Rene Godard

Rene Godard was born April 1, 1760 in Nantes, Brittany France and died March 3, 1845 in Charleston, South Carolina. He married Marie-Elise Juhan, daughter of Jean Jacques Juhan and wife Marie Payzant. He is buried at St. John Lutheran Church Cemetery in Charleston. A memorial gravestone was placed by his grandchildren. The stone reads Sacred to the memory / of / our grandfather / Rene Godard, He was born at Nantz / In France / after an upright life of Eighty Five Year 1 Mo and 2 Days, Died in this city.

Rene Godard was an influential and wealthy man with large real estate holdings. The probate of his estate was settled in appeals court by his son-in-law's law firm. A copy of the proceedings is available to read, and is attached as a source to this profile. His wife, Marie-Elise died in June, 1843, and Rene wrote a new will in October, 1843. Both of his daughters predeceased him, as well. In this will he left bequests to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In the time between the writing of the will and Rene's death, there had been considerable changes in his holdings. In addition, some of the heirs had married, and were expecting their inheritances. The probate of the estate was finally settled in Appeals Court in January, 1848.

Children of Rene Godard and wife Marie-Elise Juhan:

• Jane Eliza Godard, married Henry Bailey
• Franciade Maria Godard, married Effington Wagner.

Appeals Court record for probate of Rene Godard's estate can be found here - https://books.google.com/books?id=3_8aAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA2&lpg=PA2&dq=Re...