by Phillip G. Goff, GGFA Director of Genetic Genealogy
Sterling Gawf first appears in the historical records of Brunswick County, Virginia by 1771. Fast forward a decade, and we find Sterling Gawf again, this time in the records of Greensville County, Virginia, from 1782 through 1789. Greensville County was formed in 1781, carved out of a portion of Brunswick County. So, did Sterling Gawf relocate his residence between his 1771 appearance in Brunswick and his subsequent appearances in Greensville, or did he simply stay put, and the county line itself shifted around him?
With this information, we can now study Sterling Gawf’s neighbors and migration pattern for further clues of his origin.
Phillip Goff is the co-author, along with Roy L. Lockhart, of The Four Goff Brothers of Western Virginia. Since 2004, he has run the Goff/Gough Surname DNA Study, which today has about 500 participants.
From what I’ve read so far on this site (very little, I’m new) it seems like the Gawf name is traced back to this guy Sterling Gawf. Is there information about where HE came from? Is it fair to assume he was the first Gawf immigrant to get to the U.S? And is it known what country he came from?
Hello! Check out the page about this family:
https://www.goff-gough.com/dna-families/1750-barlowgawf-goff-nc-henderson-co-tn-us-i-fta50669/
To the top right, there is a link to “Family Forum” which also has presentations we have done to date showing the progress of the research.
This page also has a good summary about where the research has lead us. The current belief is that he was likely born in Albemarle Parish, Surry/Sussex County, VA, to a woman named Susanna who had married a William Goff previously. Her husband had not been seen for many years though when she had 3 documented children. We believe Sterling was likely a 4th child of hers. We believe his father was actually a Barlow neighbor there, not a Goff/Gawf at all. He was not likely an immigrant, but the Barlow YDNA does also connect back to England, so that would likely be where his Barlow ancestor came from.
Hi Kate, I think I see you in the tree. Are your paternal grandparents John L. Gawf 1890 – 1971? If so, in the genetic tree in the link that Camellia referenced, you will see William W Gawf b 1868 AR, who is the father of John L. Gawf. William W. Gawf’s grandfather was George Washington Gawf 1818 – 1904. I’ve tagged you to the “1750” genetic family that Camellia noted. In the membership list and on the genetic family page you will be able to see every who descends from this same family. Glad to have you here! Phil
Hi folks. I’ve been researching my Griffis family line for years and I’ve learned that my 5thGGF Allen Griffis and Sterling Gawf (often spelled Starling in records) were close friends and neighbors. Allen purchased a 50-acre tract from Sterling in Greensville Co VA in 1782; then in 1803, Allen purchased two tracts in Wake Co NC from Sterling, totaling ~343 acres. These records state that Sterling’s wife’s name was Ann. Does anyone know her maiden name? Also, about the same time he became friends with Sterling, Allen married a girl named Sarah. I’m wondering if she may have been a Gawf/Goff. Allen (b. 1757) originally came from Albemarle Parish, Sussex Co VA, and the parish vestry books there name several Goffs – but Sterling is not among them. I’d like to know more about the Gawf/Goff family from that period. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Brian! Your research into their relationship matches what we’ve found too. In fact, their relationship helped us trace the Goff line back to Susanna in Albemarle Parish. She had at least three children (Sarah, Lucy, and David) with someone other than her husband William Goff, who had been absent for years. We believe Sterling was another of her children. Though not listed in the parish registrar or vestry books, we’ve noticed those are incomplete.
I’ve been exploring a possible connection through the Hay family. After Allen’s father died, his mother married Gilbert Hay Jr. Gilbert’s brother Richard Hay was paid to care for David and Sarah Goff in 1756, and his wife Frances was Sarah’s godmother. Another Hay sister, Ruth Solomon, was the other godmother. My working theory is that Susanna may have been another Hay sibling, which would make Sterling and Allen step first-cousins.
We haven’t confirmed Ann Gawf’s maiden name yet, but we’re tracking some DNA leads.
As for Allen’s wife Sarah, she could be Sarah Goff, likely sister of Sterling, but we have another candidate for her as well: a neighbor of Sterling, William Scoggins, also had a wife Sarah. This man assaulted Lucy Goff (likely Sterling and Sarah’s sister).
If you haven’t already, I’d really encourage you to join the Goff-Gough Family Association (GGFA). Membership is inexpensive, and you don’t need to be a Goff to join. We have presentations, blogs, and member-only articles that dig into this exact family network, including Allen Griffis in the FAN (Friends, Associates, Neighbors) research. It’s been a great place to collaborate and share findings like yours.
Oops. I was off a generation when I wrote that. It was Allen Griffis’s grandmother, not mother, that married the Hay. All the rest is correct and they would have still be “cousins” being raised together.
Hello Brian. Would you please contact me via email. I am at mep516@aol.com I am a member of the group looking at who we call the Goff/Barlows and as mentioned by Camellia, your Allen Griffis and his family is certainly on our radar.