Herbert Edward Godfrey was the son of Edward and Mary Anne Godfrey (née Stocks).
His father Edward was born in 1861 at Blidworth and his mother Mary Ann Stocks Whitehead was born on 23 February 1865 at Eakring. Married in 1880 (O/N/D Mansfield), they had eleven children, nine surviving infancy - Rosanne (or Rose Ann) b. 26 October 1882, Lily b.1885 bap. Blidworth St Mary 11 November 1886, Annie Eliza b. 10 September 1888, Ernest Aaron b. 24 June 1891 bap. St Mary 2 August 1891, Herbert Edward b.1894, William b.1897 bap St Mary 1 August 1897, George Harold b. 16 June 1900, Percy Cyril b. 9 January 1903 and Agnes b. 27 March 1906. One of the children who died in infancy may have been Rhoda b. 1881 (J/A/S Mansfield, mother's maiden name Stocks) d. 1881 (J/A/S Mansfield).
Edward and Mary were living at Ashwell Terrace, Main Street, Blidworth in 1891: Edward (29) a coal miner, Mary (26) and their three daughters Rose Anne (8), Lily (5) and Annie (2).
They were still living at the same address in 1901 along with five of their seven children; Annie, Ernest (9), Herbert (7), William (4) and George (under 1 year). Their daughter, Roseanna (Rose on the census) was living in Hucknall and working as a general domestic servant in the household of Mark and Mark Saunders. Lily has not yet been traced on the 1901 Census.
The family home was still in Blidworth in 1911. Only five of Edward and Mary's nine children were in the home on the night of the census: Herbert a pony driver underground, William, a general farm labourer, George, Percy (8) and Agnes (5). Two of their daughters had married: Roseanne to Thomas Radford West in 1909 (O/N/D Mansfield) and living in Worksop and Annie Eliza to William Harpham in 1906 (A/M/J Mansfield) and living in Kirkby in Ashfield. Their eldest son Ernest, a coal miner hewer, was living with his married sister Annie Harpham. Lily has not yet been traced on the 1911 Census.
Herbert's father died in 1936 (O/N/D Mansfield) and in 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled his widow Mary Ann was living at Holly Tree Cottage, Main Street, Blidworth with her son Percy Cecil, a colliery screen worker, and Kathleen R Godfrey (b. 12 June 1925) single whose occupation was given as paid domestic duties. Mary ann died in 1944 (O/N/D Basford).
Of Herbert's siblings:
Roseanne was living on Netherton Road, Worksop, in 1911 with her husband Thomas Radford West, a policeman (Nottinghamshire Constabulary) and their children Agnes Dorothy (4) and Gladys May (6 months); another child had died in infancy. Rosanna died on 22 September 1972
Lily has not yet been traced after the 1891 Census.
Annie Eliza was living with her husband William Harpham (b. 7 une 1883), a coal miner hewer, in Park Street, Kirkby in Ashfleld in 1911 together with their children Harold (4) and Daisy (2). Also in the household was her brother Ernest. She and William were still living in Kirkby in Ashfield in 1939 with their children Herbert (b. 13 June 1919) and Dennis (b. September 1923). Annie died in 1967 (J/F/M Southwell).
Ernest Aaron was living with this wife Alice (b. 2 May 1891, née Broughton) on Harlow Road, Blidworth in 1939 with their son Herbert Ronald (b. 25 September 1925). Ernest died in 1977.
William was living on Thorney Abbey Road, Blidworth in 1939 with his wife Hilda M. (b. 6 May 1898( and their son Douglas Godfrey (b. 20 February 1920), a mine worker above ground. William died in 1978.
George Harold married Florence Worthington in 1920 and in 1939 they were living in Vicarage Yard, Main Street, Blidworth, with their son Kenneth Alan (b. 9 January 1921) a colliery screen hand. George died in 1992.
Percy Cyril was living at Holly Tree Cottage, Main Street, Blidworth in 1939 with his widowed mother, Mary Ann, and Kathleen R [Rita] Towers (b. 12 June 1925, d. 1996). Percy died in 1985 (J/F/M Mansfield).
Agnes married John Booth in 1931 (J/F/M Mansfield). In 1939 they were living on Saville Street, Blidworth; John (b. 16 December 1906) was a coal hewer. Agnes died in 1977.