Inventory of letters from and to GRIFFINs (Asa, Roswell, John, Emerson), and others. The letters were obtained collected by Herman Willes Smith, and handed down to the late David N. Smith.
David Smith typed out the text, and sent me xerox copies of, the letters that pertain to our Griffin family. Each such letter in the below list is hyperlinked. Click on the hyperlink to read the selected letter.
Two letters on same large sheet, mailed to Stephen Dodge or Basel Griffing at Casenova, Matson County, N.Y. [think this is Cazenovia, Madison County, New York.]
The letters are difficult to read.
Letter 1: Samuel Hudson to Stephen and Mahetable Dodge.
Dated 14 March, 1838, Jasper [N.Y.]
Addressed “Dear Brother and Sister”. Names mentioned: Samuel, Edward, Edward’s two children: Samuel H. and Alanson; Tylor John Boyd and Nancy; John R. Boyd; Nancy A. Boyd; brother Beckwith and his son, Charles.
H. W. Smith’s markings: “Samuel’s first family”.
Letter 2: Samuel Hudson to Stephen Dodge or Basel? Griffin.
Dated 21 March 1838, Jasper [N.Y.]
Addressed “Dear Brother and Sister”. “... regards to Brother Beckwith and his family .... tell him I wont to se him and his sun Charles very much.”
Two letters from Mohecanville, Ashland County, Ohio. Both mailed to Asa Griffin, Jasper, Stuben County, New York.
Letter 1: Emerson G. Griffin to Roswell B. Griffin.
Dated 27 November 1836.
Addressed “Dear Cousin”. Also a poem signed Emerson G. Griffin.
Letter 2: Aaron Griffin Jr. to his brother, Asa Griffin [Roswell’s father].
Dated 4 Dec 1846.
Addressed “Dear Brother Sister and Family”. No signature, but it is presumed to be from Aaron; the handwriting is very different from Emerson’s.
Roswell Beckwith Griffin to Asa Griffin.
Dated 8 December 1851, Jasper, Stuben County, N.Y.
Addressed “Dear Brother Griffen”. “Miss Dodges health is as usual.” “I remain your Brother Roswell Beckwith”.
Mailed from Cazenovia, Madison, N.Y., 13 December 1851.
E. G. Griffin to Mrs. Simpson (of Jasper N.Y.; his cousin).
Dated 1 February 1889, Blandinville, Ill.
He is answering her letter of “20 ult.” [the 20th of January]. Contains much of his family history.
John Griffin to Asa Griffin (Cazenovia, Madison County, N.Y.).
Dated October 1837, Table Grove, Fulton County, Ill.
Addressed “Brother Asa”. Discussion on where he lives, getting ready for winter, price of food, religion. Was living in “William’s haus”. Asks to have mail sent to Bernadotte, Fulton County, Ill. “Am the same old John that ever was.”
Seems to have finished letter 5 November and mailed it on 24 November.
Gaylen Griffin (Cicero, N.Y.) to Asa Griffin (Jasper, Stuben Co., N.Y.).
Dated 18 July 1841; postmarked Bridgeport, N.Y.
Addressed “Brother”. Informs of death of “your” mother [Lois?] and sister, Huldah Leland. Mother d. 24 February; Hulda d. 5 April. Amasa Lelen was “here” the last of April and told that he had “let out” his house and lived with family. Talks of lonliness, crops, etc.
Gaylen Griffin to Asa Griffin. Dated 8 January 1840.
Gaylen Griffin to Asa Griffin. Dated 16 April 1849.
Gaylord Griffin to Asa Griffin. Dated January 1848.
Mentions something about “Lelun was here”, possibly after sheep pelts. No “nuse from the west”. Mentions buying a “coalt” for $58 from Asa if “Rosile” will bring it up in February [“Rosile” could be Roswell Beckwith Griffin, son of Asa”. “Hannah was married on the twenthe day of October hur husband name is William McNeal and tha hav gone Aviseten Down two the Mohawk tha started one week from this date and wee escspect them home in about one week.” “Good by brother for the present time”. “I reme your sin sear friend and brother Gaylord Griffen”.
Gaylord Griffin to Asa Griffin. Dated 25 December 1845 (or 46).
Gaylord Griffin to Asa Griffin. Dated 16 September 1848.
Gaylord Griffin to ?(Asa?); and Elizabeth to Rosil & Nancy Ann Griffin. Dated 19 February 1849.
Aaron & Betsy Griffin to Asa & Diadama Griffin.
Dated August 1841, Mohecanville, Wayne County, Ohio.
S. H. Dodge to Asa Griffin. Dated 26 July 1839, Cazenovia [N.Y.]
Addressed “Dear Uncel”.
D. Griffin [to D. C. Simpson about 1879-1880]
Aron Griffin to Asa Griffin.
Dated 29 March 1854, Newlancaster, Warren County, Ill.
R. W. Adams to Asa Griffin. Dated 27 September 1850.
?Asa Griffin to Gaylord Griffin.
Dated 10 May 1837, Bridgeport, Madison County N.Y.
Asa Griffin to Orrin? Griffin). Dated September 1836.
Addressed “Niles”.
Samuel Hudson to Asa Griffin and wife. No date.
Amanda M. Griffin, Royalton [Niagara Co NY]. Dated 20 January 1839.
Addressed “Respected Uncle”; mentions “Uncle Aaron Griffin”.
Amanda M. Griffin, Royalton [Niagara Co NY]. Dated 12 July 1839.
Addressed “Respected ..?..”.
R. W. Adams to Asa Griffin. Dated 16 January 1851.
Aaron to Asa Griffin. No date.
Ann Jennette Leland to Mr. & Mrs. Griffin. Dated May 18, 18-?.
Amanda M. Griffin to Asa Griffin. No date.
Ezra Leland to Asa Griffin. Dated 10 May 1848, Morrisville.
Ezra Leland to Asa Griffin. Dated 17 May 1841, Morrisville.
O. Griffin to Asa Griffin. Dated 18 August 1838, Niles [Mich.].
Assume this letter is from Orrin Griffin. He mentions Samuel living about 14 miles from Kalamazoo [Mich.]. He wrote to Williams family and Gaylord. Wants to know where John Griffin is. “My sincearest and best respects to you and yours, My Dear Mother in particular and the rest of the connexions.”
O. Griffin to Asa Griffin. Dated 6 November 1835, Ann Arbor [Mich.].
He will work for the winter in Michigan; has been moving about the county but “expect to stay here till next June”. Making flour barrells at $18 per 100. He saw Joshua Lealan; Joshua and his family are well at present; live about 7 miles away.
S. H. Dodge to Asa Griffin. Dated 6 July 1841, Cazenovia, [N.Y.].
O. Griffin to Asa Griffin? Dated 17 September 1839, Niles, [Mich.].
Addressed “Dear Brother”. “I was married on the 23 of May last and commenced house keeping on the 5th of June. My wife was taken sick the last of July and remained sick into September. Received letter from Edward Griffin written on the 4th of July at Black Rock. He writes he was married on 10th of January last. Gaylord wrote in July that he had not heard from any of you in a long time. Mothers and the rest of the “connexions” were in “common” health. “I shall continue in coopering trade. I have built a house this season 16 ft. by 26 ft. with a porch which makes the house 24 ft. by 26 ft.” “I have timber enough for 2000 flour barrells on hand and will have to furnish more than twice that number. They take all I can make, delivered, at 44 cents each.”
Ezra Leland to Asa Griffin. Dated 24 April 1842, Morrisville.
Ezra Leland to Asa Griffin. Dated 10 April 1841?
Ezra Leland to Asa Griffin. Dated 27 February 1841, Morrisville.
Stephen Dodge to Asa Griffin? Dated 13 April 1839.
Sarah Hudson to Asa Griffin? No date, Buffalo [N.Y.?].
Samuel Hudson to Asa Griffin. Dated 15 November 183?
Gaylord Griffin to Asa Griffin. Postmarked 15 November 1841, Bridgeport, N.Y.
Ezra Leland to Asa Griffin. Dated 22 March 18? (Probably 1841), Morrisville.
Ezra Leland to Asa Griffin.
Ezra Leland to Asa Griffin. Dated 15 March 1845.
Contract selling farm to Asa, plus a letter.
Ezra Leland to Asa Griffin. Dated 31 May 1849, Morrisville.
Ezra Leland to Asa Griffin. Dated 16 March 1847.
Ezra Leland to Asa Griffin. Dated 2 March 1846.
Ezra Leland to Asa Griffin. Dated 25 November 1845.
Ezra Leland to Asa Griffin. Dated 29 December 1843.
Ezra Leland to Asa Griffin. Dated 30 October 1843.
