One of the great things about research in this day and age is how much sharing can go on via the internet. I have recently come upon a website, Purdy Steele Family History, which has some documentation related to the Godfrey family. A researcher named Edith Helen Purdy is responsible for most of the documentation on this site, with the assistance of her granddaughter. The most significant find is a birth name for the mother of Sarah Ann Godfrey, wife of James Hunter.
Sarah Ann came from a large family. Her siblings were documented in the will of her brother John Godfrey, which was written in 1879. Among Sarah Ann's sisters was a woman named Nancy Godfrey Johnston. I was able to find abstracted marriage information for many of Sarah Ann's siblings, including Nancy, on RootsIreland. The Purdy Steele Family History Website has an image of an actual parish record for the Godfrey/Johnston marriage which was issued by the parish in 1969, presumably in response to a genealogical inquiry. Notice that they reproduced the mark that the illiterate Nancy made in lieu of signing her name.
This site also contains a family history document written by a woman named Mary Johnson Conley, which was based on family letters in her possession. The document is called History of the Johnson (Johnston) Family. Here are some excerpts relevant to the Godfrey family.
...Samuel Johnson married Nancy Godfrey in Ireland in January 1853. His first five children were born there. Encouraged to do so by letters from his brother John, he came to America about the year 1863 to make a home for his family. He soon sent for them and it was a long, stormy voyage for the mother, Nancy, and her five small children. During the voyage she spent much of her time, clinging to the mast and praying for the safety of her family, especially for that of the two small boys, who were constantly running about the small sailing vessel. In America, two more children were born to this family...
Nancy Godfrey, wife of Samuel Johnson was born in England (Ballynease Ireland) and through her grandmother Stuart was a direct descendant of Mary, Queen of the Scots. One of her sisters married a wealthy Englishman (North Irishman), William Crawford, who with his wife Mary Jane (Godfrey), family and servants, as well as a small flock of sheep, went on his own sailing vessel in about 1862 to settle in Australia. It is said to have been about a three month voyage. He had four sons, Henry...Thomas (after her father), John...and Hugh, and five daughters, Mary Ann, Matilda, Jane, Nancy and Sarah... Another sister Matty (Matilda) married Robert (William) Houston of Scotland and came to Canandaigua...There were two children, Robert and Ellen (Jane) but no descendants. For awhile Ellen visited Ireland every five years, visiting the following places and families: ...the Hunters, a sister of Nancy Godfrey, the McCulloughs, another sister of Nancy Godfrey...
Finally, there is a death certificate for Nancy Johnson on the site which gives Mary Sampson as the name of her mother. I wish I knew the full name of grandmother Stuart, whether she is descended from the Queen of Scots or not...
