Sidney Godolphin (colonel)
Colonel Sidney Godolphin (1652–1732) of Thames Ditton, Surrey was a British Army officer and politician who sat in the English and British House of Commons for over 40 years (non-continuously) between 1685 and 1737.
Godolphin came from a Cornish family and was the only surviving son of John Godolphin, judge of the Admiralty court, of St. Thomas's, near Launceston, Cornwall and St. James's, Clerkenwell. The Godolphin family had held a long lease of the Isles of Scilly since the late 16th century and he was Lieutenant-governor of the islands from 1690 and Governor for life from 1700. He was also Auditor of the Revenues in Wales.
Godolphin was returned as Member of Parliament for Helston in 1685 and held the seat until 1687.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] 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..."
Private life
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.
He was married to Susannah Tannat; they had one son and five daughters,
- Tannat Godolphin
- Margaret
- Mary, who married Henry Godolphin
- Penelope, who married Francis Hoblyn
- Elizabeth
- Ellen
References
- "GODOLPHIN, Sidney II (1652-1732), of Broniarth, Mont. and Thames Ditton, Surr". History of Parliament Online (1660-1690). Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- "GODOLPHIN, Sidney (1652-1732), of Abertanat, Salop and Thames Ditton, Surr". History of Parliament Online (1690-1715). Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- "GODOLPHIN, Sidney (1652-1732), of Thames Ditton, Surr". History of Parliament Online (1715-1754). Retrieved 16 August 2018.
- 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.
| Parliament of England | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Samuel Rolle Alexander Pendarves |
Member of Parliament for Penryn 1690–1695 With: Alexander Pendarves |
Succeeded by Alexander Pendarves James Vernon |
| Preceded by Charles Godolphin Francis Godolphin |
Member of Parliament for Helston 1698–1707 With: Charles Godolphin 1698–1701 Viscount Rialton 1701–1707 |
Succeeded by Parliament of Great Britain |
| Preceded by James Kendall The Earl of Ranelagh |
Member of Parliament for West Looe 1702 With: The Earl of Ranelagh |
Succeeded by The Earl of Ranelagh Richard Hele |
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by Parliament of England |
Member of Parliament for Helston 1707–1713 With: Viscount Rialton 1707–1708 John Evelyn 1708–1710 George Granville 1710 Robert Child 1710–1713 |
Succeeded by Henry Campion Charles Coxe |
| Preceded by Thomas Tonkin Alexander Pendarves |
Member of Parliament for Helston 1715–1722 With: Sir Gilbert Heathcote |
Succeeded by Sir Robert Raymond Walter Carey |
| Preceded by William Lowndes John Chetwynd |
Member of Parliament for St Mawes 1722–1727 With: Samuel Travers 1722–1726 Samuel Molyneux 1726–1727 |
Succeeded by Henry Vane John Knight |
| Preceded by Lord Binning Philip Cavendish |
Member of Parliament for St Germans 1727–1732 With: Sir Gilbert Heathcote |
Succeeded by Sir Gilbert Heathcote Richard Eliot |