Christopher Towne and Rachel Goodwin

Christopher Towne was born around 1586 in Sydenham, Oxfordshire, England.

Christopher married Rachel Godwin around 1611 in Sydenham.

Rachel was the daughter of William Godwin (d 1628), a husbandman of Sydenham. It appears she was an only child.

In the will of William Godwin written on 5 January 1625, he mentions his daughter Rachel, her husband Christopher Towne, and their children Robert, Christopher, Rachel, Jeffery and Agnes.

There is a treasure trove of papers on the Goodwin / Godwin family on Ancestry including this excerpt –

Sydenham, is a small parish in Thame district, Oxfordfordshire, 3 miles south east of Thame. In 1871 the population was 397 with 86 houses.

Christopher and Rachel had the following children in Sydenham –

1. Robert b 1612
2. Christopher b 1614
3. Rachel b 1616 d 1689 Sydenham, marr John Croxford, 6 children.
4. Jeffery b 1618
5. Agnes b 1620 married Samuel Eustice
6. Martha b 1629 married Mr Nash

Christopher wrote a will, while he was residing in Sydenham in 1660 which was probated on 10 August 1660. It is in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury Will collection 1384-1858.

The will is very difficult to read but I can see the following bequests –

• John Croxford, my grandchild, my now dwelling house
• Agnes, my daughter….
• Jeffrey, my son…..
• Robert Croxford, my grandchild, my little house
• daughter Martha….
• William Croxford, my grandchild, land in Kingston
• John Nash, 50 shillings
• Elizabeth Nash, 10 shillings
• Christopher, my son…..
• Robert, my son…..

Christopher Towne died in 1660 in Sydenham and his wife Rachel sometime before him. They are most likely buried at Sydenham, Oxfordshire.