The
Eighth Regiment was raised in Westmoreland Co., PA.
The regiment was sent east to join Washington's
army in the Jerseys, where it participated in the
Battles of Trenton, Brandywine, Princeton, Paoli,
Germantown, and wintered in the Valley Forge.
The 8th Regiment was returned to Fort Pitt in the
spring of 1778 under Brigadier Lochlan McIntosh.
Godfrey participated in the construction of Fort
McIntosh at the mouth of the Beaver River, and Fort
Laurens on the Muskingham River. He also participated in the Brodhead Expedition up the
Allegheny River in August, 1779.
Godfrey's term of service was three years and two
months.
He
was married to Mary McDowell.
Godfrey came from Westmoreland County in 1801 and
obtained a land patent in Pymatuning Township in 1803
(The patent was dated January 19th 1803).
He applied for pension on July 4, 1828, pension
no. S-46432. Burial
was at Oakwood Cemetery.
Ref. V.A. N.S.S.A.R., Fed. Pen. File, P.A.
Godfrey
and Mary were natives of Westmoreland County, Pa.
Their first cabin was erected upon the present
Sharpsville and Orangeville Road, near the state line
about two-and-a-half miles northwest of Sharpsville.
Later it was replaced by a more substantial one.
And in the house, the early elections of
Pymatuning Twp. were held. Godfrey was a Jeffersonian Democrat and was active in local
affairs, holding many of the Pymatuning Twp. offices.
Godfrey
and Mary reared 12 children: Edward,
William, Robert, George, Samuel, John, Margaret, Mary,
Jane, James, Elizabeth and Ruhanneh.
All were raised on the family homestead.
Godfrey
was a successful pioneer and accumulated a large estate
of several hundred acres.
He died in 1842 and his wife died in 1839. [Godfrey
Carnes is buried in Oakwood
Cemetery.]
Research
submitted by Beth
Rollinson
