OUR GRIFFIN FAMILY

Generation 1
STEPHEN GRIFFITH

Generation 2
STEPHEN GRIFFIN (m. Hannah Norcross)

Generation 3
ELNATHAN GRIFFIN (m. Patience Burr)

Generation 4
AARON GRIFFIN SR. (m. Lois Lewis)

Generations 5-7

Generation 1
STEPHEN GRIFFITH

Very little is known of our first known ancestor, STEPHEN GRIFFITH.

There were different Griffins early on in Massachusetts and Connecticut. For instance, in Massachusetts: Hugh, 1645, Sudbury; Humphrey, 1641, Ipswich; Jasper, 1674, Marblehead; John, 1655, Boston; Philip, 1657, Salisbury; Richard, 1635, and Robert, 1639, Concord; Richard, 1657, Roxbury. In Connecticut: John, 1643, Simsbury; Thomas, 1651, London and Stonington; Matthew, 1645, Saybrook (then 1654 at Charlestown, Mass). And in Rhode Island: Robert, 1653, Newport. From which of these are we descended? Hopefully, some descendant will read this page and contact me and we may locate our Emigrant.

Griffwn, a Welsh word, means a man having a crooked nose, like a hawk’s beak. Griffyn, Cornish British, signifies “to give”. If the origin of our Griffin was, in fact, “Griffith”, that has an entirely different meaning, from the Welsh cryf, strong, and ffyd, “faith, one who has strong faith”.

The one child of Stephen Griffith, whose name we have, is a son, Stephen.

Generation 2
STEPHEN GRIFFIN

STEPHEN GRIFFIN was born 15 March 1701/2 at Harwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, and baptized on 20 May 1711, at Harwich.

On 30 April 1720, at Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Stephen married HANNAH NORCROSS. Nothing is known about her at this time.

CHILDREN OF STEPHEN & HANNAH (NORCROSS) GRIFFIN

1. Stephen Griffin was born 20 Mar 1720/21 at Rochester, Plymouth Co MA.
   
   

2. Nathaniel Griffin was born 28 Feb 1722/23 at Rochester.
   
   

3. ELNATHAN GRIFFIN was born 9 Feb 1724/25, at Rochester. He married Patience Burr.
   
   

4. Hannah Griffin was christened 20 May 1735 at Rochester.
   
   

5. Joshua Griffin was born 28 Nov 1736 at Harwich, Barnstable Co MA.
   
   

6. Seth Griffin.

Generation 3
ELNATHAN GRIFFIN

ELNATHAN GRIFFIN was born on 9 February 1724/25 at Rochester, Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

On 26 November 1750 at Fairfield, Fairfield County, Connecticut, Elnathan married PATIENCE BURR. She was the daughter of Jehu and Sarah Burr, and was christened on 9 March 1728/29 in Connecticut.

Move to the BURR FAMILY

Elnathan and his wife “renewed their covenant” in their church on 2 July 1758 (the same date that their son Aaron Griffin was baptized, see below), “having brought certificate by ye Rev. Mr. Goodsel of Greenfield”. This might mean they removed to Redding from “Greenfield”. More research is needed.

Patience Griffin was admitted into communion on 21 April 1765, in the Redding, Connecticut, Congregational Church.

Elnathan Griffin and his family lived at New Lebanon, Albany County, New York, in about 1768.

He left two marks for himself in the King’s District of Albany County, New York. It is recorded there, on 5 May 1772, that he was the “Tithing Man”.

In the 1790 U.S. federal census taken at Canaan Town, Columbia County, New York, there is listed Elnathan Griffin. In that year very little information comes across, but we do know that Elnathan was the only free white male “over sixteen”, and there were two free white females “over sixteen”. No other free person, no slaves. This could easily be our Elnathan, an elderly man, and his equally elderly wife Patience, and another family member or servant or housekeeper.

The very next-neighbor listing was Aaron Griffin, most likely their son. That census will be detailed, below.

While it is recorded in my sources that Elnathan died in 1795, it is also recorded (in 1799) in the King’s District of Albany County, New York, that he paid tax of £123.0 on real estate valued at £500.0 and personal estate of £115.0. More information will be needed on his death date.

CHILDREN OF ELNATHAN & PATIENCE (BURR) GRIFFIN

1. Sarah Griffin, b. 8 Sep 1751, in Redding, Fairfield Co CT. She m. about 1770, Levi Pierce (b. about 1749). She d. 11 Jul 1831; was bur. at Hoosick, Rensselaer Co NY. Nine children, all named Pierce.
   
   

2. Hezekiah Griffin, b. 30 Aug 1753, in Redding CT.
   
   

3. Esther Griffin, b. about 1754. She mar. about 1770, Baker Pearce.
   
   

4. Huldah Griffin, b. 26 Dec 1755, in Redding CT.
   
   

5. AARON GRIFFIN SR. was baptized 2 Jul 1758 at the Redding CT Congregational Church. He married Lois Lewis. He died in 1820 in New York.
   
   

6. Abigail Griffin, bapt. 24 May 1761 at Congregational Church, Redding, Fairfield Co CT. She mar. about 1780, Nathan Nichols (b. about 1755). They joined the Society of Friends. Eleven children, all named Nichols.
   
   

7. Samuel Griffin, b. 28 December 1763; bapt. 26 Feb 1764 at Congregational Church, Redding, Fairfield Co CT. He mar. about 1783, Martha Rogers (b. 16 Sep 1768). Nine children.
   
   

8. Hannah Griffin, b. about 1765. She mar. about 1785, Joseph Lewis.

AARON GRIFFIN SR. (m. Lois Lewis)
Generation 4

AARON GRIFFIN SR. was born 2 July 1758.

His wife, LOIS LEWIS, was born in Rhode Island. Unfortunately I don’t know much about her.

LAND

A deed for 100 acres of land dated 19 April 1803, was given by Martin Roberts to Aaron Griffin (“of the town of Minden and County of Montgomery”). The land was in the town of Eaton in Madison County. Aaron and Lois sold this land on 26 February 1811, to James Collidge. The deed is on record at Wampsville, the county seat of Madison County, New York.

I think the main land on which Aaron Griffin Sr. and Lois lived, a farm, was 50 acres in the town of Cicero, Onondaga County, New York. No record or evidence of the purchase of the farm could be found, but it is known that he owned it, because all of his living children conveyed at various times between 1836-1847, their interest in this land to their brother, Gaylord. These deeds are all on record in the Onondaga County Clerk’s office in Syracuse, New York, and in most of them, the grantors are described as heirs of Aaron Griffin. The size of the interest was given in some of the deeds, so that it is known that he left thirteen living children.

CENSUS

1790 U.S. federal census, Canaan Town, Columbia Co NY
Recorded was Aaron, the one free white male “over sixteen”, and three free white females, two of them “under sixteen”. These numbers don’t tally with the family’s birth records as I have them, Aaron and Lois had four daughters and three sons by June of 1790. I cannot, therefore, state with certainty that this is our Aaron Griffin Sr., but I find it very interesting that the very next listing above Aaron’s was Elnathan Griffin, his father. Elnathan and his wife would have been old by this time, and the census documents only one “free white male over sixteen” and “two free white females over sixteen”. Perhaps besides Lois there was a female relative, daughter, or servant.

I do not have Aaron and Lois’s censuses for 1800 and 1810.

1820 NY census, Onondaga Co, Cicero
Head of Household, 45+ = Aaron Griffin Sr.
1 female, 45+ = Lois Griffin.
3 males, 16-26 = John, Asa, Samuel Griffin; 1 female, 16-26 = a servant?
1 male, 16-18 = Gaylord Griffin.
1 male, 10-16 = Orrin Griffin.

Four of Aaron and Lois’s children left New York: Samuel and Orrin went to Michigan, Aaron Jr. left first for Ohio, then to Illinois; and John went to Illinois.

DEATH

Aaron Sr. died in 1820 in Onondaga County, New York.

Lois (Lewis) Griffin died on 24 February 1841, also in Onondaga County. No graves or records of burials could be found for either Aaron or Lois Griffin.

CHILDREN OF AARON & LOIS (LEWIS) GRIFFIN

1. Hannah Griffin. She mar. Roswell Barnes; had two children: Hannah (mar. Fuller) and adopted Roswell W. Adams. One of the letters in the Smith collection is from “R. W. Adams” to Asa Griffin.
   
   

2. Lois Griffin. She d. 23 Feb 1816.
   
   

3. Daniel Griffin. He mar. and had at least one child, Kate (mar. DeForest).
   
   

4. Infant Griffin.
   
   

5. William Griffin, b. 15 Jul 1781 in Ontario Co NY. He mar. 25 Nov 1798, Alida (or Olive) Mabee (b. 25 Jul 1779 in Ontario Co). They lived about 1820 in Clyde, Wayne Co NY. In 1830 at Royalton, Niagara Co NY. William d. 14 Jan 1847. Children: Hulda (mar. Foster); Amanda; and Clarissa (mar. Pardee). Two of the letters in the Smith collection are from Amanda Griffin to her uncle Asa Griffin.
   
   

6. Robert N. Griffin, b. abt. 1784 at NY. He mar. about 1825, Rosamond Sadler (b. 1794 in Mass.). In 1830-40 at Cicero, Onondaga Co NY. In 1850 at Van Buren, Onondaga Co; a basket maker. In 1860-70 at Eaton, Madison Co NY. He d. 12 Aug 1872; she d. 1876. Children: Anna (Anice); Jane; Robert; and Rosamond.
   
   

7. Hulda Griffin, b. about 1787. She mar. abt. 1805 at Morrisville, Madison Co NY, as his 2nd wife, Amasa Leland (b. at Sherburne MA). She d. 5 Apr 1841. He d. 26 Sept 1843. No children.
   
   

8. Anna Griffin, b. 27 Jun 1790 at New Lebanon, Columbia Co NY. She mar. abt. 1812 at Madison Co NY, Ezra Leland (b. 29 Jan 1787 at Sherburne MA). In 1850-60-70 at Eaton, Madison Co NY. Anna d. 17 Jul 1874; Ezra d. 4 Feb 1878. Children: Eliza A., Isaac, Leonard, Ann Janet (mar. King), Hulda, Osmer, and Oscar.
   
   

9. AARON GRIFFIN JR. was born 12 December 1792 near Syracuse NY. Aaron married (1) BETSEY BATES, about 1819 at Onondaga Co NY; d. 1855; (2) Mrs. Nancy Crawford Davis in 1857. He d. 12 Mar 1886 at Blandinsville, McDonough Co IL. Three letters were written by Aaron Griffin to his younger brother Asa Griffin.
   
   

10. John L. Griffin, b. 27 Feb 1797 in NY. He mar. abt. 1825, Eliza Mayo (b. abt. 1800 in CT). In 1830 at Cicero, Onondaga Co NY. In 1850-60-70-80 at Vermont, Fulton Co IL. One of the letters in the Smith collection is from John Griffin to his brother, Asa Griffin, written in October of 1837 from Fulton County, Illinois. The above may be a long shot. John d. 8 Nov 1880. This may be a long shot, but, here goes: John may have been the first of the family to go to Illinois, as there was a John Griffin who bought 160 acres of “bounty land” in Greenbush Twp, Warren County on 26 Aug 1836 (W1/2, Sec 35).. Children:
    

    Gaylord Griffin; d. young.
    
    

    Asa Griffin (b. abt. 1827 in NY). He mar. abt. 1855, Nancy (b. abt. 1832 in IN). In 1860 at Clinton, Wayne Co IA. In 1880 at Fulton Co IL. Three children.
    
    

    Maria Griffin (b. abt. 1828 in NY); mar. abt. 1860, Mr. Short.
    
    

    Melissa Griffin (b. Jul 1830 in NY). She mar. abt. 1851, Benjamin McDaniels (b. Sept. 1828 in PA). In 1850 at Vermont, Fulton Co IL. In 1860 at New Salem, McDonough Co IL. In 1880 at LaFayette, Nemaha Co NB. In 1900, at Highland, Norton Co KS. Four children, all named McDaniel, b. in IL.
    
    

    William Griffin (b. Apr 1832 in NY). He mar. abt. 1859, Mary Jane Maxwell (b. Nov 1835 in IL). In 1870-80 at Carthage, Hancock Co IL. He was a school commmissioner, 1870 at Carthage; a school teacher, 1880 at Carthage, and also in 1900, at Montebello, Hancock Co. Four children.
    
    

    Lewis Griffin (b. Jun 1834 in NY). He was a farmer. In 1860-80 at Fulton Co IL; in 1900 at Vermont, Fulton Co.
    
    

    Hattie Griffin (b. May 1842 in IL); in 1800, a teacher at Fulton Co IL. Unmarried.

11. Asa Griffin, b. 5 Feb 1801 in Minden, Herkimer Co NY. He mar. 19 April 1826, at the First Baptist Church, Syracuse, NY, Diadama Hudson (b. 19 Nov 1804, at Colrain, Franklin Co MA). He was a cooper. In 1840-70 at Jasper, Steuben Co NY. He d. 29 Jul 1872 at Jasper, and is bur. at the Five Corners Cemetery there. Children:
    

    Roswell Beckwith Griffin, b. 13 May 1827 at Steuben Co NY; d. 19 Jan 1899. He mar. in Sep 1860 at Steuben Co NY, Esther L. June (b. abt. 1827 at Monroe Co NY). She d. 30 Dec 1862 at NY. One of the collected letters was written to Roswell by his cousin, my great-great grandfather, Emerson Griffin, at the behest of his father, Aaron. This letter was sent, together with a letter from Aaron to his brother, Asa.
    
    

    Nancy Ann Griffin (b. 23 May 1831 at Steuben Co NY; d. 9 Feb 1913 at Steuben Co NY. She mar. 18 Jan 1854, Jerome M. Simpson (b. abt. 1829 at NY; d. 13 Aug 1895). Four sons named Simpson. Another of the letters in the Smith collection is also from Emerson Griffin to his cousin, “Mrs. Simpson”.
    
    

    Asa Hudson Griffin, b. 2 Feb 1840 in Jasper, Steuben Co NY; d. 9 Nov 1920 at Atlas Hotel, Butler PA.
    
    

    Infant Griffin, b. abt. 1842.
    
    

    Mary Jane Griffin, b. 1846. She mar., at Jasper, Steuben Co NY, George Mortimer Smith (b. 31 Mar 1849, at Farmington, Tioga Co PA). He was a school teacher. Five children named Smith. She d. 18 Jul 1940 at Harrison, Boone Co AR.

    
    

    Asa saved letters. A packet of forty-eight of them – to, from, and about Griffin relations – were passed down to to one of Asa’s descendants, Herman W. Smith, in this line. In 1988, the late David N. Smith sent me an index and abstracts of all the letters, and xerox copies of the five that pertained to my Illinois Griffins. Click here to read the Index. Click here to read the letters.

    
    

12. Samuel Griffin, b. abt. 1803 in NY. He was a cooper. In 1830 at Cicero, Onondaga Co NY. In 1850-70 at Ross, Kalamazoo Co MI. He mar. abt. 1829, Roxanna (b. Dec 1809 at MA). Children:
    
    

    Lois M. Griffin (b. Oct 1830 in NY).
    
    

    Roxanna J. Griffin (b. abt. 1842 in MI). Roxanna mar. (-) Stanley abt. 1859. One son, Orrin A. Stanley (b. Oct 1861 in MI.
    
    

    Martha Griffin (b. abt. 1846 in MI).
    
    

13. Gaylord Griffin, b. 12 Feb 1805, in Madison Co NY. He was a farmer. He mar. abt. 1825, Marium Crants (b. 3 Oct 1810 at Ulster Co NY). In 1830-70 at Cicero, Onondaga Co NY. He inherited the farm of his parents. Gaylord Griffin d. at Bridgeport, Onondaga Co NY, on 5 Apr 1880, and was bur. there at the New Cemetery. Marium d. 15 Apr 1894 at Bridgeport NY. Many of the Smith collected letters are from Gaylord to his brother, Asa Griffin. Children:
    

    Hattie Griffin, b. abt. 1831.
    
    

    Hannah Griffin, b. abt. 1832, mar. 20 Oct 1847, William McNeil.
    
    

    Elizabeth Griffin, b. abt. 1833 at NY; mar. Lot Fuller.
    
    

    Hulda Griffin, b. abt. 1837 at NY; mar. Douglas Howe; and she d. 1879.
    
    

    Ann Jennett Griffin, b. 15 May 1841; d. 8 Sept 1893. She mar. George Orrin Gannett. One daughter, Agnes May Gannett.
    
    

    John B. Griffin, b. 3 Apr 1848. He mar. Mary Smith. John d. 1927 and was bur. 13 Dec 1927.
    
    

14. Orrin Griffin, b. 1807 in NY. He mar. 23 May 1839, at Berrien Co MI, Anna Maria Noel (b. abt. 1812 in VA). He was a “cooper, making flour barrels”. In 1840-50 at Niles, Berrien Co MI. He d. at Berrien, on 18 Mar 1854. A few of the letters in the Smith collection are from Orrin to his brother, Asa Griffin. Children:
    

    Minerva Griffin, b. 29 May 1841 at Berrien Co MI. She mar. at Guadalupe Co TX, John G. Dromgoole (b. abt. 1833 in Washington Co NY). In 1860-80 at Guadalupe Co TX. In 1900-10 at San Antonio, Bexar Co TX. Ten children named Dromgoole. She d. 3 Jan. 1915, at San Antonio.
    
    

    William Griffin, b. 4 Sept. 1842, at Berrien. He was a farmer and a carpenter. He mar. 18 Sep 1871, at McLennan Co TX, Mary Ann Rebecca Estes (b. 18 Oct. 1849 in Kossuth, Tishomingo Co MO. Twelve children, all b. in Robinson, McLennan Co TX. In 1870, a carpenter, at Lamar Co TX. In 1880-1910, a farmer, at McLennan Co TX. He d. 19 Nov 1916 at Robinson, McLennan Co TX, and is bur. at the Robinson Cemetery.
    
    

    Maria Griffin, b. abt. 1852, at Berrien. She d. abt. 1862, probably at Guadalupe Co TX.
    
    

Next to AARON GRIFFIN JR.

PRIMARY REFERENCES

Connecticut Church Records, Redding Congregational, 1729-1882. Typescript. Connecticut State Library: Burr, pp. 17-19; Griffin, pp. 47-48.

Curtis, Ellwood Count. Descendants of Jehu Burr, p. 28.

Fairfield [CT] Vital Records 1639-1850. Barbour Collection. Typescript. Griffin: p. 47.

Griffin, Emerson G. Administration of Estate. Alvin B. Pond, Administrator. Report of the Account filed 3 Febday of Feby A.D. 1897, and recorded in Record of Reports B Page 352, by J. E. Lane, County Clerk.

Hill. History of Ashland County, Ohio (1880) p. 61 (402).

Jacobus, Donald Lines. Families of Fairfield, p. 181, 420.

LaPiana, John C. Letter dated 26 Jun 1987, part of paid research on Griffin family. Mr. LaPiana is a board-certified genealogical record searcher.

Macomb (IL) Journal (18 Mar 1886), Aaron Griffin Jr. - death notice (n.p.).

McDonough County (IL) Marriage Book, Aaron Griffin Jr.-Mrs. Nancy Davis - marriage #966 (p. 18).

New York, 1790 Census, Columbia Co. Elnathan Griffin at Canaan Town (p. 58 index).

Simpson, Leverett J., comp. Aaron Griffin of Bridgeport, Onondaga County, New York, and his descendants. Published 1983, s.n. 4 pages.
Some information in this is sketchy.

Smith, David N. Letter dated 30 April 1988. Mr. Smith had a collection of 48 letters, handed down mostly from Asa Griffin, through to the his family, and given to himself. He has numbered the collection arbitrarily and abstracted the contents. He kept the spelling as seen. Mr. Smith sent me the abstracts, and the transcripted copies of six letters from my ancestor, Aaron, and his son, Emerson, Griffin to various Griffin relatives. He sent also a typescript of a poem written by my great-grandfather, Emerson Griffin.

Smith, Philip W. Griffin Family Lineage, hosted by Rootsweb.

Todd, Charles Burr. A General History of the Burr Family in America with a Genealogical Record from 1570 to 1878 (New York: E. Wells Sackett & Bro., 1878) pp. 143-153.

LOCALITY RESOURCES

Blandinsville/Hire District Library, Box 171, Blandinsville, IL 61420.

Macomb Public Library, 235 S. Lafayette, Macomb, IL 61455
McDonough Historical Society, P. O. Box 202, Macomb, IL 61455. Land documents.
Cemeteries:
* Old Liberty Cemetery, 1 mile N of Blandinsville, Illinois, 1/8 mi. E.
* Glade City Cemetery is on the edge of the town of Blandinsville.

McDonough County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 202 Macomb, IL 61455.

Also Western Illinois Museum, 201 South Lafayette (1/2 block south of Courthouse Square), Macomb, Illinois 61455. Resources include, land, cemetery, marriage, church, funeral home, and census records; family surname files; obituaries; published family, county and community histories; local newspapers; maps and atlases; CD-ROM collection; etc.

Bayless, John H. History of Blandinsville, Souvenir of Blandinsville History. From Blandin House, $12-15.

For Albert/Kathryn Wilkie, contact Gretchen Jacobson, Blandinsville (her mother was a sister of Kathryn – this is old from the 1980s).

For Mr/Mrs Milton Shryack, contact Dorcus Shryack, Blandinsville, IL 61420 (this also is old info from the 1980s).

WEB RESOURCES

Clarke, S. J. History of McDonough County, Illinois. Springfield, IL: D. W. Lusk, 1878. Click here for the Table of Contents. The book proper is not offered online.

Smith, Philip W. Griffin Family Lineage, hosted by Rootsweb.

Descendants of William Griffith, online version.

WORK STILL TO DO

Official Website of the
Burch, Nickel, Sheldon, Griffin,
Saemann and Brazelton Family
This is the Griffin Family Page

Design and presentation © 2007 Joann Saemann
Some material may be paraphrased
Last Updated – 9 March 2009