Sir Thomas Goddard of Upham and Ogborne St. George

THOMAS GODDARD of Upham, d., 1597, son of John Goddard (5),

married "Anne, sister of Sir George Gifford, Buckingham; from whom descended

the Goddards of Swindon; and secondly Jane, daughter of John Ernie, of Can-

nings, Wiltz, and Ernie, Sussex; from whom descended the Goddards of Hart-

ham." Apparently, he succeeded his father in the Swindon and Upham estates,

or part of them. "Thomas Goddard bought the manor of Swindon in 1560. He

built the farm-house at Westlecote, Swindon, on a pleasant spot overlooking the

Elcombe valley. The date, 1589, and the initials, T. G. for Thomas Goddard,

still remain on a stone in the building. The walls are very thick; and the

porch and nail-studded door give the structure an air of antiquity. When the

Spanish Armada threatened England, the gentlemen of Wiltshire subscribed

for the defence of the country, and Thomas Goddard, Esq., gave L25 in 1588."

On a tablet in Aldbourne Church it is recorded that. "A. D. 1597, Thomas God-

dard, Esq., of Upham, gave forty shillings for ever to the poor of the parish of

Aldbourne. . . . This forty shillings was a rent-charge on the estate at Upham,

and is still paid by the present occupier, Mr. F. Frampton, and deducted from

the rent of the present owner (H. Stone, Esq.). ... A copy of the will of Thomas

Goddard, Esq., is preserved in the church chest. The will was proved on the

2nd June, 1597. He desires his body to be buried in the church at Aldbourne.

'I doe give and bequeathe unto the poore people, now within the parish of

Aldbourne aforesaid, forty shillings a-year for ever' — to be paid half-yearly, the

first instalment on St. Michael's day. 'Item, I doe also give and bequeath unto

the poor people of the parish of Swindon five pounds.' There are bequests

also to Winborow, Liddenton, Ramsbury, Ogbourne, and Marlborough, and to

his men and maid-servants. His lands and tenements he chiefly leaves to

'Richard Goddard, my son.' "

Thomas Goddard was commemorated by the monument in Aldbourne Church.

"This large monument is placed on the right of the chancel in what was once

the Goddard chapel. It is in the Italian style, and reaches to a great height.

There are two large figures — an esquire and his wife — and four smaller, repre-

senting three sons and one daughter. It is considered to be in memory of

Thomas Goddard, Esq., of Upham, and his wife, Anna sister of Sir George

Gifford. ... At the top of the monument the arms of Goddard, gilt and properly

coloured, remain still; but lower down, where there were apparently several

other shields, the charge is entirely gone, as is also the inscription. On a

bracket over the monument hangs an esquire's helmet in very good condition;

a second bracket is empty at present; but Mr. Witt (church-warden) very well

remembers in his youth a breastplate and a pair of gauntletts suspended there.

At the late restoration of the church Mr. Witt caused every search to be made

for these relics, but in vain. Before the restoration this part of the church,

forming the Goddard chapel, was railed off by an ancient wooden carved screen."

Thomas Goddard married second, Jane, daughter of John Ernie, of Cannings,

Wiltz; and Ernie, Sussex; from whom descended the Goddards of Hartham.

Posted By Walter G. Ashworth