Launching the Project

NFA President, David A. Nims, published this letter in the April 2016 issue of the newsletter. It was an exciting call-to-action… search for Godfrey Nims’

David A. Nims April 2016

“The background of Godfrey Nims, the common ancestor of those of the name of Nims, is surrounded in mystery.  Tradition has it that he was a Huguenot, came to America as a lad, at first spelled his name Godefroi de Nismes, but changed the spelling to suit colonial pronunciation.  Our first official record of Godfrey appears on September 24, 1667, in a Springfield [Massachusetts] court record…”  Thus begins a summary of the story of Godfrey Nims published in a newsletter after the Nims Family Association organizational meeting in 1979.

At the Deerfield reunion in 2014, Barbara Matthews, Public Historian of Historic Deerfield, posited that Godfrey was born in 1650.  Her rationale is that an oath of allegiance to the English King was required at age 24 and Godfrey swore that oath in 1674.  She acknowledged the possibility that Godfrey’s origin was France, possibly the city of Nîmes in Provence – others have suggested Nismes in the Wallonian (French-speaking)  province of Namur, Belgium – and that his family may have been persecuted for Protestant (Huguenot) leanings during the time the Catholic Church was consolidating its strength in Europe.  This may have led to his migration elsewhere in Europe – maybe Holland or England – and his eventual emigration to the Massachusetts colony.

Why was Godfrey alone in Northampton at such a young age?  Was he an indentured servant?  Could he be related to one of the famous Godefroys in New France (Canada)?  Who were his parents? Could his father have been French and his mother English or Irish?

What if we could find Godfrey and settle his origins for all time? 

Does the prospect of solving a centuries-old mystery appeal to you?  Well, it appeals to your board!  Thanks to a proposal from board member Jeff Nims, and after due consideration, the board has endorsed a research project to attempt to find Godfrey.

The research project will be conducted by a team of professional genealogists associated with Ancestry.  According to Jeff’s proposal, the team will change as needed and will have access to documents and genealogists in foreign countries.  The completed project will produce a journal that will include all discovered documents with translations where needed.  Jeff received a preliminary estimate in the $3,000 - $3,500 range and a project timeframe of four to six months, with monthly progress updates provided.  A final cost estimate will be established after an interview.  Payment is required up front with refund of unexpended funds at project conclusion or termination if the project is not going well.

How can you help? 

Simply stated, you can help financially.  The ‘Finding Godfrey’ project carries a cost significant enough to cause your board to launch a fund-raising effort to complete it.  The NFA has conducted fund-raising drives in previous years to publish the Nims Family History and purchase the Nims Bible, among other projects.  The Godfrey Nims commemorative boulder in front of Memorial Hall in Deerfield is there because of family member contributions.

Please consider a contribution in any amount to this worthy project.  Donor names – not amounts – will be listed in future newsletters unless the donor requests anonymity.  Checks should be made payable to the Nims Family Association with ‘Finding Godfrey’ on the memo line.  Mail contributions to our Treasurer: 

Nancy Garreaud

921 E. 100 S.

Salt Lake City, UT 84102-1406

Think what a wonderful gift your contribution would be to your family and descendants if the mystery of Godfrey Nims is finally solved.

Next Chapter: Chapter 2 - Good and Bad News