The name of Goosetree is one of the early surnames that was taken from the shire in which the family lived.
They who went by the name Goostree (goosetrey) came to Normandy with Viking Conqueror Rollo (860-933)
The ships of the Vikings were only open boats by oar as well as by sail, the sailors were very strong men, bold and would make voyages thousands of miles from home in their ships.  The Vikings seem to have no fear and loved danger and adventure for they were brave men.  The poor people along the coastline of France and England were terrified when they saw the Viking ships approaching the coast.  The ships had the black raven painted on their sails.  The forward part of the ships (called prow) had large images hewn into them the forms of dragons,
along the defensive wall of the ship hung large glittering rows of shields and standing lines of strong men ready to come ashore.  The Northmen were pirates!

Villages, monasteries, churches and even whole cities were just burned to the ground.  Whole cities and districts were gone after the raid of the Vikings.  Each year more and more Vikings came.  Then came a large band of Vikings led by Rollo  He forced a descendant of Charles the Great to turn over to them a
whole district of the best land in northern France.  The Northmen settled down in the region they had conquered and gradually gave up their fierce customs.  They married the women of the country and learned to speak French instead of the rude northern tongue.  They became practically Frenchmen, but they were always noted for their energy, their love for adventure and courage in war!! Their province was called Normandy, and did become the most prosperous parts
of all of France.
Normandy was just across the British Channel from England and the Normans knew that country was still weak.  When one  of the English Kings died without a son, the leading men of England chose Harold, who was a powerful noble, to be their ruler.  But William, Duke of Normandy, whom men have always called William the Conqueror, declared that the late King had promised him the throne, so he gathered an army of adventurous Normans and sailed across the channel and
there was fought a famous battle.The army knew how to fight on horseback and how to skillfully use archery, and after all they had William to lead them!
But the English stubbornly stood together to fight off every attack with axes and their swords.  So William the Conqueror decided that he and his army of men would trick the English, so he and his men pretended to retreat.  The English had no one to lead them at this time because Harold their leader had
been wounded, therefore they broke line and ran in no order after their enemies.  At this time William gave signial for his men to rush the English army and by nightfall,  the English had been destroyed.  William rewarded his followers by making them nobles and giving them large estates in England, the land they had taken by war.  They built castles, and the architects and the masons knew how to build these stone building, which were stronger than the wood buildings the English people had built.

(From Mss. Records in Office of Secretary Of State)  (Extracted from the Registry of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury)
In the name of the God Amen, I geogre Burrington of the Parish of St. Martin Ludgate in the City of London, Esq. do make this my last will and Testament in manner and form following -----(that is to say) I give devise and bequeath
unto George Burrington (who lives with me and is of the age of about twelve years) and to his Heirs forever all my free hold Land Messuages and Tenements with all and singular and appurts therefore belonging, which are situated lying and beign in North Carolina in America, and all other the Real Estate I
have in the World, and I also give and bequeath tot he saide George Burrington all my negroes, stocks of cattle, goods and the person Estate which I now have or at the time of my death shall be entitled unto either in America England or else where, But in Case the said George Burrington shall happen to dye before he arrives to the age of twenty-one years with issue of his body Lawfully begotten or shall dye after his attainging his age of twenty-one years without issue of his body lawfully begotten, or having made a legal disposition of the afore said premises, THEN and in such Case, my min and will is That all my
aforesaide Real and Personal Estates, shall go to and be divided between Paul Whitehead of the parish of St. Martin, aforesaid Gentleman, William Goostrey (Goosetree) the younger of the parish of Saint James Westminster, second son of William Goostry (Goosetree) the Elder my Executor hereafter named and to their heirs for ever to take as tenants in common and not as joint tenants.
And I so hereby nominate constitute and appoint William Goosetrey (Goostree) the Elder of parish of St. martin aforesaid sole Executor of this my last will and testament and Guardian of the said George Burrington during his Minority and in Case of the death of the said William Goosetrey (Goosetree) the Elder, I appoint the younger guardians Paul Whitehead and William Goostrey (Goostree) the younger guardians of the said George Burrington hereby revoking all former and other Wills by me hereunto set my hand and Seal this Eith day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand Seven Hundre and fifty.  (Dec. 8, 1750)

On the 23rd day of March 1750 admininstration (with the will annexed) of the Goods, Cattles, and Credits of George Burrington late of the Parrish of St. John the Evangelist Wesminster in the Couty of Middlesex Esq. deceased was
granted to Paul Whitehead and William Gostrey (Goostree) Jr.
(From book "Colonial Records")

It may appear William Goostree, was the father of Absalom Goostree, who came from Taylor Island in Dorchester County Maryland into Rockingham County, North Carolina, and the grandfather of Watson Goostree Sr. who came to Richland (so
named later Portland) in the early 1800's.

There was a Benjamin Goostree who married Betsy Elizabeth Johnson on April 8, 1792.  He may be a brother or son to Absalsom Goostree.  There is a Benjamin living in Dorchester Co., Maryland also.

There is a Richard Goostree will probated Nov. 12, 1728.  he had a wife named Rebecca; a daughter Elizabeth Goostree married to Robert Johnson; daughter  Rebecca Goostree, married to Andrew Willis;  a son named George Goostree for
whom no wife was named;  there were unnamed grandchildren by his son-in-law, last name only, Phillips.

Luke and Sarah Goostree who had a son, Reuben, born July 4, 1760.

David Goostree who was a witness to a will, Oct. 1691

Reuben Goostree and wife Ann, - daughter Nancy, born April 13, 1797

William de Goostree date 1339 East Chester England
Ciccly de Goostree date 1339

Spellings ----Goosetree, Goostry, Goostrey, and Goostree

Earl of Chester gave his third son Michael, a half of the village of Goosetree. Therefore he was called Michael de Goostree.  In the little town of Goostree, in England, there stands a chapel.  It appears to have been a side of the ancient manor house of michael de Goostree. The building has been described as a quaint little building!!!!!!!

Some people think that William Goostree, was the grandfather of Absalom Goostree. It could be Watson Goostree Sr. ggreat-grandfather??

Absalom Goostree born ca 1760 in Dorchester co. Maryland, near Tayler Island.  He said in his will, he was very sick on his bed, as he was writing his will.
Will probated Feb. 1801.
Absalom married Mary (Polly) Granger.  daughter of John Granger and Mary
They lived in Rockingham Co., NC
Absalom and Mary were the parents of Watson Goostree. The Watson who started
the family of Goostree's in Robertson, Sumner and Simpson C., KY and Davidson
Co., Tn......