Goodwin, James

1648. Major James Goodwin settled in York county, Virginia. [page 2]
MAJOR JAMES GOODWIN settled in York county, Virginia, but had land grantsin Westmoreland county. Three of his sons are practically untraced. Anhypothesis is suggested, that perhaps one or more of the sons andgrandsons of Major James Goodwin went to Westmoreland county, crossed theriver to St. Mary''s and Calvert counties, Maryland, and that theirdescendants gradually worked northward with the tide of immigrtion intonorthern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania, and then westward along thetrail which became the old National Road, and then, following the watercourses, became, with their descendants, the pioneers of the great OhioValley. [page3]

In the early records of York county, Va., preserved at Yorktown (a copyof which, down to the year 1700,
is in the State Library), the name of a James Goodwin appears as an earlyjustice, withe the title of major.He was justice from 1657 to 1662, andin 1658 he represented his county in the House of Burgesses. He lived onBack Creek. The identity of this James with the James of the Englishpedigrees is shown by two things: First, By the names of his children,which repeat the family names of the English people; and Second, By thefact that the York county books show that Major James Goodwin was presentin York county on November 13, 1660, and that he reached England beforeApril 30, 1661.* This would indicate that he returned to England afterhearing of his father''s death, and was present to swear to his father''swill December 17, 1660. There was, between the date of the will and itsproof in court, an interval of fifty days, which would have given timefor the transmission of the news of Peter Goodwin''s death to Virginia andfor Major Goodwin''s return and appearance in England. At the same time,the margin is not wide enough for us to suppose that his being in Englandabout this time was the result of an accident. [pages 5 and 6]

By occupation he was a planter. They resided in York county, Va. JamesGoodwin''s will, proved November 16, 1719,... [page 7]

No children by his second wife. [page 7]

He died intestate, and his inventory was recorded January 6, 1678/9,showing L542 1s 2d. On January 25, 1691/2, John and Peter Goodwinpetitioned for their shares of their father''s estate in the hands oftheir "mother-in-law" (step-mother), Mrs. Blanche Goodwin, and in thefollowing month settlement was mde with "seven children ahd ye widow".In 1687 Mrs. Blanche Goodwin had given property to her "sons", John andPeter Goodwin, and daugher Susannah. Her will was proved September 22,1701, and names sons Robert and Martin as executors; daughter, ElizabethBlinkhorn; and grandchildren, James and Elizabeth Duke. Matthew Goodwinwitnessed a deed from Peter to Martin in 1701. [page 7]