PALE Research on

John Jacob GODHARD, d. 1797,

Northumberland County

(now Columbia County),

Pennsylvania

        My ancestor, John Jacob GODHARD [spelled "GODDARD" on his will, but struck over and changed to "GODHARD"
which is the only reason I currently use this spelling], is described in local family histories as a "wealthy Englishman" and a
"farmer." There was no elaboration, and we have been unable to confirm this so far. His name is often also spelled
"GOTTHARD," "GETTERD," etc., on his deeds, but most researchers feel this is due to the predominantly German population
of Pennsylvania.

One of the earliest accounts I have found of John GODHARD is when he bought land in Forks Township,
Northampton County [near the town of Easton], Pennsylvania, USA, on 18 March 1763. I believe he was here long before
that, but I have been unable to locate any certain proof of his whereabouts before the date on this land deed. I received
unsourced information that his daughter, Anna Maria GODHARD was born on 24 August 1739 [I have no proof of this]. The
location was not supplied, but we suspect that she was born somewhere in America.
GODHARD was a deacon of the "congregation of the Evangelical Reformed in Easton," listed in the First Reformed
Church of Easton, Pennsylvania, records as "John GETTERT" on 18 December 1768. [This is according to family histories; I
haven't proven that this John GETTERT is the same as John GODHARD, although it seems likely from other, similar spellings of
his name and his appearance in the bapismal lists of the same church.] The church was often without a pastor before this,
and it is said that John GODHARD acted as a lay preacher. Some people list him as "Rev." This may be so, but doubrful as I
suspect that he could not read or write -- all of the documents I have found for him, from the earliest through his will, have
been signed with "his mark" rather than a signature.
I think of John Jacob GODHARD as the "Grandfather of Benton," a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania [in Columbia
County]. Because of various intermarriages, virtually anybody who lives there today and/or has any ancestors from that town
have roots leading back to John GODHARD. I have at least two lines leading back to him, possibly three, via different
children.
John Jacob GODHARD was probably born before 1722, possibly somewhere in England if he was not born in
America. Most people say he was of English descent, although some say German. I have no proof either way so far,
although I lean toward the English origins. [Note that there is a family of very similar names in nearby Berks County, PA, some
of whom also later migrated to Northumberland County, PA. I have traced this line to Germany. They appear very distinct
from John Jacob GODHARD of Northampton Co., PA. No interaction between these families has yet been found.]
I have read accounts which named John Jacob GODHARD as both a "Junior" and a "Senior," but the accounts named
no sources and I have no proof of this. His wife, Sophia [last name unknown], is named in the 1763 Northampton County,
Pennsylvania, land deed I mentioned.
Some people have theorized that he had met Sophia in America, and that she may have been of the many
Pennsylvanians or others of German descent. John GODHARD bought and sold land in Northampton County many more
times after 1763; the last deed I have for him is in 1793. I don't know whether he actually ever lived on any of this land. He
may have lived in or near Easton, PA, or he may have lived across the Delaware River in New Jersey.
Soon after this, he moved northward to Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, near the town of Bloomsburg (which is
today located in Columbia County). He lived with my 5 G. grandparents, Johan "Christian" & Anna Maria "Mary" (FRUCHEY /
FRUTSCHIE) LAUBACH. Mary LAUBACH was the granddaughter of John GODHARD.
GODHARD wrote his will 26 December 1794, and is described in it as "Yeoman" who was "at present residing in
Mahoning Township, County of Northumberland and State of Pennsylvania, But late of William's Township, Northampton
County, in the State aforesaid . . . ." His will was recorded 7 June 1797.

X x r l k f j a o w n x

John GODHARD's Offspring

The only children we can trace to him are three daughters, who are named in this will, along with several other heirs. Named are:

* Late Son-in-law Henry DEBERGLER & Late Daughter Elizabeth: GODHARD gives their children all of his land in Cole's Creek, Fishing Creek Twp., Northumberland Co., PA (400 acres). [PALE Note: we believe Elizabeth GODHARD was born before 1747, location unknown. Their first child was born about 1764. Her death date is unknown.]

* Daughter Catherine HESS, wife of William HESS. [PALE Note: This is Anna Catarina "Catharine" GODHARD, probably born about 1744-1745, location unknown. Their first child was born in 1765. She probably died in Northumberland County (now Columbia County), Pennsylvania, outside the small town of Benton, and may be buried at St. Gabriel's Cemetery, Cole's Creek, Sugarloaf Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, where many of her children are buried.]

* Grandson John FRUCHEY of Derry Twp., Northumberland Co.
* Granddaughter Mary LAUBACH, wife of Christian LAUBACH, of Mahoning Twp., Northumberland Co. [She was born 1773 and died 1823, and is buried with her husband at St. Gabriel's Cemetery, Cole's Creek, Sugarloaf Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania where Christian had been one of the first church wardens. They moved to the Benton area very soon after her grandfather, John GODHARD, died in 1797.]

* Granddaughter Sophia TRONSAU, wife of Abraham TRONSAU, of Williams Twp., Northampton Co., PA

* Deceased Daughter Anna Maria FRUCHEY, wife of Frederick FRUCHEY, & their children, some not of age. [PALE Note: Anna Maria GODHARD may have been born 24 August 1739, location unknown. She died in August of 1784 in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. She married Frederick FRUCHEY/FRUTSCHIE in 1761. It appears that she married Andrew "Andreas" CORRELL (as his second wife) between 1757-1760; she had at least one child (a son) by him before she died. Andrew CORRELL may have remarried again after her death. This is still being investigated.]

* Grandson Jacob FRUCHEY, "who is not of sound mind," paid to his "Guardians appointed him under the will of his Deceased Father."

* John FRUCHEY & Christian LAUBACH were appointed executors; witnesses were Rde. NISBET, Leonard RUPERT, & David OWEN of Northumberland Co., PA.

A 3 4 d q gy i f v l Y D

John GODHARD's wife, Sophia, is almost certainly dead before 1794. The last record I have of her is on 16 October 1784 when "Johannes and wife Sophia GOTTHARD" were sponsors at their grandson's (Johann Paul HESS) baptism at the First Reformed Church in Easton, Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The next mention of John GODHARD is in 1789 when he buys land from the same boy's father, Johan "William" HESS, Sr. No mention is made of Sophia on this deed.

Other researchers have mentioned that John Jacob GODHARD had been in the Revolutionary War. I have found names which **could** be the same person, but I have not pursued any proof or disproof in this area as of this time. I am still looking for the grave sites of John Jacob GODHARD, his wife, Sophia, and two of his daughters. Anna Maria (GODHARD) FRUTCHEY CORREL is buried in Mt. Bethel. I hope to visit her gravesite very soon for photos.

Please feel free to share this information with anybody who is interested. Sincerely, Business Address: Polly A. Laubach-Eckrote P.O. Box 143 Nescopeck, PA 18635-0143 pale@epix.net P.S. ~~ I live near the small town of Benton where so many of John GODHARD's descendants relocated in the late 1700's. Our county, Columbia, was carved from the very large Northumberland County in 1813. We are about a two hour drive from Northampton County, where John GODHARD had lived most of his married life.

Also, the tiny village of Cole's Creek (very near to Benton), the location of St. Gabriel's Church (today Episcopal, but multi-congregational in the past) where most of the buried are descendants of John Jacob GODHARD, was named for Ezekiel COLE, the pioneer of that area who donated land for the church and cemetery and who operated a nearby mill. He also came to the area from Northampton County, and married for his second wife Elizabeth "Betsy" HESS. We believe this is the daughter of William & Catharine (GODHARD) HESS, Sr., which would make her John Jacob GODHARD's granddaughter.

***END Mar 2000***