Looking for info on Daniel Griffin (middle init. E or J) born abt. 1884 in Northampton, Mass, husband to Isabel Conway.

Question

I have been unable to find much info on my 2nd great-grandfather that allows me to trace back further. What I do know is that he was born around 1884 (Possibly 31 March) in Northampton, Massachusetts. Later in his life, he moved to New York. He had a son, also named Daniel Griffin (1916-2003). His wife, Isabel Conway, predeceased him, and for a time, his mother and sister-in-law, Eliza Jane Conway and Marian Conway, also lived with him. Any help, especially in identifying his parents, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Answer 1

I searched Massachusetts Vital Records on the NEHGS website. I didn't find any 1884 birth records for Daniel Griffin in Massachusetts. There is a birth in Holyoke (near Northampton) in that same general time period:

Daniel P. Griffin born Oct. 27, 1885 at Holyoke. Parents are John and Lucy (O'Connor) Griffin, both born in Ireland.

Comments

That man isn't him.

Daniel Edward Griffin, born Northampton on 31 March 1884, registered for the World War II draft in Brooklyn, New York, apparently in 1944, but he was recorded as age 58. He lived at 25 East 10th Street in Brooklyn. He worked at Morganthaler Linotype Co. He listed John Dell of Brooklyn as a person who would always know his address. http://interactive.ancestry.com/1002/NY-2369714-4817?pid=2902862

He's in the 1930 Census in Brooklyn at that same address. I accessed the record at http://interactive.ancestry.com/6224/4638824_00727?pid=40613504 but it should also be available on FamlySearch.org. The record says his parents were born in Ireland. Here's the household list in 1930:

Name	Age
Daniel E Griffin	48
Isabel C Griffin	38
Daniel F Griffin	11
Mary A Conway	79
Marion E Conway	34

---

He was also in Brooklyn, at a different address, in the 1920 Census, in the same household as the Conways. His wife is listed with a different first name.  http://interactive.ancestry.com/6061/4313508-00502?pid=87054980

Name	Age
Mary A Conway	70
Marion Conway	30
Daniel E Griffin	38
Elizabeth J Griffin	34
Daniel F Griffin	1 1/12 (i.e., 1 yr, 1 mo.)

The 1920 U.S. Census was recorded in January, so Daniel Jr. probably was born about December 1918.

---

And there's a marriage record from 1917 (index-only record on Ancestry), but with different middle initial:

Name:	Daniel J Griffin
Gender:	Male
Marriage Date:	11 Sep 1917
Marriage Place:	Kings, New York, USA
Spouse:	Isabel T Conway
Certificate Number:	13888

---

The 1925 New York state census had him on 25 East 10th Street in Brooklyn. Image is at http://interactive.ancestry.com/2704/32849_b094201-00190?pid=19529532

He worked as a "traveling serviceman (for) linotype machine."

The transcription of the record is severely garbled (this is one reason why searches sometimes fail to find records):

Name	Age
Danid E Griffin  record is clearly Daniel E.	41
Labelle C Griffin record is clearly Isabelle C.	35
Daviel Griffin record is clearly Daniel Jr	6
Mary Connay record is clearly Conway	72
Marion E Connay record is clearly Conway	30

---

And here's a roster of Isabel Conway's family from the 1905 New York State Census (they were in Brooklyn):

Name	Age
Arthur J Conway	55?
Mary A Conway	54
John T Conway	28
Eugene Conway	26
Arthur J Conway Jr.	22
Isabell Conway	20
Marian Conway	18
Roy Conway	2

Arthur Sr. was a bank clerk. He was born in Ireland and had lived in the U.S. for 57 years (I think his age on the record might be 57), but his wife was U.S.-born. John, Eugene, and Arthur Jr. worked as clerks in an express office. Roy was a grandson, but there's no indication as to who his parent was. Ancestry URL is http://interactive.ancestry.com/7364/004296312_00386?pid=322480 

---

When he registered for the World War I-era draft in 1918, he gave his birthdate as March 31, 1881 and his age as 37. The registration form is at http://interactive.ancestry.com/6482/005262812_05070?pid=33339181

It lists his address as 57 Clifton Place in Brooklyn (same address as the 1920 census), his employment as traveling machinist, Morganthaler Linotype Company, and his nearest relative as Mrs. Isabel Griffin.

---

No birth of a child with first name Daniel or Edward, nor last name Griffin, was registered in Northampton for the date March 31 1881 or 1884.

---

Ellen:

Thank you so much for your detailed comments and sources. I'm amazed that you would take the time to search for and share all this data. I'm reviewing it all now. Thanks again for your help!

---

Glad to help. We've all benefited from the generosity of others. And I was hoping I could find a birth record.

Answer 2

I have been searching this for hours and I may have an answer but only if you will keep an open mind.  You say that is name is Daniel F or J Griffin but you have to understand that census records can be wrong. Names can be changed and backwards that it is a wonder we can make anything out. But let me give you what I found and you have to have an open mind when it comes to census records.

Daniel J or F. Griffin or Griffen as the case may be could be Franklin D. Griffin.

1905 Census New York

John T Griffin - age 49 US; Wife Lizzie Griffin -age 45 US;  William R. Griffin - age 24 US;  Franklin D. Griffin - age 21 US; Carlisle S Griffin -age 17 US; Jessie Griffin -Mother -age 71 Scotland . --There are some lodgers but I won't list him here.

John Griffin Marriage Oct 21, 1878 Manhattan, NY age 22 single NY born 1856 NY Father: John Griffin mother Jeswsie Thompson ( Jessie) Spouse: Lizzie Browne Born 1859 single age 19 NY parents Samuel Browne and Elizabeth Foster.

1920 Census Brooklyn Kings New York

Mary A Conway -Head -age 70 - New York; Marion Conway -dau- age 30 NY; Daniel E Griffin - son-in-law- age 38. Elizabeth J Griffin -dau-34 New York; Daniel F Griffin - age 1 NY

1940 Census Brooklyn- Kings- New York

Daniel Griffin -Head 56 Massachusetts; Daniel Griffin - son - age 21 -New York

1930 CENSUS BROOKLYN KINGS NEW YORK

Daniel E Griffin - Head - age 48 Mass; wife Isabel C Griffin -age 38 New York born 1892;  Daniel F. Griffin -age 11 NY Born 1919; Mary A Conway-age 79 New York Born about 1851;  Marion Conway -age 34 NY- Born 1895-1896.

I also found this : Mary A Lyons Conway Died 4 Oct. 1932    I am not sure if this is the mother.

I also found this : 1910 CENSUS BRONX DIST 32 NEW YORK-  JOHN H CONWAY 49 NEW YORK; MARY CONWAY AGE 45 NEW YORK; RAYMOND CONWAY -SON -AGE 15 NEW YORK;  MARJORIE CONWAY AGE 14 NEW YORK;  MARY CONWAY -SISTER -AGE 40 NEW YORK; ELIZABETH NORMAND -COUSIN - AGE 25 NEW YORK

1910 CENSUS BRONX NEW YORK

MICHAEL F CONWAY -HEAD -AGE 40 NY

ANABELLA CONWAY - 38 -NY; MARY F CONWAY AGE 20 NY; ISABELLE - AGE 18 NY; JOSEPH AGE 17 NY.

I ALSO FOUND THIS;  iSABELLE CONWAY BORN 23 AUG 1892 MANHATTAN, NY FATHER JOHN H CONWAY AGE 32 NY MOTHER -MARY GLEASON AGE 27 NY.

ISABELLE CONWAY -1940 CENSUS NEW YORK FULTON CITY, OSWEGO NEW YORK - AGE 48 DIVORCE WHITE HEAD NEW YORK- BIRTH YEAR 1892

FRANKLIN GIFFIN - IMMIGRATION 1951 NEW YORK CITY NY BIRTH PLACE -MASSACHUSETTS - SHIP NAME -TRANSCONTINENTAL AND WESTERN AIR

THIS IS ALL I HAVE BUT IF YOU NEED HELP, PLEASE LET ME KNOW OK. I WILL BE GLAD TO HELP.  NANCY

Answer 3

I took the liberty to search on Ancestry.com and I found this. Daniel Edward Griffin born 31 March 1884 Northampton, Mass.  According to the US WW 2 Draft Registration . Son of Dennis Griffin and Mary A Haggerty who married Isabel Conway On 11 Sep 1917 Kings, New York. who died 13 March 1950 New York. also I found a 1930 census that said his parents were both born in Ireland. Is that what you have. Let me know if you need more help. I found all of this on Ancestry.com.