Charles Godfrey (courtier)
Colonel Charles Godfrey (b. 1646 in Westminster; d. 23 February 1714 in Bath, Somerset) was MP for one short Parliament for Malmesbury and a few months later was elected for Wycombe (also known as Chipping Wycombe) which he co-represented for 22 years.[1]
Life and career
Godfrey came from a recusant family, originating in Norfolk, and was the son of Francis Godfrey of Little Chelsea, Middlesex[1] and his wife Anne nee Blount. He was born on 6 November 1646 in Westminster, and was baptised on 26 November at Mapledurham, Oxfordshire.[2]
While MP he was Master of the Jewel Office for six years; his office as Master ceased three years before the end of the reign of Queen Anne of Great Britain.[3] He was also one of the clerks comptrollers of the green cloth. The Clerk of the Green Cloth was a position in the British Royal Household. The clerk acted as secretary of the Board of Green Cloth, and was therefore responsible for organising royal journeys and assisting in the administration of the Royal Household.
Godfrey lived in Great Windmill Street near Piccadilly Circus, London.[4]
Godfrey died on 23 February 1714 while on a visit to Bath, Somerset and was buried in Bath Abbey.[1]
Family
Godfrey married Arabella Churchill, former mistress of King James II, on 1 June 1680 at Holy Trinity Minories, London.[5] He was thus brother-in-law of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. They had a son and two daughters:
- Francis Godfrey (d. 1712)
- Elizabeth Godfrey, married Edmund Dunch MP (1677–1719).
- Charlotte Godfrey (b. 1679 in Penrhyn, Denbighshire, Wales), married Hugh Boscawen, 1st Viscount Falmouth (1675–1734); she died on 22 March 1754 in Tregothnan, Cornwall.
References
- 1 2 3 "GODFREY, Charles (c.1648-1715), of Windmill Street, Westminster and Huntercombe, Bucks. - History of Parliament Online". Retrieved 5 August 2016.
- ↑ Oxfordshire Family History Society; Oxford, Oxfordshire, England; Anglican Parish Registers; Reference Number: PAR164/1/R1/1
- ↑ Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition, 2 volumes (Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 1999), volume 2, page 1866. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition.
- ↑ "Piccadilly Circus". Arthur Lloyd. Archived from the original on 17 June 2006. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
- ↑ London Metropolitan Archives, Holy Trinity Minories, Register of marriages, 1676 - 1683, P69/TRI2/A/007/MS09242A
| Parliament of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Thomas Estcourt John Fitzherbert |
Member of Parliament for Malmesbury 1689–1690 With: Thomas Tollemache |
Succeeded by Goodwin Wharton Sir James Long |
| Preceded by Thomas Lewes William Jephson |
Member of Parliament for Wycombe 1691–1707 With: Thomas Lewes 1691–1696 Fleetwood Dormer 1696–1698, 1701–1707 John Archdale 1698–1699 Thomas Archdale 1699–1700 |
Succeeded by Parliament of Great Britain |
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by Parliament of England |
Member of Parliament for Wycombe 1707–1713 With: Fleetwood Dormer 1707–1710 Sir Thomas Lee 1710–1713 |
Succeeded by Sir Thomas Lee Sir John Wittewronge |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Hon. Heneage Montagu |
Master of the Jewel Office 1698–1704 |
Succeeded by John Charlton |
| Military offices | ||
| Preceded by The Earl of Selkirk |
Colonel of Godfrey's Regiment of Cuirassiers 1688–1693 |
Succeeded by Francis Langston |