John Griffin Jr (1747 - 1825)

Born 23 Nov 1747 in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts

Ancestors

Husband of Eunice (Kimball) Griffin — married 2 Dec 1773 in Bradford, Massachusetts

Died 25 Nov 1825 at age 78 in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Patricia Abbott [send private message] and Henry Chadwick [send private message]

Biography

JOHN GRIFFIN,^[1] born at Bradford, Massachusetts, 23 Nov 1747 son of Nathaniel Griffin and Elisabeth Fales; John died at Bradford, 25 Nov 1825 at age 78^[2] and is interred at the Ancient Burying Ground at Bradford;^[3] married at Bradford, 2 Dec 1773,^[4] EUNICE KIMBALL, born at Bradford, 11 Dec 1753^[5] daughter of Edmund Kimball and Dorothy Kimball;^[6] Eunice died at Bradford, 3 Oct 1834^[7] and is interred at the Ancient Burying Ground.^[8]

John Griffin and Eunice Kimball resided in Bradford, Massachusetts where they had farm property. John Griffin was named deacon of the west parish at Bradford in 1804.^[9]

In his will written 6 July 1825 (probate 6 June 1826, John Griffin bequeathed to beloved wife Eunice the of all the household goods and furniture, two-thirds of that to be hers, forever. She has use of half the dwelling house and specific provisions for her support including a chaise to take her to public worship. Eunice is to have the use and improvement of the lot of land that was purchased from Ebenezer Griffin. In addition to the lengthy list of provisions, she is to have twenty dollars in cash annually. This maintenance of Eunice is to be provided by the executor. To the four children of his son Nathaniel, late of Portland, a lot of land in Portland with the buildings, the two sons to have two-thirds of the property and the two daughters to have one-third of the property. Nathaniel’s widow is to have use of the property while she is a widow. Nathaniel’s children also receive two hundred dollars, divided two-thirds for the sons and one-third for the daughters. Granddaughter Sally Griffin Buswell wife of Benjamin Buswell and daughter of late daughter Betsey Kimball of Pembroke received one-third of the household furniture at the decease of Eunice. The wearing apparel is divided between son Edmund and the two sons of Nathaniel. Son Edmund receives all the lands in Bradford and Methuen, the salt meadow in Rowley, the pew in the meeting house of the Rev. Mr. Ingraham, the right in the social library in Bradford, all the stock animals, the husbandry tools, and the notes and bonds on hand. Son Edmund was named executor.^[10]

In her will written 18 May 1831 (probate 23 October 1834), Eunice Griffin may bequests to her son John Griffin of Portland, Maine, granddaughter Susan and Elizabeth daughters of son Nathaniel late of Portland, and granddaughter Sally Buswell. Jesse Kimball was named administrator.^[11]

Children

John Griffin and Eunice Kimball were parents of five children born at Bradford, Massachusetts.

i BETSEY GRIFFIN, b. 1 Oct 1774; d. at Pembroke, NH, 11 Mar 1810; m. at Bradford, 29 Nov 1798, THOMAS KIMBALL, b. at Bradford, 11 Nov 1771 son of Abel and Mary (Hagget) Kimball; Thomas d. at Pembroke, 7 Jun 1851. Thomas married second Mary Mann.

ii NATHANIEL GRIFFIN, b. 5 Apr 1776; d. at Portland, ME, 13 Aug 1821; m. at Portland, 10 May 1801, SUSANNAH TUKEY, b. at Portland, 1785 daughter of John and Rebecca (Bangs) Tukey; Susannah d. at Portland, 14 Nov 1866.

iii JOHN GRIFFIN, b. 16 Jul 1779; d. at Bradford, 11 May 1825; m. at Haverhill, MA, 10 Feb 1818, SUSANNA P. KIMBALL, b. at Haverhill, 10 Oct 1786 daughter of Cotton and Rhoda (Sargent) Kimball; Susanna d. at Bradford, 10 Aug 1826. John Griffin, Jr. did not leave a will and his estate entered probate on 7 June 1825 with Jesse Kimball, Jr. as administrator, at the request of the widow Susan P. Griffin, there being no children. Heirs-at-law of the estate signing approval of the accounting on 19 December 1826 were Edmund Griffin and Rhoda Kimball.^[12] In her will, Susan P. (Kimball) Griffin let her entire estate to her beloved mother Rhoda Kimball.^[13]

iv EDMUND GRIFFIN, b. 2 Apr 1781; d. at Bradford, 15 Feb 1831; m. at Gorham, ME, 20 Jul 1805, CHARLOTTE JOHNSON, b. at Gorham, about 1787; Charlotte d. at Bradford, 2 May 1858.

v SALLY GRIFFIN, b. 23 Jan 1793; d. at Bradford, 16 Feb 1815.

Sources

1. ↑ Family summary taken from Abbott, The Descendants of Richard and Joanna Barker of Andover ©
2. ↑ Vital records of Bradford, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849 by Bradford, Mass . Topsfield Historical Society, Topsfield, Mass. 1907 (p. 317)
3. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38128778/john-griffin: accessed 12 September 2023), memorial page for Deacon John Griffin (23 Nov 1747–25 Nov 1825), Find a Grave Memorial ID 38128778, citing Ancient Burying Ground, Bradford, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Denise (contributor 46820671).
4. ↑ Vital records of Bradford, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849 by Bradford, Mass . Topsfield Historical Society, Topsfield, Mass. 1907 (p. 237)
5. ↑ Vital records of Bradford, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849 by Bradford, Mass . Topsfield Historical Society, Topsfield, Mass. 1907 (p. 95)
6. ↑ The will of Edmund Kimball of Bradford (probate 1795) includes a bequest to his daughter Eunice Griffin; Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. Case 15567
7. ↑ Vital records of Bradford, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849 by Bradford, Mass . Topsfield Historical Society, Topsfield, Mass. 1907 (p. 317)
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/38128856/eunice-griffin: accessed 12 September 2023), memorial page for Eunice Kimball Griffin (11 Dec 1753–3 Oct 1834), Find a Grave Memorial ID 38128856, citing Ancient Burying Ground, Bradford, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA; Maintained by Denise (contributor 46820671).
9. ↑ Perry, History of Bradford, Mass., p 61
10. ↑ Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. Case 11884
11. ↑ Massachusetts Probate, Essex County, Wills Volume 409, Book 109, p 193
12. ↑ Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. Case 11883
13. ↑ Essex County, MA: Probate File Papers, 1638-1881.Online database. AmericanAncestors.org. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2014. Case 11915

• Abbott, Patricia A. In Press. The Descendants of Richard and Joanna Barker of Andover Through Six Generations: Including Male and Female Lines of Descent from Generation One to Generation Six. Emerald Isle, NC: Patricia A. Abbott.
• Perry, Gardner Braman. 1872. History of Bradford, Mass. from the Earliest Period to the Close of 1820. Haverhill, MA: C. C. Morse & Son.