Background
Born in Pomfret, Connecticut on July 18, 1784, he was the son of Richard Goodell, Senior (a veteran of the American Revolution) and Mercy Parkhurst Goodell.
Born in Pomfret, Connecticut on July 18, 1784, he was the son of Richard Goodell, Senior (a veteran of the American Revolution) and Mercy Parkhurst Goodell.
Goddell lived in Adams, New York and owned a farm. He was a veteran of the 23rd Infantry Regiment in the War of 1812, and participated in the Second Battle of Sacket"s Harbor. A Democratic-Republican, he identified with the Bucktails, the faction opposed to the policies of Governor DeWitt Clinton.
In 1824, he was elected Speaker.
In 1825, he was appointed Keeper of Auburn State Prison. He died suddenly in Auburn on January 25, 1826.
He is buried at Adams Rural Cemetery. His epitaph reads:
Sacred to the Memory of the Honorary
Richard Goodell, who departed this life 25th January, 1826 in the 42nd year of his age.Here lies a soldierHere a brave man rests
In April 1826, the State Legislature ordered the payment of the remainder of his annual salary to his widow, Hetty Tyler Goodell (1783-1856).
He was a member of the New York State Assembly from Jefferson County from 1820 to 1821, and from 1823 to 1825.