Ancestors
of Rev. J.P. Godbey
(Circa 1930)
Thomas Godbey, of Elizabeth City Co. Va., reached Virginia
on the Deliverance, the second ship sent by the Virginia
Co., in 1608. Born 1587, died Dec. 1628, when accidentally
killed by a visitor. He left a son;
Thomas Godbey, planter, of Elizabeth River, Lower Norfolk,
Va. Born 1623, died February 1653, naming his wife Anne as
executrix.
His son, Thomas Godbey, also of Elizabeth River, Va.,
married Anne Jacob. His will was proved February 21, 1686.
His son,
Edward Godbey, of Christ's Church Parish, Middlesex Co.,
Virginia, died 1707, leaving as his youngest child,
John Godbey, a large landholder in Caroline Co., 1734-1761.
Of his descendants more than 100 were distinguised
Preachers, Educators, and Editors; he was baptized April 2,
1705. His son,
William Godbey was born 1725 or 1735. Little seems known of
him, other than that he had a son,
John Godbey was born in 1752, and was a Revolutionary
Soldier. One record states that he was born at Godbey's
Bluff, New River, Pulaski Co., Va. (now W.Va.) or in
Caroline Co., Va. That record states that he died in 1803,
and lived in New Revier, Va., until he went to Green Briar
Co., Va. He inherited a strong Quaker tradition from the
third Thomas Godbey (above), received his share of an
estate in slaves, but was converted to Methodism by the
preaching of Thomas Asbury, and immediately manumitted his
slaves, providing for them according to the laws of
Virginia (this is confirmed by the personal property tax
list of Caroline Co. for 1783 which shows that he had no
slaves, two horses and two oxen being his only taxable
property). None of his descendants ever held slaves though
living in slave owning sates. Four of his grandchildren
became Methodist ministers. He moved to W. Va. in 1784. His
son,
William Godbey was born on January 18, 1781, in Caroline
Co. He moved to Casey Co, Kentucky, about 1803. He died
November 27, 1876 at nearly 96 years of age. Four of his
large family were Methodist preachers. Of these, two of
them each had four sons who were also Methodist preachers.
Another history shows that William Godbey (IIIa), was born
January 7 or 18, 1781, in Caroline Co., Virginia. He died
April 28, 1876 or November 27, 1876 in Casey Co., Kentucky,
at the age of about 96. He is buried in Bethelridge
Cemetary. He married Sarah Smith in Green Co., Va., about
the 1st of the year in 1801. He came to Kentucky about 1790
or 1803 with Samuel Kelly and settled in adjoining
counties. He had many children, including
John G. Godbey (IIIa), who married Orphy Kelly July 23,
1823. He was born December 23, 1801 or 1803. His parents
were William Godbey (IIIa) and Sarah Smith. He married
Orphy or Orpha or Prtha Kelly July 23, 1823, in Pettis Co.,
Missouri. He was killed by lightening at 83 years. (Most of
the above is from Burke's Landed Gentry, 1939 p. 2709)
Rev. William B. Godbey, the famous "Sanctification"
champion was the oldest son of Rev. John Godbey. His
brother Rev. Josiah P. Godbey did not follow him in his
Sanctification theories and was educated at Central
College, Fayette, Mo. He joined the Missouri Conference and
lived and died a member of it. Josiah P. himself had known
and talked with his grandfather, William, the Kenntucky
pioneer up to the latters 87th year, when Josiah P. came to
Missouri.
Another son of William Godbey was Josiah Godbey b. June 30,
1817 and d. April 20, 1890. Of the six sons of Josiah
Godbey, only William, the eldest leaves a child to
perpetuate the Godbey name. William's sons are: Allen H.,
Prof. of Semantics Duke University; Victor A., Presiding
Elder of Marshall District E. Texas Conf.; Prof. Ernest
Godbey, principal Public School, Houston, Texas; Walter A.,
Principal of Shepherd School, St. Louis; J.E. Godbey. Allen
Howard Godbey, of Durham, NC, Naturalist, Archaeologist,
Orientalist; Member, Palestinian Oriental Society, American
Association for the Advancement of Science, etc., Pastor,
Professor, Editor; sometime Prof of Pre-Biblicval History
and Pre-Mosiac Hebrew Religion at Duke Univ., Joint Editor
of the first American Edition of The Code of Hammurabi;
Author of The Lost Tribes a Myth, New Light on the Old
Testament (3 editions) Pre-Mosiac Hebrew Religion and other
books, b. Nov. 21, 1864 educated at Morrisville College,
M.A. (1883), University of Chicago, Ph.D. 1905; m. June 16,
1892 Emma Lisbeth, dau. of John Moreland and Susan Hunter,
both descended from Scottish Covenanters.
Washington Campbell Bates b. Nov. 18, 1818, d. Sept 7, 1898
Nancey Gambel Kerr (Pronounced Carr) b. August 20, 1822 in
Augusta County, Va. They were married Feb. 20, 1844. Susan
Sarilda Bates was born Jan. 4, 1845 John William Bates b.
Feb. 19, 1847 Thomas Maxin Bates b. Oct. 30, 1848 Emma
Bates b. Oct. 20, 1851 Elanora (note spelling) Bates b.
April 12, 1853 (married Rev. J.P. Godbey) Robert Adolphus
Bates b. Nov. 21, 1854 James Buchanan Bates b. Dec. 1, 1856
Virginia Bates b. Nov. 10, 1858 d. Feb. 16, 1862 Jefferson
Davis Bates b. March 17, 1861 Katie Lee Bates b. August 17,
1863
Josiah Perry Godbey was born March 27, 1844