FATHER

Robert Coddington

MOTHER

Margaret Bunworth

WIFE

Unknown

Mary Moseley

Ann Brinley

CHILDREN with Ann Brinley

1. William Coddington b. 18 Jan 1651

2. Nathaniel Coddington b. 23 May 1653

3. Mary Coddington b. 16 May 1654

4. Thomas Coddington b. 05 Nov 1655

5. John Coddington b. 24 Nov 1656

6. Anne Coddington

7. Noah Coddington

8. Ann Coddington b. 20 Jul 1663

William Coddington
by Chase Brooke
Dec 2020

William Coddington was born in Marston, Lincoln County, England, in 1602. (1) Before he sailed for the New World, while living in Boston, Lincolnshire,  England, he and his sister Katherine received a bequest from his step-father, Richard Smythe, for land in Marston, England. This document proves the parentage of William Coddington. (2) It's worth mentioning that his sister Katherine was born on July 2,   1613 in Marston to Robert Coddington and was married to Isaac Fortre on June 30, 1629 at Saint Botolph's. (3)   William Coddington sailed from South Hampton in the ship Arabella for Salem and then to Boston, MA in the year 1630.
There has been some doubt if the William Coddington born in Marston is the same William Coddington who became governor of Rhode Island. In the profile of William Coddington in the Great Migration by the eminent genealogist Robert Charles Anderson mention is made of Robert Coddington as father, but he does not assert it.  However, The Great Migration was published in 1995 and in the profile of John Cotton, Anderson mentions on page 487 that Sargent Bush Jr. was preparing for publication a comprehensive edition of the correspondence of John Cotton.  To Mr. Anderson's point Sargent Bush Jr. published a book titled The Correspondence of John Cotton.  This book is crucial in proving that the William Coddington born in Marston and receiving a bequest in Boston, Lincolnshire was the same William Coddington who became governor of Rhode Island. 
The connection will be made using letters relating to William Coddington and Reverend John Cotton, who was a famous religious figure in the Puritan World both in England and New England.  John Cotton served as vicar of Saint Botolph's in Boston, Lincolnshire from 1612 to 1632. (4) William Coddington was definitely a parishioner of Saint Botolph's in the late 1620's.(5) There were three letters that give us the proof.  On Oct 2, 1630 John Cotton in Saint Botolph's in Lincolnshire, wrote to Samuel Skelton in New England, " I thank you for loving entertainment of Mr. Coddington and his wife (my loving and Christian neighbors) into your house." He also admonished Skelton for denying him "the Lord's Supper" and for refusing to baptize Coddington's child. (6) This letter proves that the William Coddington  they were writing about had been a parishioner of John Cotton in Lincolnshire and that Samuel Skelton had welcomed William Coddington to New England. See more about Samuel Skelton in the "Great Migration" profile page 1684. (7)  The second letter was dated June 4, 1632 and was sent from William Codding to John Cotton.  William was still in England having gone back for a few years.  John Cotton, likewise, was also still in England.  It says that William Codding missed New England a great deal and was looking forward to going back. (8) The third letter was written on Aug 27, 1641 and sent by William Coddington to John Cotton.  Both men were then in New England.  It discussed religious controversies.  In summary the letters show, especially the first, that John Cotton knew William Coddington well both in England and New England making it certain that both William Coddingtons were one and the same. (9)
He served as governor of the Rhode Island from 1640-1642. His first two wives died and he remarried to Anne Brinley in Newport, Rhode Island around 1650. (10) In 1677 he stated in a deposition that he was 76 years old indicating that he was born about 1601. (11) He died on 6 Nov 1678. (12) The portrait often associated with him, cannot possibly be him according to Charles Knowles Bolton, author of The Founders: Portraits of Person Born Abroad Who Came to America, 1919.

Sources

(1) Bishop's Transcripts for Marston 1562-1883
"William Coddington, son of Robert Coddington, was baptized 6 Jan."

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(2) Indentures of Grant, Enfeoffment and Confirmation - LINCOLNSHIRE.
Lincolnshire Archives call # THOR-1-1-12-2
Indenture made 16th of Aug 1624 between Richard Smythe of Boston in the county of Lincolnshire and Margarett his wife late wife of Robert Coddington, late of Marston, and William Coddington of Boston aforesaid son of the said Robert Coddington and Margarett.  Lands in Marston. If he should die it would default to Katherine Coddington, his sister.

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(3) Baptism of Katherine Coddington

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Marriage of Katherine Coddington

Bisoph's Transcripts of Saint Botoloph's fhl fim # 1542028
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(4) The Correspondence of John Cotton by Sargent Bush Jr. 2001 pg 42-43

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(5) The Correspondence of John Cotton by Sargent Bush Jr. 2001 pg 164-166 Item # 8

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(6) Correspondence of John Cotton by Sargent Bush Jr., 2001,  pg. 160-161 (google book)
 2 Oct 1630 John Cotton in Boston, Lincolnshire, England to Samuel Skelton in Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony
" I thank you for your loving entertainment of Mr. Coddington and his wife (my loving and Christian neighbors) into your house."
by "neighbors" he meant parishioners

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(7) The Great Migration pg. 1684

(8) Correspondence of John Cotton by Sargent Bush Jr., 2001,  pg. 195 (google book)

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(9)Correspondence of John Cotton by Sargent Bush Jr., 2001,  pg. 389 (google book)

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(10)  The Great Migration by Robert Anderson, A-F pg. 397

(11) Records of the Colony of Rhode Island by John Russell Bartlett, Vol. 1 pg. 51 fhl film # 496842

(12) Rhode Island Vital Extracts 1636-1899 pg. 95

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