Godolphin, Sidney, 1st Earl of Godolphin (1645 -1712)

Possibly the stamp of Sidney Godolphin, 1st Earl of Godolphin (1645-1712). The name Godolphin, said to have derived from the Cornish gothlugon = white eagle, is the church district in the parish of Breage, union of Helston, hundred of Kerrier, in Cornwall. Sidney was the third son of Sir Francis Godolphin (1605-1667) and Dorothy Berkeley, daughter of Sir Henry Berkeley of Yarlington in Somerset. He was also the grandson of Sir William Godolphin (1567-1613) and brother of Charles Godolphin (ca. 1650-1720), and Sir William Godolphin (1640-1710). On 15 May 1675, he married Margaret (d. 1678), daughter and coheiress of Thomas Blagge of Horningsheath, Suffolk, who was a maid of honour to Queen Catherine of Braganza. At the age of seventeen Godolphin became a page to Charles II. He became secretary of state for a few months in 1684 on the resignation of Sir Leoline Jenkins, and in the same year was raised to the peerage as Baron Godolphin of Rialton .He was appointed to the post of Lord Treasurer to Queen Ann between 1702-1710, with responsiblity for financing the Duke of Marlborough's wars. On 26 December 1706 he was created Earl of Godolphin. His son, Francis, married Marlborough's daughter. In 1710 he was dismissed from office with Marlborough. He died on 15 September 1712, and was buried in Westminster Abbey. His only son Francis succeeded to the title. On the death of the 2nd Earl in 1766 the family estate of Godolphin House in Cornwall passed to the Duke of Leeds. In 1929 The Duke of Leeds sold the remnants of the property.