Annotated Bibliography of the Griffin/Griffen Family

Annotated Bibliography of the Griffin/Griffen Family
©
February 27, 1995
Revised December, 1999
Revised December 2004

Compiled by Paul J. Griffin  10100 Route 16
Delevan, NY  14042

(716) 515-8463
[email protected]



Introduction
I have made a conscientious effort to locate any published book, article or manuscript about this Griffin family. There are numerous other references in wills, deeds, birth and death records, Quaker Meeting records, family Bibles etc. that exist for Griffins in various historical and genealogical societies and public libraries throughout the United States. It would be nice to hear from other Griffin genealogists or anyone that is a descendant of this Griffin family. Although I have cited the LDS (Mormon) Family History Library in Salt Lake City as a source for many publications it is not the only source for some. The Griffin - Griffen - Griffing spelling varies depending upon the author or the family's interpretation of the correct version.

My focus concerns the descendants of Edward Griffin b.1602 in Wales, his brother John Griffin b.1608 in Wales or Jasper Griffin b.1648 in Wales. John settled in the Simsbury & Granby area of Connecticut. Some of his descendants are still there. Jasper settled near the eastern tip of Long Island in Southold, his descendants settled around New England. My ancestor Edward went from Wales to England and adopted the English spelling of his surname (originally Pengruffwnd, then Griffith). He was a constable in London when he killed a man in a tavern in the line of duty. He was pardoned by King James I on January 7, 1625 for justifiable manslaughter. He was said to have been a trusted servant and financial agent for Lady Wake (Wakefield?) in 1633. Edward and John sailed from England, on August 24, 1635 bound for Virginia, Edward aboard the ship "Abraham," John aboard the "Constance". It should be noted that those immigrants that left England at that time fortuitously escaped the Bubonic Plague that devastated the population some thirty years later. Edward first settled on Kent Island off the east shore of Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Susquehanna River. It is reported that he built oak staves for the hulls of ships. [The story handed down to me from my father was that the Griffins were ship builders in Wales.] In June 1638, armed emissaries of Lord Baltimore attacked the Virginia settlers on Kent and Palmers Islands, killed three of its defenders, captured Edward Griffin and took him to Maryland. [There was a land feud at this time concerning the control of Virginia and Maryland. Lord Baltimore, siding with Maryland in trying to force the Virginia colonist off the Islands, ordered his brother to seize Kent and Palmer Islands and arrest everyone loyal to Captain William Claybourne, secretary of the Colony of Virginia. King Charles I mediated this squabble and censured Lord Baltimore, ordering him to cease his violence against the Virginians. This was not immediately carried out as Edward was held a prisoner for some time.] Edward escaped to the Dutch Colony of New Amsterdam, where he acquired land and finally located at Flushing L.I. about 1657 as one of its first settlers. He joined the Society of Friends (Quakers) in 1657 and protested the persecution of Quakers to Gov. Peter Stuyvesant. His descendants in the third generation became pioneers in Westchester and Dutchess Counties (especially Nine Partners Patent area) in New York State. They continued to be pioneers when they migrated to new areas. Many generations after Edward were Quakers.


Table of Contents

THE GRIFFITHS OF WALES AND AMERICA, by Anna Laura Griffith, 1979

RICHIART PENGRUFFWND, by Zeno T. Griffen, 1906

LINEAGE OF RICHARD GRIFFITH OF CARDIGAN, WALES AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS IN AMERICA, by Zeno T. Griffen, 1912

ANCIENT WELSH PEDIGREE OF THE GRIFFIN FAMILY, by Zeno T. Griffen & Rev. Duane Nelson Griffin, 1918

THE NAMES AND FAMILY OF GRIFFIN, by The Media Research Group, 1935

ARCHIVES OF THE GRIFFEN FAMILY, Complied by Robert B. Miller and Charles Field Griffen, 1900

ACCOUNT OF THE GRIFFEN FAMILY OF FLUSHING, L.I., by Zeno T. Griffen, 1905

THE STORY OF SMITHVILLE, by Frank E. Page, 1923

ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS OF RICHARD GRIFFIN of Smithville, Ontario, A PIONEER FAMILY, by Justus A. Griffin, 1924

A CORNER IN ANCESTORS, THE GRIFFIN FAMILY, by Frances Cowles, 1911

THE GRIFFINS OF SMITHVILLE, ONTARIO AND THE HAIGHTS OF CONNECTICUT, by Judy Todhunter, 1979

SOME DESCENDANTS OF SAMUEL MCINTYRE AND DORCAS WHITMAN, by Harvey MacIntyre, 1997

GRIFFEN LINEAGE, by William J. Griffin, 1928

GENEALOGICAL NOTES ON GRIFFEN - GRIFFIN -GRIFFING, by Elmer Staples, 1940

GENEALOGY OF THE GRIFFIN FAMILY OF NEW YORK AND ALLIED FAMILIES, by Edwin Patrick Hill, 1940

EDWARD GRIFFIN(E) OF FLUSHING, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK 1602-1691 AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS, by Mavis Van Peenen, 1957

FAMILIES OF THE COLONIAL TOWN OF PHILLIPSBURG, WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK, compiled by Greenville Mackenzie, 1966

GRIFFEN - GRIFFITH PROGENITORS 1635 - 1775, by Edith Read Redmam, 1984

ANCESTRY AND DESCENDANTS OF JONATHAN GRIFFEN 1757-1837, compiled by Harry Wygant Griffen, 1983

MY MISSIONARY ASSOCIATES, by Zebina Flavius Griffin, 1928

EDWARD GRIFFIN OUR FIRST GRIFFIN ANCESTOR IN AMERICA, by Jordan T. Jack, 1996

QUAKER HERITAGE FOR SEVEN GENERATIONS, by Marcia Miller, 1994

OBADIAH AND MARTHA GRIFFIN, by Olin Kenyon, 1901

ANCESTRAL LINE OF THE GRIFFENS FROM EDWARD GRIFFEN THE COLONIAL ANCESTOR 1602, by Amy Lydia Griffen, 1954

DESCENDANT CHART: DESCENDANTS OF COL. JACOB GRIFFIN AND RUTH WOOSLEY, by Edward A. Claypool, Chicago, 1900

FULTON COUNTY OHIO - HISTORICAL SKETCHES - GRIFFIN, by Mary Griffin Carncross, 1976

THE SETTLERS OF THE BEEKMAN PATENT - DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK, by Frank J. Doherty, 1999

JESSE RYDER GRIFFIN, HIS DESCENDANTS AND ANCESTRY, by Rhoda-Glenn Collins Halm, 1993

GRIFFIN FAMILIES FROM THE UNITED KINGDOM TO THE NEW WORLD, VOLUME TWO: THE MATERNAL ANCESTOR, by John R. Griffin, 1993

UNNAMED, UNPUBLISHED GRIFFIN FAMILY MANUSCRIPT, by Suzanne S. Kulp, 2000

GERSHOM & PHOEBE THEIR ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS, by Elaine Washburn Olney, 1976

SERGEANT JOHN GRIFFIN OF SIMSBURY, CONNECTICUT, by Zeno T. Griffen and Rev. Duane N. Griffin, 1918

THE GRIFFIN PROPERTY AND THE GRIFFIN FAMILY OF BEDFORD, by Henry K. Griffin, 1929

A FAMILY TREE EIGHTEEN GENERATIONS OF ONE BRANCH OF THE GRIFFIN FAMILY CA 1460 - 1997, by Norma C. White, Barbara R. Kupee, Ann F. Roy, 1997

DESCENDANTS OF SGT. JOHN GRIFFIN B. 1608, by Elizabeth Griffin Shepard, 1999

JOHN GRIFFIN OF WINDSOR AND SIMSBURY, CONNECTICUT, by Dr. George E. McCracken, 1962

GENEALOGY OF THE SERGEANT JOHN GRIFFIN FAMILY, 1647-1920, by H. Clifford Goslee, 1972

BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF HARTFORD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT, published by J.H. Beers & Co., 1901

GENEALOGY OF THE DESCENDANTS OF JASPER GRIFFING, by Clara Jeanette Stone, 1881

GRIFFIN'S JOURNAL, by Augustus Griffin, 1857

STEPHEN GRIFFING HIS ANCESTRY AND DESCENDANTS, compiled by Edith Willoughby West, published by Henry Griffing, 1911

PRIVATE LETTERS OF JAMES S. GRIFFING, edited by William J. Griffing, 1990

JASPER GRIFFIN OF SOUTHOLD, N.Y., AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS, by Edmund J. Cleveland, 1891

THE GRIFFIN FAMILY OF LONG ISLAND, by Donald Lines Jacobus, 1935

THE CONNECTICUT DESCENDANTS OF THE GRIFFIN(G) FAMILY OF SOUTHHOLD, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK, by Margaret Buckridge Bock, 1998

GRIFFING - GRIFFIN A SINGLE FAMILY 325 YEARS IN AMERICA, by Robert Paul Griffing Sr., 1993

CYRUS GRIFFIN OF VIRGINIA, by Henry Smith Rorer, 1938

OBADIAH QUESTION Which Obadiah went to Griffin's Mills, NY?


ANCESTRAL CHART FOR ERIC C. @ PAUL J. GRIFFIN


THE GRIFFITHS OF WALES AND AMERICA by Anna Laura Griffith, 1979. The value of this 133-page book is not for the Griffin/Griffen line but for the early Welsh information. The author has a bibliography which includes many early Welsh references. i.e., "The History of Wales", "List of Emigrants to America, 1600-1700", "Genealogy Guide to Early Settlers of America" and many others. She states, "the Griffiths in America descend from the Royal Tribes of Wales, therefore can be traced back through the history of Wales."

It's her opinion prior to the Griffin and Griffith name there were Gruffydd's (or some similar name) that were the origin of all the modern Griffin, Griffen, Griffith and Griffing lines.

A copy of this book is in the Library of Congress with the call # CS 71.G853 1979, their web address is: http://www.loc.gov/ and the LDS (Mormon) Family History Library in Salt Lake City with the call # US/CAN 929 273, g 875 ga To access the Family History Library go to: http://www.familysearch.org


RICHIART PENGRUFFWND, by Zeno T. Griffen, 1906. Published in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record vol. 37, p. 54-55. Zeno cites "Heraldic Visitation of Wales", by Lewys Dwnn (Lewis Doonn), 1616, vol. 1, p.244 as the source of a pedigree for Edward b.1602 in Wales. The pedigree below is an accurate representation from Zeno's article.

(Click on the chart for a larger version.)

Richiart Pengruffwnd (Griffith) of Walton, Pembrokeshire, S. Wales, was a soldier for Henry VII and was present on Bosworth Field in 1485. He changed allegiance prior to that battle from the White Rose of Richard III (House of York) to the Red Rose of Henry Tudor (House of Lancaster), helping Henry Tudor to become King. Richiart's descendancy is Gruffydd Pengruffwnd (Griffith Griffith) his son, who had a son John Griffith (who married Ann Langfort(d), who had Edward b.1602, John b.1608, Jowan (Joan) and Katrin. Could it be that Zeno did some original genealogical research in Wales or did he find the "Heraldic Visitation in Wales" as I finally did in the Library of Congress? (call # 53390 CS) This article can be found in the Mormon Family History Library in Salt Lake City. This library's web address is www.familysearch.org/

call # For NYG@BR Vol. 37
US/CAN
Film Area
0962876

Note: Lewys Dunn's "Heraldic Visitation Of Wales" is available at the Library of Congress,

call # Microfilm 53390 CS. The Counties visited are mentioned as: Carmarthen, Pembroke and Cardigan.

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LINEAGE OF RICHARD GRIFFITH OF CARDIGAN, WALES AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS IN AMERICA by Zeno T. Griffen, 1912. This 52 page unpublished manuscript contains a very ancient lineage, starting at 43 A.D. and ending with Richiart Pengruffwnd (Richard Griffith) in the 1400's. Many questionable if not fictitious names are listed. An early authentic individual, Ednyld Vychan (Ednyfed Fychan), is mentioned as the ancestor to Richiart Pengruffwnd and also King Henry VII. Ednyld Vychan lived in the 1200's in Wales. Richiart Pengruffwnd is the same person that Zeno T. Griffen wrote about in the 1906 NYG@BR article "Richiart Pengruffwnd". His involvement in the War of the Roses is explained. Apparently he changed allegiances from the House of York, the White Rose of Richard III to that of the House of Lancaster, the Red Rose of Henry Tudor. At the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 Richard III was defeated (he died in battle). Henry Tudor was crowned Henry VII at that time. The coat of arms for the Griffins of Penrith, Wales is illustrated. Richiart Pengruffwnd (Richard Griffith's) pedigree is an accurate representation as it appeared in "Heraldic Visitation of Wales"

(Click on the chart for a larger version.)

This pedigree is almost identical to what was published in the 1906 article "Richiart Pengruffwnd" by Zeno T. Griffen. Presumably Edward and John are the 1635 immigrant brothers. Syr Richart Pengruffwnd in 1609 owned Narberth Castle, located about 10 miles from Tenby, Wales. (Janice Griffin, daughter of Rev. Duane Griffin said in 1951 "the castle is a picturesque ivy covered ruin of 4 towers and a banquet hall that still has a roof".) His son Thomas sailed for Virginia on September 30, 1635, by way of Barbados, and is the ancestor of the Honorable Cyrus Griffin, the last President of the United States Continental Congress. Zeno Griffen stated that a Gasper Gryffyth is a descendant of Richiart Pengruffwnd (relationship not shown). Gasper Gryffyth is father of Jasper Griffing b.1648 of Southold, Long Island. A documented source shows that Edward b. 1602 was in Yorkshire, England in 1632. About that time Edward was probably enticed by the favorable "hand bills" being posted illustrating great opportunities in the Virginia Colonies of America. Edward and John both appeared as passengers on ships sailing to America in 1635. Of the 52 pages, over half are devoted to Edward regarding: his presence in Yorkshire, England in 1632, working for Lady Wakefield, the creation of the Virginia Colony, his coming to Virginia as an indentured servant to Captain Claibourne, his capture by Lord Baltimore's men, the struggle for land between Maryland and Virginia, the escape to New Amsterdam and his record of existence at Flushing, L.I.. The text rambles on with an explanation of the Dutch settling New Amsterdam, Indian Wars on Long Island, the coming of the Quakers at Gravesland and Flushing, their religious persecution by Gov. Pater Stuyvesant, some early Quaker meetings and the Quaker opposition and suffering during the Revolutionary War. He defends Edward living to 1706 by citing other long-lived individuals. He could have lived that long. Other than a few private individuals I do not know where this manuscript can be found.


ANCIENT WELSH PEDIGREE OF THE GRIFFIN FAMILY by Zeno T. Griffen and Rev. Duane Nelson Griffin, 1918. It contains 265 hand-written pages, the first 28 pages could have been what was rejected by the NYG&B Society in 1918. This manuscript languished unused till 1971 when it was incorporated into the manuscript published by H. Clifford Goslee " Genealogy of the Sergeant John Griffin Family 1647-1920". It was not distributed and remained with a few family members for over 50 years. The only source for this manuscript is as part of Goslee's manuscript, where all 265 pages are duplicated. There are numerous references cited for the origin of the ancient pedigree. Number 91 in descent is Ednyfed Vychan b. abt. 1200. He is the presumed ancestor to Richiart Pengruffwnd (Richard Griffith) b. abt. 1455. Richiart Pengruffwnd is the great-grandfather to Edward b.1602 and John b.1608. A reference is made to the "Dwnn's Visitation in Wales", to the fact it contains marginal notes(I never found a copy with marginal notes). referring to Gasper Gryffyth, the ancestor to Jasper b.1648, being a son of Richard Griffith. On page 29 starts a section "Sergeant John Griffin and His Descendants" that is extremely well organized and easy to follow. It continues to page 265, followed by a 28-page index of Griffins and non Griffin surnames. Once the family information starts for Sgt. John b.1608 there are no references cited. About 390 Griffins are mentioned along with 990 non Griffins. John Griffin b.1608 was married to Anna Bancroft May 13, 1643 in Windsor, Connecticut. Up to 9 generations are covered ending about 1920. John's (b.1608) ten children, all born in Windsor, Connecticut, are: Hannah b.1649, Mary b.1651, Sarah b.1654, John b.1656, Thomas b.1658, Abigail b.1660, Midwell b.1662, Ruth b.1665, Ephraim b.1668 and Nathaniel b.1673. The families of the first four children are also listed. The Sergeant rank was obtained by being a member of the Simsbury, Connecticut Train Band (?) in 1675. This manuscript is very similar to the "Lineage of Richard Griffith of Cardigan, Wales and Some of His Descendants in America" by Zeno T. Griffin.

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THE NAMES AND FAMILY OF GRIFFIN, by The Media Research Group, 1935 THE NAME AND FAMILY GRIFFIN is part of Genealogical and Historical Sketches, compiled by the Media Research Bureau, Washington, DC.

This short 6 page manuscript states that "there is a tradition of which there is no proof, that the progenitor of the Griffin family was Llewellyn, ap Griffith ap Llewellyn, the last prince of Wales." A number of early 1600 Griffin emigrants are mentioned, including the brothers Edward and John. Others are Humphry of Iswich, MA 1641, Hugh of Sudbury, MA , Thomas of New London, CT 1651, Philip, Salsbury, CT 1653 , Hugh of Stratford, CT 1653, John of Boston, MA 1655, Richard of Roxbuty, MA 1654, Nathaniel of , Salisbury, CT 1671, Jasper Griffing of Southhold, LI, NY, Samuel of Charlestown, 1687 and Samuel of New Castle, Delaware. I do not where this manuscript can be found, although I have a copy. I can't recall where I found it.

The American Society of Genealogist in the early 1950's with the cooperation of the U.S. Postal Service forced the dissolution of the Media Research Bureau which sold genealogical data about family names along with a coat of arms.


ARCHIVES OF THE GRIFFEN FAMILY, Compiled by Robert B. Miller and Charles Field Griffen, 1900. Privately published, a copy is at the Port Chester Public Library, 1 Haseco Ave. Port Chester, New York 10573, where the call # is 929.2R; their web address is http://www.portchesterlibrary.org/. The original could be at the N.Y. Genealogical and Biographical Society in New York City, where copying is limited. From a copy in the Mamaroneck Public Library, Patricia Hart in 1985 transcribed all 80 pages onto an IBM computer using PFS "Write". Somehow, somewhere free copies are available. All doubts about Edward's life would be clarified by reading this well documented, detailed account of Edward Griffin's b.1602 life in America. Over half of the manuscript is devoted to the reproduction of documented sources regarding Edward from 1635 to 1698. About 125 people are mentioned. In 1880 two distant cousins married, Stephen C. Griffen b. 1814 (Henry6, John5, Benjamin4, Benjamin3, John2, Edward1) and Jane Field b. 1816 (Esther Griffen7, John6, John5, John4, John3, John2, Edward1). The author, a son of Steven C. Griffen, brings together these two lines back their common ancestor John2 a son of Edward b.1602. It documents from Virginia, Maryland and New York records events of Edwards life in every decade from 1635 to 1698. It could be that Edward married late in life and that his wife Mary was much younger, for he had children into his 60's, not a biological impossibility. This is not at the Mormon Family History Library in Salt Lake City.

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ACCOUNT OF THE GRIFFEN FAMILY OF FLUSHING, L.I., by Zeno T. Griffen, 1905. Published in the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record Vol 36 p.197-199. Zeno reports that a 1891 article of this family was incomplete. Unfortunately he mentions a Richard Griffen as the immigrant from Wales, later in life he discovered Edward b.1602 as the immigrant. The pedigree cited for Zeno back to Edward b.1602 is (Joseph6, Gershom5, Jonathan4, Jonathan3, Richard2, Richard1. To be correct it should be Zeno (Joseph6, Gershom5, Jonathan4, Edward3, Richard2, Edward1). About 55 people are mentioned in this 3 page undocumented article. It is on microfilm at the Mormon Family History Library in Salt Lake City. This library's web address is www.familysearch.org/

call # for NYG@BR Vol. 36
US/CAN
Film Area
0962876


THE STORY OF SMITHVILLE, a 90 page historical monograph book by Frank E. Page, 1923. Published by the Tribune-Telegraph, Welland, Ontario, Canada. The first part of the book deals with the settlement of the area by Richard Griffin's family. Many other surnames are mentioned. In the literature there are numerous references of a Richard Griffin born 1732 in Dutchess County going to Upper Canada. He was a United Empire Loyalist as were his brothers William and Edward. Did they disappear into the forest never to be heard from again? In Richard's case a great deal is known about his travels and what became of his children and their descendants. The Niagara Frontier of Upper Canada was their destination. In 1787 Richard, his wife Mary Smith and 10 of their children left Nine Partners, Dutchess County, New York for Canada. With a year's worth of provisions in ox carts they must have traveled north along the Hudson River to Albany, then west along the Mohawk trail toward Western New York and the Niagara River. At that time anything past Canandaigua was Seneca Indian Territory. It was reported that they traveled 4 miles per day. When they reached the Genesee River a raft was built and the women and children floated down to Lake Ontario, there they followed the shore line west to the mouth of the Niagara and into Canada. The men rejoined them at the Niagara River and they continued about 40 more miles west. These early Griffins developed commerce where none existed before. Dozens of Griffins are mentioned. This undocumented book can be found in the Mormon Family History Library in Salt Lake City. This library's web address is www.familysearch.org/

call # US/CAN
Book Area
971.351/S2
H 2p


ANCESTORS AND DESCENDANTS OF RICHARD GRIFFIN of Smithville Ontario, A PIONEER FAMILY, by Justus A. Griffin, 1924. Published by the Griffin & Richmond Company, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. A grand book about the United Empire Loyalist Richard Griffin born June 22, 1732 in Dutchess County, New York. Justus acknowledges the genealogical help of Robert B. Miller of New York, Andrew W. Griffen of Omaha and Zeno T. Griffen of Chicago. It is disappointing that he did not cite other references. This 163-page book contains 10 generations of Griffin descendants. About 844 people are listed. Justus explains the story of Edward b.1602 in Wales, his adventures in Virginia, Maryland and his settlement at Flushing, Long Island. Richard Griffin b.1732 (Edward3, Richard2, Edward1) married Mary Smith and their descendants are now scattered all over Canada. Some returned to the United States and at least one went to Australia and New Zealand. The settlement in Canada grew into Smithville, Ontario and Griffin descendants hold a reunion there each year on Victoria Day (the Monday before May 25th). A few related Griffin families are mentioned from the earlier generations (about 100 individuals). A brief mention is made of Obadiah Griffin b.1753 in Dutchess County, New York, who was a first cousin to Richard b.1732, regarding Obadiah's returning to the United States and settling in Griffin's Mills (20 miles south of Buffalo). Parts of this book reiterate what was mentioned about Richard's family travels in the book, "The Story of Smithville". This book can be found in the Mormon Family History Library in Salt Lake City. This library's web address is www.familysearch.org/

call # US/CAN
Book Area
929.271
G 875 g

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A CORNER IN ANCESTORS, THE GRIFFIN FAMILY, by Frances Cowles, 1911 This newspaper article follows a familiar format mentioning the Welsh connection back to Llewellyn the last Prince of Wales. The Griffin name was originally Gruffydd, the Anglicized Welsh form is Griffith and the English Griffin. Numerous Griffin immigrants are mentioned. To name a few Thomas of New London, CT 1651, Jasper Griffin or Griffing of Southold, L.I., John of Windsor, CT 1646, Thomas in Virginia 1651 and Edward of L.I. He indicated the Thomas of Virginia had many descendants (one of which was Cyrus Griffin the last President of the Continental Congress) and that an Edward of Long Island just before the Revolution (he jumped over many generations for this Edward) said "there will be war and the British will land here so we will remove". This Edward went to White Plains and from there with several of his children removed to Canada West (Ontario)and Nova Scotia. (This Edward could not be referred to as an immigrant, but was a descendant of Edward the immigrant). A coat of arms for the Griffin line of Penrith, Wales is pictured. It's described as Gules on a fesse between three lozenges or, each charged with a fleur-de-lis of the first , a demi rose between two griffins sergeant of the field. This article was published in the Waterbury Connecticut Republican Newspaper November 26, 1911. A copy can be found at the Republican-American Newspaper 389 Meadow St. Waterbury, CT 06702. A link for this newspaper is www.rep-am.com


THE GRIFFINS OF SMITHVILLE, ONTARIO AND THE HAIGHTS OF CONNECTICUT, by Judy Todhunter, 1979 Judy Todhunter U.E. is a wonderful Griffin genealogist. The U.E. after her name is in reference to those United Empire Loyalists who at the time of the Revolutionary War fled to Canada. It might surprise some that not everyone in the colonies was in favor of being independent. Descendants of those original Loyalists by proving their ancestor's Loyalists status, can use U.E. after their name.

The Smithville, Ontario connection refers to the Richard Griffin and Mary SMITH line of Griffins who went to Upper Canada (Ontario) in 1787. Justus Griffin's book "Ancestors and Descendants of Richard Griffin of Smithville, Ontario, A Pioneer Family" goes into extensive detail about this line of Griffins.

The author cites Zeno's Griffen's early 1900 publications and reiterates what Justus postulated regarding the accuracy of the immigrant Edward Griffin b.1602 ancestors in Wales. She carries the pedigree chart from Edward down to her generation. The author is descendant of Nathaniel, a son of the Loyalist Richard.

Of the 15 pages in the publication six are devoted to the Haight family. Susannh Haight married Richard Griffin, a son of the immigrant Edward b.1602, about 1692. The author cites a number of references in her notes and bibliography. The article was published in the Canadian Genealogist, vol 1, NO. 4, 1979, pages 213-228. A copy can found at The Waterdown-East Flamborough Heritage Society, P.O Box 1044, Waterdown, Ontario, Canada LOR 2HO. Their web address is http://www.wefhs.hamilton.ca/. Another copy is located in the Library of Congress, Washington, DC, with a call number CS1.G393, their web address is http://www.loc.gov/

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SOME DESCENDANTS OF SAMUEL MCINTYRE AND DORCAS WHITMAN, by Harvey MacIntyre, 1997 Back on May 4, 1797 Obadiah Jr b.1777 in Dutchess County, New York married Hannah McIntyre. Obadiah died December 1st, 1870 in Elgin County, Ontario, Canada. Hannah was born about 1780 and died June 2nd 1871 in Elgin County, Ontario Canada. Obadiah's father was Obadiah Sr., the loyalist who went to Nova Scotia during the revolutionary period. Both Obadiahs obtained land grants in Nova Scotia. By 1813 Obadiah Jr was in Elgin County, Ontario. Obadiah and Hannah had these children Samuel- 1799, Martha- 1801, Elizabeth - 1803, Abraham - 1805, Christianna -1807, James - 1806, Dorinda - 1811, Stephen - 1813, Jacob - 1815 and John - 1817. The wives or husbands and their children are mentioned. A picture of Obadiah and Martha is provided, at age 70+. The author quotes Justus A. Griffin's book and summaries the well known story of the immigrant Edward's b.1602 travels to Kent, Island, Virigina and the story of Obadiah Sr. and his brother Thomas being Loyalist. This is well documented and a long list of references are provided. The book was privately printed and contained just six page of Griffin material. Contact Harvey W. MacIntyre 5702 - 45th Avenue, Alberta, Canada T4L 1V8 to obtain a copy. His email address is: [email protected]. A copy can be found in the Elgin County Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, Box 20060 St. Thomas, Ontario N5P 4H4, Canada; their web site is http://www.elginogs.ca/ and the LDS (Mormon) Family History Library in Salt Lake City, their web site is: www.familysearch.org


GRIFFEN LINEAGE, by William J. Griffen, 1928, privately printed by the author and limited to 50 copies. This 33 page, undocumented booklet was written as a tribute to Amy Walters Carpenter b.1812 and Daniel H. Griffen b.1810. Along with dozens of pictures he lists about 140 individuals, descendants (or spouses) of John Griffen b.1733 (Ezekiel3, John2, Edward b.16021), many of them Quakers. Daniel H. Griffen was the 6th generation and the Grandfather to the author. John b.1733 erected a Griffen Homestead house, still standing in 1928, in Yorktown, Westchester County, New York. This booklet can be found in the Mormon Family History Library in Salt Lake City. This library's web address is www.familysearch.org/

call # US/CAN
Film Area
0573963 or
1463955 - item 26


GENEALOGICAL NOTES ON GRIFFEN - GRIFFIN - GRIFFING, by Elmer Staples, 1940. Privately compiled and printed, with 261 pages, hundred's of individuals are mentioned. The pedigrees of many are not continuous even though the next generation is eventually presented. The author presents information on 26 Griffin Families, including Edward b.1602, John b.1608, Jasper b.1639, Richard of Flushing, Humphrey of Massachusetts, Samuel of Connecticut etc. He did not connect Richard of Flushing as a son of Edward b.1602. The author's Griffin "notes", are just lists of names (showing no relationship), for Connecticut, New York, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, Southern States, Central States & Western States. There is a 10-page bibliography and nearly every person or family is referred to one or more reference sources. The manuscript is not about the descendants of one Griffin, instead a number of early Griffins are mentioned and sometimes their descendants are carried down to the 5th generation. An extensive index of names is provided. There is a lot of raw information; unfortunately many inaccuracies occur. The manuscript can be found in the Mormon Family History Library in Salt Lake City. This library's web address is www.familysearch.org/
call # US/CAN or US/CAN
Book AreaFilm area
929.2731321159
G 875 sitem 13

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GENEALOGY OF THE GRIFFEN FAMILY OF NEW YORK AND ALLIED FAMILIES, by Edwin Patrick Hill, 1940. Of the 63 pages of this privately published manuscript, pages 7 to 31 are devoted to Griffen's, wherein over 250 Griffens are mentioned. Close to 100 allied families are mentioned with continued references to Griffens scattered periodically throughout the manuscript. The earliest Griffen mentioned was Richard Griffith the 1400 era ancestor to Edward b. 1602 and John b.1608 (John3, Griffith2, Richard1). Edward's existence in England, his job as a constable, journey to America in 1635, capture and escape in Maryland and settlement at Flushing, Long Island by 1657 are thoroughly explained. The descendants of the first 3 generations are adequately listed. The author lists all the children of Richard Griffen b.1732 (4th generation), who went to Smithville, Ontario. The manuscript focuses on the descendants of Jonathan Griffen b.1747 (Edward3 b. 1708, Richard2, b.1655, Edward1 b.1602), who was born at Nine Partners, New York. Some of Jonathan's descendants are carried down to the 9th generation (born in 1930's). This was a difficult manuscript to follow as the names were not listed in a clear manner. Also a number of Griffens mentioned could not be positively placed with their immediate ancestor. The author gives credit to Mrs. Griffen (Marietta Meader Griffin) as the source for most of the Griffin family records mentioned, no other references are cited. It's obvious that the descendants covered from Jonathan b.1747 are identical to the information in the book "Ancestry and Descendants of Jonathan Griffen 1757-1837". This manuscript can be accessed through the Mormon Family History Library in Salt Lake City. This library's web address is www.familysearch.org/

call # US/ CAN
Film Area
0982245 item 8


EDWARD GRIFFIN(E) OF FLUSHING, LONG ISLAND, NEW YORK 1602-1691 AND SOME OF HIS DESCENDANTS, by Mavis Van Peenen, 1957. Compiled and published by the author. The author's branch of Griffins was established in Fishkill, Dutchess County, New York. Mavis LaClear (Warner) Van Peenen (William Warner8, Martha Griffin7, Richard6, John5, Richard4, Joshua3, Richard2, Edward1) is the 9th generation from Edward b.1602. A rough map of where some of the Griffins settled in Dutchess County is included. This richly documented manuscript (a 3-page bibliography) relies heavily on the wills of Griffins to substantiate relationships. The familiar story of Edward b.1602 is reiterated. For up to 9 generations the author lists the names for some lines of descent for Griffins, including spouses, dates of birth, death and marriage. Over 300 people are mentioned; some are given additional information. The wills of 16 Griffins are provided. Zeno T. Griffen's 1904 article from the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record is included. Reprinted was the "Signing of the "Articles of the Association" at the Inn of Jacob Griffin April 19,1775, where 502 (many Griffins) people: protested the taxation of Great Britain on the Americas, condemned the "bloody scene" in Massachusetts, supported the Continental Congress until a reconciliation with Great Britain on constitutional principles was obtained. It can be found at the Mormon Family History Library in Salt Lake. This library's web address is www.familysearch.org/

call # US/CAN
Film Area
0860454 item 2


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