James P Godsill
hello!
I am seeking the family of my Great Grandfather,, James P Godsill (this is the spelling handed down). He lived for a time in Manhattan, NY, with his brother, sister, and sister's husband and child.He was a plumber in Westchester County, White Plains, NY, married to my Great Grandmother, Elizabeth T (Holden). He died around 1915, leaving his wife with two young daughters (under the age of 5), Eileen Patricia and Geraldine Elizabeth.
James was born between 1867 and 1875. What US records can be located that are certain to be him indicate that he had a brother named John J (Joseph?) and a sister named Julia Godsill McCormack. I found Julia's marriage certificate, which James and John also signed.
His mother's name was Mary. I cannot be certain of his father's name, as the earliest US records indicate that she was living alone with her children in New York in the 1880's. I do not know when she arrived, or whether she arrived with a husband,or as a widow with small children, and I'm uncertain as to when she died.
His mother is listed as having been born in Ireland, and in some records, James, too, is listed as having been born in Ireland in some records; in others, he is listed as having been born in NY.His brother and sister are consistently noted as having beenborn in NY.
With regards to the spelling, the only other Godsills (this spelling) listed in the US in the same time period were living in the midwest (Illinois, I believe) and in Connecticut, along the coast.
My Grandmother, Geraldine, had 5 kids, one of whom (my mother, Carol) oncevisited Ireland, and may have located cousins about 30 years ago. However, as we were estranged, and she has since passed, I have no records of where she went, or whom she may have found.
I have been seeking information on this particular branch of my tree for some time now, and have come to dead ends at every turn. My greatest wish is to finally be able to "hop the pond" to locate this family line!
The other Godsills located may be from Cork, or from Antrim (one record is of a baptism at St Patrick's, Belfast city, Antrim, on Donegall St (Down & Conner diocese), father named Patrick, mother named Mary Goilfoyle. I still get very confused by all the counties, parishes and dioceses, so my research is further confounded by this!
Your help is greatly appreciated!
Peace
Skyler Wind
Eugene, Oregon, USA
PS) Sorry about Trump and Hillary. They are both anational embarrassment.
