William Godwin showed up in records of IOW Co., VA as early as 1656. In April of that year, William received a cow's calf from the estate of Humphrey Clark. William acknowledged receipt of legacies left to his wife, Elizabeth by her father Thomas Wright, in September of 1666. The date of William Godwin's will is 21 Nov 1710 his death 26 Sept 1720, naming his sons and daughters. May of 1727 Elizabeth Wright Godwin's estate was appraised by Benjamin Beale, John Chestnut, and John Whitley.
--
Virginia, Land, Marriage, and Probate Records, 1639-1850
Name: William Godwin
Date: 21 Nov 1710, Location: Isle of Wight
Notes:This probate record extracted from microfilmed copies of the original Will Book.
Remarks:William Godwin. Leg.-son William; son John; son Joseph; daughter Sarah G----; daughter ----- Bridger; daughter Mary Whitehead; daughter Martha Cotton; daughter Jane. Wife Elizabeth Extx.
Description: Decedent, Book: 2-52, Prove date: 26 Sep 1720

(Will Bk. 5 pg. 300. "Wills etc. by Chapman")
Elizabeth Godwin - leg. son John; son William; my five daughters. died 4 Feb. 1726/27 John Pitt - leg. dau Martha, the land on which Capt. Joseph Bridger now lives; gson Joseph Bridger, the land on which Ann Smith now lives, also the land on which Elizabeth Shaw lives; dau Esther; dau Prudence, the land on which Edward Driver and Robert Smith live; dau Ann Godwin the land on which William Godwin and Samuel Croom live; gs William Bridger -- d. 19 Dec. 1729