Early Goodmans of America

Continuing from and adding to the materials in the preceding topics of this site, and using the Ansel / Anselm name as a key, this topic deals with the possible origins of the Goodman lines in America that often include that name. It also addresses several related families important to these lines. Because, in some cases, little hard evidence can be found to establish some these links, my conclusions are my own, and are drawn largely from the available evidence in America, and again from published materials on possibly related lines.

Although I have focused primarily on lines possibly related to my own, this section will also be of general interest to all Goodman researchers, especially those whose ancestors settled in or arrived through Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas, Tennessee and Kentucky in the 1600-1800 time frame. It covers several of the most significant and well documented early Colonial Goodman families, and documents many related families that intermarried and participated with the early Goodman families in the settlement of VA, the Carolinas, and later into Tennessee and Kentucky.

Although the Ansel Goodman b. ca. 1752 is no longer considered to be a direct ancestor of my line, he is certainly related, by name inference, and his well documented adventures are exciting and deserve significant attention. He is also probably the ancestor of other Goodmans who will be interested in his exploits. For this reason, his adventures and petition for a pension as a Revolutionary War soldier are documented in their own section.