Catherine (Owen) Griffith (abt. 1700 - aft. 1785)

Wife of Benoni Griffith — married 1719 in Chester, Pennsylvania

Descendants

Died after 19 Sep 1785 after about age 85 in Willistown Township, Chester, Pennsylvania [uncertain]

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Biography

Catherine Owen (daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth) married Benoni Griffith, and had Elizabeth, Nathan, Hannah, Sarah, John, Ezekiel, and Rachel.^[1] Since his daughter Elizabeth was born 6d 7m [September] 1720^[2], Benoni and Catherine were married by then, and likely born c.1700.

On 13 January 1725/6, Owen Owens of Whiteland, Chester, PA calls Catherine his sister, and appoints his brother-in-law Benoni Griffith as trustee and tutor over his children. His other siblings are named as Samuel, John, Thomas, and Elinor.^[3] On 5 May 1741, Elizabeth Owen, widow of Willistown, Chester, PA names Catherine and her husband "my son-in-law Bonony Griffith" the executors. She also names her son Thomas and daughter Eleanor Vernon.^[4] "Benony Griffith and his wife Catherine" administered the estate on 1 October 1741.

Thomas Owens of Whitland Township, Chester, PA in his will dated 17 August 1720, codicil 9 October 1720, proved 24 November 1720, mentions his wife Elizabeth, eldest son Richard Owens, second son Owen Owens, son Samuel (under 18), daughter Mary (under 18), son John, daughter Elinor and her 3 unnamed children, daughter Katherine and her issue, and son Thomas.^[5]

Benoni died between when his will was dated (5 March 1759) and administered by his wife Catherine (27 August 1760).^[6] Benoni names his eldest son Nathan, daughter Hannah Griffith, youngest son Ezekiel, son John, daughters Elizabeth White, Sarah Morgan, Rachel Randall, wife Catherine, and granddaughter Hannah Morgan.

Catherine Griffith, widow, sold land to Jesse Garrett on 10 October 1765. The deed states the land was obtained by Benoni Griffith from William Hudson on 10 May 1726, mentions his Last Will and Testament dated 5 March 1759, her youngest son Ezekiel, and her son John.^[7]

Catherine Griffith's care is mentioned in her son John Griffith's Will dated 19 Sep 1785, so she was presumably still living on that date.^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ Gilbert Cope, Genealogy of the Smedley Family, (Lancaster, PA: Wickersham Printing Company, 1901), p. 216, available at: https://archive.org/details/genealogyofsmedl00cope/page/216/mode/2up.
2. ↑ Pennsylvania, Chester, Goshen Monthly Meeting, Record of Births 1705-1805.
3. ↑ Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Will Book E, p. 136-7, available at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-P3FW-N?i=478&cat=353446.
4. ↑ Chester County, Pennsylvania Will Book B, 2:94, available at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-899B-J9M4-P?i=251&cc=1999196&cat=200763.
5. ↑ Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, Will Book D, p. 176, available at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-P3FP-G?i=307&cat=353446.
6. ↑ Chester County, Pennsylvania Will Book D, 4:255, estate no. 1882, available at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9S9-3RT9?i=693&cc=1999196&cat=159829.
7. ↑ Chester County, Pennsylvania Deed Book P, p. 343, available at: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSF1-6GK7?i=484&cat=246232.
8. ↑ See will transcript on profile of John Griffith and Probate of Will of son John Griffith: "Pennsylvania, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993"
   Chester > Estate Papers, No 3760-3868, 1786-1787 > image 335 of 901
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Image (accessed 4 January 2023)
   John Griffith mentions care of his mother Catherine during her natural lifetime.

See also:

• Gilbert Cope, John Smith Futhey, The History of Chester County, 1881, p. 573, available at: https://archive.org/details/cu31924005813518/page/572/mode/2up?q=benoni.