Zilpha Griffin and David Day of Essex, VT

Zilpha Griffin and David Day III----------------------------------------------------------------- Zilpha Griffin was the first child born to Samuel Griffin and his wife Sylvia Bradley. The surviving Essex, VT town records have their first entries in 1802. The marriage of Samuel and Sylvia and the birth of Zilpha predate 1802. I have always found it interesting that Samuel and Sylvia named their first child after Samuel’s first wife Zilpha Buell.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zilpha assumed the role of the oldest child in the growing Griffin family on the farm in the ‘Lost Nation” part of Essex. She married David Day III. The Day’s were another of the founding families of Essex. Their large land holdings were close to that of Samuel Griffin. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The young family set to work on their own farm. They would eventually see the birth of ten children into their household. Fate was unkind to David and Zilpha. Six of their children died at an early age. They too died at a relative young age denied the joy of watching their children and grandchildren growing up. Their early deaths however spared them the anguish of losing two sons in the Civil War. ------------ The early death of both David and Zilpha contributed to a lack of a family history that could have been passed down through the generations. As a result putting together the full family profile has proved a considerable chore for family historians. ------------------------ There are enough surviving bits and pieces to help guide those researching the Day family history. In the files of the Congregational Society in Essex is an entry for the baptism of some of David Day’s children. Listed are Asa, Edgar and Ellen. A key piece of the puzzle is found in David Day’s probate files dated in 1845. There is one particular document that records his surviving heirs and their guardians. The document is signed by his second wife, Maranda Miller. It lists Alonzo Stevens as the guardian for the children he had with Miranda, David S and Olivia Day. Zilpha’s brother, Orlow Griffin, is listed as guardian to Edgar G, Ellen G, John F and Albert B Day.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A key to tracing the Day family are the headstones found in the Village Cemetery located in what is now Essex Junction, VT. In the cemetery we find headstone for an infant son and infant daughter who were born and died on the same day. Next to them we find the headstone for Alfred B Day. On the next row are buried David and Zilpha along with their daughter Almira S. In another part of the cemetery we find their daughter, Julia buried with her Day grandparents.------------------------------ We also have information, which is found in family correspondence. In 1865 Zilpha’s sister Rosetta Griffin Hunt wrote a letter to their brother Albert Griffin then living in Salt Lake City, Utah. In the letter she notes that,---------------------------------------------- “Edgar and Albert died in the Army 2 years ago last fall”------------------------------- In another letter again written to Albert in 1873 she wrote, ----------------------------- “Sister Zilpha’s only son (John) Flavel lives in Colchester Center, her sons Edgar and Albert died in the Army and Ellen, Mrs Martin Seaver, lives 10 miles from Fort Dodge, Iowa. She has 4 children buried one.”------------------------------------------------ We also have a few records for births and deaths that are found in the Essex vital records. Based on this evidence we present this profile of the family of Zilpha Griffin and David Day. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David Day III was born in about 1800 in Essex to David Day and Asenath Child. His headstone records his death December 9, 1845 aged 45 years. His will and probate are found in the Chittenden County probate records. A key document is a list of his surviving heirs, Edgar, Ellen, John Albert, David and Olivia. After the early death of Zilpha, David married Maranda Miller with whom he had two children, David and Olivia.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Zilpha was probably born in about 1801. Her death is etched on her headstone; Feb 15th 1843, wife of David Day III. ---------------------------------------------------------------- The first child born into the family was a son. His headstone reads,------------------- Infant son, Day-May 12, 1823-May 12, 1823- Infant son of David Jr. & Zilpha Day, born and died.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On the same row we find a headstone, ----------------------------------------------------- Infant dau Day, Day- Aug the 27, 1826- Aug the 27, 1826, Infant daughter of David Jr. & Zilpha Day, born and died. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Next to them is a headstone for Alfred B Day born about Aug 25, 1842, ---------------- Alfred B Day Nov 28, 1842, son of David & Zilpha Day, aged 3 mos & 3 days.---------- On the next row with her parents is the headstone for Almira, --------------------------- Almira S Day, Dec 2, 1846, daughter of David and Zilpha Day in the 20th year of her age. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: there are some family profiles that list a Sylvia Griffin. This Sylvia in reality is Almira S. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Julia’s headstone is found next to her Day Grandparents. --------------------------------- Julia L Day Sept 21, 1844, daughter of David & Zilpha Day aged 6 years. -------------- Family tradition has a birth date for Julia of January 10, 1838. There is a transcribed record of her death that misspells her name as Celia rather than Julia. This discrepancy has caused some confusion. ------------------------------------------------------ John Flavel Day for born 20 October 1835. He died in Colchester Aug 10, 1903. He is buried in The Colchester Village Cemetery. John married Ellen Maria Wolcott (1837-1916) they had 5 children together. ------------------------------------------------------------ Ellen Griffin Day was born Feb 19, 1833. She died Feb 13, 1913 in Humboldt Co, Iowa. She is buried in the Union Cemetery in Humboldt. Ellen married Martin J Seaver (1828-1908) together they had six children. ------------------------------------- There is a death record for Asa Burton Day. Asa’s name appears in the Congregational records. His death is given as July 28, 1842. There is a tradition of a date of birth July 19, 1830. I suspect that a close inspection of the Village Cemetery would find a marker of some kind for Asa. ------------------------------------------------- Albert B Day was probably a twin brother to Alfred B Day born August 25, 1842. Albert’s death is found in the Civil War records dated October 28, 1862. It is listed as Seneca Falls, Maryland. That area is now referred to as Seneca Park. There are no hints as to where he may be buried. (Reference separate entry on Blog) ------------ Edgar G Day was born February 19, 1833 he died while serving in the Union Army November 26, 1862 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Reference separate post on Blog) He married Mary L Parmenter (1839-1893). ---------------------------------------------------- Zilpha Griffin / Samuel Griffin / Samuel Griffin / Samuel Griffin of Killingworth, CT