by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy Ireland is the origin of Gough, Goff and McGough families, but finding the connection is challenging. When the Public Record Office in Dublin was destroyed by an explosion and fire in 1922, a large swath of civil records, such as census […]
Major John Goff and Capt. John Goff – Original Documents
Anyone researching Major John Goff of Winfield Township, Herkimer County, NY and his son, Revolutionary War Captain John Goff can find original documents in the Blue Earth County Historical Society (BECHS) in Mankato, MN. Capt. John Goff had a son named Orange Goff who migrated to Mapleton, Blue Earth County, […]
The Goffs of Grant City, Worth County, IA
by Robin Jacobi, GGFA Newsletter Editor re GGFA Family: 1658 Goffe/Gough/Goff (US-VA-KQN) R-FT3673671 If you belong to this branch of the family, then this article might interest you. In the early to mid 1800’s, a branch of the Goff family migrated to Grant City, IA. The family story recounts that […]
An Irish Goff Family in Missouri?
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy A post on the GGFA Facebook site read, “My father is Ralph E. Goff, grandfather is James E. Goff and my elusive great grandfather is Samuel Goff. By his [death certificate] his mother’s name is Mary Weddell but doesn’t know his […]
This One’s Dedicated To . . .
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy A January 2023 GGFA Facebook query noted that the book, Esmont, Virginia: A Community Carved From the Earth and Sustained by Story, is dedicated to Lucille (Purvis) Goff. She is described as “Esmont’s leading lady.” The poster was curious about the […]
Photographer of Sitting Bull and George A. Custer
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy A November 2, 2021 GGFA Facebook post featured a studio portrait of a Native American woman and child ca. 1880-1900 from the Bud Lake and Randy Brewer Crow Indian Photograph Collection, Montana Historical Society. The photographer was “O.S. Goff, Fort Custer, […]
Faulty Connection
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy A longstanding misidentification of the parents of Edward Goff (c1803 VA) of Pike County, KY, US has hampered the research into his true lineage. Background: Online family trees offer valuable clues in building one’s lineage. The downside is that errant conclusions […]
Were Reports of Goff’s Death Exaggerated?
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy In 1873 in Milledgeville, GA, USA, a dispute between neighbors led to gunfire. In the aftermath, a 62-year-old Goff female was left critically injured. The news went viral, in an 18th century kind of way. The shooting victim’s father-in-law, Asa Goff […]
An Irish Goff Family in Rhode Island, USA
by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy A Goff family from Ireland that settled in Rhode Island, USA in the mid-19th century faces challenges in tracing their Irish ancestry due to the loss of many Irish records of genealogical value. Using a combination of traditional records and genetic […]
Blast From the Past Monday | GGFA Quarterly Newsletter, Fall 1996
A Venerable Pioneer Is Wm. Goff of Sugar Grove William Goff [1822-1914] spent his youth and early manhood among conditions which are always found in a frontier district. His educational privileges were extremely meagre, and he earned his first money when 12 years of age by riding horses, tramping out […]