Family and Education

bap. 12 Jan. 1652,1 o. surv. s. of John Godolphin, judge of the Admiralty court, of St. Thomas’s, nr. Launceston, Cornw. and St. James’s, Clerkenwell, by his 2nd w. Mary Tregos; cos. of Sidney Godolphin, M.P., 1st Earl of Godolphin, ld. treasurer. m. c.1673, Susanna, da. and h. of Rees Tanat of Abertanat, Salop, 1s. 5da. suc. fa. 1678.

Offices Held

Capt. 10 Ft. 1685, lt.-col. 1694, res. 1696; maj. 2 Ft. 1700, out by 1702; lt. gov. Scilly Isles 1690, gov. 1700-d.; auditor of crown lands revenues in Wales 1702-d.; auditor of crown revenues Lincs., Notts., Derbys., and Chester 1706-d., gov. Greenwich Hospital.

Biography

At George I’s accession Godolphin was re-elected for Helston on his family’s interest. Absent from the division on the septennial bill in 1716, he voted against the repeal of the Occasional Conformity and Schism Acts and the peerage bill in 1719. In 1720 and again in 1726 he applied unsuccessfully to Spencer Compton, the Prince’s treasurer, ‘who I am proud to call my patron’, to recommend him to the Prince for the post of assay master of the stannaries, observing that

having (beyond expectation) survived the winter, I am not without hopes of living a little longer, in order to which I don’t know anything that can contribute more effectually than his Royal Highness’s grace and favour.2

Brought in by the Administration for Cornish boroughs in 1722 and 1727, he died at the age of 80, 22 Sept. 1732, being then the father of the House.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

• 1. F. G. Marsh, Godolphins, 22-23, and Additions thereto, 2.
• 2. HMC Townshend, 208.