Godfrey Rockefeller was born September 24, 1783, in
Albany, New York. His parents were William (1750–1793) and Christina (1754–1800) Rockefeller. William and Christina were third cousins; William's grandfather was Johann Peter Rockefeller then John Peter Rockefeller, a miller who migrated in 1708 from
Rockenfeld,
Wied-Neuwied,
Rhineland, Germany, to
Philadelphia where he was a plantation owner and landholder in
Somerville, New Jersey, and
Amwell, New Jersey. Christina's grandfather was Johann Peter's cousin, Diell Rockefeller, who immigrated to
Germantown, New York. On November 20, 1806 in
Livingston, New York, Godfrey married former schoolteacher Lucy Avery (
Great Barrington, Massachusetts, February 11, 1786 –
Richford, New York, April 6, 1867) against opposition from her parents Miles Avery (
Norwich,
Connecticut, September 5, 1760 – Great Barrington, Massachusetts, June 27, 1830) and wife (Great Barrington, Massachusetts, November 1783) Melinda Pixley (Great Barrington,
Massachusetts, August 4, 1764 – Great Barrington, Massachusetts, October 1, 1827). Lucy Avery's ancestors were
Puritans who had emigrated from
Devon,
England, to
Salem, Massachusetts, in about 1630. Godfrey was said to be outmatched by his wife, who was taller, more confident, and better educated than Godfrey. Godfrey himself was said to have a "stunted, impoverished look and a hangdog air of perpetual defeat". He was also said to be jovial and good-natured, but his propensity to drink upset his wife. The pair would have ten children. ==Career==