Nancy J Griffin 1830

Nancy J Griffin was born in about 1830 the daughter of James N and Jemima Griffin. She like her sister Phebe died as young mothers. There is no death record for Nancy. The hint that she had died comes from the 1850 census, which shows as part of the James N Griffin, age 64, household her two children Nancy J Dix age 2 and Charles A Dix age 7/12. In the same 1850 census Chauncey Dix, joiner, is living in his hometown of Wethersfield as a boarder. My interpretation of this information is that Nancy had passed away and her husband had left her children in the care of her parents. In 1861 there is a listing for Chauncey in the Harford City Directory but he and the two children do not appear in the record books after that date. Their fate remains a mystery. In the records in Clinton we have two references to her marriage to Chauncey B Dix. They married February 25, 1849 his age 23 hers 19 the marriage performed by the Congregational minister E L Huntington. In all of the records Chauncey is identified as a “joiner”. A record of the birth of her son Charles A has also survived. He was born November 30, 1849

Susan Cecelia Griffin October 23, 1823

Susan Cecelia Griffin was born in Clinton October 23, 1823. She and her siblings were born in somewhat of a historical vacuum. Tracing the family has been a game of clearly identifying one of the siblings and then establishing ties to that standard bearer. Susan’s ties to her parents James and Jemima Griffin are very well established. The Barbour Collection, which has provided a base line for many of our projects, does not include any baptismal records for James and Jemima Griffin’s family making it difficult to identify their children. The collection did however include a record of Griffin marriages including one for a “Susan C. Griffin m. Zerah C. Brooks, both of Clinton, December 31, 1843 by E.L. Huntington”. In the 1860 census as part of the household of Susan and Zerah we found James N Griffin age 75. We have subsequently found a death record from Volume 2 to the Clinton town records that reads, “Susan C. Brooks died March 25, 1899 at 75 years, 5 months, 2 days, Married, born in Clinton, died in Clinton, parents, father James N Griffin, mother Jemima Rossiter”. In the records of the, US Sons of the American Revolution her sons identify her as Susan “Cecelia” Brooks. In a biography for her husband she is identified as Susan Cecelia Griffin daughter of James Needham Griffin and Jemima Rossiter. In the history of the Simon Church family, concerning the Brooks family, she is listed as Susan C. Griffin the wife of Zerah Brooks. She and Zerah are buried next to each other in the Indian River Cemetery, “Susan C. Griffin, wife of Zerah, b Oct 23, 1823, d Mar 25, 1899”. Contained in the collection of biographies titled “Genealogical and family history of the state of Connecticut” is a description of Susan, “She was a women of lovable disposition. She possessed bright intellectual qualities, a keen sense of humor and was beloved by all”. ------Susan married Zerah Clark Brooks. Her sister Maria Louisa married his brother Julius. Zerah was the son of Nathan Brooks and Nancy Clark. He was born in Chester and moved with his family at an early age to Clinton. His biography reads, “Zerah Clark Brooks: born Chester October 19, 1817. From his father he learned the trade of stone cutting and stonemason work. Later he established a stone yard in Clinton and carried on the business of stone cutting and stone construction work up to within a few years of his death. He was a man of high moral standing, strict integrity, and was highly respected in his community and by all who came in contact with him. He died at the home of his son James Weston Brooks, in Derby, Connecticut, May 14, 1903 and was buried in Clinton. He married December 31, 1843 Susan Cecelia Griffin”. Just a word about the biographical collection we have sited. It covers a very small fraction of the heads of household in the state of Connecticut. To be included in its pages seems to imply that those so covered had made a significant mark in their communities.------ Susan and Zerah had 3 sons together. The oldest John Henry is buried next to them in Indian River his headstone reads “John H. Brooks, b. Oct 18, 1846, d. Apr 17, 1851”. His death is also recorded in the Hurd Collection. “Zerah Brooks his child d. April 17, 1851”. In the town records his death is also recorded, “April 17, 1851, John H. Brooks, M, 4 1/2, lung fever”. ------The second son to be born into the family was James Weston Brooks named after 3 generations of grandfathers. The Genealogical and Family History collection also has a biography for James, “James Weston Brooks, son of Zerah Clark Brooks, was born in Clinton, March 21, 1850. He attended the public schools of his native town, and the academy. He began his business career in the employment of the Hull & Wright, manufactures of ornamental tinwork. Afterwards he was with the New Haven Organ Company and became an expert in tuning organs. For a number of years he had the contract for tuning of the Monroe Organ Reed Company………was engaged to develop and perfect the tone qualities of the Vocalion Organ. The inventor of the organ James Hamilton having in several years of experimenting in Europe and a number of trials in this county had been unable to find anyone who could satisfactorily do this work. Mr. Brooks successfully completed this undertaking in about one year……….In 1887 when he resigned and came to Derby under contract with the Sterling Company, piano manufactures in charge of their tuning department……In December of 1894 the Huntington Piano Company was organized in Shelton, Connecticut and Mr. Brooks became Secretary and General Manager. Largely through his efforts and executive abilities this concern has grown rapidly and prospered greatly. He is a member of the Board of Trade of Derby…..The Golf Club…A Unitarian…. A Republican…. He is past Senior Warden of Jephtha Lodge, No. 95 Free Masons, of Clinton”. The piano companies became the focal point in the lives of James and his brother Ancel. The Sterling Organ Company was founded in 1845. Organs and pianos were the number one source of entertainment in American households. In 1860 Sterling added pianos to its line and in 1884 they changed their name to the Sterling Piano Company located in Derby. In 1894 the Sterling Company recognized a need for a line of less expensive pianos and formed a subsidiary, the Huntington Piano Company, across the river in Shelton. These two companies shipped pianos all across the county and all over the world especially South America. They are considered collector items today. At some point in time James’s brother Ansel became the President of the Sterling Company and brought James on board . The two brothers then ran the two companies for 30 odd years. They were the single biggest employer in the region. James lived the majority of his life in Derby with the exception of the 1920 census, which finds him living in Montclair, New Jersey close to the companies’ main show rooms in Brooklyn, New York. James Married Sarah Ester Platt on April 13, 1870. They had 7 children, John, Edith Louise, James Ansel, Susan May, Grace Elizabeth Platt and Ethel Chapman. Their births are all found in the Clinton town records. It is my estimation that the family lived in very comfortable circumstances. James Ansel graduated from Yale and became a well know college professor. In 1917 Edith Louise applied for a passport with a list of destinations that included British South Africa, Ceylon, Indian, Egypt and Palestine as a representative of the American Red Cross. In his World War I draft registration James is listed as 66 years old, 5 ft. 10 1/2 inches tall, 150 pounds. I found it interesting that he stated he could not ride a horse. We obtained his death record from his Masonic Lodge, December 8, 1929. ------Ansel Jones Brooks was born, according to his father’s biography, November 16, 1853. Ansel’s date of birth and genealogy are also found in his application to the US Sons of the American Revolution. In the Clinton town records we find “ 16 Nov 1853, no name, male, Zerah & Susan Brooks, age 35/29”. Also in the Clinton marriage records, “1880, February 10, Ansel J. Brooks, Jessica B. Sturges, 29/28, both of Clinton”. According to Zerah’s biography the couple did not have any children. Ansel was named after his father’s brother in law Ansel Jones. Ansel was married to James N Griffin’s sister Charlotte for 4 short years but retained a strong family connection throughout the remainder of his life. Ansel Brooks is listed in the 1900 census in New Haven as “ President Piano Company”. At various times in his life he was referred to as President of the Sterling Piano Company or of the Huntington Piano Company. What ever his title he seems to have been the leading figure in those enterprises. As such he is referenced in the New Haven City Directories. Brooks, Ansel J. (Jessica B) again with reference to the Sterling Company. The only record of his death is found in the 1934 New Haven Directory. “Brooks, Ansel J. Died September 3, 1934 age 80”; I find it an interesting salute that the city would choose to make that notation in their city directory. ------We only have a few documents to present. We have a marriage record. As pointed out in Zerah’s biography Zerah and Susan broke from the long line of Congregationalism when they joined the Methodist Congregation in Clinton. There is a baptismal record for the couple as well as James Weston. There is a death record for John Henry and a birth record available for Ansel Jones.

Maria Louisa Griffin April 13, 1816

Maria Louisa Griffin was born in South Killingworth, now Clinton, Connecticut, according to family histories, on April 13, 1816 to James Needham Griffin Jr. and his wife Jemima Rossiter. Maria was the oldest surviving daughter in the family and at various times in her life went by either Maria or Louisa. She grew up probably in or near the house that her great grandparents Samuel Griffin and Mary Beckwith built. On September 22, 1839 she married Julius Brooks. Her sister Susan Cecelia married Julius’s brother Zerah. Maria and Julius made their home next to her father in Clinton. Julius was the oldest son of Nathan Brooks born in Saybrook, now Chester, Connecticut May 19, 1816. Nathan Brooks was a stonemason. Early in the young Julius’s life the family moved from Chester to Clinton, which had become a center for shaped stone to be shipped to New York. Julius followed in his father’s footsteps also making his living as a stonemason. Julius died at the age of 33 February 2, 1849 the victim of tuberculosis called consumption in that age. We have recovered his will. Within it are description of a very comfortable multi roomed home with feather beds and carpets. His estate did not contain enough cash to cover his expenses so Maria was forced to sell portions of the property. In the 1850 census we find her listed as head of the house living next door to her father in Clinton with her two sons Charles J. and George Edward. In 1860 we find her living in Guilford with her new husband John N Simpson and a daughter Sarah. The 1870 and 1880, census records find Maria living in New Haven. In 1880 her next-door neighbor is her son Charles. Maria died May 29, 1887 and is buried in Clinton next to Julius. Her headstone reads “Brooks, Maria Louis Griffin, widow of Julius, also wife of John N. Simpson, d May 29, 1887 age 70”.------ John Simpson was listed in the census records as being born in New York making his living as a blacksmith. In his draft registration he is referred to as a carriage smith. There is no record of what became of John after the 1880 census. Maria and John seem to have had a daughter, Sarah, together. She appears at age 6 in the 1860 census but is not listed in the 1870 census.------ Maria and Julius had two sons. Charles J. Brooks born according to the 1900 census in May 1844 and according to the history of the Simon Church family September 25, 1844. Charles married Mary A Disbrow May 28, 1867. They had a daughter Louise Chapman Brooks born March 8, 1868. It appears that Louise was handicapped living with her parents until their death then with a series of caregivers. Charles is referred to in the census records as a machinist. His draft registrations list his profession as a “builder of machinery”. His draft registration also describes him as being 5 ft. 8 in. tall and weighing 154 pounds. The Connecticut Death and Burial Index lists a death date in 1824 and indicates that he is buried in the East Lawn Cemetery in what is now East Haven, Connecticut. -------George Edward Brooks was born June 2, 1846. He married Sarah E. Huxter on August 5, 1874. Sarah was born November 21, 1848. They had two daughters Adah M born June 17, 1869 and Mabel H born June 12, 1876. The records seem to indicate that he and Charles worked together as machinists. There is a record of his death in the files of the New Haven Coroners Office. “George E Brooks, 74, late of East Haven, June 13th, 1920”. The coroner provides a summary of events, “on the 12th he worked at his trade as a machinist starting at about 5 AM he arose complaining of pain in his chest and left arm dying soon after in his sitting room”. He is buried in the East Lawn Cemetery with Charles. The two boys are mentioned in their aunt Mary Jane Griffin’s will.------ Maria Louisa / James N / James Needham / James / Samuel Griffin.------ There are two great sources for material on the Brooks family. 1-The history titled, Simon Church of Chester, Connecticut. Note: Nathan Brooks’s father married into the Church family. 2- Genealogical & Family History of the State of Connecticut. I would also refer you to the Clark Family Tree on Ancestry. Com.

Phebe Elizabeth Griffin 1823

Phebe Elizabeth Griffin died as a very young women leaving but a very faint footprint in history for us to follow. Her headstone in the Indian River Cemetery reads “Phebe Elizabeth Grinnell, wife of Giles C., d. Feb 2, 1847 age 24”. In the town records we find her marriage record. “This may certify the Giles C Grinnell and Elizabeth Griffin both of Clinton were by me this day lawfully joined in marriage, Clinton June 10, 1846 E. L. Huntington Minister of the Gospel”. The Reverend Huntington was pastor of the Killingworth Congregational 1st Society. He married most of the Griffin girls but arrived in Clinton too late to marry the oldest sister Maria Louisa. Phebe’s name appears in several deed records as Phebe Elizabeth Griffin. All of the deeds are associated with the property formerly belonging to Mary Griffin or James Griffin. The extended Griffin family seems to be clustered around those properties. Seemingly there are no direct links to her parents. But, when viewed as part of the mosaic that is the history of Clinton we find her clearly in the family picture of James Needham Griffin Jr. and his wife Jemima Rossiter.------ Giles was born in Essex, Connecticut probably about 1821 to William Grinnell and his wife Lucretia Luskin. The family later moved to Clinton. After Phebe’s death Giles remarried taking Harriet E. Spencer as his 2nd wife. Deed records demonstrate that he remained close to the rest of Phebe’s family. Giles is listed in the town history of Clinton numbered among its prominent merchants his business, Boots and Shoes. Giles represented Clinton in the Connecticut General Assembly in the years 1877 and 1878. He is buried in the family plot in the Indian River Cemetery next to his two wives and several of his children the date recorded as December 23, 1886 at the age of 65.------ Phebe and Giles had one child, a son Charles, he too died very young, His headstone reads “Charles C. Grinnell son of G. C. and P. E. d., Oct 19, 1849, age 2 yrs, 8 mos, 17 dys”. A simple calculation puts his date of birth on the same date as his mother’s death. We have posted a deed record in which he inherits the property previous owned by his mother in conjunction with Chauncey Griffin.------ Phebe Elizabeth / James N / James Needham / James / Samuel.

Mary Jane Griffin, 8 June, 1821

Mary Jane Griffin was born in Clinton, Connecticut, June 8, 1821 daughter of James Needham Griffin Jr. and Jemima Rossiter. She was named after an older sister who died in infancy. Clinton in the early 1800s had turned to the sea. A good number of her men became sailors and ship captains including our own Edward Griffin. Shipbuilding became a major industry. Cargo’s included lumber, molasses and cattle to the West Indies and building stones to New York. The famous brownstones in New York architecture were quarried in Connecticut. Clinton has a center for cutting and shaping the stone. Moses Santy was one of the many who came to Clinton to work in the stone yards. He was joined by the Brooks brothers who married Mary’s sisters. He met and married Miss Mary Jane Griffin. We find in the town records “ This certified that Mr. Moses Santy of Meriden and Miss Mary Jane Griffin of Clinton were by me this day legally joined in marriage December 31, 1845 E.L. Huntington Minister of the Gospel”. The young couple moved to Moses’s hometown of Meriden, New Haven County, Connecticut where they made their home. The town history of Meriden indicates that Moses ran his own stone yard. Their home, which is described as being built of stone in the Greek revival style of architecture, is on the historic registry. Moses was born in Canada and became a naturalized citizen in 1863. The Santy’s only had one child, George H. , born April 11, 1849 he only lived into his 40’s. Census records show him living with his parents listed as a “silver plater”. Moses left his entire estate to Mary in his will. With no surviving children Mary leaves her estate to her nieces and nephews. When we were conducting our original search for James and Jemima’s family Mary’s will provided clues as to the connection between the then supposed sisters. In her will she names her sister Maria Louisa’s two boys Charles and George and her sister Susan Cecelia’s son James. There is a large stone headstone in the West Cemetery in Meriden with the names of the Santy family carved on it. “Moses Santy Feb 15, 1827-July 7, 1901, Mary J. His Wife June 8, 1821-Feb 27, 1903, George H. Santy April 11, 1849-July 6, 1889”. ------Mary Jane / James N / James Needham / James / Samuel Griffin. We have included the marriage record for Moses and Mary and also their death records. We have added the birth record for their son George and copies of their wills.

Phylura Harrington Vaughn's Will Augusta 1884

In the will Phylura names her daughters; Sally Austin, Miranda Pexton, Abba Hinman and Paulina Porter. She only identifies two sons John and Reuben. We also see the spelling for her name Phylura.

Gardner V Vaughn's Will Augusta 1887

We present here Gardner's will. In the 2nd photo is the heading for the will. In the 3rd photo he names "my children". Sally M Austin, Abbie H Hinman, Miranda Pexton, John G Vaughn, Reuben O Vaughn, Orvis Vaughn, Leander Vaughn, Smith Vaughn. In the 4th photo he names his daughters, Sally, Abbie, Miranda and Paulina Porter.