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.