Samuel Griffin (1756 - 1811)

Born 3 Jun 1756 in Bradford, Essex, Massachusetts Bay Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Sophia (Foster) Atwood — married 13 Aug 1783 in Nelson, New Hampshire, United States

Descendants

Died 21 Jan 1811 at age 54 in Nelson, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States

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Biography

This profile is part of the Nelson, New Hampshire One Place Study.

SAMUEL GRIFFIN, ESQ. was the first of the name to settle in Nelson, then called Packersfield. He was the son of Samuel Griffin Esq of Bradford, Mass., and a descendant of one of two brothers, who came from Wales about two hundred and fifty years ago. History states that young Samuel enlisted as a "minute man" from Temple NH in 1775, and was in Reed's regiment at the battle of Bunker Hill. His name first appears in the town records of Packersfield in 1779, and those records show that, besides being a deacon in the church, he held all the important offices, being a selectman and town clerk at the same time. He represented not only Parkersfield [sic Packersfield] in the legislature but Stoddard also when those towns were classed together, while for some years all marriages in town are recorded as having been solemnized by him. He married Sophia, daughter of Rev. Jacob Foster, the first settled minister in town, and had three sons, one of whom died in infancy, and eight daughters. He died on January 21, 1811, aged fifty-five years. Samuel Griffin was buried in the cemetery on Town Common, Nelson, New Hampshire.^[2]

Research Notes

1. SAMUEL GRIFFIN JR. was the eldest son of Samuel Griffin, Esq. hence his name, which had been borne by the eldest son for many generations. He was born May 30, 1784, married Silence Goodenow, and was prominent in town affairs both in Nelson and Roxbury. He rose to the rank of major-general in the state militia, acquired a competence, and died childless at the age of eighty-three.
2. NATHAN GRIFFIN, second son of Samuel Griffin, Esq. was born November 25, 1785. He was active in educational and religious matters, as well as town affairs, was a noted teacher, and held important offices in town. He married Sally, daughter of Nehemiah Wright, a soldier at the battle of Bunker Hill. They reared three sons and four daughters. He died at the age of eighty-seven. His wife died in 1881, aged ninety-four.
3. SAMUEL GRIFFIN, son of Nathan, went to Wisconsin, and died there leaving one son.
4. ALVARO N. GILMAN [? GRIFFIN], son of Nathan, married Harriet, daughter of Col. Rufus Atwood, who was a man of ability and a deacon in the church like his ancestors. He had the honors and labors of town offices heaped upon him and was very active in the cause of common schools. He died at the age of forty-two."

Research Notes

The above reference says he was the son of Samuel Griffin. Originally thought he was the son of Nathaniel Griffin. His firstborn son is Nathaniel. This bears further research. {Williams-27459 11:16, 9 August 2017 (EDT)}

It can be established by deed (quitclaim by Samuel to his brother John of his father Nathaniel's estate) that Samuel son of Nathaniel was a resident of Temple, New Hampshire in 1777 which would fit with the other description that Samuel went from Temple to Packersfield by the time of his marriage. (Essex County Deeds, 136:157).

Sources

1. ↑ http://www.nh.searchroots.com/documents/History_Nelson_NH.txt
2. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/82128623/samuel-griffin: accessed 18 June 2023), memorial page for Samuel Griffin (unknown–29 Jan 1811), Find A Grave: Memorial #82128623, citing Nelson Cemetery, Nelson, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, USA; Maintained by Linda Mac (contributor 47062703)

• "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FCKS-74N: 4 December 2014), Samuel Grifen, 03 Jun 1756; citing BRADFORD, ESSEX, MASSACHUSETTS, ; FHL microfilm 0599732 IT 1.
• Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988
• "United States Census, 1790," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKY-RWY: accessed 9 August 2017), Samuel Griffin, Packersfield, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States; citing p. 121, NARA microfilm publication M637, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 5; FHL microfilm 568,145.
• "New Hampshire Marriages, 1720-1920," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FDLM-T1D: 31 December 2014), Samuel Griffin and Sophia Foster, 13 Aug 1783; citing reference 2:3XV30DL; FHL microfilm 1,000,995.
• "New Hampshire Death Records, 1654-1947," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FS23-8QP: 12 December 2014), Samuel Griffin, 21 Jan 1811; citing Nelson, Bureau Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord; FHL microfilm 1,001,079.
• "New Hampshire Revolutionary War Records, 1675-1835," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q242-J21T: accessed 9 August 2017), Samuel Griffin, 20 Jun 1788; citing Nelson, Cheshire, New Hampshire, United States, Archives and Records Management, Concord.
• Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, ; Volume: 2; Serial: 10000; Volume: 2