From a granddaughter of Orlow B Griffin

                                     MY GRIFFIN ANCESTORS

                                                            By

                                             Joan Firth Kaysen

                               

Mary Louisa Griffin, my great grandmother married “The Boy Next Door” so to speak. He was Solomon Austin Scullin son of the Irish immigrant James O. Scullin and his wife Rachel Austin. She was the fifth born of fifteen children and the third daughter of Orlow B. Griffin 1807-1851 and Hannah Kellogg Thompson 1811-1875. There are many small gravestones in the Essex Town Center Cemetery of the babies and young children born to Mary’s parents. Seven children survived into adulthood.

David Brainerd Griffin 1831-1863 married his cousin Philinda Minerva Griffin daughter of Almon Daniel Griffin and Mary Polly Chase and they had four children before he died serving in the MN 2^nd Infantry Regiment at Chickamauga Battlefield during the Civil War. David wrote hundreds of letters home and they are now in a book.

Henry Franklin Griffin 1832-1912 married his cousin Mary Elizabeth Kellogg and they had no children. Henry served in the 12^th Vermont during the Civil War.

Maria Ann Griffin 1835-1871 married Arvin D. Angell and they had one son and one daughter after which she died of birth complications.

Samuel Ebenezer Griffin b. 1842 d. after 1890 married Emma L. Seaver and had a son Orlow Burnham Griffin1869-1950. Samuel served in the 5^th Vermont during the Civil War and was wounded by a shot in the arm.

Sarah Andalusia Griffin 1846-1872 married Albert A. Bliss and they had two sons and a daughter.

Sylvia Nancy Griffin 1849-1878 did not marry. Sylvia lies buried next to her mother in Forest City, Sierra County, California.

Solomon Austin Scullin left Vermont to go to New York to learn the Timbering trade. Just before 1860 he sailed around the Horn to California under contract to timber gold mines. Mary at the same time had stayed in Vermont to work in a factory. After years of working in the gold mines Solomon joined the California Volunteers to fight the Indians in Arizona. After the war was over he returned to the gold mine timbering business. In the meantime his mother Rachel Scullin died in VT. He returned there and that is when he reclaimed his friendship with Mary. Since Mary’s brother Henry had moved to

Whittier California, she probably traveled to visit her brother and his wife, her cousin.

Solomon and Mary were married in Grass Valley, Nevada County, California on October 24, 1868 and they then returned to Forest City together. They had three sons, Earl, Austin and Paul, and bought half interest in Forest House Inn, in town. The years went by and about 1882 a huge fire broke out in the kitchen of Forest House it became uncontrolled and burned half the town to the ground. Solomon and Mary and their three sons, destitute returned to the east coast to live out the rest of their lives.

There are two Samuel Griffins, both from Killingworth, New London County Connecticut, buried in the Essex Town Center Cemetery. One is Mary L. Griffin’s grandfather and one is her great grandfather. Her grandmother was Sylvia Bradley and her great grandmother was Mercy Bailey. Solomon and Mary L. Griffin Scullin were seventh cousins through the OTIS line. Mary was a Mayflower descendant through John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley. Earl Scullin and his wife Margaret Anne Maguire were the parents of my mother Margaret Mary Scullin who married Thomas Firth.

Letter from Albert B Griffin to his son Charles

   

                                                  Albert Bailey Griffin Letter

                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                       Kanarra,  Iron Co.  Feb. 23, 1895

Charles I received your letter 4 or 5 days ago was glad to hear from you but sorra to hear you had poor health.  I hope you will recover and get well, I think I will get over thear this next summer some time.  My health is verry good, sleep good eat good wont work only when I am a mind to-get verray little money. Loucern hay varry light last year wheat good and potatoes verra little.

    I was born and you was in Essex Chittendon Co. your mother was born in Colchester Chittendon Co. joining Essex on the west.  Colchester lays on Lake Champlain joining Burlington City and Essx to.  Your mothers grandfarths folks ware quakers their names ware Austin I never saw them I guess you have got her fathers & mothers name and brothers and sisters name they are all dead except without it is Artemetio she moved I hear to Indiana.  I got a letter from my only brother Catty Harrison he is a cripple with rumatism 82 years old, my sister Lois Rosetta Hunt lives in Essex verry por health.  Electa Celina my youngest Sister lives in Nabraska whare a number of Counties have lost their crops and have to be helpt or suffer.  Sylvia Fuller and husband both dead they lived in Esex.  Henry Griffin your cousin was here two years ago he remembered you he staid two weeks went round to Calaforna, went back sold out, went back and bought and is there now –he is some 4 or 5 years older than you.  Has Earnest got home   how are all the Boys and Girls hope they are well and doing well, hoping this will find you and all well.  A B Griffin 86 the last day of this month.

O I wrote for you to put in a claim for Indian claim I dint hear from you wheather you did or not so I pit in one another firm for fear you had not  if you have, let me know I think it will come some time, the Whitmores have receives 22 thousand dollars I hear.  Please write soon.  I have wrote this without spects.

                                                                                A B Griffin

    I have got my room in the north east corner of my house plastered and papered and a sove and bed, sleep here nights.

                                                    So good bye

                                                             A B G

Copy of a letter sent by our Great Grandfather, Albert Bailey Griffin,  to his son Charles Emerson Griffin.  Spelling is his own.  I tried to follow exactly.

Albert Bailey Griffin Letters

                                                         The Letters  

    In 2007 while my wife and I were serving a mission in Salt Lake City, we had a most remarkable experience, one not directly related to our mission assignment, but one relating to some of our ancestors.  It had not been anticipated, but it was one I will always be grateful to the Lord for.  My interest in family history, or genealogy began when I was a young college student. I enjoyed learning about my ancestors as I engaged in research over the next 40 years, but I found nothing, which compared to that which I saw on that memorable day.

    Not far from where we lived and worked, was the museum of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.  The museum itself, with its thousands of artifacts, is very impressive, but in the back, on the first floor, they also have a history department in which is archived hundreds and hundreds of pioneer stories submitted by various people over the years.  My wife wanted to see if anything existed on one particular relative of hers so we made several trips up there to see what could be found.  That in and of itself was a bit of a challenge as the first time we attempted to go there we arrived just after the librarian in charge had gone home and on a different day we arrived to find the building locked.  Finally, we decided to try it during one of our lunch breaks.  After getting something to eat we walked up the hill north of the Administration building, where we worked, to the museum, located near the state capitol building.  This time the building was open and the librarian in charge of the archives was present.  My wife found the name of her ancestor in the file books, filled out the proper request form and handed it to the person in charge.  Since I was there, I decided I might as well do a little research also, so filled out a request for information on my second great grandmother, Abigail Varney Griffin, wife of Albert Bailey Griffin.

    When the librarian approached the table where I was seated, she handed me a thin manila envelope containing some information on grandmother Abigail, but she also had another file in her hand and said, “Do you want to look at this file, it was stuck to the other when I pulled it out.”  I looked at the file, which was much larger, and wondered what could be in it.  As I opened it, to my amazement, I found it contained copies of about seventy five letters written to grandfather Albert Bailey and his family, who were then living in Kanarraville, Utah.  They were mostly from Vermont and covered a period of time between 1852 and 1895.  Some were from friends, cousins and children, and even one had been written by his mother, Sylvia Bailey Griffin, but the majority were written by three of his sisters, Sylvia, Rosetta and Electa, and a brother, Harrison. 

    As I thumbed through them I began to see a marvelous history of his extended family with details of their lives that I never knew existed.  With in the lines of those letters was also personal information including names of children and grandchildren along with dates of birth and etc. I was so touched as I read of the love those sisters for a brother whom they had never seen since he left Essex, Vermont in 1837.  One of the sisters had addressed one of her letters to, ‘My Dear and Far Away Brother.’  It was overwhelming as I read and tried to grasp what lay before my eyes. There was too much to copy at the time, but I did make a few prints with a plan to return at a later date when I could make copies of all of them. Eventually I did do that and in the months that followed and even beyond our mission, I poured over those letters, finding more and more information and at the same time growing ever closer to that family from so many years

     Where the letters came from, I do not know, nor could the library tell me, but I will be forever grateful for those who kept and preserved them over the years and deposited them in that archive, and to our Father in Heaven who placed me where I needed to be.

    On the same eventful day that I looked at that file, that just happened “to be stuck” to the other one, I also called my brother, Bradley, who lived in the area, to wish him a happy birthday.  He was not home, but amazingly enough, his son informed me that he was that very day in Vermont visiting the birthplace of Albert Bailey Griffin and his son Charles Emerson.  The spirit of our ancestors was upon us that day.

                                                                                                                  Royce Griffin

   

    

Asahel and Joel Griffin

The history of the brothers Asahel  and Joel Griffin are closely linked. They followed the American dream of opening new lands, moving on several times in their lifetimes. But they always lived close to each other. They were the only children born of Samuel and Mercy Nettleton, Mercy dying soon after Asahel’s birth. They grew up with the children from their father’s other two marriages on the farm on Roast Meat Hill in Killingworth Connecticut.  The recorded history of the Griffins starts on page 336 of the Land Book. Samuel Griffin and his wife Mary recorded the births of their children. It starts Mary the daughter of Samuel & Mary Griffin was born December the 7^th 1728. The other children are listed Thankful, Jerusha, James, Jeremiah and Samuel born February 10, 1739. Samuel married Marah Griffen (her family name was Griffen with an “en”) May 17, 1759 the marriage recorded in the Land Book. They had three daughters Lois, Phebe/Polly and Azubah. Marah died August 13, 1763.  Samuel then married Mercy Nettleton the marriage is recorded in the church records, as May 15, 1766. The church records give the baptismal dates of their two boys as Joel, s Samuel Griffin bp Oct 4 1768 and Asahel, s Samuel Griffin bp Jan 29, 1769.  Mercy must have passed away not long after that because we have the record of Samuel marrying Mercy Stevens (Bailey) March 15, 1770. Mercy and Samuel had six children together. The two brothers grew up as part of the Griffin clan of eleven in Killingworth.  As young men seeking land and fortune they moved together to New Haven, Addison County, Vermont. They later moved together to Franklin County, New York.  Asahel is buried in Moira, New York and Joel in Rushford, New York. Asahel’s genealogy is well document and widely distributed, Joel’s family history has been a bit of a mystery. What follows is information that has come forth in the past few years. There is very little direct evidence or sources but what evidence is available is quite compelling in its testimony of the family of Joel Griffin.

Samuel and Mercy raised their clan of eleven Children on the farm on Roast meat Hill. Samuel bought the first 2 1/2 acres from his brother in law Benjamin Turner in 1761. The original deed describes the property as north of the burying yard and west of the highway. In five subsequent purchases he acquired twenty acres surround the original lot and had some twenty plus acres near by.  The location was and is still called Wolf Meadow and form 1761 to the present only one house site has been occupied. The current house sits on the original foundation and the design fits the period, except for parts of the flooring that have been replaced, it is possible that it is the original structure built by Samuel. The main floor consisted of a small foyer and one large room dominated by a large fireplace covering most of the north end. All the cooking was done in the fireplace facilitated by built in swinging arms and fire grates. There is a trap door giving access to the basement. The walls are built of shaped stone and the beams are large hand hewn timbers. A small staircase off the foyer leads to the second story room. The whole interior of the house was covered in bead board. Additional rooms have been added on, first by Worden Griffin, and then by later occupants. It is still a very beautiful little house still being enjoyed by its current occupants. The original 2 1/2 acre site consists of forested gently rolling hills borded on one side by low swampy ground south by the burying yard and east by the original road all in all a very peaceful beautiful place to raise a family.

Killingworth by 1735 had divided into two separate congregations. The people of the northern second society were referred to as the “farmers”. The economy seems to have revolved around dairy cows with the farms growing crops to support the animals. Hay, grain, corn and garden crops were said to do very well and fruit orchards seemed numerous and highly valued. The original land grant for Killingworth is now the city of Clinton, Starting in the early 1700’s the city in order to attract new settlers and give land to their offspring, began awarding land grants in the unoccupied northern part of the city. The cost to the settler was a simple filing fee.  By 1750 most of the property had been allocated. The years between 1750 and 1800 saw the land further subdivided and in some cases consolidated. By the time Samuel’s boys were old enough to strike out on their own most of the available land in Killingworth was taken. As a result all of Samuel’s boys, except Worden, left for Vermont. Worden bought his fathers farm and stayed in Killingworth he is buried next to the house in the “burying yard”. Samuel and three of his boys ended up in Essex, Vermont and Joel and Asahel ended by close by in New Haven, Vermont. In the 1790 Census we find Joel married with a daughter. He married Submit Alvord, daughter of John Alvord, who is also listed in the 1790 Census in New Haven. The marriage is noted in the history of the family of Alexander Alvord. It notes “Married Joel Griffin of St. Lawrence Co. NY, Res. Bangor Franklin Co. NY” . Asahel stayed in New Haven but Joel moved on to Swanton, Vermont. On page 15 of the land book is recorded the birth of three more children. “Oramel Griffin son of Joel & Submit born in Swanton March 26^th. 1794”. Milton born January 18^th 1796, Lois October 8^th 1797. Joel owned several large tracts of land and had a concession to maintain the bridge over the river that divided the town. Joel and Asahel lived within 20 miles of their father and half brothers in Essex, Vermont. Family names suggest that they maintained a close relationship. Dan named a son Joel and Asahel named a son Worden. Joel gave his sister’s name to his daughter Lois. All are listed in their father’s will.

Joel last appears on the tax records in Swanton in 1804. Some information indicates that he maintained some presences there until 1807. By 1810 he and Asahel are both living in Franklin County, New York some 80 miles west. Asahel settled in Moira and several generations of his family remained there. Joel is listed as one of the earliest inhabitants of Bangor most subsequent records list his residence as Malone. It seems that the impetus for the New York move may have originated with his brother in law Wolcott Alvord who was involved in a project to survey part of Franklin County and received an invitation to settle. The lure of land was still a driving force in early 19^th century America.  From the biography of his son Oramel it appears that the large tracts of land that Joel acquired were raw forested land that the family was obliged to clear. The families circumstance are described in the biography of Oramel “ His parents, thought not poor were not in affluent circumstances, and he engaged actively in clearing land and all the labors incident to the struggles of pioneers in a a new colony”. The family spent the next 20 plus years farming the recovered property.

Putting together a picture of Joel’s family has proven very difficult. The only recorded births are those of Oramel, Milton and Lois. The search for the rest of Joel and Submit’s children begins with the 1810 Federal Census. The 1810 census lists Joel and Submit’s residence as Bangor, New York. It lists one boy under the age of 10, two boys age 10-16, and two boys age 16-26 and Joel. It lists four girls under the age of 10, one girl age 10-16 and one girl age 16 to 26 and Submit. Eleven children in all. Drawing information from previous and later Census records it appears that the 1810 census shows the family in its entirety. From these sources I have drawn the following conclusions. Of the girls the oldest was born in New Haven, Vermont and listed in the 1790 Census making her about age 21 in 1810. Lois was 13 in 1810 and must be the girl listed age 10-16. A daughter Sophia was born in Swanton, Vermont about 1803. The last three daughters were born in Bangor only one of whom has been identified, Saphronia. Of the boys the two boys listed as age 16-26 are probably Oramel age 16 and Milton even though he was only 14 or 15.  Of the two boys listed ages 10-16 we have Joel Jr. born about 1800 in Swanton and Aaron born about 1798/99 in Swanton. There is no information available on the youngest boy probably also born in Bangor.

The next 30 years in the history of Joel and Submit’s family and the stories behind identifying their children revolves around their son Oramel. Tracing Oramel began with the discovery of his name on a list of men who served in the war of 1812 from Franklin County. The record states that he moved to Livingston Co, NY by 1821. Oramel moved to the Livingston and Allegany County area of Western New York and over the next 60 years became very successful becoming one of the leading citizens in those counties. Describing his early years his biography states, “ often pursued his studies by the light of burning brands on the land he was engaged in clearing”. It seems that he left the hard farming life behind and made his way via his intellect. He worked as a clerk and teacher and by dint of his hard efforts was invited by his employer to become a partner. He later struck out on his own, opening a dry good store in Rushford, New York.  The history Rushford and Rushford People writes of him, “Oramel earned his 1^st hundred dollars by falling trees for a living. With this money he early opened a store in Rushford and continued in that business over 25 years, accumulating it was supposed $100,000.”. He married the daughter of a prominent family Caroline Gary and they had a family of four. With his success Oramel began to accumulate property. He bought a large tract of land next to the Genesee Valley Canal, a part of the canal system that fed into the Erie Canal. The area and town he started was named in his honor, Oramel, New York. The location of the town of Oramel was at one of the locks on the canal system and served the area as a “port”. where goods were loaded and unloaded. Oramel was a fee collector for the canal. As the area grew he developed the adjoining property adding to his wealth. Later he expanded his land purchases into Michigan. Having achieved a good deal of success Oramel reached out to his family. The county history writes of him, “ He removed his parents and several members of his family to Rushford and rendered them such assistance as they required”. And so it is that we find the bulk of Joel and Submit's family gathered in Allegany County, New York. Joel and Submit are buried in the family plot in Rushford along side Oramel and Caroline, Joel Jr. and his wife Clarissa and Oramel's two boys Jackson and Solon.

It seems that Oramel’s family joined him gradually in western New York. Joel died in Rushford, September 15, 1833. We discover his brother, Joel Jr. when in 1838 a Presbyterian congregation was formed, listing among its founding members, Joel Jr. and Clarissa and Submit Griffin. Joel Jr. and Oramel are also linked as brothers in the town history, Joel Jr. being described as a small farmer and produce dealer. He was also clerk for the local chapter of the anti-slavery society. We find his brother Milton in nearby New Hudson.  Census records list him as a goldsmith. The census records indicate that he was born in Vermont in 1796. In the 1860’s we find Milton’s daughter living with Oramel’s sons in Michigan. Referring to Milton the local history writes, “One of the Griffins who came to Rushford was a little peculiar, unlike the other members of the family, and some one, knowing his name was Griffin asked “Uncle Joel” if he were his brother. “Yes,” said he, but quickly added, He’s Oramel’s brother too.” This reply became one of the proverbs of the town.”.  The only evidence connecting the fourth brother Aaron to Joel’s family is the 1820 and 1830 Census records in Malone. The original records are organized by neighborhoods. We find Milton, his father Joel, and Aaron all living as neighbors, in fact, Aaron and Joel lived next to each other. The dates involved are consistent with Aaron being born in 1798/99 in Swanton.  Aaron disappears after the 1840 census.  It seems he died before he had a chance to join the family in western New York. The first start in identifying the sisters begins with a notice in the Malone Palladium where we find the wedding announcement for Solon Nichols of Chateaugay and Sophronia Griffin of Malone in October 1828. The Alvord family history also makes note of the marriage, the only bit of information it contains concerning Joel and Submits’s family. In the 1850-60-70 Census records for Allegany County we find Solon and Sophronia living in New Hudson by Milton. Solons full name was Solon Jackson Nichols.  It is interesting to note that Oramel named his two boys Solon and Jackson, and that Solons name is on Joel’s will as a witness. Solon is listed in the census records as a merchant. It is my guess that he was a partner with Oramel. In the 1880 Census in Kalamazoo, Michigan we find Solon and Sophronia living in close proximity to Jackson Griffin who had occupied his fathers property there. The clues to the identity of Sophia were found quite by accident. In discussing the history of the area churches in the volume Rushford and Rushford People we find a description of a local choir. In describing its members the author writes, “Mrs. Hitchcock a sister to Joel Griffin”.  In the 1850 census we find the only Hitchcock in Oramel (Caneadea), Augustus Hitchcock and his wife Sophia. They have two children Augusta and Jackson. In the 1880 census record for Solon and Sophronia in Michigan we find Sophia Hitchcock as part of the household, listed as age 77. By the time of the 1890 Census all of Joel and Submit’s children have passed from the scene no longer appearing in any Census record. Joel’s generations maintained a presents in Allegany county into the 1970’s. They occupied a place in the highest levels of society. Any one visiting today can introduce themselves as Griffins and will still be recognized as being connected to local history.

It should be noted that the author has reviewed primary sources for all of the records and histories cited in this narrative.

Killingworth Records Vol 1 , 2 Town Clerk

Land Records for Killingworth Town Clerk

Union Cemetery records Killingworth

Church Records First Congregational Church Killingworth Connecticut

Rushford and Rushford people by Mrs. Helen Josephine Gilbert

Allegany County and its People by John S. Minard

History of Allegany County N.Y. by F.W. Beers

History of Allegany County, New York 1806-1879 by Robert M. French

A Genealogy of the Descendants of Alexander Alvord An Early Settler of Windsor, Connecticut and Northampton, Massachusetts by Samuel Morgan Alvord 1908

Land Records Swanton, Vermont

Town Records Swanton, Vermont

1790 Census New Haven, Addison, Vermont

1810, 1820,1830,1840 Census, Franklin County, New York

Extracted marriage records from the Malone Palladium

1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 Census Allegany County, New York

Church records from Rushford First Presbyterian Church

1880 Census Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, Michigan

1860 Census Barry, Barry, Michigan

Edgar LeRoy and Albert Bailey Griffin

 Article from The Genealogical and History Magazine on the life of Edgar LeRoy Griffin.

Edgar LeRoy Griffin was the 2^nd son of Albert Bailey Griffin, the latter being born at Essex, Vermont where he converted to the gospel. The early labors of Albert Bailey Griffin were on the farm helping his parents, hauling wood, tending cattle and sheep, and clearing heavy timbered land, of which there was a great deal in Vermont. Albert was industrious, moral and religiously inclined. He embraced the gospel in 1843. In obedience to gospel principles and to counsel of the priesthood, and of those placed over him, he left the old home to go west and help build up the kingdom of God in the Rockies. To make this journey he was outfitted with one yoke of oxen, one cow and one old wagon, with scant supplies.  

Leaving Nauvoo on 15^th April 1846 and traveling alone to Garden Grove, he overtook the main company with Brigham Young. A small company was ready to start with Apostles P.P. Pratt, Orson Pratt and Willard Richards. They were to pick out roads and establish settlements and invited Albert to go with them. They stopped at a place known as Mt. Pisgah and a settlement of the Saints was built there. From there he went on to Council Bluffs with the main company. He helped build the first road used in crossing the Missouri river, and was the first to move into a log cabin at Winter Quarters where he stayed for two years. In 1848 he left for Salt Lake with Heber C. Kimball’s company. He was chosen as a captain of 10. The Saints were liberal in helping each other when necessity required. They were frequently visited by bands of Indians, but no harm was ever attempted. They depended on the buffalo for meat, and on one occasion a great herd came towards them, guns were fired amongst the herd which scattered them, some going in front and some behind the wagon team, no damage being done.The only real loss on the way was an ox of Brother William Clayton’s. One child was born on the road. Utah was reached about the middle of October 1848. Albert Bailey Griffin was an honest tithe payer and always ready to obey the call of the Priesthood. He was at one time a Bishop’s counselor and at the death, by drowning, of Bishop L.W. Roundy, acted in his stead until the place was filled. He was a seventy. In civil life he co-operated in institutions in a missionary capacity. He was also a sergeant in the Black Hawk war. For a time he settled in Sugar House, and was on the Church farm for a period of 11 years not knowing what recompense to expect over his living expenses. It was whilst on this farm that Edgar Leroy was born, 17^th March. 1855 and was blessed at Sugar House by William Smoot father of our present Apostle and Senator Reed Smoot. In 1863 the Griffin family moved to Coalville, stayed one year, then moved to Long Valley. By now Edgar LeRoy was eight years of age and was baptized by John Berry and confirmed by his father. At Long Valley they had a prosperous farm and a promising crop, the wheat just bursting into head, when the Indians came and drove every one out. The family never returned. This was 1868. So they next settled in Kanarra. Here they kept a feed stable. On one occasions the Indians came and took boards off the barn, stole the horses, leaving only Brother Smith’s mules, which were hobbled. They shot arrows into the two mules and left.

(The history of Kanarraville describes the event “ The people of Kanarra had never had trouble with the local Indians, but October 31, 1869 a tribe of Navajo’s raided them. They took all but a pair of hobbled mules and two or three horses. The men went to New Harmony and next morning and got horses to follow them, and they also got some friendly Indians to go with them. They followed them over Kanarra and Cedar Mountain, and finally from a ledge over the lake below they saw the Indians and horses. The Indians had their moccasins off to warn their feet, and when the Kanarra men and Indians rushed them they ran way leaving their moccasins and their horses. The victors took both the horses and the moccasins, leaving the Indians to freeze or starve. The Navajos made their way back to Arizona without shoe or horses through the snow. The people of Kanarra were never bothered by Indians again, from their one experience with them came the name, “Navajo Lake”.)

Edgar LeRoy was telegraph operator and assistant postmaster to his father. In 1874 he was married to Clara Stratton at the St. George Temple. About 6 years later Brother A.F. Macdonald was called to Maricopa Stake and was given the privilege to call whom he would. He asked Brother Edgar L. Griffin to go with him, which he did. Leaving St. George on Dec. 15, 1879, they crossed the Colorado 1st of January, and reached Mesa 4^th Feb 1880 and have resided here ever since.  He was called as first superintendent of Sunday School for Maricopa Stake, also 1^st Ward clerk. Brother Griffin is father of 7 children, one infant being drowned in ditch at one year. Other 6 living to maturity.

Samuel Griffin's Will 1776-1851

Samuel Griffin's Will 1776-1851

Albert Bailey Griffin in Munson, Ohio

Albert and Abigail Griffin joined the migration west sometime in 1837/1838. In the 1830s America was still very much an agrarian society. As one of three surviving sons of Samuel and Abigail Griffin Albert’s  prospects were limited in Vermont. His brother Orlo seemed poised to take over their fathers farm. So Albert and Abigail joined the next great American migration moving west to the Ohio River Valley in the Western Reserve. The decision to leave was probably not taken lightly. From evidence gathered from family letters, that have survived, it is apparent that the Griffin clan was very close. They often reminisced about their home life and the home where they grew up. There are numerous references in the letters to the day of departure as Albert and Abigail started on their journey. Several describe how red and sore Charles’s little face was. There is a great sense of longing in the family to once again see their brother. Albert never made it back to Vermont although Charles in his biography relates that his grandfather Samuel made the trip to Ohio to see them.  Vermont  was an ideal location for those moving west. It provided access to an all water route. A short trip to Lake Champlain, up the Lake  which drained into the St Lawrence at Montreal, down the St Lawrence to Lake Erie, from the shores of the lake a one or two day trip to Geauga County, to end up in Munson Township. The Griffins followed, traveled with, or were joined by much of Abigail’s family. The Varneys were wagon makers a trade in great demand in frontier Ohio. They lived within a short walking distance of each other. Charles states that they visited often.

 Munson was part of the Western Reserve, land held by the state of Connecticut. In 1795 a large part of the holding was sold to developers. The lands were called survey lands. The federal government surveyed the land into 36 square mile blocks, which were subdivided into 640-acre sections with sections set aside for schools etc. In the case of Munson the squares were only 25 miles. Munson was the 8th township in the 8^th range. Munson was divided into 3 tracts and each tract was divided into lots. The point of the survey lands was to provide structure to western expansion. It was a way to provide title to land and encourage growth. This area was settled early in the development of Ohio because of its easy access to Lake Erie. Munson was one of the last townships to be settled because it was the most mountainous. Its geography had a great influence on how the people made a living. With its higher elevation it was blessed with abundant supplies of running water. The township supported a variety of water powered mills, sawmills, carding mills, gristmills. It was also described as great grass country. Because of this it became famous for its dairy herds and dairy industry. Beef cattle were also raised and exported mainly to Pennsylvania. Another range-based industry was sheep including a brand of Moreno sheep raised for their great wool.

The Griffins started, as did most immigrants to the area, in neighboring Newbury Township. Munson saw its first settlers around 1816. It’s my guess that they purchased raw undeveloped land. They were in Newbury in 1837/38 and made the move to Munson probably in 1840.

History of land purchases:

Samuel Hale to Albert Griffin 50 acres in Newbury 7^th Township Lot 29 for $700.00 dated August 29, 1838.  FHL film 20,241, p318

Samuel sold the property to John Fifield Sept 18, 1838. The deal was for Lot 29, $300.00 cash and a mortgage for $400.00 with interest to be paid out over 3 years. A note added at a later date to the back of the mortgage indicates that the mortgage was paid.  P383/386

Titas Stuart to Albert north part of lot 10 tract 3, 8^th townships in 8^th range Munson October 30, 1839.  35 acres for $165.00. At some other time Albert bought another 65 acres. FHL film 20,242, p454

Ransford Knox to Albert  middle part of lot 10 tract 3. 65 13/100 acres for  $1000.00 dated Aug. 11, 1841 FHL film 20,243, p64 “ Know we Albert B Griffin and Abigail Griffin his wife of the township of Munson In the County of Geauga “

Albert to Knox north part of Lot 10 Mortgage for $1,000.00 for 100 acres. Seven payments over 8 years with interest. Page 69 “If Albert B Griffin shall well and truthful pay the above deed shall be void”

Albert to Knox for $800.00 middle part of Lot 10 June 9, 1942

Result of these transactions left Albert with 100 acres in the north part of lot 10 tract 3

George Varney bought 1 acre for a home lot for $20 in 1839 FHL film 20,242

Albert to Asher Fowler  $400.00 for 50 acres north part lot 10

Albert to Asher Fowler north part of lot 10 tract 3 for $600.00  Sept 15, 1843 FHL 20,244 p 452

Sold ½ and mortgaged ½  of what I think was his home lot I think he farmed the north part of lot 10

Mortgage between Albert and Fowler 4 promissory notes 1^st on demand $160.00 2^nd May 1^st next $100.00 3^rd $170.00 Sept 1845 4^th $170.00 in 3 years plus interest.

Feb 1846 sells mortgage to B.L. Randell

George Varney to his father Paul Varney mortgage Lot 34 east corner of Tract 3 Dec 3, 1844 later Paul sells it back to George. The deed lists Paul and his wife Anna (Austin) and George and his wife Louisa. FHL film 20,245, p111 and 237/686/687

Varney Genealogy

FHL films 1307592-2, 15550-4, 15541-19 and 929.273V431

Its interesting to note that Albert’s farm is now the location for the Munson City Park. There are covered pavilions and picnic areas, play ground equipment  and a number of baseball, softball  and soccer fields. There is also an elementary school  on the location. Every year the city holds its town days in the middle of the Griffin farm in Munson Ohio.

Deed record for Albert and Abigail Griffin

Munson Tract 3 Lot 10 in lower right corner

Albert's farm in Munson, Ohio

Albert B. Griffin Iron District militia 1866

Charles E. Griffin with the Life Guards Calvary Unit

Map of Essex Township and Essex Corners

 At the junction of the roads in Essex Corners is the Congregational Church the Essex Common Burial Ground sits on its north side. Samuel and Mercy's home lot, Lot 142,  is located just a little north and and west of the junction. Lot 182 is located in the southwest part of the township

Burial place for 3 generations of Griffins

Sylvia Bradley Griffin

Samuel Griffin 1776-1851

Mercy Bailey Griffin

Samuel Griffin 1739-1808

John Griffin's Will

John Griffin: May 17, 1778 to March 30, 1832

John was born in Killingworth Connecticut son of Samuel Griffin 2^nd and Mercy Bailey. He grew up on the family farm in the house next to the “burying yard”. John was one of six boys in the household as they approached adulthood the need to find farmland of their own became paramount in their lives. All of Samuel and Mercy’s sons left Killingworth except Worden who bought his fathers home and farm. For the young men of Killingworth looking for land of their own Vermont represented the next frontier. The Griffin boys ended up in Essex, Vermont which was one of seven towns in the county of Chittenden chartered in June 1763.

Essex was described as an area six miles square bounded on the south by the Winooksi River. This area was to be parceled into 72 equal shares among 66 Grantees named in the charter. The Grantees organized several expeditions to survey the area. Their records contain detailed lists of the men involved.  John’s name was among those listed. My assumption is that he was the point man for the family’s move from Killingworth to Essex. The Grantees subdivided their holdings into lots that averaged about 110 acres and offered them for sale as either one-half or full lots. Samuel and John purchased Lot 142 and Samuel Jr. Lot 81. The first real settlement of Essex started in earnest in 1783 and it seems likely that the Griffins were in the first few waves of settlers in the new community. By 1798 they had already purchased additional farmland.  In April 1800 John purchased 6 acres form Dan Morgan next to Lot 142.  I think this was his “home lot”. Dan also purchased a “home lot”.  They both probably worked the farm together with their father who by this time was certainly retired, although, the original purchase was in his name. When Samuel died in 1808 ownership of the farm passed into John’s hands. Over the next 20 years he purchase several additional parcels surrounding the original Lot 142.  Dan moved to his own farm in Westford.

In the existing Griffin histories there is no information on John other than to record his birth and death in Essex in 1832. I have no inkling as to why nothing was written concerning his family. He is buried in a family plot next to his parents Samuel and Mercy in the Essex Common Burial Ground. Buried next to John is Doct. Truman Griffin. The headstone reads May 10, 1829 age 27.  Next to him is Chloe Griffin and her stone reads “dau of John & Mary in the 16th yr of her age”. Truman belongs to none of the other Griffin families and Chloe is clearly identified as John’s daughter and John’s wife is identified as Mary. Armed with this information the search was started to assemble a portrait for the family of John Griffin. Looking for his wife Mary I found a reference in a Tyler genealogy for the marriage of Mary Tyler to John Griffin. In the town records of Richmond, New Hampshire is their marriage record. “May certify that John Griffin of Essex in the state of Vermont and Mary Tyler of Richmond were joined in marriage, Moses Tyler Justice of  Peace” the day February 1, 1801. Moses was Mary’s father. John moved Mary onto the newly purchased home lot and they began to raise a family. We later find that John sold the original home lot he must have moved into his father’s house with his passing. The 1810 Census shows a family with two boys under the age of 10 and 2 girls under 10. In 1820 the Census listed one boy under 16 and one boy over age 16, one girl under 10 and one girl over 16. The 1830 census 1 boy age 20 to 30, 2 girls under age 10 and 1 girl age 20 to 30. The next piece in the puzzle is provided by John’s will, John having died, in 1832. In the will Mary is named the executor and assumes the following obligations. She is named guardian to Charlotte and Fanny Sinclair who are identified as granddaughters. Mary is also made guardian to Malinda who is over the age of 14 and a 2^nd daughter under the age of 14. The name of the second child is illegible although it starts with a “J”.  Both are identified as daughters of John Griffin. One of the provisions of the will is the requirement that they sell part of the property to pay off John’s debts, to do so required, the signature of all of his heirs. They write “we the undersigned legal heirs to the estate of John Griffin…” it is signed.

“Mary Griffin guardian to Malinda Griffin.

Mary Griffin guardian to Charlotte and Fanny Sinclair and “J” Griffin.

Mary Griffin

Samuel Griffin”

Looking for the parents of Charlotte and Fanny Sinclair we find a marriage record for Freeman Sinclair and Eunice Griffin February 24, 1827. Eunice’s death is recorded October 27, 1831 leaving her two girls in her mothers care. Given the hint of a daughter Mary we looked for a marriage record for her.  In the family records of Erastus Tyler, a nephew of Mary Tyler, he records his marriage to Mary Griffin daughter of John and Mary Griffin. Her tombstone in Granville, Ohio lists her date of birth as June 2, 1811.  The Barbour records for Killingworth includes the following “ Samuel of Essex, Vt., m Lodah Field ,….Nov 4, 1832”.  So gradually bit-by-bit a picture of the family of John and Mary Griffin comes into focus. With a lack of direct evidence, birth records, etc. we are left to add up a number of clues. In the family history of the Tylers we find that Mary had sisters named Malinda and Chloe with Truman being a common Tyler Name. John’s daughter Mary also named her girls Chloe and Malinda. In the of the land deed records for Essex we find several interesting deeds. In a deed dated May 3,1833 Mary is identified as the administrator of the estate of John Griffin, late of Essex.  By order of the probate court she sells 17 acres from Lot 123 and 5 acres of Lot 140 to Samuel Slater to meet John’s debts. In 1837 we find Mary’s children selling their inheritance from their father back to their mother. Erastus and Mary Tyler of Granville, Licking, Ohio with the note “late of John Griffin seized”. Samuel of Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio “late of John Griffin seized”. Malinda and Erastus and “Jane” Bentley of Jericho, Chittenden, Vermont. This gives an identity to the “J” in the will. With this evidence in hand we can try to fix dates to John and Mary’s children.

Truman, from cemetery records, 1802 to May 10, 1829. John and Mary married in 1801.

Chloe, from cemetery records, 1803 to October 11, 1819.

Eunice, married in 1827, her husband was born in 1802, she was listed as under age 10 in the 1810 Census. Born after Chloe, her birth date was probably in the 1804 to 1806 range.

Samuel, according to census records, was under age 10 in 1810 and between ages 20 to 30 in 1830 Census. With Eunice, he must have been born, in the 1806 to 1809 range.

Mary, her headstone, gives her date of birth as June 2, 1811.

Malinda, the 1830 Census lists 2 girls under the age of 10. John’s will indicates that in 1832/33 she was over the age of 14.  This puts a date of birth in the 1816 to 1818 range.

Jane, was under the age of 14 at her fathers death.  This information and subsequent census records from her marriage indicates that she was probably born about 1820.

It remains to be seen what additional information may come forth concerning the family of John Griffin but let it now suffice to say that they are no longer strangers to us.