I have read the Goodridge Genealogy by Edwin A. Goodridge, published 1918, through a couple of generations from William Goodridge of Watertown (the more recent research on Josiah Goodridge and his descendants published by NEHGS in 1998 is better documented), which seems to have been exhaustively researched, but cites no primary sources for most of the author's assertions other than a few wills, none of which can be said to have any connection with William Goodridge of Watertown as far as I can see. Although he states he did considerable research in England, he does not elaborate on the nature of that research. All of the source material listed consists of "authorities", i.e., other books and compilations of material of at best, a secondary nature. As a general rule, in the lengthy recitation of the genealogy of the Goodridge family sources for such items as dates and places of birth, marriage, and death are not provided and it is often unclear as to what  is based on documentation and what is merely copied from "authorities", tradition, or speculation. The relevant point is the author does confirm on page 46, that Lt. Col. William Goodricke, son of Sir Richard Goodricke and Lady Muriel Eure, was born about 1581 and died in England in 1661/62, though again he cites no primary sources although such sources are relatively plentiful for this period. What he does quote is "a genealogical tree said to have been in possession of James Pitt Goodrich of Egarth House, Egarth (?), Denbigshire, England'." (NB: That should read "Garth House, Garth, Denbighshire, Wales") This quote appears to have been taken from The Goodrich Family in America by Lafayette W. Case. Whatever the failings of the referenced documents, I think it is safe to say that William Goodricke and William Goodridge of Watertown, MA were two different people.

Elsewhere, the author admits he could find no record of birth or any other documentation regarding the parentage of William Goodridge, our immigrant ancestor, but states he was probably born in Bury St. Edmunds May 18, 1605. Again, no source is given for this date and place of birth. He further states William's surname in England, as far as could then be ascertained, was Gutridge, though he does not explain how he arrived at that conclusion either.

Now, where does that leave us? In spite of the differences of this book in the matter of the lack of primary documentation of the usual sort, I see no problem with the identification of Lt. Col. William Goodricke as the son of Richard Goodricke rather than William Goodridge of Water town, This seems to be independently and adequately proven by other means, e.g., the letters Lt. Col. Goodricke's daughters wrote to their uncle, Sir Richard Bellingham in Massachusetts quoted here.

The author's claim that Goodricke and Goodridge are the same family seems reasonable, based on the similarity of anus granted to members of both families (not "family" arms) as well as to the similarity of surnames. We should remember that there were no fixed rules for spelling in general until the 19th century. As a well known example, the Bard of Avon spelled his surname at least seven different ways on manuscripts written in his own hand, none of which was "Shakespeare".

That both Goodridge and Goodricke, as well as other variations, are probably derived from the original Saxon "Godric" is possible and maybe even probable but, as Godric is also used in the same documents as Godryke and Goodricke. This means that it is possible to affirm this with some acceptable degree of certainty

In short, serious research remains to be done on the origins of William Goodridge of Watertown, MA. As far as I know, no passenger list has been found to show when he came from England, nor any record of his birth in spite of the precise date of birth shown by Edwin Goodridge on page 71. Actually, it has been my experience that most of the dates given as birth dates are in fact dates of baptism as recorded in parish records. Even in Cof E records these dates can be anywhere from a few weeks to several months some times years after birth. In the non-conformist churches baptism customarily took place several years after the child was born and often after the individual reached adulthood, which could explain the frequent occurrences in on-line pedigrees and the IGI where the father was "born" as much as ten years after his children.

Edwin A. Goodridge states that William Goodridge of Watertown was known as Gutridge in England and Gutteridge in his early days in the Colonies, but cites no sources as proof of these assertions. Obviously he found no birth or baptism record for William as he admits he doesn't know the parents' names.

A researcher has been engage and is still engaged at this time in the area to go through the local records to see what records can be found further to try and establish the correctness of the authors statement that William Goodridge was known as William Gutridge in Bury St. Edmunds England if the author is correct in this, it could complicate matters considerably. Given the amount of research that has already been done, thus far I hold little hope in finding any new evidence,  the present research thus far has proven fruitless also. It may well be that the results of this new search will prove of no help again, but I thank those involved, it is worth the effort.

Any thoughts or comments any one might have will be very much appreciated.

I have further studied myself, parts of it that appeared relevant, but have not yet found a possible connection with William Goodridge. C. A. Goodricke in his Goodricke Memorials did say he found nothing to confirm the supposed connection between the Goodriches of Cambridge and the Goodricke family, so I am not surprised.

Research by Robert Henderson & Michael B Goodrick , 2007.

Heraldry for Goodrick and spellings, Goodridge, and Goodrich.           

Goodrick Argent on a fesse gules, between two lions passant guardant sable, a fleur-de-lis between two crescents or. Source Papworth`s Ordinary of British Armorials. Burkes General Armory.

Argent on a fesse gules, between two lions passant guardant sable, a fleur-de-lis argent between two crescents or. Source Papworth`s Ordinary of British Armorials. Burkes General Armory.

Goodrick Argent on a fesse gules, between two lions passant guardant sable, a fleur-de-lis or between two crescents Argent. Source Papworth`s Ordinary of British Armorials. Burkes General Armory.

Goodridge Argent a fesse sable in chief three cross-crosslets fitchee of the last. Source Papworth`s Ordinary of British Armorials. Burkes General Armory.

Goodrich  Azure semee of crosses crosslet a lion rampent or. Source Papworth`s Ordinary of British Armorials. Burkes General Armory.

Goodrich Or two lions passant between ten crosses-crosslet sable. Source Papworth`s Ordinary of British Armorials. Burkes General Armory.