THOMAS GOFF
The name Goff has an historic identity with the early settling of New
England. One Thomas Goff, a wealthy merchant of London, England, Matthew
Craddock, John Endicott, Sir Richard Saltonstall, and others, were among
the principal actors in laying the foundation of the Massachusetts Bay
Colony. "By mutual agreement among themselves they were formed into a body
politic and confirmed or rather so constituted by the royal charter." The
first governor chosen was Matthew Craddock, the first deputy governor Thomas
Goff, of Newbury, a proprietor, were other pioneers of the same New England.
The vital records of Reboboth, the mother town of many in it region, both in
Massachusetts and Rhode Island, begin with the families of Richard, Samuel
and Robert Goff, following later with that of William Goff, beginning with the early years of the eighteenth century. From this source spring many of
the name both in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, notably from the late Hon.
Darius Goff, of Pawtucket, perhaps the foremost of the New England
manufacturers of the fifty years closing with his death.
Richard Goff, of Barringotn, and Martha Toogood, of that same town; daughter
of Nathaniel and Martha Toogood, were married, July 19, 1722, and their
children of Rehoboth town record were: Sarah, born October 19, 1723; Joseph,
December 12, 1725; Squire, June 18, 17127; Bethia, January 31, 1729-30;
Rachel, July 28, 1731; Rebecca, May 11, 1733; Dorothy, August 4, 1735;
Richard, July 31, 1741.
Sources:
Cutter, William Richard. New England Families Genealogical and Memorial.
Vol. I-IV. New York, USA: n.p., 1915.
Submitted by Tina Hursh |