Marriage Records for brothers James and Samuel Griffin

Fire Place similar to the Griffin House

Samuel and Mary's family as recorded in the Book of Land Deeds

Was Samuel Griffin in the maritime trades ?

Was Samuel Griffin involved in the maritime trades?
By a twist of fate it is the lack of certain historical clues that may point us to the occupation of Samuel Griffin. This information may in turn lead us to the discovery of where he was born and who his family was. Recent discoveries added together with negative evidence provides interesting clues as we search for Samuel Griffin. Life in early Killingworth revolved around the two Congregational congregations. They were referred to as the 1st and 2nd Societies. The first group of settlers in Killingworth settled along a strip of land in what is now modern day Clinton. Although primarily an agricultural society its location on Long Island Sound guaranteed a connection to the sea and the maritime trades; fishing, cargo hauling and shipbuilding. With the expansion north, the town grew to a point, where those in North Killingworth developed a desire for their own separate congregation, one closer to their homes, making church attendance, a somewhat mandatory activity by the norms of the day, a more convenient proposition. Such a division was always hard for these early communities but by 1735 Killingworth was divided into the 1st and 2nd Societies. The division not only represented a geographical division but also a division of interests. The northern congregation, the 2nd society, was referred to as the farmers. The 1st Society on the shoreline turned more and more to the sea. Locating a historical figure in either of these societies is the first step in figuring out what professions they may have pursued. In Samuel’s case its what we have not found that provides us with clues. The buying and selling of property was a very active and diligently recorded business in Killingworth. Samuel Jr. made numerous land transactions in accumulating a working farm. The same is true for his son Worden and his sister Thankful and her husband Nathan Buell. They all lived in the 2nd society. The same is true of all the families in the 2nd Society. But there is no evidence of Samuel buying or selling property. His son James was involved in only two land transaction involving a home lot. Subsequently we find James and his sons and grandsons living in Clinton with little or no farming property. James was referred to as a carpenter as was his son James Needham. His grandson James N. ended up in Boston working as a shipwright. James’s son Edward is referred to as Capt. Edward Griffin a wealthy sea captain. Their marriages and deaths are all recorded in Clinton in the 1st Society. In addition in a recently discovered deed we find Samuel Jr. selling his home lot as he made the move to Vermont with five of his sons. As part of the description of the property he lists a joiners shop. Did Samuel’s boys inherit a connection to wood working from their father? Does the fact that he owned very little property indicate that he earned his living as a craftsman? Did he live in Clinton? Did his son James take over the family business leading his progeny into the maritime trades, and thus not need to buy property himself? The history of Killingworth suggests you did one or the other. If not farming then was it the sea? A final clue comes from his grandson Edward Griffin. Edward made a number of land purchase all concerning town lots in Clinton. His goal seems to be the consolidation of his holding in one part of town. In one of his last purchases dated 1798 he includes a description of the property as being “bounded on the north and east by Samuel Griffin Lands”. Was it Samuel Griffin’s home lot? Had it remained in the family occupied by his father? I think so. To find the historical Samuel Griffin and his wife Mary Beckwith I think we need to turn our gaze to the sea.

Samuel Griffin and Sylvia Bradley Griffin

John Griffin and Mary Tyler Griffin

Mercy ( Pelton) and Molly Griffin

Dan ( Daniel Almon ) and Worden

Samuel Griffin and Mercy Nettleton

Asa Landon and Jerusha Grifface/Griffin

The Griffin House

Identifying the location of the original homestead is a very straightforward exercise. The defining landmark is the “Burying Yard” with its stone fence. It is now called the Union Cemetery. Worden and Rhoda Griffin are buried just over the fence from the homestead. The road has not changed its course for 300 years. So what of the house that sits on the property?  There are a number of houses in Killingworth that are dated to the early 1700’s. Recently the local historical society has highlighted two houses that research has shown to be built in 1710 and 1735 respectively. The Griffin house, constructed by Samuel and Marah starting in 1762, matches these in architecture, interior features, in particular, the hearth and building materials and techniques. The current residents, when purchasing the house, were given to understand that it was the original house built on the property. In the absence of any detailed investigation I think it is a fair assumption to support this claim. This style of house is called a one-half house. Most homes had two full stories. The left half of the house was the first part constructed. As you enter you are in a small foyer. A staircase rises steeply to a room under the eaves. As you step past the stairs you enter a single large room. The room has wooden floors and has a door across from the front door and one at the end of the room. The room is dominated by a large fireplace that measures some 6 to 7 feet wide and 4 to 5 feet high. It starts at floor level with stonework extending some 2 feet out past the front of the fireplace. It is constructed of shaped stone. Several swinging metal arms are cemented into the masonry from which kettles could be hung. A grate sits on the floor. During the winter time there was probably a warming fire alight most of the time at one spot with a cook fire organized at another as needed. This main room and the attic room are lined with 2-inch bead board that gives a very finished look to the rooms. A trap door in the center of the floor near the wall opposite the fireplace gives access to a basement. Framing and floor joists are of hand-hewn timbers, the walls consisting of rough worked stone, which also serve as the foundation. The room is the same dimensions as the upper room. At some point the second half of the house was completed. From the placement of the doors it’s apparent that additional rooms, since replaced with modern construction, extended out from the main room. The materials, the style, the building techniques, the lack of evidence of major changes, all argue that this is indeed the original Griffin house on Roast Meat Hill. Even with additional rooms it probably was a tight fit to the eleven children and their parents who called it home.

The Griffin Children

On page 336, in Volume Two of the Land Deed Records, Samuel and Mary proudly recorded for posterity a record of their family. What follows is a brief introduction to their children. The oldest child, Mary, they list as being born in December of 1728. There are no other records concerning Mary. Unlike her sisters she is not listed as having received Communion, no marriage record or notice of her death. My assumption is that she did not survive to adulthood.  Born in 1731 Thankful was to assume the role of big sister for her siblings. She was granted communion in 1747, at age 16, the year her father died. She was married in 1751. There are no records of what happened to her mother or when she died.  We can only guess what happened to the family until Thankful married and assumed a leading role in family affairs.  Thankful married into the Buell family. The Buells were one of the more prominent families in Killingworth. The original land grant to the Buells was over one thousand acres. Thankful and her husband lived in the home of her father in law, Daniel, a man of means, a Deacon in the Church. Her marriage certainly provided her with the means to fill the role of big sister. There is some evidence that she took her sister Jerusha under her wing. Some early family histories mistakenly list her as having a daughter Jerusha instead of listing her as a sister. When the boys came of age, when they were required to choose a guardian, her brother Samuel chose her husband Nathan Buell. When Nathan died at a young age Samuel in turn became executor for his estate. Thankful and Samuel lived as neighbors on Roast Meat Hill. James married and had his children baptized in Killingworth but he purchased very little property there and left a very small footprint. I think he must have raised his family in one of the neighboring communities. In a family who carried on family names it’s interesting that both he and Samuel named a daughter Polly. Jerusha was born in 1736 and was granted Communion in 1755 and is recorded as being part of Thankful’s household then she disappears from Killingworth records. The men of Killingworth played a prominent role in the founding of Salisbury, Connecticut.  There in 1757 we have recorded the marriage of Jerusha Grifface/Griffan to Asa Landon. The record states that they were “both” from Salisbury.  A search of the records finds Asa as being born in Litchfield, and there is no record of Jerusha being born in Salisbury nor is there a Griffin family present in the community. The “both” must have meant that they were both listed as members in the Salisbury Congregational Congregation at the time of their marriage. The only direct connection between the two Jerushas is that they share the same date of birth and a family oral history connecting to Killingworth. The baby of the family was Jeremiah. His birth is recorded by his father but no other records exist. Did he die at childbirth or at a young age? The only hint again comes from Thankful. With the passing of her husband she first lived with her father in law until his passing then with her son Asa in the Buell house. Asa’s oldest son was named Jeremiah Griffin Buell. I would like to think that it was Thankful’s tribute to a beloved brother who died too young.

The Griffins and the Congregational Church

In the seventeenth century, there were two primary reasons to go to North America, economics and religion. The colonist who founded Massachusetts came to be able to practice their religion, as they believed, They wanted to create “a city on the hill” and the only way to do this was to have everyone in the community participating fully.  This was known as full communion or full covenant.  People that weren’t willing to participate at this level were asked (forced) to leave the community.  This created a community steeped in the culture, education, politics and family life of Congregationalism.  In the early part of the 18^th century as families spread out and immigrants moved in that weren’t part of the “city on the hill”, religion seemed to become less important in the community.  However the preachers of the first great awakening sought to keep the culture in the communities tied to religious belief.  In the attempt to do this they created the half covenant, which would still allow for religious participation while not having full communion.  However the desired outcome was still full communion and being a complete part of the community.  This happened in all of the New England colonies that were an outgrowth of the Massachusetts colony. So what was the relationship between the Griffins and the Church?  Samuel and Mary would have been part of the 1^st Society, the original congregation in Killingworth, whose records have been lost thus there is no record of their marriage or baptism of the children. The first documented Church interaction is when Thankful was recognized as owning the covenant  “OC” in the 2^nd Society, May 3,1747, joined by her sister Jerusha, April 11, 1753. The recording of a marriage in church records indicates a level of involvement and the baptism of your children indicated an act of joining in faith with Jesus and   acceptance into fellowship of the Church.  Thankful married into one of the most prominent families in the Church, the Buells, her Father in Law, a Deacon.  Thankful was later granted Full Communion, her children baptized. Samuel’s marriage to Marah Griffen is not recorded but their children Lois, Polly and Azubah were baptized and they together owned the covenant. The same was true with his marriages to Mercy Nettleton and their sons Joel and Asahel, and Mercy Bailey and their children, Molly, Worden, Mercy, Samuel, John and Daniel. Both of those marriages are in the church records.  James and Jerusha married in and became part of other congregations. The records documenting Church involvement continued into the next generation, with the families of, Lois and Stephen Kelsey, Azubah and Henry Davis, Polly and Reuben Dowd, Mercy and Ithamar Pelton and Worden and Rhoda Hull.   What did church involvement mean?  The bible was the primer as they learned to read.  Their music came from the hymns of the church service.  The gospel messaged permeated every aspect of their lives.  An example of the extent of their religiosity can be found in the will of Mercy Bailey’s great grandfather, Henry Farnum. “I do give my soul into the hands of God who hath created me ….. when he shall be pleased to call for it”.  The originals of all of these church documents are still housed at the Congregational Chapel in Killingworth, Conn.

Baptism records for Asahel and Joel

The Griffin Homestead

The Griffin Homestead

In a deed dated Sept. 13, 1762 Samuel and Marah Griffin purchased a lot from their brother in law Benjamin Turner who had married Marah’s sister Elizabeth. The essence of the deed reads “ in consideration of ten pounds…near my dwelling place….West side of the Highway at the North End of the Burying Yard…..containing 3 acres”. Located on Roast Meat Hill the lot was bounded on the east by the highway, the south by the burying yard and the west by swampy ground. Although not suitable for farming these three acres became the center of the world for the Griffins. To this day it remains a beautiful spot. The house sits on level ground, which slopes away to woodlands including sugar maples.  There is plenty of room for the corncrib and other out buildings and a large kitchen garden. Fruit trees were prominent at the time and I imagine they were scattered about the yard. The defining landmark is the rock fence that marks the northern edge of the Burying Yard.  Samuel made six additional purchases over the ensuing years, of property surrounding the Homestead, for a total of about 26 acres. He added another 20-acre plot nearby plus rights to use the town commons. Farming in Killingworth centered on the rich grasslands on the rolling hills with hay being a major crop. Corn did exceptionally well. Each house had a corncrib and corn was “cured” for cattle fodder. Given the prominence of hay and corn I imagine that beef and dairy were an emphasis on most farms. Flax and wool were produced for homespun clothing.  A notable item in Samuel’s will was his loom. The life style was based around subsistence farming, potatoes, root vegetables, etc. and some sort of a cash crop such as hay or dairy. The General History of Middlesex County writes of them, “ In the midst of such surrounding the hardy sons of New England were reared…. They partook of their homely fare with that relish which only an appetite sharpened by active exercise can give; …their homespun garments were worn with a feeling of laudable pride rather than shame, for they were the products of their own industry. ..They lived by their industry and frugality, erected their humble schoolhouses and churches, and reared their families in the rigid faith to which they held…. distinguished for their intelligence, their thrift, and their ready adaptability”. On the home lot Samuel raised the three daughters he shared with Marah, Lois, Phebe/Patty/Polly, and Azubah. He and Mercy Netttleton added two boys Joel and Asahel, With Mercy Bailey 6 more children were added, Molly, Mercy, Worden, John, Samuel and Dan. When the family moved to Vermont Worden raised his family on the Griffin Homestead.  The lot passed out of the family with the death of Worden and his only surviving son within a few years of each other around 1850.

Samuel Griffin Jr. Will 1739-1808 Inventory of Assets

Samuel Griffin Will 1705-1746

Samuel Griffin 1705-1746

Samuel Griffin  1705-1746

The earliest history of Killingworth is found in the two-volume set of Land Deed Records. Volume One contains the original town charter and documentation on the original planters. Starting in 1663 with the original survey the books were also used to record births, deaths and marriages. The books contained registration for earmarks, tax lists, lists of the freemen, office holders, etc. But the core of the record is the meticulous tracking of all land transactions. One of the great traditions in Killingworth involved setting aside a few blank pages here and there. On these pages the families in Killingworth would record in one little concise record the births of their children. Early Killingworth is now the town of Clinton. As the town grew and expanded the upper part of town, referred to as the “farmers”, wanted to build a church closer to their homes. In 1735 the town divided into two separate Congregational Congregations. The Griffins were numbered among the farmers and became part of the new congregation. A book of city records was lost to a fire but Abraham Pierson had duplicated most of that record into the Second Congregation files and Volume Two of the Land Deeds. Within all of these records you can find multiple entries for almost everyone who lived in Killingworth, everyone, except Samuel Griffin.  His name appears only once in the little document that is the face of this blog. Other than the connection we make back to Samuel and Mary through their children who we have come to know well, we know almost nothing of Samuel Griffin. There are a few other references to him. In court records there is a case in 1730 that involved a dispute over leased property. Within the dispute was the issue of who owned the corn crop growing there. One of the parties decided to take matters into his own hand. He recruited a group of men to go with him under the cover of darkness to harvest the crop. With their discovery a confrontation arose. In the ensuing court case as part of one witnesses’ testimony he names 3 men who’s voices he recognized. He clearly identified Samuel Griffin. In the two neighboring communities Saybrook and Killingworth there were several hundred men.  Samuel was well known enough to recognized by his voice. In Thankfull’s wedding notice she is identified simply as the daughter of Mr. Griffin. Is that because everyone knew of him? The remaining records for Samuel concern his will. He died intestate. His will was probated Dec. 8^th, 1746. The record indicates that Benjamin Gale assumed responsibility for his affairs. Mr. Gale was a prominent member of the community and had filled this role a number of times. Remember women could not at this time control title to property and needed a man to assume that responsibility in her stead. There are no other probate records which is a bit unusual. No record of a final resolution, no list of his assets. As a follow up to the will are guardian records for his two surviving sons. James and Samuel Jr. When the boys turned sixteen James in 1749 and Samuel in 1755 they were assigned a guardian by the court to look out for their interests. The guardian was required to put up a bond that indicates that there must have been some property involved. The court refers to them as minor sons of Samuel Griffin late of Killingworth. James was assisted by Josiah Meigs and Samuel by his brother in law, Nathan Buell, husband of his sister, Thankfull. The final chapter in Samuel’s history takes place in 1791 when his son Samuel bought the Burying Yard from the city. The Burying Yard is surrounded by the Griffin Homestead on Roast Meat Hill. I think the only explanation for the purchase was that as the family prepared to move to Vermont they wanted to protect the burial site for Samuel and Mary. The records for the oldest section have long since been lost but I am convinced that Samuel Griffin is resting there as are Thankfull and Nathan Buell

Who was Mary Griffin

Who was Mary Griffin?

The Griffin history starts with a little document that begins with, “Mary ye daughter of Samuel and Mary Griffin’. We still know very little of Samuel and Mary. We have Samuel’s last name, a name we all inherited, but who was “Mary”? Her name appears only one more time, in Samuel’s will, “At a Court of Probate held in Guilford Dec 8^th 1746……….to Mary Griffin of Killingworth widow”. In the notice for her daughter Thankfull’s marriage Thankfull is identified only as the daughter of Mr. Griffin. The knowledge of who she was and where she came from existed only in the memory of her children and grandchildren. But those memories give us some very useful insights. Her daughter Jerusha married Asa Landon in Litchfield, Connecticut. As loyalists they were forced to flee to Canada after the Revolutionary War. There they raised a large family. Many branches of their family immigrated back into the United States primarily in Upper New York. Within these multiple families there exists a strong oral tradition that “Mary” was in fact Mary Beckwith. Her granddaughter Polly married Reuben Doud; another granddaughter Mercy married Ithamar Pelton. Within the Doud family is an oral tradition of “Mary” as Mary Beckwith. In the Pelton family the same tradition exists and it is also found in an older written history. So who was Mary Beckwith? As these families have written their genealogies in the latter part of the 20^th Century most identify her as the daughter of Joseph and Marah/Mary Lee Beckwith of Lyme, Connecticut. The dates and location make this a very reasonable assumption but the fact of the matter is that the documentation argues otherwise.

The Beckwith family is well documented in a number of books and early genealogies. Joseph and Marah Beckwith are well documented in Lyme and indeed had a daughter Mary, in fact, they had two. In the Barbour records we have recorded, “Mary dau. of Joseph & Marah b. Aug 20,1706”. Also, “Mary dau. of Joseph & Marah b. Apr 3, 1710”. The first Mary probably died at a young age and as was the tradition the next daughter was also named Mary. Both dates appear in various Mary Beckwith records but the 1710 date is the correct date of birth. But also, in the Barbour records, we have recorded the marriage of Mary.  “Mary Beckwith m. Mathew Marvin April 20, 1732 by Rev Jonathan Parsons”. The marriage is documented in a number of different places including a state record where they were quarantined for small pox. In the marriage record for their daughter Phebe she is identified as the daughter of Mathew Marvin and Mary Beckwith.  They had a large family all born in Lyme starting with Seth in 1733 the year after their marriage. Mary died in Lyme December 25, 1760. Of note is a common pattern born 1710 married 1732 at age 22. A review of marriages from that time reveals a very strong tradition of marriage at age 21 or 22. With Mary Griffin being born 1728 “Mary” was probably born 1705/6.

So now we again raise the question who was “Mary”? In 1700’s Connecticut there are only two Beckwith families that seem a possible choice as the family of “Mary”.  The brothers Matthew and Stephen were early setters in Hartford. Matthew later moved to New London/Lyme and is the grandfather of the previously discussed Joseph. Stephen settled in Norwalk and was documented as being there at late as 1687. While Mathew’s family is well documented almost nothing remains concerning Stephen or his family. We know he had a family.  We find one reference in the book,  “Ralph Keller of Norwalk CT and Some of His Descendants”, “ he married -------- daughter of Stephen Beckwith an early settler of Norwalk”. We have another sideways reference that appears in the Probate Records. A Nathaniel Beckwith, part of the Matthew Beckwith family tree, assumes guardianship for the family of a cousin also named Nathaniel from Haddem.  The Nathaniel from Haddam does not appear in any of the “Matthew Beckwith” family documentation or records. Was this a member of the Matthew family reaching out to a member of Stephen’s family? Of note is the fact that the oldest daughter was named Jerusha.  The oldest son or daughter very often carried on a family name. Our “Mary” also names a daughter Jerusha. The birth dates in the two families make Nathaniel a candidate to be “Mary’s” brother.  I hope this little bit of information helps one of “Mary’s” grandchildren discover who our “Mary” truly was and introduce her of all of us.

Samuel Griffin and Ann Avery

Samuel Griffin and Ann Avery are listed in many Griffin Genealogies as the original Griffins. Samuel was born in 1705 and they married in 1727 dates that fit with the timeline for the following generations. This connection was made before the age of the computer when location and timeline in the absence of other candidates led to a “most likely” conclusion. Given the information now available it’s easy to come to a very different conclusion. Samuel and Ann were born in New London County. Their births are documented in the Barbour Collection. In New London we find Samuel’s records.

Samuel, son. Ebenezer & Mary b. June 9, 1705

Samuel, m. Ann Avery, Nov 16, 1727

Samuel, son. Samuel & Ann b. Sept 27, 1728

Thomas, son. Samuel & Ann b. Nov 27, 1730

These two boys were their only children and there is ample documentation that Samuel died at sea in 1737. Ann later remarried.

In Killingworth we find the records for Samuel Griffin and his wife “Mary”. There is no marriage record but in the Barbour records and on page 336 of the Land Deed Book we find a list of their children.

Mary, dau. Samuel & Mary, b Dec 7, 1728

Thankfull, dau Samuel & Mary, b Oct 14, 1731

James, son Samuel & Mary, b Apr7, 1733

Jerusha, dau Samuel & Mary, b May 23, 1736

Samuel, son Samuel & Mary, b Feb 10, 1739

Jeremiah, son Samuel & Mary, b Sept 25, 1743

We clearly have two very different families in two different locations. The document that is the background for this blog was written in Killingworth in Samuel’s hand. We are the descendants of Samuel and Mary Griffin of Killingworth Connecticut.

Griffin home in Killingworth

Samuel Griffin Jr. Will 1739-1808

This will is transcribed to follow original spelling and spacing below.

In the name of God Amen I Samuel Griffin Of Essex the County of Chittenden and the State Of Vermont being weak in body but of sound
and perfect mind and memory do make and publ
ish this my last will and Testament in manner
and form following That is to say I give to
my Beloved wife Mercy Griffin all my Household furniture during her life with other provisions hereaf ter mentioned – I give to my son John my
Farm on which I now live together with my Cattle Sheep and Swine also my Tyme peace and loom on the following conditions Viz he is to
support my wife during her life and provid and
furnish her with all things necessary for her Comfort and Convenance he is to pay all of my debts that i shall owe at my discease he is to pay sixty
dollars to my Three Daughters viz twenty to
Lois Kelsey twenty to Patty Doud and twenty
to Azuba Davis My son John is to pay the afore said sums to my Daughters in one year after my wifes disease and he is to have my Farming
utensils – my Carpenter &Joiners are to be Equally divide between my five sons, viz Joel Asahel, Samuel John & Dan aftr my wifes discease her waring apparel is to be give to
my daughter Mercy Pelton and the remainder
of my Household furniture is to be divided as
follows Samuel and Dan are to have Each
Of them a bed and Bedding the remainder is to Equally divided between my five sons above
mentioned excepting my son John, last by as to all
the rest residue and remainder is of my Estate whether real or personal of what name or nature I give to
my beloved wife Mercy Griffin whome I do appoint sole Executrix of this my last will and testament