English Captain: William Godfrey

William Godfrey definitely served in the Commonwealth navy. There was a William Godfrey, Senior, who served in the Restoration navy, as did his son, William Godfrey, Jr. From 1652 to 1653, William Godfrey commanded the Warwick (sometimes called Old Warwick, 22 guns). He fought at the Battle of the Kentish Knock in the Warwick. From 1653 to 1654, he commanded the Dutch prize Middelburg. From 1655 to 1657, he commanded the Marmaduke. In 1665, William Godfrey commanded first the Eagle, then the Satisfaction, and then the Marmaduke. The later would lead us to believe it is the same man as that who served in the Commonwealth navy, although it could be just a coincidence. It was not unusual for a captain to be posted to the same ship over a considerable period of time. In 1666, Prince Rupert and the Duke of Albemarle appointed William Godfrey to command the Crown. In 1673, he was appointed to be 2nd Lieutenant of the 2nd Rate Unicorn, and again later in the year, he was appointed to the same position. Sources:

1. R. C. Anderson, "English Fleet-Lists in the First Dutch War," The Mariner's Mirror, Vol.XXIV No.4, October 1938.
2. R. C. Anderson, List of English Naval Captains 1642-1660, 1964.
3. R. C. Anderson, Lists of Men-of-War 1650-1700: Part I English Ships 1649-1702, 1966.
4. J.R. Tanner, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Naval Manuscripts in the Pepysian Library at Magdalene College, Cambridge, Vol.I, 1903.