Samuel Austin, Paul Varney records in Colchester, Vermont

On the title page of the first volume of town records for Colchester is written, “Town Book No 1, From April 10, 1797 to March 19, 1820.” On page 1 of the records we find the following heading, “Grand List for the year 1797.” At the bottom of the list we find the name of Samuel Austin. The names of Samuel and his sons are found frequently in the town records up until his death May 6, 1821. He is buried in the Marrs Hallow Cemetery in nearby Milton, Vermont. Every two years the city held an election for city offices. One of the offices was that of “leather sealer”. Starting with Samuel that office was held continuously by a Austin for twenty plus years. Paul Varney makes his first appearance in Book No 1 on page 21. His name is included on the Grand List for year 1800. We see Paul’s name appear on the Grand Lists for 1809 and 1810 then we see very little evidence for him until the 1816 list. In the 1810 Federal Census his family in Colchester has two boys and three girls. In the years 1818/19 the town published two years of a very detailed tax assessment. Paul’s name appears on those two lists and every subsequent list until he leaves Vermont for Ohio.The 1800 census taken in Colchester includes the name of Paul Varney. In 1850 Paul is living in Chardon, Ohio at the age of 78 which supports at date of birth in 1772.The list of Austin marriages is from a compilation of marriage records found in Dover, New Hampshire.

Hatevil Nutter

We have written previously of the unique names adopted by the Congregational Societies. The Congregationalist were very open about their religious convictions.To join a Congregational Society a candidate was require to make a public "Proclamation of Faith". Another way they demonstrated that openness was in their selection of names. Hatevil is a contraction of Hate Evil. Hatevil Nutter was a strict Congregationalist who lived in Dover, New Hampshire. As a sign of the intolerance that the Congregationalists had for everything non Congregational, Hatevil led the cruel suppression of the first Quakers to appear in Dover.The suppression included stripping women of their cloths before tying them to a wagon wheel to be severely beaten. By the time his grandchildren were living in Dover the Society of Friends made up a substantial portion of the Dover community and played a major role in community affairs.

Quaker marriage document

The Society of Friends, the Quakers, kept the most detailed marriage records of any religious group in early America. The following is found in Volume-1 of the “Friends Society Marriage Records” in Dover, New Hampshire. The title page contains the notation March 1701. Within the Quaker community the church rules called for a young couple to publicly declare their intentions to marry in several public places over several months time. After such a declaration the Society would investigate the young couple to make sure they were “clear of all others” and sufficiently worthy by Church standards to marry. Once given the approval of the Society a marriage ceremony was held the essence of which was the signing of the marriage certificate. “Whereas Henry Estes son of Benjamin and Elizabeth Estes of Barwick in the county of York in the Provence of the Massachusetts Bay in Newengland: and Mary Varney daughter of John and Sarah of Dover in ye Province of Newhampshire in Newengland aforesd, having declared their intentions of Taking Each other in marriage before several Publickmeetings of the People called Quakers in Dover aforesd according to the good order used amongst them whose Proceedings therein after a deliberate consideration thereof with a Regard to the Righteous Law of God and the Example of his People Recorded in the scriptures of Truth in that case were approved of by the sd meeting they appearing clear of all others and having consent of Parents and Relations concerned—Now these are to certifie all whom it may concern that for the full accomplishing of the sd intentions this seventeenth day of ye second month called April in ye year according to ye English account one thousand seven hundred and forty five---They ye sd Henry Estes and Mary Varney appearing in Publick assembley of ye aforesd People met together in the Publick meeting Place at Cochecha in Dover aforesd---And in a solemn manner he ye sd Henry Estes Taking ye sd Mary Varney by the hand did openly declear that he Took her to be his wife Promising by ye Lords assistance to be unto her True and Loving husband until death makes a separation. And ye sd Mary Varney did then and there in Like solemn manner declear that she Took him ye sd Henry Estes to be her husband Promising by ye Lords assistance to be True and Loving wife until death makes a separation. And ye sd Henry Estes and Mary Varney as a further confirmation hereof did then and there to these Presents sett their hand , she the sd Mary Varney assuming ye name of her husband, and we whose names are hereunto subscribed being Present amongst others at ye solleminizing of the sd marriage and subscription in manner as aforesd as witness hereunto have also to theses presents subscribe our names ye day and year above written. Henry Estes, Mary Estes, Silvanus Hussey, Stephen Varney Jr. Ebenezer Varney, Timothy Emerson, Joseph Estes, Ephraim Tibbets Jr. Stephen Varney, William Frost ……….. Entered ye 22 of ye 2mo 1745 P William Fry Jr. Clerk”

Polly Needham wife of James Griffin of Killingworth, Connecticut

James Griffin’s birth is part of a family record found in the Land Registry in Killingworth. It says, ‘James, son of Samuel & Mary b. April 7, 1733.” James married Polly Needham February 24, 1757. The couple had three children, James, Allen and Polly. James and Polly are buried in the Indian River Cemetery in Clinton. The existing cemetery transcripts list them both as dying August 17, 1774 at the age of 36. However evidence suggests that, that date is for Polly as is shown on her headstone. Census records show James still living in 1790.

Asel Griffin and family

These photographs come to us from Tom Griffin with an assist from Ken Griffin. They are of Asel and his wife Ellen and their twins Etta and Ezra. Note the family resemblance among the various Griffin faces we have posted. Asel / Sylvester / Asahel / Samuel / Samuel Griffin of Killingworth.

Albert Bailey Griffin 1809-1896

The following photograph comes to us courtesy of Michael Davis one of Albert's great grandsons. Albert was born in Essex, Vermont in 1809 and died in Kanarraville, Utah in 1896.His family line is Albert / Samuel / Samuel / Samuel Griffin of Killingworth. Note the family resemblance between Albert and and his great uncle Aashel Griffin.

The face of Asahel Griffin

Asahel Griffin was born in Killingworth, Connecticut the son of Samuel Griffin and his second wife Mercy Nettleton. There are a number of spellings used by his extend family. His birth record found in the ledgers of the Killingworth Second Congregational Society spells the name Asahel. In his father's will, published in Essex, Vermont, the name is spelled, Asahel. It was not uncommon in the era to see different spellings used for many names. The portrait that we present here comes to us courtesy of Ken Griffin a great grandson.Ken commissioned an artist by the name of Jacklynn Kelsey to produce this likeness using on old family photograph as a model.The remarkable thing about this image is how many of his features are shared by any number of Griffins scattered down the many family lines.