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