This genealogy has been updated after a major breakthrough was made in

July 2008. Until this point, this genealogy started with Hacaliah Griffin (now #12). But the discovery of Benjamin Griffin's Revolutionary War record (Hacaliah's father) made way for the addition of 5 generations and almost 200 years of information to this report.

 

 

The Griffin Family

_________________________

 

Because of the extensive extended family information,

I have put in bold all persons leading down to my mother.

 

 

Descendants of Edward Griffin

 

Generation No. 1

1. EDWARD1 GRIFFIN1. He married MARY1.

Notes for EDWARD GRIFFIN:

On the 1698 Census of Flushing, NY, the last name has been transcribed as "Greffin".

 

In his book, Ancestors and descendents [sic] of Richard Griffin of Smithville, Ont. : a pioneer family : with a brief account of some related Griffin families in Connecticut by Justus Griffin, which I used as a reference for this genealogy, Griffin gives a detailed accounting of Edward Griffin's movement through Long Island, New York in the mid 1600's, using land deed records, censuses and other pieces of documentary history. He states that Edward came to Virginia from London in 1635 aboard the ship "Abraham" along with dozens of other men, a number of whom were Welsh. In my research I did in fact find on the manifest of the Abraham an Edward Griffin. According to Justus Griffin, these men were part of a company of merchants headed up by Capt. William Clayborne whose intent it was to set up trading posts with Indians in the Chesapeake Bay. One, was on Kent Island, just off the coast of Annapolis, Maryland, and the other on Palmer's Island, a little further north, at the mouth of the Susquehanna River. Griffin goes on to relate the story of Lord Baltimore and his raid on the trading posts in June of 1638, and the taking of Edward Griffin along with three others as prisoners to Maryland for some time. In about 1640, Edward Griffin eventually escapes to New York, or, New Amsterdam, as it was called at that time. Although I found proof of the various facts presented by Justus Griffin, including a letter from King Charles I of England dated 14 July 1638, to Lord Baltimore, reprimanding him for his action against the trading post and 'seizing and carrying away both the persons and the Estate' of Clayborne and his associates, there are other facts I have as yet to confirm, such as the application made by Leonard Calvert, Governor of Maryland, to the authorities in New Amsterdam on 27 August 1640, to have Edward Griffin extradited back to Maryland, which was denied. For this reason, I have not fully included these details in my genealogy, despite the fact that every ensuing evidence presented by Justus Griffin as to Edward's movement around Long Island over the course of the next 50 years I have been able to confirm with documentation and so have included those findings here. I feel that Mr. Griffin was very thorough in his research and no doubt spent hours looking through papers and documents to establish his timeline. Most likely, his account of Edward's arrival to America is very accurate. However, until I can trace it for myself, I will not include it here.

 

Children of EDWARD GRIFFIN and MARY are:

2. i. JOHN2 GRIFFIN, d. 30 Jan 1742.

    ii. DEBORAH GRIFFIN2.

3. iii. EDWARD GRIFFIN.

4. iv. RICHARD GRIFFIN.

 

Interesting Historical Note on Edward Griffin

 

I have found several variations on the spelling of his last name, including: Greffin, Griffen and Griffine. This last one was used when he signed a document of significant historic importance. Dated 27 December 1657, the "Flushing Remonstrance" was signed by the 30 townsman of Flushing (Long Island, New York) and sent to Governor Stuyvesant to petition for religious freedom. This document is still in existence today and I have posted more information, pictures of the document and Edward's signature on the page "Flushing Remonstrance".

 

Generation No. 2

2. JOHN2 GRIFFIN (EDWARD1) died 30 Jan 17423. He married ELIZABETH. She was born in Flushing, New York4,5.

Children of JOHN GRIFFIN and ELIZABETH are:

    i. JOHN3 GRIFFIN, b. Bef. 1698, Flushing, New York.

5. ii. BENJAMIN GRIFFIN, b. Bef. 1698, Flushing, New York; d. 1731, Mamaroneck, New York.

    iii. ELIZABETH GRIFFIN, b. Bef. 1698, Flushing, New York.

    iv. ISAAC GRIFFIN, b. Bef. 1698, Flushing, New York.

    v. JOSEPH GRIFFIN, b. Bef. 1698, Flushing, New York.

6. vi. JACOB GRIFFIN.

    vii. EZEKIEL GRIFFIN.

 

3. EDWARD2 GRIFFIN (EDWARD1)5. He married DEBORAH5.

Children of EDWARD GRIFFIN and DEBORAH are:

i. EDWARD3 GRIFFIN.

ii. MARY GRIFFIN.

 

4. RICHARD2 GRIFFIN (EDWARD1)5. He married SUSAN5.

Children of RICHARD GRIFFIN and SUSAN are:

i. SAMUEL3 GRIFFIN.

ii. RICHARD GRIFFIN.

iii. SARAH GRIFFIN.

 

Generation No. 3

5. BENJAMIN3 GRIFFIN (JOHN2, EDWARD1) was born Bef. 1698 in Flushing, New York5,6, and died 1731 in Mamaroneck, New York7. He married MARY DISBROW7. She died Jan 17608.

Children of BENJAMIN GRIFFIN and MARY DISBROW are:

7. i. BENJAMIN4 GRIFFIN.

8. ii. HENRY GRIFFIN, d. Jan 1763, Rye, New York.

    iii. WILLIAM GRIFFIN.

    iv. CALEB GRIFFIN.

        Notes for CALEB GRIFFIN:

        In his father's will, proved 14 June 1731, Caleb is to receive his inheritance "when of age" perhaps indicating his is young when

        his father died. Possibly born no earlier than 1710.

9. v. ELIZABETH GRIFFIN.

    vi. MARGARET GRIFFIN.

    vii. DEBORAH GRIFFIN, m. ? SANDS9.

 

6. JACOB3 GRIFFIN (JOHN2, EDWARD1) He married SARAH10.

Notes for JACOB GRIFFIN:

In his will, mentions brothers: Ezekiel, William, Caleb, Henry and Benjamin.

 

Children of JACOB GRIFFIN and SARAH are:

i. WINIFRED4 GRIFFIN, m. ? PURDY.

ii. CATHERINE GRIFFIN, d. `; m. BARTON.

iii. SARAH GRIFFIN, m. STRINGHAM.

 

Generation No. 4

7. BENJAMIN4 GRIFFIN (BENJAMIN3, JOHN2, EDWARD1) He married ESTHER GILCHRIST11.

Children of BENJAMIN GRIFFIN and ESTHER GILCHRIST are:

10. i. GILBERT5 GRIFFIN, d. 25 Nov 1839, New Rochelle, NY.

    ii. MARY GRIFFIN11,12, b. 20 Oct 175913; d. 30 Jun 183913; m. RICHARD HATFIELD13.

 

8. HENRY4 GRIFFIN (BENJAMIN3, JOHN2, EDWARD1)14 died Jan 1763 in Rye, New York14. He married ANNE FOWLER15,16 174317, daughter of HENRY FOWLER and ANN DRAKE. She was born 10 Jul 1723 in Mamaroneck, New York18, and died 25 Nov 1808 in White Plains, New York18.

 

Children of HENRY GRIFFIN and ANNE FOWLER are:

11. i. BENJAMIN5 GRIFFIN, b. 1747; d. 27 May 1825, Lake Mahopac, Carmel, New York.

ii. WILLIAM GRIFFIN, b. Aft. 1747.

iii. JANE GRIFFIN.

iv. ANN GRIFFIN.

 

9. ELIZABETH4 GRIFFIN (BENJAMIN3, JOHN2, EDWARD1) She married JOB HADDEN19 16 Feb 173620.

Child of ELIZABETH GRIFFIN and JOB HADDEN is:

i. MARY5 HADDEN21.

 

Generation No. 5

10. GILBERT5 GRIFFIN (BENJAMIN4, BENJAMIN3, JOHN2, EDWARD1)22,23 died 25 Nov 1839 in New Rochelle, NY24. He married ALICE HATFIELD24.

Children of GILBERT GRIFFIN and ALICE HATFIELD are:

i. RICHARD6 GRIFFIN24.

ii. HENRY GRIFFIN24.

 

11. BENJAMIN5 GRIFFIN (HENRY4, BENJAMIN3, JOHN2, EDWARD1)25 was born 1747, and died 27 May 1825 in Lake Mahopac, Carmel, New York25,26. He married PHEBE STEENROD27 17 Jul 1785 in White Plains, New York28. She was born 13 Jan 176529, and died 11 Dec 1849 in Lake Mahopac, Carmel, New York30.

Notes for BENJAMIN GRIFFIN:

Although I do not have concrete data that Benjamin is the son of Henry, I've made an "educated" supposition to this fact. Here is why:

Along with his Revolutionary War Pension document is the application by Phebe (Steenrod) Griffin to continue receiving her husband's pension after his death. A witness for her character is one Mary Hatfield, widow of Hon. Richard Hatfield. The pension application is dated 1 Sept 1838. Mary Hatfield was in the "79th year of her age" at the time of this deposition. There is a Mary Griffin who married a Richard Hatfield, she being the daughter of Benjamin and Esther (Gilchrist) Griffin, born 20 Oct 1759, who in 1838 would have been 79. Further, her husband, Richard Hatfield, died in 1813, leaving her a widow at the time of this deposition. Mary Hatfield in the deposition lived in White Plains, and said that Phebe lived with her until she married Benjamin. Benjamin and Mary were married in White Plains in 1785. Mary Griffin Hatfield lived in White Plains as well. Lastly, in the book "Hatfields of Westchester Co.", Gilbert Griffin is said to be the son of Benjamin and Esther (Gilchrist) Griffin, and the brother to MARY, wife of HON. RICHARD HATFIELD. Therefore, the Mary Hatfield in the deposition is the same as Mary Griffin Hatfield, who would have been first cousin to Benjamin Griffin, husband of Phebe Steenrod.

There are also numerous family ties laid out in the "Early Wills of Westchester CO., NY" that link the families of Benjamin and Esther (Gilchrist) Griffin with Henry and Ann (Fowler) Griffin.

 

 

More About BENJAMIN GRIFFIN:

Burial: Bolding Plot Northern Side of Lake Mahopac, NY31,32

 

Children of BENJAMIN GRIFFIN and PHEBE STEENROD are:

    i. LOUIS B.6 GRIFFIN33, b. Abt. 1786; d. Aft. 1845.

    ii. JOHN GRIFFIN33,34, b. 1788; d. 16 Apr 1855.

    iii. MATILDA GRIFFIN35, b. 16 Jan 1797, Dutchess County, New York35; d. 11 Sep 1857, North Salem, NY35.

12. iv. HACALIAH B. GRIFFIN, b. Abt. 1800, Dutchess County, New York; d. 1859, Delaware County, New York.

    v. LABAN CORNELIUS GRIFFIN35,36, b. Abt. 1809.

 

Generation No. 6

12. HACALIAH B.6 GRIFFIN (BENJAMIN5, HENRY4, BENJAMIN3, JOHN2, EDWARD1) was born Abt. 1800 in Dutchess County, New York, and died 1859 in Delaware County, New York37. He married RACHEL. She was born Abt. 1800 in Roxbury, New York, and died Aft. 1860.

Notes for HACALIAH B. GRIFFIN:

Although, again, I do not have concrete proof of Hachaliah's parentage being Benjamin Griffin, I have made this "educated" supposition. Here is why.

In his Revolution War Pension document, dated 18 March 1818, Benjamin Griffin states he lives in Carmel, NY. On the 1820 Census for Carmel, there is a Benjamin Griffin. Also on the 1820 for Carmel is Hackaliah Griffin. Both men are the approximate age that Benjamin and Hackaliah would need to be. There is no Hackaliah Griffin on any other 1820 Census or ANY census other than in New York state and the ones I've already found.

Also, the book, "A Genealogical Study of the Steenrod Family" pub. 1960, gives Hackaliah as one of Benjamin and Phebe's children.

 

Children of HACALIAH GRIFFIN and RACHEL are:

      i. LEONARD7 GRIFFIN, b. 1835.

13. ii. TEMAN GRIFFIN, b. 22 May 1836, Roxbury, Delaware County, New York; d. 02 Dec 1897, Ashland, New York.

    iii. MUNSON GRIFFIN, b. 1840.

    iv. PHEBE M. GRIFFIN, b. 1841.

    v. WILLIAM GRIFFIN, b. 1843.

 

Generation No. 7

13. TEMAN7 GRIFFIN (HACALIAH B.6, BENJAMIN5, HENRY4, BENJAMIN3, JOHN2, EDWARD1) was born 22 May 1836 in Roxbury, Delaware County, New York, and died 02 Dec 1897 in Ashland, New York. He married MARY C. MYRES, daughter of ADAM MYRES and MARY THOMPKINS. She was born Oct 1829 in Prattsville, NY, and died 28 Dec 1908 in Ashland, New York.

More About TEMAN GRIFFIN:

Burial: West Settlement Cemetery, Ashland NY

Cause of Death: angina; vascular legion

Medical Information: 3 weeks sick

Will: 28 Mar 1898, probated; heirs: Mary C., Willett C., and William M.

More About MARY C. MYRES:

Burial: West Settlement Cemetery, Ashland, NY

 

Children of TEMAN GRIFFIN and MARY MYRES are:

      i. ALICE M.8 GRIFFIN, b. Jan 1860.

14. ii. WILLIAM GRIFFIN, b. Dec 1864; d. Bef. 1927.

    iii. WILLET GRIFFIN, b. Dec 1864; d. 1948, Catskill, NY.

        More About WILLET GRIFFIN:

        Burial: Old Jefferson Rural Cemetery, Catskill, NY; LOT #951A

 

Generation No. 8

14. WILLIAM8 GRIFFIN (TEMAN7, HACALIAH B.6, BENJAMIN5, HENRY4, BENJAMIN3, JOHN2, EDWARD1) was born Dec 1864, and died Bef. 1927. He married CORNELIA AUGUSTA TUTTLE 1886, daughter of DAVID TUTTLE and AUGUSTA LAYMAN. She was born 19 Mar 1868 in Ashland, New York, and died 30 Oct 1927 in Ashland, New York.

Notes for CORNELIA AUGUSTA TUTTLE:

Burial: West Settlement, Ashland, NY #8

Cause of Death: cerebral hemorrhage

 

October 12, 2007--Trip to West Settlement Cemetery. Cornelia Griffin's gravestone was not there. However, it had been there when the cemetery was transcribed in 2002. Also, Mom has the 8mm home movie that Papa took when mom was very small, maybe 5 years old, visiting this cemetery. The stone was there in the video. When we pulled up to the cemetery in October, mom recognized the flat stone wall that boarders the cemetery by the road as the one in the video where she, as a little girl, ran along. She never knew where that was taken until we went to Ashland.

 

Although we did not get a photo of Cornelia's grave while there, we did find one among Grandma and Papa's old photos, so I included that on the Gravestones page.

 

 

Children of WILLIAM GRIFFIN and CORNELIA TUTTLE are:

    i. AVIS E.9 GRIFFIN, b. 1887, Ashland New York; d. 13 Feb 1890, year of death unsure.

        Notes for AVIS E. GRIFFIN:

        possibly born 28 Feb 1886

        More About AVIS E. GRIFFIN:

        Burial: West Settlement Cemetery, Ashland, NY; #19

15. ii. JESSE GRIFFIN, b. 23 Jul 1889, Prattsville, New York; d. 07 Jun 1945, Norwood, Rhode Island.

    iii. GLADYS GRIFFIN38, b. 1901; m. MARVIN ARMS.

 

Generation No. 9

15. JESSE9 GRIFFIN (WILLIAM8, TEMAN7, HACALIAH B.6, BENJAMIN5, HENRY4, BENJAMIN3, JOHN2, EDWARD1) was born 23 Jul 1889 in Prattsville, New York39, and died 07 Jun 1945 in Norwood, Rhode Island40. She married HOWARD MERRILL CHRISTIAN, son of CORNELIUS CHRISTIAN and ROSIE HOWARD. He was born 16 Jul 1893 in Ashland, New York, and died Nov 1969 in Richfield Springs, Otsego, NY.

Notes for JESSE GRIFFIN:

Burial: 1945, Vestal Hills Memorial Park, Vestal, NY Located: Section X; Lot 57; space 1

 

Children of JESSE GRIFFIN and HOWARD CHRISTIAN are:

16. i. ALETA ELVINA10 CHRISTIAN, b. 06 Oct 1913, Ashland, New York; d. 16 Aug 1994, Natick, Massachusetts.

    ii. ARTHUR L. CHRISTIAN, b. Sep 1915, Ashland New York; d. 23 Sep 1983; m. PAULINE.

    iii. FRED CHRISTIAN, b. 1930, Ashland New York; d. 04 Jul 1976.

 

Generation No. 10

16. ALETA ELVINA10 CHRISTIAN (JESSE9 GRIFFIN, WILLIAM8, TEMAN7, HACALIAH B.6, BENJAMIN5, HENRY4, BENJAMIN3, JOHN2, EDWARD1) was born 06 Oct 1913 in Ashland, New York, and died 16 Aug 1994 in Natick, Massachusetts. She married ARTHUR ROMAINE LAW 19 Nov 1931 in Ashland, New York, son of ROMAINE LAW and FANNIE DRUM. He was born 28 Feb 1913 in Big Hollow, New York, and died 16 Dec 1994 in Millis, Massachusetts.

 

Notes for ARTHUR ROMAINE LAW:

Windham Vital Statistics 1911-1923 Book 3 page 27

Gives Papa's father's age as 38

mother as 33

 

Also birth certificate actually March 1 at 2am.

 

Marriage Notes for ALETA CHRISTIAN and ARTHUR LAW:

On Mom's wedding movie, Grandma said the dress she wore for her wedding cost $5 and she bought it in Hunter.

 

Children of ALETA CHRISTIAN and ARTHUR LAW are:

i. PHILLIP ARTHUR11 LAW, b. 04 Oct 1932, Ashland, New York; m. ROSEMARY GRIFFITH, 08 Nov 1958.

ii. MERRILL ROMAINE LAW, b. 25 Jul 1934, Windham, New York; m. SANDRA LEE BELCHER, 14 Sep 1956.

iii. ALICE LILLIAN LAW, b. 21 Oct 1936, Binghampton, New York; d. 22 Jul 1984, Springfield, Massachusetts; m. STANLEY CLIFFORD SEARLES,

    01 Jan 1953.

iv. LINDA RUTH LAW, b. 15 May 1942, Springfield, Massachusetts; m. JOHN DEXTER CORTELLI, 29 Aug 1964, Wachogue Community Church,

     Springfeild, Massachusetts; b. 07 May 1938, Springfield, Massachusetts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Endnotes

1. Justus Griffin, Ancestors and descendents [sic] of Richard Griffin of Smithville, Ont. : a pioneer family : with a brief account of some related Griffin families in C, 1924, 19.

2. 1698 Census of Flushing, New York.

3. Justus Griffin, Ancestors and descendents [sic] of Richard Griffin of Smithville, Ont. : a pioneer family : with a brief account of some related Griffin families in C, 1924, 20.

4. Justus Griffin, Ancestors and descendents [sic] of Richard Griffin of Smithville, Ont. : a pioneer family : with a brief account of some related Griffin families in C, 1924.

5. 1698 Census of Flushing, New York.

6. Justus Griffin, Ancestors and descendents [sic] of Richard Griffin of Smithville, Ont. : a pioneer family : with a brief account of some related Griffin families in C, 1924, 20.

7. F.P. Harper, Early Wills of Westchester County, NY, from 1664-1784, 53, Will of Benjamin Griffin.

8. F.P. Harper, Early Wills of Westchester County, NY, from 1664-1784, 163, Will of Mary Griffin, Mamaroneck.

9. F.P. Harper, Early Wills of Westchester County, NY, from 1664-1784, 163.

10. F.P. Harper, Early Wills of Westchester County, NY, from 1664-1784, 367, Will of Jacob Griffen, White Plains.

11. Abraham Hatfield, The Hatfields of Westchester:a genealogy of the descendants of Thomas Hatfield of New Amsterdam and Mamaroneck, whose sons settled in White Plains, We, 1935, 76.

12. Revolutionary War Documents, Benjmain Griffin, Husband of Phebe Steenrod.

13. Abraham Hatfield, The Hatfields of Westchester:a genealogy of the descendants of Thomas Hatfield of New Amsterdam and Mamaroneck, whose sons settled in White Plains, We, 1935, 76.

14. F.P. Harper, Early Wills of Westchester County, NY, from 1664-1784, 226.

15. F.P. Harper, Early Wills of Westchester County, NY, from 1664-1784, 280; Will of Capt. Abraham Hatfield, Mr. Hatfield married Ann (Fowler) Griffin, widow of Henry Griffin of Mamaroneck and Harrison.

16. Abraham Hatfield, The Hatfields of Westchester:a genealogy of the descendants of Thomas Hatfield of New Amsterdam and Mamaroneck, whose sons settled in White Plains, We, 1935, 42.

17. New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, founded in 1870, published 4 times a year; 1918, 198.

18. Abraham Hatfield, The Hatfields of Westchester:a genealogy of the descendants of Thomas Hatfield of New Amsterdam and Mamaroneck, whose sons settled in White Plains, We, 1935, 42.

19. F.P. Harper, Early Wills of Westchester County, NY, from 1664-1784, 163.

20. Names of Persons for Whom Marriage Licenses were Issued, 1860.

21. F.P. Harper, Early Wills of Westchester County, NY, from 1664-1784, 163.

22. Abraham Hatfield, The Hatfields of Westchester:a genealogy of the descendants of Thomas Hatfield of New Amsterdam and Mamaroneck, whose sons settled in White Plains, We, 1935, 50.

23. F.P. Harper, Early Wills of Westchester County, NY, from 1664-1784, 163, Will of Mary (Disbrow) Griffin.

24. Abraham Hatfield, The Hatfields of Westchester:a genealogy of the descendants of Thomas Hatfield of New Amsterdam and Mamaroneck, whose sons settled in White Plains, We, 1935, 50.

25. RObert L. Steenrod, A Genealogical Study of the Steenrod Family , Belvidere, Ill; 1960, 3.

26. Revolutionary War Documents, Benjamin Griffin; File W23510.

27. RObert L. Steenrod, A Genealogical Study of the Steenrod Family , Belvidere, Ill; 1960, 3.

28. Revolutionary War Documents, Benjamin Griffin; File W23510.

29. Revolutionary War Documents, Benjamin Griffin.

30. RObert L. Steenrod, A Genealogical Study of the Steenrod Family , Belvidere, Ill; 1960, 3.

31. Copied by William P. Horton, Peekskill, NY, 1928, Cemetery Inscriptons of Putnam County NY.

32. Sons of the American Revolution Webiste; Patriot Grave Finder.

33. RObert L. Steenrod, A Genealogical Study of the Steenrod Family , Belvidere, Ill; 1960.

34. Revolutionary War Documents, Benjamin Griffin; File W23510.

35. RObert L. Steenrod, A Genealogical Study of the Steenrod Family , Belvidere, Ill; 1960.

36. Revolutionary War Documents, Benjamin Griffin.

37. Index to Marriages and Deaths; Delaware Co. NY Gazette 1819-1879, 26.

38. Alva Tuttle, Tuttle-Tuthill Lines in America, 1968, 106.

39. Burial Records, at Vestal Hills Memorial Park.

40. Burial Records, at Vestal Hills Memorial Park Cemetery.