Edward Griffin (abt. 1710 - 1787)

Born about 1710 in Flushing, Queens, New York Colony

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1787 at about age 77 in Clinton, Dutchess, New York, United States

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Biography

Edward was a Friend (Quaker)

Edward Griffin was born about 1710 in Flushing, Queens County, New York Colony, British Colonial America. He was the son of Richard Griffin and his wife, Susannah Haight.^[1]

Edward's father, "Richard Griffin of Flushing in Queens County in the province of New York," named Edward in his 27 Dec 1722 will, including his "dear and loving wife Susanna" and 13 children, Samuel, Joshua, Deborah, Mary, Jonathan, Edward, Obadiah, James, Joseph, Gilbert, Isaiah, Sarah, Miriam.^[2] Missing was his son Richard, who died before the will.

Edward lived for a time with his brother Jonathan Griffin in White Plains, Westchester County, New York Colony, about 20 miles north of Flushing.^[1] He then moved about 65 miles northward to Dutchess County, New York Colony, where there was a major surge of Quaker immigration, starting in 1831 for the next 10 years, as Quakers were attracted by the area's isolation at the time. ^[3]

It's not known exactly when Edward settled on the Great Nine Partners Land Patent in Dutchess County, which opened up for settlement in 1737. The area, extending from the Hudson River to the Connecticut border, would later be divided into precincts, then into townships including Clinton, Washington, Stanford, Pleasant Valley and Amenia. ^[4]

Settling in what would become the town of Clinton, Edward and his family were prominent members of their Quaker community in Dutchess County.^[5]

Marriage

Edward married Millicent Bishop about 1731 in the state of New York. Some genealogies record that he had another wife named Millicent Taylor.^[5]

Children

Edward and Millicent had the following 12 children:^[1][6]

1. Richard Griffin, b. 1732, married Mary Smith
2. Bridget Griffin, b. 1734, married Moses Hallock
3. Susannah Griffin, b. 1736, married Hunt
4. Isaiah Griffin, b. 1738, married Mary
5. Thomas Griffin, b. 1741, married Harris
6. Obadiah Griffin, b. 1743, married Mary Moore (1st wife)
7. Amy Griffin, b. 1746, married Daniel Travis
8. Sarah Griffin, b. 1748, married Stephen Tompkins
9. Miriam Griffin, b. 1749, married Uriah Davis
10. Elizabeth Griffin, b. 1752, Thomas Wilbur
11. Gershom Griffin, b. 1755, married Sarah Briggs
12. Jonathan Griffin, b. 1759, married Mary Brown

Death

Edward Griffin died in 1787 in Clinton Precinct, Dutchess County, New York, before his 1787 will was proved on 3 Jan 1788.

Edward named his wife and 9 of his 12 children in his will, dated 12 June 1787. "Edward Griffen of Clinton Precinct in Duchess [sic] county and state of New York," listed his wife "Milleson" and "nine of my children," "Briget, Amy, Sarah, Maram, Elizabeth, Susanah, Isaah, Greshom, Jonathan." ^[7]

The will didn't refer to his three other sons, Richard, Thomas and Obadiah, who were Loyalists during the U.S. Revolutionary War and immigrated to Canada. As Quakers, the rest of the family were said to be non-partisan.^[1]

Will and Probate

Summary:

Testator: Edward Griffen

Date of will: June 12, 1787.

Residence: Clinton Precinct, Dutchess County, New York.

Wife: Milleson.

Grandson: Moses.

Daughters: Bridget. Amy. Sarah. Miriam. Elizabeth. Susannah.

Sons: Isaiah. Gresham. Jonathan.

Executors: Moses Hallock [his son-in-law] and Isiah Griffen [his son]

Proved January 3, 1788. ^[7]

Research Notes

John R. Griffin's 1993 book, Griffin families from the United Kingdom to the New World, V. 2, incorrectly said Edward Griffin's 1787 will included his son Thomas.^[5] Images of the will are available on FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com.^[7]

Research notes by (Joan Stewart Smith)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3} Griffin, Justus Alonzo. Ancestors and descendants of Richard Griffin, of Smithville, Ont. : a pioneer family, with a brief account of some related Griffin families in Canada. Hamilton, Ontario, Canada: The Griffin & Richmond Co., 1924 (https://archive.org/details/ancestorsdescend00grif/page/n7/mode/2up?view=theater&q=isaiah : accessed 18 Aug 2023)
2. ↑ "New York Probate Records, 1629-1971," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G99P-BD34?cc=1920234&wc=Q75C-L2Q%3A213306101%2C226275401 : 28 May 2014), New York > Wills 1718-1724 vol 9 > image 251 of 361; county courthouses, New York. Will of Richard Griffin of Flushing in Queens County in the province of New York, Written 27 Oct. 1722, probated 5 Feb. 1723. Names wife Susanna; children Samuel, Joshua, Deborah, Mary, Jonathan, Edward, Obadiah, James, Joseph, Gilbert, Isaiah, Sarah, Miriam.
3. ↑ Upton, Dell T. A History of the Quakers in Dutchess County, New York 1728-1828. Paper submitted to Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, 1970. Dutchess County Historical Society. (https://dchsny.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Upton-Quakers-1970.pdf : accessed 21 Aug 2023)
4. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Great Nine Partners Patent" Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Nine_Partners_Patent : accessed 21 Aug 2023)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Griffin, John R. Griffin families from the United Kingdom to the New World, Volume two: the maternal ancestors, (Grants Pass, OR: author, 1993), 259 and 270-271; digital copy, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/148947 : 3 August 2023) > page viewer 28 and 39-40, Edward Griffin, child of Richard Griffin Sr.
6. ↑ "Generations One, Two, Three And Four For The Descendants of Edward GRIFFIN (Sr.) and Mary (---)", (https://freepages.rootsweb.com/~griffingriffenfamily/genealogy/ED-gen-1,2,3&4.htm : accessed 21 Aug 2023)
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999. Dutchess. Wills, Vol. Aa, A, 1751-1796. Ancestry.com. (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L99R-N8M4?cc=1920234&wc=Q75G-DPX%3A213305701%2C225060001 : accessed 19 Aug 2023) image 163 of 465; county courthouses, New York. Will of Edward Griffen of Clinton Precinct, Duchess [sic] County, New York. Date of will: 12 June 1787, Mentions wife Milleson, grandson Moses Griffen, and nine children, Briget, Amy, Sarah, Maram, Elizabeth, Susanah, Isaah, Greshom, Jonathan. Executors: Moses Hallock and Isaah Griffen. Signed: Edward Griffen. Witnesses: Robert Rowland, Phebe Powell, Nathaniael Powell. Surrogate Gilbert Livingston. Appointed January 3, 1788