The nephew of Sir William Godolphin (1515–1570), who left no male issue, he succeeded to his uncle's estates early in Queen Elizabeth's reign. He was one of the leading citizens of Cornwall, described by that county's 17th-century historian, Richard Carew, as one "whose zeal in religion, uprightness in justice, providence in government, and plentiful housekeeping, have won him a very great and reverent reputation in his country". (The Survey of Cornwall, 1602, quoted in Burke's Extinct Peerage).
His father, Thomas, had been Governor of the Scilly Isles and they were leased to Francis who became governor in his turn (see Governors of Scilly). On royal instructions, he improved the defences of the islands which were, in Carew's words "reduced to a more defensible plight by him, who with his invention and purse, bettered his plot and allowance, and therein so tempered strength and delight, and both with use, as it serveth for a sure hold, and a commodious dwelling".
Chief among this work of fortification was the building of Star Castle. He was also an innovative manager of Cornwall's tin mines, his inventions greatly increasing their productivity by extracting metal from material; that would previously have been discarded as refuse, so materially improving both the prosperity of Cornwall and the revenue that the Crown derived from it.
In the historical novel The Grove of Eagles, by Winston Graham, Godolphin is shown as a sympathetic figure. The main characters are the family of his first wife, the Killigrews: both out of family feeling and his concern for law and order, Godolphin warns them that their reputation for piracy and their general lawlessness will lead them into ruin.
Burke's Extinct Peerage (London: Henry Colburn & Richard Bentley, 1831) [1]
'The Scilly Islands', Magna Britannia: volume 3: Cornwall (1814), pp. 330–337. [2]
D. Brunton & D. H. Pennington, Members of the Long Parliament (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1954)
Willis, Browne (1750). Notitia Parliamentaria, Part II: A Series or Lists of the Representatives in the several Parliaments held from the Reformation 1541, to the Restoration 1660 ... London. p. 1.
francis, godolphin, 1540, 1608, other, people, named, francis, godolphin, francis, godolphin, english, politician, knight, member, parliament, francis, godolphinborn1540died1608nationalityenglishoccupation, politician, knighttitlesirspousesmargaret, killigrew,. For other people named Francis Godolphin see Francis Godolphin Sir Francis Godolphin 1540 1608 was an English politician knight and Member of Parliament Sir Francis GodolphinBorn1540Died1608NationalityEnglishOccupation s Politician and KnightTitleSirSpousesMargaret Killigrew Alice SkerretChildren3 including Sir William Godolphin 1567 1613 and Sir Francis Godolphin died 1640 Parent s Thomas GodolphinKatherine BonithonRelativesSir William Godolphin grandfather Sir William Godolphin 1515 1570 uncle Contents 1 Life 2 Family 3 In fiction 4 Notes 5 Ancestry 6 ReferencesLife EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Francis Godolphin 1540 1608 news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2023 Learn how and when to remove this template message The nephew of Sir William Godolphin 1515 1570 who left no male issue he succeeded to his uncle s estates early in Queen Elizabeth s reign He was one of the leading citizens of Cornwall described by that county s 17th century historian Richard Carew as one whose zeal in religion uprightness in justice providence in government and plentiful housekeeping have won him a very great and reverent reputation in his country The Survey of Cornwall 1602 quoted in Burke s Extinct Peerage His father Thomas had been Governor of the Scilly Isles and they were leased to Francis who became governor in his turn see Governors of Scilly On royal instructions he improved the defences of the islands which were in Carew s words reduced to a more defensible plight by him who with his invention and purse bettered his plot and allowance and therein so tempered strength and delight and both with use as it serveth for a sure hold and a commodious dwelling Chief among this work of fortification was the building of Star Castle He was also an innovative manager of Cornwall s tin mines his inventions greatly increasing their productivity by extracting metal from material that would previously have been discarded as refuse so materially improving both the prosperity of Cornwall and the revenue that the Crown derived from it Sir Francis represented Cornwall in the Parliament of 1588 9 and Lostwithiel in that of 1593 he was also twice High Sheriff of Cornwall 1580 and 1604 Custos Rotulorum for a number of years and Vice Warden of the Stannaries from 1584 to 1603 Family EditGodolphin married Margaret Killigrew daughter of Sir John Killigrew of Arwennack and the notorious pirate Mary Wolverston and two of his sons Sir William Godolphin 1567 1613 his heir and Sir Francis Godolphin died 1640 followed him in becoming members of parliament His daughter Thomasine married George Carew 1 As a widower he married Alice Skerret 1545 1632 of Tavistock Devon widow of Sir John Glanville 1542 1600 In fiction EditIn the historical novel The Grove of Eagles by Winston Graham Godolphin is shown as a sympathetic figure The main characters are the family of his first wife the Killigrews both out of family feeling and his concern for law and order Godolphin warns them that their reputation for piracy and their general lawlessness will lead them into ruin Notes Edit Carew George d 1612 Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 Ancestry EditAncestors of Francis Godolphin 1540 1608 16 Sir John Godolphin8 Sir John Godolphin17 Lady Elizabeth Killigrew4 Sir William Godolphin9 Margaret Trenouth2 Thomas Godolphin5 Margaret Glynn1 Sir Francis Godolphin3 Katherine BonithonReferences Edit Cornwall portalBurke s Extinct Peerage London Henry Colburn amp Richard Bentley 1831 1 The Scilly Islands Magna Britannia volume 3 Cornwall 1814 pp 330 337 2 D Brunton amp D H Pennington Members of the Long Parliament London George Allen amp Unwin 1954 Willis Browne 1750 Notitia Parliamentaria Part II A Series or Lists of the Representatives in the several Parliaments held from the Reformation 1541 to the Restoration 1660 London p 1 Political officesPreceded byWilliam Lower High Sheriff of Cornwall1580 Succeeded byJohn ArundellPreceded byAnthony Rous High Sheriff of Cornwall1604 Succeeded byNicholas PrideauxPreceded byPeter Edgcumbe Custos Rotulorum of Cornwall1597 1606 Succeeded byThe Earl of PembrokePreceded byThe Earl of Bedford Lord Lieutenant of Cornwalljointly with Richard Carew Sir William Mohun and Peter Edgcumbe1586 1587 Succeeded bySir Walter RaleighParliament of EnglandPreceded byPeter Edgcumbe Sir William Mohun Member of Parliament for Cornwall1588 1589 With Peter Edgcumbe Succeeded byPeter Edgcumbe William BevilPreceded byWilliam Fitzwilliams William Gardiner Member of Parliament for Lostwithiel1593 With John Beal Succeeded byWilliam Cornwallis John CookeHonorary titlesPreceded by newly established Governor of the Isles of Scilly1568 1608 Succeeded byWilliam Godolphin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francis Godolphin 1540 1608 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