John Johnson GODSHALL

• Born:  November 8, 1737 in Pennsylvania

• Married: August 15, 1762

• Died:  July 15, 1814 in Doylestown, New Britain Twp., Bucks County, Pennsylvania

• Burial: Doylestown Mennonite Church Cemetery, Pennsylvania

• Occupation: Farmer, Weaver, owned a saw mill

Marriage Information:

John married Christina HENDRICKS on August 15, 1762. They lived in Towamincin, Montgomery County, PA. They moved to Doylestown, Bucks County, PA sometime later. Both are buried in the Doylestown Mennonite Cemetery. Children: Catherine, Mary, Herman, John, Samuel, William, Rachael, and Jacob.

General Notes:

It should be noted that John's father is Herman GODSHALK. Records show that John spelled his name GODSHALL. This may be a 'typo' but we will stay with our source and and the spelling of GODSHALL.

Source: Ancestry.com [ID: I-8765]

John and Christina (Hendricks) GODSHALL lived in Franconia for awhile. In 1771 they moved to New Galena Road, New Britain Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania where they purchased 51 acres. By 1779 they owned 95 acres. John built a new saw mill on the North Branch of the Neshimany Creek. It was known as Sellers Mill. **John's Will, dated April 27, 1814, devised (gave) his son John the plantation. The other children received 372 pounds each. John and Christiana are buried at Doylestown Mennonite Church.

John bought 35 acres from his father in 1764, sold it to John Boorse a year later; the deed of this sale identified John's father as Herman Godshalk. John and Christina, moved to Hilltown Township briefly, bought 51 acres, 54 perches in New Britain Township on Oct. 25, 1765 and another 51 acres in 1771. John was a weaver, and later operated a sawmill on his property. He was taxed for 95 acres in 1779. On the 1884 tax list he was taxed for 102 acres, with two dwellings. He had a family of nine. His Will was signed on April 27, 1814, and probated on August 1st of the same year. His son John inherited the plantation; all the children received 371 lbs, 5s, 3d.

References: PERKIOMEN REGION, Vol X, No 1, Jan 1932, p 64. unrecorded deed, Schwenkfelder Historical Library, East Greenville, Pennsylvania. Joel D. Alderfer, "New Discoveries in Godshalk-Godshall-Gottschall Family Research," MENNONITE HISTORIANS OF EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA NEWSLETTER, Vol. 10, No 2, May 1983, pp 1-6. Bucks County Deed Book 25, p 303. Bucks County Will Book.