The Godfrey family had arrived in Ireland during the Cromwellian conquest. Major John Godfrey of Kent was an officer in the New Model Army, and was granted the estates of Killagha Abbey following their seizure from the Catholic Walter Spring. The estate amounted to approximately 7,000 acres. One of Major Godfrey's descendants, also John, founded the settlement at Milltown to serve as the economic focal point for his holdings. His eldest son was Sir William Godfrey, 1st Baronet, who rebuilt the family's principle residence at Bushfield House, Milltown, and renamed it Kilcolman Abbey, in reference to Killagha Abbey. His grandson was Sir William Duncan Godfrey, 3rd Baronet.