Griffin History in Essex

When any of us begins the journey to discover our family history the names and places are somewhat of an abstract idea. The more we discover concerning our ancestry those names and places begin to take on a new reality. The more personal information we find those people become more and more like our neighbors down the street who we read about in the newspaper. The culmination of this journey of discovery comes when we recognize how much of them are in us. Samuel and Mercy Griffin along with John, Dan and Samuel Jr. made the move to Vermont sometime in the 1790’s. Asahel and Joel are in the 1790 Vermont Census. We find the first reference to them in the Land Deeds. They purchased their property directly from the original Proprietors, buying virgin untouched land. Other than land deeds, we find the first documentation for the Griffins, in a set of Minutes for a town meeting dated April, 1797 in which Samuel Sr is named as “Surveyor of Highways”. Over the next 50 years we find their names and signatures in the town and deed records as they participate in the life of Essex. These documents bring to life real people doing real things in a real town. Much of Essex would still be recognizable to them today.