Sidney Godolphin (colonel)

He was the only surviving son of John Godolphin (1617–1678), of Clerkenwell, Middlesex and of St. Thomas's, near Launceston, Cornwall, an English jurist and writer, and Judge of the High Court of Admiralty under the Commonwealth, by his second wife Mary Tregose, a daughter of William Tregose of St Ives in Cornwall.[1] Sidney's grandfather was John Godolphin (d.1619), married to Judith Ameredith, a younger brother of Sir William Godolphin (1567-1613) of Godolphin, grandfather of Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin (1645-1712) and his brother Henry Godolphin (1648–1733), Provost of Eton College and Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral.

The Godolphin family had held a long lease of the Isles of Scilly since the late 16th century. Sidney was Lieutenant-Governor of the Isles of Scilly from 1690 and Governor for life from 1700. He was also Auditor of the Revenues in Wales. Godolphin was returned as a Member of Parliament for Helston in 1685 and held the seat until 1687.[2] He was returned as MP for Penryn in 1690 and held the seat until 1695. In 1698 he was elected again as MP for Helston which he held until 1713. He was also returned at West Looe in 1702 but chose to stay at Helston.[3] He regained the seat at Helston in 1715 but in 1722 changed to St Mawes. In 1727 he was returned instead for St Germans which he held until his death.[4] He served in Parliament long enough to become 'Father of the House'.

The Assessment Book of Thames Ditton showing assessments for the relief of the poor gives the Colonel's address as 'Ditton Street' — but it was probably Forde's Farm (later known as Boyle Farm):

"He spent his time in arms till his state of health, requiring ease and quiet, made him quit a military life, but not the service of his Country, which he represented in Parliament near fifty years, and died Father of the House. It was his felicity to be valued and countenanced by his Sovereign, esteemed and loved by his friends and relations..."

He married Susanna Tanat, youngest daughter and co-heiress of Rees Tanat of Abertanat, Shropshire (per her monument in Llanyblodwel Church); they had one son and five daughters,

• Tanat Godolphin, only son, who died before the age of 21 of a fever in Flanders, having served as a soldier for 7 years, and fought in 5 campaigns, "as brave and stout an officer of any of his time", as is recorded on his mother's monument in Llanyblodwel Church. His heraldic hatchment survives in Llanyblodwel Church.
• Margaret
• Mary, who married her cousin Henry Godolphin (1648–1733), Provost of Eton College and Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral, younger brother of Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin (1645-1712).
• Penelope, who married Francis Hoblyn
• Elizabeth
• Ellen

Godolphin died at the age of 81 in 1732. He has a portrait-bust on his memorial, erected by his youngest daughter Ellen, in The Lady Chapel of St Nicholas Church, Thames Ditton.

• Philip J Burchett (1984). A Historical Sketch of THAMES DITTON. Surrey: Thames Ditton and Weston Green Residents' Association. ISBN 0-904811-20-4.
• TS Mercer (1970). More THAMES DITTON Tales and Scandals. Surrey: Ditton's Historical Research Society. ISBN 0-9501256-0-1.