Lyman Doud and Fanny Griffin

New England in its infancy was divided into three colonies, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Haven. The later two combined to became present day Connecticut. The great chronicler of the Colony of New Haven was Alvan Talcott. Within his massive files you can find notations on a large percentage of the families that lived in New Haven, Guilford, and Madison.Here

are his notes on the family of Lyman Doud and Fanny Griffin. Fanny is the daughter of Capt Edward Griffin and Submit Dewolf.

Walking in the shoes of the Congregational Griffins

Walking in the shoes of the Congregational Griffins. The Congregational Church played a significant role in shaping Colonial America. In early America the church was the structure around which every day affairs revolved. As more and more people traveled to the new world they brought with them different ideas and sensibilities. The face of America became more diverse. The debate over the role of reason vs. faith became part of the American landscape. A more open debate on the very tenants of religion, an idea previously unthinkable, became commonplace. The message of the Congregationalists became one of repentance and a return to purity of religious life. While in early America church membership was expected, by the mid 1700’s, membership was carefully measured and recorded. Church membership “owning the covenant” was something to be earned and publicly professed. It was not something that was freely granted. Society began to be differentiated between believers and non-believers. In tracing our family history it’s interesting to note how close to the Church most of the Griffin families remained well into the 1800’s. So what was the nature of the Congregational Church that the related Griffin families belonged to? In the 1730’s and 40’s a number of leading ministers took up a call for a return to Congregational ideals. The movement has been called ”The First Great Awakening”. It resonated for the next one hundred years. For the average American it provoked two major ideas, Repentance, and a reconsideration of the idea of, “owning the covenant”. The most recognizable figure in the great awakening was Jonathan Edwards who had received his degree in theology from Yale. Over his lifetime Edwards produced a veritable library of material in taking up the defense of his positions concerning the debates within the religious community. He is most noted for a single sermon he gave. This sermon has become a part of the American literary tradition and is considered the anthem for the First Great Awakening. It is titled, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. Edwards was invited by a fellow pastor to preach to his congregation who the minister considered in need of a call to repentance. The most often quoted part of the speech creates the image that we, as sinners, are suspended over the gates of hell by but a slender thread. “O Sinner! Consider the fearful Danger you are in: Tis a great Furnace of Wrath, a wide and bottomless Pit, full of the Fire of Wrath, that you are held over in the Hand of the God, whose Wrath is provoked and incensed as much against you as against many of the Damned in Hell: You hang by a slender Thread, with the Flames of divine Wrath flashing about it, and ready every Moment to singe it, and burn it asunder; and you have no Interest in any Mediator, and nothing to lay hold of to save yourselves, nothing to keep off the Flames of Wrath, nothing of your own, nothing that you ever have done, nothing that you can do, to induce God to spare you one Moment”. After an hour of such imagery he ends with, “Therefore let every one that is out of Christ, now awake and fly from the Wrath to Come. The Wrath of almighty GOD is now undoubtedly hanging over the great Part of this Congregation; let every one fly out of Sodom: Haste and escape for your Lives, look not behind you, escape to the Mountain, least you be consumed”. The thing I find the most intriguing about the sermon is the account that as he spoke he was interrupted multiple time by cries from the congregation of “what can I do to be saved”. I think this narrative is more indicative of the Congregational mindset than the tone and tenor of the famous sermon. Each congregation carefully recorded and monitored its membership. Salvation was a serious matter. The support, in its varied forms, provided by the church was essential. Joining was an acknowledgement that the person was serious in their resolve to work out their salvation. Membership was granted upon a profession of faith. The process involved a review by a committee and ended with a public proclamation of ones faith. The intent was not to keep the unworthy out but to make sure you were true in your faith because a failure to live up to your covenants was a sure path to hell. In the Blog are documents that show the sinners being publicly called to repentance. These actions were often followed by the imposition of sanctions and then a watchful and hopeful monitoring of the sinner as they worked their way back to full fellowship. Those so named saw it as a sign of apprehension by the congregation who were concerned for their salvation. A needed wake up call to repentance. Working out ones salvation was a major part of life. The Church was very important in that process. To gain an appreciation of that importance take note of the sentiments from the documents that have survived for us to read. Every Will has a sentiment similar to that of Henry Farnam, “I do give my soul into the hands of God’. The names given to the women in the church, who were expected to give strict obedience to both God and their husbands, also reflects the Congregational attitide, Silence, Wait, Mindwell, Prudence, Patience, Freelove, Temperance, Mercy, Comfort, Concurrence, Goodwife called Goody, Thankful, Unity, Hopestill, Faith, Hope, Charity, Deliverance, Experience, Remember, Constant, which became Constance, and the one that provokes the strongest reaction among the women of the 21st Century, Submit. Take note of the church documents on other parts of the blog. The references to, profession of the faith, watch and care withdrawn, church sanctions, review committees. To understand the Congregational mindset is to put your self in the shoes of your ancestors.

The Congregational Mindset

Each Congregational Congregation maintained a every evolving list of members. New members, deaths, transfers to different congregations,excommunications all were noted on a yearly basis. In addition sins and calls to repentance were duly noted. The following documents are examples of the material found in these records. They give a view into the mindset of these Congregational communities.

Family of Mercy Stevens daughter of Worden Griffin

Mercy Griffin daughter of Worden Griffin and Rhoda Hull. Finding the true identity of Mercy Griffin, daughter of Worden and Rhoda Griffin, has taken a twisting path to say the least. Earlier generations of family genealogists had provided very little concerning the family, including the two girls, Sabra Steevens and Mercy, of Worden and Rhoda Hull. Their children are not identified in the Barbour Collection a source for much of what we know concerning the earliest Griffins. We have slowly identified Worden’s children as we have found record of them scattered among the recorded history of Killingworth. The first real discovery of Worden’s girls was found in the family history of another Connecticut family the Havens. The Silas Havens family has published a very detailed history of its several generations. It records births and marriages, children and grandchildren. It records the marriage of Silas Havens to Sabra Steevens Griffin. The history states that after Sabra’s untimely death Silas then married her sister Marietta who I identified as Mercy Marietta, Marietta a middle name that I had not found in Killingworth. Between the two sisters he fathered fourteen children. The history is rich in its first person descriptions of both women. It states, among other things, that their mother Rhoda Hull was the seventh daughter in a family of all daughters. In the world of folk medicine such women were reputed to have special healing powers. The description is a true description of Rhoda Hull Griffin. The story is so compelling that I took it at face value. About a year later I came across a marriage record for a Mercy Griffin and Daniel Stevens. The discovery of a second Mercy Griffin was nevertheless intriguing. As I worked on other Killingworth projects I kept an eye out for the second Mercy. While reviewing church records for material for my blog I quickly scanned the index under Stevens. Much to my surprise I found that on November 21, 1830 Daniel and Mercy Stevens had five children baptized. Their oldest boy was named, Samuel Griffin Stevens. Samuel Griffin was the name of Warden’s father, grandfather to Sabra and Mercy Marietta. Would a non-family member give that name to a child? With this revelation I began an all out search for Worden’s daughter Mercy. One of the first projects was to go back to the original records to find the date of birth for Mercy. In the personal notebook of Abraham Pierson, the Pastor in Killingworth, is recorded “Mercy daughter of Worden Griffin baptized September 23, 1798”. Taking a look at burial records for Marietta Havens her date of birth is given as 1809. All references to Mercy Griffin Stevens use the date of September 23, 1798. It became clear that Worden’s girl Mercy did in fact marry Daniel Stevens. This fact was confirmed as I discovered additional documentation. I found their marriage record dated May 1, 1817. In Killingworth town records is recorded a detailed death notice “Mercy Griffin Stevens wife of Daniel died January 15, 1861 parents Worden Griffin, Hull”. Married in 1817 on November 21, 1830 Daniel Stevens was baptized into the Killingworth 2nd Society along with his children, Samuel Griffin, Martha Roxanna, Maria Cynthia, Rhoda Angeline, Sabra Maryette, Charles Ellsworth. The Mercy Griffin project then shifted gears toward gathering enough information to put together a picture of Mercy’s family. Not being born under the Congregational Covenant there are no birth or baptismal records until the 1830 baptismal record. The goal now was to find other dates, marriages deaths etc. to provide some degree of certainty to the identity of these children. The hardest to find information on was Daniel Stevens. There is no record of his birth in Killingworth He is always referred to as Daniel 2nd in records concerning his children. But I could not find a record of a Daniel Stevens with a son Daniel in any of the Middlesex County communities. There is a listing for a Moses Stevens. One transcribed record of his birth writes “Moses (dau?) of” I am guessing that the (dau?) was originally written Daniel not dau the short hand used for daughter. Moses born in Killingworth raised his family in nearby Haddam. He married Martha Burr, Martha a name used by Daniel and Mercy. Daniel’s date of birth listed June 4, 1796 a match for Mercy’s in 1798. Hoping to find at least one concrete date for him I reviewed the records for each of the Killingworth Cemeteries. Much to my surprise I found he and Mercy interned in the “Burying Yard” , the one purchased from the city by the family in 1794 next to the Griffin homestead, along with Mercy’s father and mother and not far from Thankful and Nathan Buell. In addition the information confirmed the 1796 birth date from Haddam. Even more surprising was the discovery of two more children, Ellis M. and Harmon E.. Having started out thinking I had a list of all of Daniel and Mercy’s children I now had to consider the possibility that there were still other children. I returned to the Congregational Church Records going through them line by line. There I found the records for four additional children. Francis, Eliza, a second Ellis M, and Emerson. Let me introduce you to the family of Daniel and Mercy Griffin Stevens. Samuel Griffin: The baptismal record lists him first so he was probably born 1818/19; He married Elizabeth Parmelee June 23, 1841. They made their home in Durham. Records indicate they had two children, unnamed, who died in 1847 ages 3 and 5. Samuel had two more children John Henry born June 26, 1861 and Mary E born September 25, 1855. Census records list him as a farmer and a shoemaker. Elizabeth died September 6, 1861. Samuel lived alone relying on his children and siblings for comfort for another forty years. Town records list his death February 3, 1900. Cynthia Maria: Probably born 1819/20 married Comfort Prout August 34, 1842 in Killingworth she died August 24, 1843. Martha Roxanna: Listed third in the baptismal record. Married Selden Hall the marriage took place in Clinton instead of Killingworth like all of her sisters. The record reads: Selden Hall of Wallingford m. Roxanna M Stevens of Killingworth May 28, 1842. In 1850 they are in Durham, in 1860 in Guilford and in the 1870 Census they are in Madison. They had three children John M, Selden W and Sarah Josephine. They are buried in the Madison West Cemetery: Martha R Hall, wife of Selden, died Oct 31 1886 age 54, Selden Hall born Oct 15, 1821 died Jan 22, 1886. Rhoda Angeline: Listed after Martha, the 1900 Census places her date of birth as April ,1824. Connecticut birth and death index list it as April 23, 1824, death recorded as August 14, 1904 in Plainville, Connecticut. Married Charles Wellman October 19, 1846 in Killingworth. They made their home in Guilford. After Charles’s death married Gilbert Richardson. Sabra Maryette: Family history puts her date of birth at June 21, 1826, Census records confirm the year. Died August 14, 1866 in Chester, Connecticut. Married Harlow Lewis December 5, 1847 in Killingworth. Charles Ellsworth: Probably born 1828/29, listed with his siblings, in the 1830 baptismal record. There were no other records in Killingworth for Charles we found our first hint of him in a collection of family letters that I found housed in the Connecticut State Library. Two of the letters were from his wife to the widower Daniel Stevens. She signed them Eliza. On first inspection I thought they were from Charles’s sister Eliza. She listed their address as Bethany, Connecticut. Looking in those records I found a birth record for one of their children. The name of the child has been lost but it identifies the parent as Charles E Stevens and Eliza A Talmadge. It further identifies Prospect, Connecticut as the place where she was born. They seem to have started their married life in Prospect then moved next door to Bethany. They then moved to Durham and lived close to Samuel. It seems that they then moved to North Branford and took over Ellis’s farm after his death. Charles died March 8, 1893. Francis Henry: Baptized in the 2nd Society October30, 1831. He is listed at age 19 in a census record. No marriage records have been found. Eliza Fidelia: Baptized October 23, 1836, born March 23, 1834, died June 13, 1919 in Plainville, Connecticut. Married Henry Wellman October 20, 1859 in Killingworth. They raised their family in Madison moving to Plainville later in life. The ladies auxiliary records the transfer of her church records from Madison along with a short biography. Of note, I was confused as to why Rhoda would live most of her life in Guilford only to relocate late in life to Plainville. Then I found the information on Eliza. Charles and Henry Wellman were brothers. The widowed sisters passed their later days together in Plainville. She must have been a favorite sister the 1860 census shows Ellis living with her. Harmon Emerson: Baptized April 2, 1836. His headstone reads “Harmon E Stevens, son of Daniel & Mercy, died April 15, 1842 age 6yrs”. Named after Mercy’s brother. Ellis Munroe: Baptized April 2, 1839. Headstone reads, “ Ellis M son of Daniel & Mercy, died Apr 2, 1839 age 9 mos”. It appears that he was a sickly child hurriedly baptized on the day he died. His baptism was recorded in the 2nd Society records. Ellis Munroe: His baptism is also recorded in the 2nd Society records as September 12, 1841. As was a common practice he was named after an older brother who had died too young. This tradition would make a great subject for a church sermon on family. Those families had a strong desire to keep alive the memory of their dearly departed that left this world too soon. This action testifies that they want to be remembered. Ellis married Sarah Burr. They raised their family in North Branford. Ellis died young April 22, 1882 his wife remarried. Emerson Rilando: Carrying the name of a deceased brother he was baptized September 5, 1845. Town and Census records indicate he probably died about 1929 in Branford, Connecticut. He had three children all born in Guilford. Listed as divorced he and his son Fredrick lived the life of old bachelors until his death. Ellis and Emerson joined the army together their names listed consecutively on the enlistment record. They joined in 1861 Emerson left in 1864 Ellis fought until the end of the war. Both are listed as having been wounded. Their unit was attached to General Ord who commanded an army corps under Grant in the battle for Richmond. This corps took the leading role in the events that ended up at Appomattox, General Ord being present as Grant and Lee signed the surrender. Ellis probably witnessed the pageantry that was involved in the surrender ceremonies as the southern troops laid down their arms. I have recently become aware of the existence of a collection of letters in the Connecticut State Library from Daniel and Mercy’s children to their parents. A summery will be added later. I hope it contains information on all the Griffin cousins. Part of the miracle of this voyage of discovery was finding a manuscript collection in the Connecticut State Library titled “Letters to Daniel Stevens of Killingworth”. The letters are somewhat plain in their content offering up very little family history information. They do contain two hints. We find out that Charles is married to an Eliza and that their brother Frank (Francis) is still alive in the 1860s. However they are rich in family sentiment. They always start with Dear Father. The collection is centered on the years that Ellis and Emerson were serving in the army. The family news is centered around the families deep concern for their welfare. Sabra’s letters in particular cry out with her anguish expressing here fears that they will be lost. Ellis writes in one of his letters that with their mothers passing Sabra has become like a mother to him. Ellis and Emerson’s letters are full of concern for their fathers well being. They often state that they wish that they could see him. They both write that they are sending him the bonus money they received for reenlisting for another year’s military service. Ellis is the more prolific writer he always gives a report on Emerson who he refers to as Em. Later when Charles joins the army late in the war he also always gives a report on Charles who he calls Barb. There is a letter from Eliza Fidelia in which she describes the family’s plans for Thanksgiving. She reminds her father that he need not worry about the food since the family had all arranged to bring plenty. Ellis writes he wishes he could be home for the Thanksgiving gathering. An early letter from Samuel, the older brother, contains a warning that Daniel needs to make sure the baby brothers keep up their share of support for their father. He need not to have worried. Their letters constantly express a deep concern for their father. There are notes on teething children, pigs to be butchered, sausage to make. There are requests of their father to save them some of his cranberry harvest. There are reports on the shoes that he made for his grandchildren. There are inquiries on the state of the vegetable gardens and potato crop, hay harvest. There is a, “I wish you were here I made mince pies today”. In the collection is a letter from a stone carver discussing their specifications for headstones for their grandparents, Worden and Rhoda Hull Griffin. There is a constant reference to letters received from each other. But what the letters really say is that these people are real. They were very much a family. They are very much our family. The remaining question from this journey is who was Marietta Havens? Sabra Steevens Griffin Havens named two of her children Charles and Eliza. Marietta Havens used the names Sabra, Angeline, Cynthia, Francis, Munroe, and Worden. Mercy Griffin Stevens used Sabra Maryetta, Charles, Eliza, Angeline, Cynthia, Francis and Munroe. Harmon Griffin used Charles and Eliza. Coincidence? With the passing of Abraham Pierson in 1802 the era of excellent record keeping in Killingworth was over. There are almost no records of births from 1800 to the 1840’s. Do you think Marietta Havens was a sister to Sabra and Mercy? Mercy Griffin and her family wants us to know who they are and I use the word are not were. I hope this suffices as a proper introduction. Worden Griffin born September 6, 1772. His birth recorded in the 2nd Society records. Died February 17, 1847 rests in the Burying Yard next to his wife Rhoda Hull. Rhoda was born in Killingworth October 19, 1773 died one year after Worden December 9, 1848. They married February 15, 1796 the marriage recorded in the Killingworth town records. Children of record Sabra Steevens, Mercy and Harmon. Evidence suggests a fourth child Marietta. Sabra Steevens: Listed in the 2nd Society records and also in Abraham Pierson’s personal journal a birth/baptismal date of November 27, 1796. There are no other records for her in Killingworth. We do find record of her in the family records of the Silas Havens family. They also record her name as Sabra Steevens, Steevens with the two e’s. A very unique combination of names with unique spellings. Given the world of genealogical research it’s hard to determine if the information came from their own records or from material they gathered with the assumption that it was correct. The nature of the Havens family story strongly indicates that they are drawing from family memories and records. Birth dates for her children indicate a marriage date of 1814/15. Her headstone records her death as February 26, 1826, age 30. Mercy: Birth recorded in the same records as Sabra as September 23, 1798 listed as “daughter of Worden Griffin”. Harmon: Birth and death information is gathered from his headstone “Harmon Griffin died Feb 20, 1860, age 59 yrs” putting his date of birth at 1801. He married his mother’s niece Betsy Hull September 29, 1827. Their two children, Eliza and Charles did not survive past childhood. Mariette: There are almost no birth dates recorded in Killingworth from 1802 to the 1840’s. So there is no record of the birth of Harmon or any other possible children born to Worden and Rhoda after 1800. In a recent review of the 1820 Federal Census for Killingworth Worden is listed as having one child left at home a girl between the ages of 10 and 15. Sabra and Mercy are clearly outside of this range. Is this Marietta the girl vividly identified in Havens records as the daughter of Worden Griffin and Rhoda Hull sister of Sabra? Marietta married Silas September 29, 1826. On her headstone is written, “Maryette Havens, wife of Silas died March 18, 1884, age 74”.Mercy/ Harmon/Samuel/Samuel.

Sabra Stevens and Harlow Lewis

Sabra Stevens, granddaughter of Worden and Rhoda Griffin, Married Harlow Lewis in Killingworth on December 5, 1847. As with most of the Griffin grandchildren they remained active in the Congregational community.The records kept by these congregations is a great source of material for not only documenting their lives but also understanding the world that they lived in. The Congregational conscience was they conscience. What we have in these documents is record of their entry into the congregation in Chester. Membership was not casually granted but earned upon a "profession of faith". We also have a death record for Sabra, and a Sunday School record for their daughter Josephine.

History of Charles N Griffin 1788 to 1862

Charles N. Griffin was born in Killingworth, Connecticut to Capt. Edward Griffin and Submit Dewolf. Determining a date of birth for Charles involves a bit of detective work. Using data from Census records and a birth order from Edward’s Will, supplemented with the know dates for his siblings, it seems he was born about 1788. His family belonged to the Congregational 1st Society, in southern Killingworth, the area of present day Clinton. At the turn of the century Edward moved his family across the Hammonasett River to Madison, Connecticut where he died at an early age in 1802. Edward, a wealthy sea captain, left a very detailed will including a section on the inheritance that he left to Charles, as well as his brothers, Harry Allen and Edward Hargrave. His father’s early death played a pivotal role in how Charles’s life was to play out. In 1806 the Family moved to Colebrook, Connecticut to settle on a farm that had been purchased as per Edwards will for Charles’s mother. We find Charles living there until 1826/27. As Edward’s children came of age they were granted an inheritance of the farm property in Colebrook. What we see is Charles, as the older brother, buying that property from his siblings eventually assembling a large farm. But the records show in 1826 and 1827 he sells all of his Connecticut holdings and then disappears from Connecticut records. Using Census records we find him living in Copley, Medina, Ohio. In the 1830 Census he is married with a son. How do we know it is the same Charles? In the 1826/27 time frame we find him still in Colebrook buying his first piece of property in Ohio from a group of men living in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1827 he buys more property in Ohio. The record then indicates that he personally appeared at the Probate Court in Medina, Ohio. In the 1830 Census we find Charles N. Griffin living next to Edwr H. Griffin. Same first names, same middle initials, of the correct age of the two brothers who had recently left Colebrook. They were also living next to the family of James Bell. Who were the people listed in Charles’s household in the 1830 Census? The 1850 census, the first to include all family names, identifies the son as Philander Griffin, born 1827/28. In the 1850’s we find Charles selling part of his holding to Philander. There is no record for the identity of Philander’s mother. On October 27, 1832 Charles N. Griffin married Elizabeth Bell. The marriage recorded in Volume A, page 97, of the county records. The 1850 Census shows Charles’s family with two more children Cerona age 15 and Sherman age 8. In the 1860 census Charles and Elizabeth are living in Hinckley, Medina, Ohio. In the 1870 Census there is no record of Charles and Elizabeth is living with Cerona’s family in Michigan. In the county records we find a Probate for Charles N. Griffin dated May, 1862. His executor is William Bell. Charles had ended up with about 130 acres located in Lot 82 in Bath township, which sat next to lots 2 and 9 in Copley. There are no references to Charles in the local histories and there are no stories of him that have survived down through his descendants. Copley was at the end of the Ohio and Erie Canal system, which probably made it profitable farm country, 130 acres, is about the maximum one family could manage. But at the end of the day we are left with very little history for Charles N. Griffin. But what of his family? There is even less historical evidence for his wife Elizabeth Bell. Census records indicate she was born in Pennsylvania. The history of the Bell family indicates that they had their origins in Shenango, Mercer, Pennsylvania. I think it is James’s son William, Elizabeth’s brother that served as executor for Charles’s Probate. Elizabeth’s age, as established by Census records, fits into the framework of James Bell’s family. She probably died some time after 1870. Death records for her daughter Cerona indicate that she is buried in Ohio. Philander appears in the 1850 Census and is counted in both Bath and Copley. In 1853 he buys property from his father, which he subsequently sells in 1854 and then disappears. Cerona Ellen Griffin married Henry G. Piper November 9, 1853 in Medina County, Ohio. Family records give her a date of birth on November 4, 1835. They later moved to Orleans, Iona, Michigan where they raised a large family including Henry “Griffin” Piper. Her death certificate, dated November 9 ,1892, identifies her parents as Charles and Elizabeth Griffin. In the 1870 Census her mother “Elizabeth Griffin” is part of the household. Sherman Griffin born 1842/43 appears on a marriage record In Medina County, Ohio dated February 1, 1865 where he is married to Cassa Finch. The 1870 Census finds a Sherman Griffin age 27 and a wife Kate Griffin age 23 living in Township16, Saunders, Nebraska. What we know of Sherman comes from the history of his wife, Catherine Lucinda Finch, who went by “Kate”. After Sherman’s death she moved back to Hinckley, Ohio where she married William Kratzinger a German immigrant. They raised their family in Anna, Union , Illinois. The Kratzingers were apparently a prominent family in Anna. On her death in 1929 the local paper issued a lengthy obituary. It is from this material that we gain an insight into the history of Sherman. From the Obituary “She was born 13 Oct 1846, in Hinckley, Medina Co, Ohio the daughter of William and Louisa Finch. She married in 1864 Sherman Griffin. They went West in a covered wagon to Nebraska, where her husband died 10 years later…..Three children were born to this union, May who died in infancy, Cora Belle, who died December 11, 1881 and Bert H. Griffin his death on 15 November 1936 in Los Angeles, California”. In addition we find recorded in the Medina county records, “Without name, April 11, 1871, Male, parents Sherman Griffin Catherine L Finch.” Apparently another child who died in infancy.Charles family trees is Charles/Edward/James/Samuel Griffin of Killingworth Connecticut.

Charles N Griffin and Elizabeth Bell, Hinckley Ohio

Land Deeds Essex Vermont

Land Deeds Essex Vermont FHL 28,178 Vol 1 includes the Proprietors Records. Page 18 John Griffin account with the proprietors of the town of Essex. Looks like payments for services rendered. Page 64 Starts identifying original Lots Page 96 Samuel Griffin Jr. Lot 81 57 acres begins at NE corner of Lot 80 in the easterly line of Lot No. 58. These land divisions began in about 1795 looks like the original purchase by the Griffins in Essex. Page 127 Samuel Griffin Lot 142 54 acres begins at E corner of Lot 121 Page 139 Sam Bradley Lot 174 156.5 acres FHL 28,178 Volume 2 P-317 Asa Day to Sam Griffin Jr For 5 Schillings Lot 11 Original rights belonged to William Taylor 20th Day of Feb, 1798 P-342 Calvin Beard to Samuel Griffin $233.00 ½ of 110 acre lot, East line of Lot 8 Original John Jennings 5 October 1798. Witnesses Ezra Slaton Dan Griffin. Jennings records shows reference to lots 127/142 P-422 Daniel Morgan to John Griffin $42.00 for 6 acres 8 April 1800. Probably house lot John farmed with his dad taking over the farm when he died FHL 28,179 P-6 Richard Lamson the Sheriff Tax Sale Purchase by Samuel 3rd “for the consideration of one dollar and forty four cents the Whole of Lot 81 containing 57 acres Also 50 acres of the South part of Lot 82. P-268/9 Walter Freeman to Samuel Griffin $900.00 ……beginning at a stake in the westerly side of the highway in north easterly line of Lot 105 borders Lot 64 43/100 acre of lot105, 53 66/100 acres of lot 104 all of lot 104 except 6 acres Oct 15, 1817 P-470 58 acres Lot 104 Tax sale by Billy Butler tax collector confirms to Samuel Griffin April 9th 1822 FHL 28,180 1839-1833 P 17/18 Apollus Ellis Mortgage deed to Samuel Griffin $250.00 for Part of Lot 107. Promise to Pay Samuel Griffin 4 promissory notes 65/45/145 signed 1829 Deed Discharged Dec 1846 signed by Samuel FHL 28,181 1837-1841 P 89/90 Erastus and Mary Tyler to Mary Griffin. Tylers of Licking Count Ohio. $300.00 paid to our full satisfaction of Mary Griffin of Essex 54 acres of lot 142 about 23 acres of lot 143 …. In and to the real estate in Essex aforesaid of which the late John Griffin died seized. Must have been Mary’s inheritance from here father so lot 142/143 must have been his lots Oct 31, 1837 P 129 Samuel Griffin to Mary Griffin. “know that I Samuel Griffin Of Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio $300.00 paid of Mary Griffin of Essex 44 acres Lot 142, 23 acres Lot 143 Which late John Griffin died seized 17 Nov 1837 P 479/80 Samuel Griffin to Harrison Griffin deed and mortgage $1.600.00 lots 104/105/106 deed me by Walter Freeman, David Day, Horaito Day July 10, 1840 Personally appeared Samuel Griffin the signer and sealer of the above written instrument Samuel Griffin LL David- Horaito Day Zilph’s husband and brother or oldest son? Note on document Dec 11th 1846 I herby discharge the above mortgage deed having received payment in full of all the notes specified therein Has both Harrison’s and Samue’s actual signatures FHL 28,182 P 115 Warren Whitcomb mortgage deed to Samuel griffin $100.00 for 1 acre lot 82 “Essex Nov 5th 1850 I herby discharge the above mortgage deed having received payment in full signed by both Samuel and Sylvia P 153 Eleaser Mounts mortgage to Samuel $2,000.00 whole of lot 81/82 April 5, 1847 witnessed by Orlo B Griffin. Written across the face of the deed Nov 1848 Samuel discharges the Mortgage P 207 Melvin Freeman Mortgage to Harrison Lots 104/105/106 $1,300.00 P 284 Ben Wiggins To Orlow B Lot 118 “ to me said Griffin guardian of Edgar G Day, Ellen G Day, John F Day, Albert B Day Zilpha”s children July 1848 P 397 Land sold by Harrison for a road P 295 Eleazer Hunt Samuel Griffin Nov 13 1848 P 306 Andrew Ellis Mortgage to Orlo April 1848 $225.00 discharged 1851 P 339/340 Orlo pay for land for Day Children 2 minor children David S day and Olivia A Day Estate of late David Day Zilpha”s Children P 343/44 Miranda Day to Harrison $600.00 I Miranda Day of Essex… The real estate of which my deceased husband the late David Day..part of real estate set off to me including part for Almira G Day deceased Orlo then gives land back to Miranda P 345 Harrison Mortgage to Orlo 1850 P 496 Samuel to Orlo Nov 5th 1850 Note corner of lot 81 Beginning SE corner of pepping lot hence easterly about 70 rods in the line of the road being a corner of lot 81. Hence northerly to the road leading by my now dwelling house and near a cherry tree P 505 Harrison held a mortgage for $50.00

James Griffin 1733-1774 French and Indian War

The following records are part of the collection of Colonial Records housed at the Connecticut State Library. In early America the standing military was the British Army. Many young American men hoped to gain a commission in the British Army as a career choice but for the most part military service in America was as part of a colonial militia. In answer to military needs, primarily as adjuncts to the British Army, each year the colonies would issue a call for the militias to rally and they would set aside funds for the effort. In addition to a strong sense of patriotism a key attraction was the issuing of land grants to those that served. Such was the case with the French and Indian War. Each locality usually had a group of men with some military experience and these, in answer to the call from the Colonies, would raise a company of men. The call usually lasted for a campaigning season that covered the good weather months. What we see is men joining the local militia for a part of any one year. They were then discharged. Then starting over in the next year the Captain of the local militia would raise a new company made up of some veterans and some newcomers. Most men in the ranks would only serve for one or two years. A brief history of the French and Indian war is written in another part of the blog. In the critical year of 1759 we find James Griffin listed on the Pay Role of the Twelfth Company of the Fourth Regiment. “FOURTH REGIMENT COL. ELEAZER FITCH REGIMENTAL OFFICERS. Eleaser Fitch (of Windham) appointed Colonel and Captain of the first company. March 1759. Israel Putnam (of Pomfrey) appointed Lieutenant-Colonel and Captain of the second company, March 1759. John Durkee (of Norwich) appointed Major and Captain of the third company, March 1759. Rev. Benjamin Pomroy of Hebron appointed Chaplain, March 1759. David Adams of Canterbury appointed Surgeon, March 1759. John Williams of Norwich appointed Commissary, March 1759.” TWELFTH COMPANY-CAPT. BISHOP Nicholas Bishop of New London, Captain. Daniel Griswold of Killingworth, First Lieutenant. William Clark, Second Lieutenant. Benjamin Woodworth of Groton, Ensign.” “A Pay Role of Capt. Nicholas Bishops Company In the Fourth Connecticut Regiment Commanded By Colonel Eleaser Fitch Esq. Camp 1759” James Griffen Time of Inlisting May 25 Time of Discharge Dec 12” I had previous thought he had served as an officer. With the new information it is clear that he served in the ranks. The “Capt” on his headstone refers to Capt. Bishop. “James Griffin Capt. Bishop’s Co., d, Aug17, 1774. Age 41, Fre. & Ind. War. “ The headstone was erected by the State of Connecticut. There is another connection, however, he served in a company that was raised in the maritime community. James left a marvelous heritage to honor him we need to share his story with all of our extended families.

Samuel Griffin 1739-1808 French and Indian War

In early America the standing military was the British Army. Many young American men hoped to gain a commission in the British Army as a career choice but for the most part military service in America was service in the colonial militia. In answer to military needs, primarily as adjuncts to the British Army, each year the colonies would issue a call for the militias to rally and they would set aside funds for the effort. In addition to a strong sense of patriotism an important attraction for joining was the issuing of land grants to those that served. Such was the case with the French and Indian War. Each locality usually had a group of men with some military experience and these, in answer to the call from the Colony, would raise a company of men. Enlistment usually lasted for a campaigning season that covered the good weather months. What we see is men joining the local militia for a part of any one year, they were then discharged, then starting over in the next year, the Captain of the local militia would raise a new company made up of some veterans and some newcomers. Most men in the ranks would only serve for one or two years. The story of the French and Indian War is written in another part of the Blog. We find Samuel serving in the 1757 Campaign and again in the critical 1759 Campaign. The more detailed records exist for the year 1759. Capt. Peleg Redfield indicates that in 1759 a large portion of his command had served with him previously. The year 1757 saw the French reach the peak of their power in North America. Having made incremental gains in its efforts to control the St. Lawrence water route 1757 saw the French make a final push past Ft. Ticonderoga, which they called Fort Carillon, on to the southern end of Lake George. In August of 1757 they successfully captured Fort William Henry an event memorialized in James Fenimore Cooper’s “Last of the Mohicans”. The defeat and the massacre that followed served to stiffen the resolve of Great Britain to evict the French from North America. To the Connecticut Militias this event marked a moment of crisis prompting a change in orders to every company as everyone was called to rally behind an effort to stem the French tide. Remember in addition to national security concerns the Connecticut economy was heavily involved in developing the lands along the St. Lawrence corridor for future land grants. In February 1757 the General Assembly had resolved to raise 1400 men for the next campaign. The companies were recruited and the troops were organized and trained and held at the ready for their assignments some of which may keep them close to home. In fact their duties often allowed them to stay at home at the ready for any call out. Enlisting in the early spring the units were busy in their various assignments when the event on the Lake Champlain Front prompted a change in orders. A sampling to these orders provides a sense of the state of affairs in 1757. “To Coll. Jonathan Trumble, Coll of the 12th regiment. Sir in obedience to your orders of the 8th and 9th instand I called together the Company under my command and have detached 25 men out of said Company for the service expressed in said order which is the forth part out of said Company…..”. “ 1757 August ye 10th the following is a Muster Roll of ye first Company of militia detached or drafted out of ye Militia of ye 5th regiment in the Colony of Connecticut on ye ninth & tenth days of Instant August in order to march for ye Succor Release & assistance of ye forces at Fort Edward, Fort William Henry and parts adjacent”. “ Colony of Connecticut To Capt. Isaiah Brown and the Company under his command in Col. Andrew Burrs Regiment for the Service at the Time of the Alarm for Relief of Fort William Henry and parts Adjacent August 1757”. In 1757 Samuel Griffin was an unattached young 18 year old. He probably left his sister Thankful’s house to join the Militia. In 1757 he was part of the Fourteenth Company of the First Regiment. Called up in March he served until December. Connecticut’s contribution to the French and Indian War in 1759 was to sent four regiments of its militia under the overall command of Major General Phineas Lyman to support the main British effort. Samuel Griffin served in the Eighth Company of the Second Regiment. The following records are from the Adams Collection which is housed in the Connecticut State Library. For 1757 COL. LYMAN’S REGIMENT REGIMENT OFFICERS. Phineas Lyman (of Suffield appointed Colonel and Captain of the first company, Feb 1757. Discharged Dec. 2. Nathan Whiting (of New Haven) appointed Lieutenant Colonel and Captain of the second company, Feb 1757. Discharged Nov. 24.Nathan Payson (of Hartford) appointed Major and Captain of the third company……Timothy Hierlihy….Adjutant… Rev. Benjamin Spaulding of Fairfield entered the service as Chaplain and received pay for seven months service. Elisha Lord… Surgeon…Silas Baldwin Surgeon’s Mate….. Jabez Hamlin, Hezekiah Huntington, Theophilus Nichols appointed Commissaries of Purchase, Josiah Wright, Commissary at Fort Edward… FORTEENTH COMPANY-CAPT. WARD Andrew Ward (of Guilford), Captain. Peleg Redfield (of Killingworth), First Lieutenant. Thomas Pierce (of Plainfield), Second Lieutenant. Zebulon Butler (of Lyme), Ensign. A Muster Roll of Cap. Andrew Ward’s Company that served under the command of Lieut Colonel Nathan Whitting at No 4. In the pay of the Colony of Connecticut anno 1757. Samuel Griffen Time of Inlistment March 20 Time viz weeks & days 37 weeks and 1 day. ( Andrew Ward was Abigail Bradley’s great grandfather) For 1759 SECOND REGIMENT- COL. NATHAN WHITING REGIMENTAL OFFICERS Nathan Whiting (of New Haven) appointed Colonel and Captain of the first company, March 1759. Joseph Spencer (of East Haddam) appointed Lieutenant- Colonel and Captain of the Second Company, March 1759. Discharged Nov. 30, 1759. David Baldwin (of Milford) appointed major and Captain of the third company, march 1759. Discharged Dec 2, 1759. Rev. Edward Eells of Middletown appointed Chaplain, March 1759. Daniel Porter Jr. of Waterbury appointed Surgeon, March 1759. Samuel How of Ashford appointed Surgeon’s Mate, March 1759. Anthony Carpenter of Norwalk appointed Commissary, March 1759. Joel Munson, Sargent Major. James Sparrow, Sargent Major. EIGHTH COMPANY-CAPT. REDFIELD Peleg Redfield (of Killingworth) Captain. George Nettleton, First Lieutenant. Abraham Tiler. Jr. (of Haddam) Second Lieutenant. Edward Shipman, Ensign. A Pay Roll of Capt Peleg Redfield’s Company in the 2nd Regiment of the Connecticut Troops in Anno Dom 1759 Samuel Griffen Times of Inlisting Apr 10 Discharged Dec 1 (Indorsed) Hartford 7 Feb. 1760 Peleg Redfield Capt of ye within company hereby certifies ye said Company there were Six men who had Served as Sarjents five as Corporals and fifty nine as Privates in a former campaign. Capt Peleg Redfields Pay Roll 1759 Theop Redfield Sarj, James Redfield Serj, Parm Bonfoy p, Joel Wright, Ab Tyler L ( The pay roll listed all of the men in the company and recorded the death of two of their numbers) It is left up to our imaginations to fill in the blanks of what life was like for Samuel in the militia. History is full of stories of marches along ancient Indian trails through trackless forestland often guided by the Native Americans. There are stories of the struggles to improve the trails to facilitate the movement of equipment and supplies. Popular entertainment has provided us with images of the frontiersmen and the life they lived. While we envision a life of high adventure, the truth is probably the opposite, a life of hardship and struggle. I have included a couple of accounts of the dangers that Samuel and his fellow militiamen faced. “An account of an attack near Lake George in 1759. On July 2nd 16 of the Jersey Blues were sent without the camp to gather a little brush for the General’s Baker, but were not an hour gone before they were surprised in sight of the camp by a party of the enemy, consisting of about 240, who killed and scalped six, wounded two, took four prisoners, and only four of the whole party escaped. They shewed themselves plainly to the whole Army after they got the scalps, gave a hollow, and then made off to their Battoes, (small flat bottom boats) which were not more than two miles from the Head of the Lake, A large party was ordered out after them, but in vain. They butchered our people in a most shocking manner, by cutting pieces of flesh out of their neck, thighs and legs.” Captain Pierre Pouchot commandant at Fort Niagara for most of the war recounts in his memoirs how the Native American would scalp his foe. “as soon as the man is felled, they run up to him, thrust their knee in between his shoulder blades, seize a tuft of hair in one hand & with their knife in the other, cut around the skin of the head & pull the whole piece away. The whole thing is done very expeditiously. Then brandishing the scalp, they utter a whoop which they call the death whoop….. If they are not under pressure & the victory has cost them lives, they behave in an extremely cruel manner towards those they kill or the dead bodies. They disembowel them & smear the blood all over themselves.” Samuel Griffin left us a noble heritage. To honor him we have an obligation to share his story all of his posterity. Please share the contents of the blog with your extended families and please send your family history and stories to add to the blog.