Molbone Godfrey, Sr.

Molbone Godfrey
BIRTH 26 Feb 1769 East Greenwich, Kent County, Rhode Island, USA
DEATH 1853 (aged 83–84) Sheldon, Wyoming County, New York, USA
BURIAL Varysburg Cemetery, Varysburg, Wyoming County, New York, USA
MEMORIAL ID 52966480 Photos by Jim and Elizabeth, Contributor: Dennis Nicks (48332432)

Molbone Godfrey was born to Robert Godfrey, b. Jan. 31, 1737 in East Greenwich, Kent County, RI. and d. Sep. 1801 in Berlin, Rensselaer County, NY. & Audrey Malbone, b. 1740 in Newport County, RI. and d. 1788 in Berlin, Rensselaer County, NY. He appears to have married Eunice Maxon, b. 1770/73 in East Greenwich, Kent Co., RI. and again about 1790 in Varysburg, Wyoming county, NY.

On July 17, 1816, the pioneers of Varysburg and its surrounding area formed a society known as the 'First Free Will Baptist Society of Sheldon', with Molbone Godfrey, his wife Eunice Maxon Godfrey, his brother Jotham Godfrey and George Grinold as the nucleus of its formation.
Almost twenty years later the society was incorporated on Feb. 1, 1836 as the First Free Will Baptist Society of Varysburg. At a meeting on this date the first trustees were elected: George Grinold, Joshua Godfrey, Levi Walker, John J. Maxon, Peter Richards, and John Vaughan. Besides these members there were: Molbone Godfrey, Charles Wilder, Stephen Lunshull, Thomas Maynard, Edward Walker, Labon Hasset, Stephen Bump, Reed Cooley, David Rice and Robert Godfrey.

On Sept. 9, 1836 the trustees purchased for $100, from John F. Maxon, a plot of ground to erect their church. During that month a subscription list was passed to raise funds for the building of the church. It read:
'We, the subscribers, agree to pay the sums set opposite our names respectively to the trustees of the First Free Will Baptist Society of Varysburg, N.Y. for the purpose of erecting a house to be dedicated to the worship of God to be held in trust by the trustees of the above society which House, it is expressly understood, shall be opened for preaching of other religious denominations when not occupied by them and it is further understood that when two or more shall desire to occupy said House, it shall be decided by the trustees of the above named society, and further, said House is to be open on all funeral occasions, also to be free for quarterly meetings and associations, etc.'

The contract was given to the village blacksmith Ezekial Parker and Jonah A. Holcomb to erect a church 36 x 46 with 18 foot posts with basement in which a room to serve as a high school be fitted, at a cost of $516.00.
It was about this time that Deacon Grinold mortgaged his farm to secure funds to finish the work. On Sept. 13, 1836 that church was dedicated. It has been written that the Deacon did the most of the work towards the erection of the church and that he went to the woods to look for the best timber and stood by until the last nail was driven. After the church was completed the Deacon was heavily in debt and began to feel that the members did not stand by him. He began to absent himself from the services and only returned on a strong appeal from Rev. David Marks." [5]

Parents
Robert Godfrey 1737–1801
Audrey Malbone Godfrey 1740–1788

Spouse
Eunice Maxon Godfrey 1773–1845

Siblings
Jotham Godfrey 1781–1860

Children 10x(first 7 born in Rensselaer County, NY & last 3 in Sheldon,WY)
Maxon Godfrey 1792–1870 m. Laura Barber, d. Aug. 24 1870
Martha Godfrey Birmingham 1793–12/29/1859 m. William Birmingham
Robert Godfrey 1794/98/1802 m. Althea Carr
Ira/Irad Godfrey Aug.7, 1796 m. Betsy Joslin, d. 6/27/1852 in Pont, Erie, PA. 1812 War Vet.
Joshua Godfrey Sept. 26, 1798 in NY, marr. Susan Birmingham, d. March 5, 1857 in Varysburg, Wyoming, NY.
Stephen Godfrey. abt. 1800, b. in Girard, Erie Co, NY, marr. Freelove Stone, d. May 5, 1848 in Girard, Erie, PA.
Molbone Godfrey Jr. 1804/05 m. Anna V. Holcomb, d. Nov. 8, 1872 in Attica, Genesee, NY.
Julia Ann Godfrey Apr. 5, 1809 d. May 6, 1868 (or 1864) in Prophetstown, Whiteside, IL. m.Thomas J. Maynard.
Eunice Godfrey 1810/1811 in Sheldon, Wyoming, NY, d. PA.
Chauncey Godfrey 1818/19 id. abt. Feb. 1885/88 in Erie or Lanherne, Erie, PA. m. Lucy Monger on Jan. 1, 1838 in NY. (and twice more).

References

[1] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52966480/molbone-godfrey

Sources

[2] 1830 U. S. census 'Melbone' Godfrey was living in Genesee, Sheldon Co., NY.
Living next door was his son, Joshua Godfrey and his family,
son, 'Melbone' Godfrey Jr. and his family
son-in-law, Thomas J. Maynard (married to Molbone's daughter, Julia Ann Godfrey) and family and
son, Stephen Godfrey and his family.

[3] 1840 U. S. census
71 yr. old 'Melbone' Godfrey was living in Sheldon, Genesee, NY. with:
1 Free White Person - Female - 60 thru 69 - (must be his wife, Eunice, who died in 1845)
Living next door on one side was son, Joshua Godfrey and his family.
Living on the other side was another son, 'Chancey' Godfrey and his family.

[4] 1850 U. S. census, 82 yr. old Molborne Godfrey, b. in RI., was living in Sheldon, Wyoming, NY. with his
51 yr. old (son), Sookna (Joshua) Godfrey, a farmer, b. in NY.
23 yr. old (grandson) Stafford Godfrey, b. in NY.
21 yr. old (granddaughter) Almira Godfrey, b. in NY.
13 yr. old (granddaughter) Clementine Godfrey, b. in NY.
11 yr. old (grandson) 'Lanford' (Sanford) M. Godfrey, b. in NY.

[5] "A Village in the Valley," by Anita Ripstein, in the Historical Wyoming magazine, October 1979, Vol. XXVI, No. 2 (Warsaw, New York): "Varysburg Free Will Baptist Church: