Family history help appreciated

[Keith Godfrey]

Researching my family history, my great,great,paternal grandfather was James Godfrey, born 1801,possibly at Carters Farm, Wickam Bishops, Essex, married to Kitty Handley born 1801, he has been recorded as an agricultural labourer in the Wickham Bishops 1826 voters list, There is further family association with Robert Godfrey born 1831, residing at The Queens Head, West Bergholt, Essex. Unfortunately I have reached a brick wall trying to track the father of James Godfrey and any related history to either the Godfrey or Handley family. Any help appreciated, thank you. Keith Godfrey

[rosie99]

Hi

Welcome to rootschat

Just wondered if you had looked for the families on records held at SEAX 
http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk/

Rosie

[Richard Knott]

Freereg has a James Godfrey born in 1801 in Aldham, about ten miles up the road from W.B.

http://www.freereg.org.uk/search_queries/56add17d4325a62536000519

Richard

[Gibel]

Both the 1851 and 1861 census with James send Kitty state that James was born in Great Totham send Kitty in Wickham Bishops. On these 2 census James' birth is given as about 1797.

Looking on www.familysearch.org I can see this birth and christening who I think could be your man.

Great Totham
James Godfrey
Born 1 November 1796
Christened at the above church 20 November 1796
Parents Robert And Rebecca Godfrey

[Gibel]

There's a Robert Godfrey christened at Wickham Bishops on 8 Augist 1830 the son of James and Kitty Godfrey

[forte]

Sorry can't help with Godfreys going back but have found some Handleys all in Wickam Bishops.
1841 cen at Carters Farm  John b 1766 Thatcher with (? wife) Sarah b 1756
Burials:  John 1848, Sarah 1820, Hannah 1760
Other burials : Abraham 2/8/1774, Elizabeth 30/8/1774 and another Abraham 16/2/1724.

Presuably John and Sarah are the ones mentioned in the 1841 census as their birth years fit - could they be Kitty's parents?

Next door to John and Sarah in 1841 are Philip b abt 1793/6 Ag Lab with Lucy b 1801, Mary 1829 and William 1834, presumably his wife and children,  Could Philip be John's brother or even his son?
Philip is buried Jan 1870.  Hope you can unravel this family eventually. Good luck