Yes - you read that correctly!

By now word has probably gotten around that this important find was announced at the recent Nims Family Reunion in Deerfield.

Carole and I were so pleased to attend the reunion and re-connect with the many friends and acquaintances we first met four years ago at the 2014 reunion. I was especially honoured to be asked to present my findings at the reunion. The fact that I presented these findings from a podium located on what was once Godfrey Nims’ Deerfield home lot (Lot 27) and not more than some 20 yards from the location of the original Nims homestead - was not lost on me.

So, what do we know?

A “Godfray Nymm” was baptised at St. Clement-Danes church, Westminster (London) England on October 22, 1648. He was apparently the only son of Henry Nymm and Ellen Denes, although he had a sister Mary baptised in 1651 at the same church.

Henry Nymm was proprietor of an Inn, the New Inn Backgate, located quite close to the Royal Courts and a likely lodging house for lawyers-in-training. His parents ran into tough times around 1671, as by then both were in receipt of financial aid from the parish. We can only speculate why that was, but remember Godfrey was in America by 1667 and already on his own.

Other “Nym” persons appear in the Westminster records, but none can be directly linked to this family. We can only assume they were related because of the similarity of name: they were likely cousins, uncles or some other relation. Mary, being a woman, probably married and changed her name and/or moved away. Even if she only moved 200 yards down the way, she’d be in a new parish and without a marriage reference we have no way of identifying her. She may well prove difficult or impossible to find.

As an aside, I must say that we are exceedingly lucky to have found any records at all after more than three centuries of very turbulent English history. These records could easily have been lost or destroyed many times over between the Great Fire of London (1666) and the Blitz (1940). I can’t but marvel at the dedication and diligence of generations of English historians and archivists who surely have made this moment possible.

Regarding the find, it’s important to note that Godfray was apparently neither French nor Huguenot. I was most pleased to learn from David Nims that there are existing family records - of impeccable provenance passed down in one branch of the family - that explicitly state that Godfrey came from England.

For those of you that followed my research these past three years, you know that I worked my way through France, Switzerland, Holland, Germany, Belgium and finally to England. The big discovery occurred shortly after I connected with an English historian who specializes in Huguenot ancestry, Dr. Kathy Chater. Dr. Chater quickly dispelled the notion of a Huguenot ancestry and proceeded to find the few remaining records of the Nymm family (or Nym, Nimes or any of a number of variant spellings) in London.

Now that we have a fix on the date and location of his origins, we can explore the social, economic and political circumstances that Godfrey was born into, and grew up in. Dr. Chater has been exceedingly helpful in providing me with a good sense of mid-seventeenth century England to better understand the factors which may have led a young Godfrey to seek better opportunities, or maybe even political sanctuary in America.

For those interested, I highly recommend basic - even Wiki - research into the Puritan movement in England under Cromwell, especially Godfrey’s early years beginning with the execution of King Charles I in 1649 to the Restoration of the English monarchy with the ascension of Charles II in 1660 and immediately after.

So, what now?

The key remaining questions for me are: when, why and how did Godfrey get to America, let alone Northampton and Deerfield?

More descriptively stated, how does a 12-14-year-old English boy leave the centre of the known civilized world and end up in a wild frontier town in early colonial America?

These may well prove even more difficult to solve than his origin. Why?

Chances are Godfrey emigrated as an indentured servant, apprenticed youth or even a runaway or stowaway. Records of servants and apprentices alone are rare to non-existent and his story may unfortunately be lost in the mists of time.

That said, some educated guesses - in the context of the time and place he grew up in - make for some fascinating, even exotic rumination. I personally think his story may be even more fantastic than anyone originally thought…

By 1660 Godfrey would have been 12 years old and of age to seek a better future for himself elsewhere. We know that by 1667 he was in Northampton, geographically well beyond the likely entry point to America. So, I think it reasonable to assume that Godfrey emigrated to America sometime between 1660 and 1665.

Quite coincidentally, the English Restoration occurred in 1660 (the monarchy was restored after 12 years of Puritan republic rule under Cromwell). Even if Godfrey was too young to be directly affected, or from a social class not implicated in the politics one can’t help wonder if his master, or people he was associated with - were. Such associations might have made emigration from England more of a “flight to sanctuary”.

I have been researching this angle of late, particularly the flight of two of Cromwell’s Generals, Edward Whalley and William Goffe. These two generals had signed King Charles’ death warrant in 1649, and in 1660 just managed to escape the clutches of a vengeful Charles II. They fled England via Gravesend aboard the “Prudent Mary”, arriving in Boston in July 1660. The two Generals went into hiding from safe-house to safe-house in New England, for upwards of 20 years. They spent the bulk of their remaining lifetimes - from 1664 onwards - at the home of the Reverend John Russell in Hadley, a mere 4 miles from Northampton!

The mind reels with the possibilities…

Could Godfrey have somehow been involved with, or attached to the two Generals?

No matter how you cut it, the two Generals and Godfrey lived within a few miles of each other for quite some time - at least 1666/7 onwards. Given what we now know about Godfrey’s early years, there are many points of coincidence between Godfrey and the Generals - beside timing. And, gosh, I’m now quite taken by exploring these further (I can’t seem to leave a good mystery alone). Grist, perhaps, for a future article.

For now, let me conclude by stating that the research that has led me to “find Godfrey” has been some of the most gratifying research I’ve ever conducted. My understanding and appreciation for the incredible sacrifices made by early settlers, like Godfrey and his immediate family - your and Carole’s direct ancestors - has deepened tremendously.

I am forever grateful for the patience, support and interest expressed by you, the Nims family, and by the Family Association Board - especially David and Jeff.

If my work has helped you and yours discover even a little more about yourselves and your family history and heritage, I could not be happier.