Hi Nell
Thanks for prompt reply.
I must say I suspect that Henry (mother=Susannah Godwin unmarried) is my ancestor. Presumably it would be quite unusual not to have one's child baptised, and as you say, there are no others recorded.
This would also account for why I can't find any brothers or sisters.
If so (1) was Godwin Susannah's real name, or did she take the father's name?
(2) Did William Godwin, carpenter, really exist?
I have found one example of a baptism in Winchester of a Susannah whose mother was Susannah Boyl (unmarried). Unfortunately the child dies a few days later. But then some years later there is another Susannah born to Joseph Boyl and Susannah. It looks like she eventually got round to marrying the father. So was it common practice for an unmarried mother to just assume the name of the father when she had the child baptised? Maybe so.
As to whether William really existed I did note that two of Henry Godwin's sons became carpenters like their elusive grandfather, so maybe he did.
I would welcome your opinion on my hypotheses, but I imagine I've now hit a brick wall so to speak, and won't get back any further.
However I shall keep trying other leads.
