Sharing Family History bradgruffydd@gmail.com

Doing research on the families that have joined together to become the Griffins has been a very enjoyable undertaking for me. Figuring out who we are is a large part of our socialization. To understand where we came from is very useful in understanding who we have become. In practical terms the idea of family is very comforting in a world that subjects us to a lifetime of challenges. It’s Important to know we are not facing life alone. As a family historian I have been amazed at some of the family histories that have been written. The historian for the Field family wrote a history that covered seven or eight generations in exquisite detail some one thousand pages in all. The work was written by hand the writing so precise that it could not be easier to read if it were typed. After finishing the project he then wrote by hand an index of all of the names. He published the work in 1895. A great source for some of the history of the Griffins in Connecticut was the work of Alvan Talcott. Mr. Talcott was a physician who lived in Guilford, Connecticut. He is in fact listed in the records for the cities in the area as having delivered or attended to a number of the Griffin grandchildren. In his travels he collected the histories of many of the original families of the area. He added to his notes from year to year adding births, deaths and marriages. At some point in his life he published all of his notes in a monumental genealogical collection. What motivates us to do research on our family history? In the spirit of our Congregational ancestors is it the Biblical call written of in the fourth chapter of Malachi? A basic human need? Whatever the reason I hope we all appreciate what a gift it is to open up a door of discovery for someone searching for their family history. Whatever the driving force I am a grateful beneficiary. Many of you have devoted a good deal of effort in collecting and writing the genealogy of your families. As a beneficiary of your work I would like to thank all of you for your contributions. I would also like to renew our plea for your family stories. I think it would add a great deal to the blog to have a history of each branch of the extended Griffin family. The story does not need to be detailed it just needs to be your story. I, in particular, am fascinated by the stories that involve that little spark that triggered a family search. Those little stories that tell of a story told by an aunt that heard it from a grandmother of that originator of a clan. It is those stories that have been key in opening up avenues of discovery in family history. I hope you all understand that you are free to use any or all of the material contained in the blog. I hope the material is spread far and wide. I would ask that when using the material you reference the blog, samuelgriffingenealogy.blogspot.com, that we may benefit from having new families join bringing with them their family history. Communicating through a blog site is not always easy. For those wishing to communicate with me I can also be contacted via e-mail at bradgruffydd@gmail.com. Of the Griffins Brad Griffin