwin

William Henry Godwin was born on Christmas Day 1844, the eldest son of Joel Godwin and his wife Jane, who had both come from North Carolina. The censuses of 1850 and 1880 give his birthplace as Alabama; his death record gives North Carolina. In December 1850, aged five, he was in his father's household in Wilcox County, Alabama, with his mother Jane, 25, and his brother James, 4.

About 1867 he married Elizabeth Catherine Austin, called Caddie, born in September 1846. Their children were Jacob T., born about 1868, John A. in February 1872, Wesley S., Bettie Cora, William Jesse, Henry Hamilton and Dealy A.

On 15 June 1880 the census taker found him as Henry Godwin, 35, a farmer in Snow Hill Beat, Wilcox County. Elizabeth was 32, and the children at home were Jacet T., 12, John, 8, Silvester, 4, Bettie, 4, and Jessie, 1. He gave his own birthplace as Alabama and both his parents' as North Carolina.

Caddie died on 21 November 1924. William Henry Godwin died on 22 April 1928, a widower of 83, in the Pine Apple district of Wilcox County. His death record names his parents as Jane and "Jope" Godwin. Both are buried in the Godwin Family Cemetery, on the old Godwin farm near the line between Wilcox and Lowndes counties, about four miles from Braggs. His stone reads "William Henry Godwin, December 25, 1844, April 22, 1928", with the verse "His soul renewed by early grace, in heaven has sought its native place."

If William Henry Godwin is in your family, start your own tree.

Cite: Heirology, "William Henry Godwin (1844-1928)", https://heirology.com/ancestors/william-henry-godwin-1844-1928-b7adac.