Mercer County PAGenWeb

Godfrey Carnes


Godfrey Carnes, a native of Westmoreland County, Penn., and of German extraction, settled in Mercer County in 1801, on the place where his grandson, Godfrey G., now resides, in Pymatuning Township.  He purchased first 200 acres, and subsequently added several hundred more.  He was a Revolutionary soldier and served through the entire war.  He married Mary McDowell, and reared twelve children:  Edward, William, Robert, George, Samuel, John, Margaret, married Robert McCord; Mary, married Samuel Ingram, and died; Jane, married Samuel Ingram as his second wife; James, Elizabeth, married George Snyder; Ruhanneh, married Henderson Turner, all of whom are dead but Mrs. Ingram, of Kentucky.  He was one of the enterprising of the day, was a Democrat and held many of the township offices.  His wife died in 1839 and he in 1842.  John, the youngest son, was born in 1803 and reared on the old homestead, always followed farming, and was married in 1828, to Miss Sarah, daughter of John Kepner, of Hartford, Ohio.  By her he had the following children:  Godfrey G., Kepner, Seth, James , William Elizabeth, married Thomas McCord, and Mary.  The mother died in 1871, and the father in 1873.  Godfrey G. Carnes was born December 25, 1830, and was reared on the farm and educated in common schools.  In 1856 he engaged with Allison Chew as clerk in a store in Brookfield, Ohio.  He subsequently engaged in the mercantile business, under the firm name of Chew, Carnes & Bowden.  He was engaged in the lumber business for a few years.  He is now located on the old homestead, engaged in farming and stock raising.  He is a Democrat, and has filled some of the town offices.

Source: History of Mercer County, 1888, page 904

Godfrey Carnes served in the Revolutionary War in the Eighth Regiment, which 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, also a native of Westmoreland County.   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's 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.

Research submitted by Beth Rollinson


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