History of Chatham, (Barnstable County) Massachusetts United States of America

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Benjamin Godfrey, philanthropist, was born at Chatham, Mass., Dec. 4, 1794. In 1803 he ran away from home, shipped before the mast on a merchant vessel and made a voyage to Ireland, where he remained till 1812. He then returned to the United States and served during a part of the war of 1812 in the U.S. navy, and lived for a time in the town of his birth, where he acquired a fair education. Afterward he became captain of a merchantman and made many foreign voyages till he was shipwrecked near Brasos, Santiago, about 1824. He then became a merchant in Matamoras, Texas, and accumulated a fortune of about $200,000, which in the form of silver he attempted to carry across the country on the backs of mules. He was robbed by guerillas and making his way to New Orleans once more started in business. In 1832 he removed to Albion, Ill., where he engaged in business, became an eider of the Presbyterian church and interested himself in education and charities. In 1838 the founded and endowed Monticello seminary "to be devoted to the moral, intellectual and domestic improvement of females," and when the institution was granted a charter he acted as a trustee till his death. He was twice married: first to Harriet Cooper of Baltimore, Md., on Nov. 27, 1817, and secondly to a Miss Petit of Hempstead, L.I., on Aug. 15, 1839. He died at Godfrey, Ill., Aug. 13, 1862.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Chatham, (Barnstable County) Massachusetts

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