Isaiah Griffin (1738 - 1824)

Born 30 Jul 1738 in Dutchess, New York Colony, British Colonial America

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Taylor) Griffin — married 3 Oct 1761 in Dutchess, New York Colony

Descendants

Died 6 Sep 1824 at age 86 in Stanford, Dutchess, New York, United States

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Biography

Isaiah was a Friend (Quaker)

Isaiah Griffin was born on 30 Jul 1738, in the state of New York, British Colonial America. He was probably born on the Great Nine Partners Land Patent of Dutchess County,^[1] which opened up for settlement in 1737, the year before Isaiah was born.

He was one of the 12 children of Edward Griffin and Millicent (Bishop) Griffin, who were prominent members of the Society of Friends, also known as Quakers, in Dutchess County.^[2]

Isaiah was named as a son and one of the executors of the 1787 will of his father, "Edward Griffen of Clinton Precinct in Duchess [sic] county and state of New York," along with Edward's wife "Milleson," and "nine of my children," listing "Briget, Amy, Sarah, Maram, Elizabeth, Susanah, Isaah, Greshom, Jonathan." ^[3] The will didn't include 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.^[2]

Before moving northward to Dutchess County, Isaiah's father Edward, who was born in Flushing, Queens County, New York Colony, lived for a time with his brother Jonathan Griffin in White Plains, Westchester County, New York Colony.^[2] It's not known exactly when Isaiah's father moved to their home on the Great Nine Partners Land Patent in Dutchess County. The area, extending from the Hudson River to the Connecticut border, would later be divided into precincts, then townships including Clinton, Washington, Stanford, Pleasant Valley and Amenia. Starting in 1731, there was a heavy tide of Quaker immigration into the region for the next 10 years, as Quakers were attracted to its isolation at the time. ^[4]

The household of Isaiah Griffin was recorded on the 1790 federal census in the town of Washington (part of which became the town of Stanford in 1793), Dutchess County, New York,^[5] and on the federal census in 1800^[6] and 1810^[7] in the town of Stanford, Dutchess County, New York.

Marriage

Isaiah was said to have married Mary Taylor on 3 Oct 1761 in Dutchess, New York Colony, British Colonial America, according to the collaborative FamilySearch tree, with no supporting sources.

Another source says Isaiah married Mary (Griffen) Griffin (same maiden and married name), who was born 26 Feb 1741 and died 30 Jan 1824, per a RootsWeb.com freepages website, with no supporting sources, entitled "Generations One, Two, Three And Four For The Descendants of Edward GRIFFIN (Sr.) and Mary (---)".^[8]

Primary sources are needed to verify the name of wife, marriage date and location.

Children

John R. Griffin's 1993 book, Griffin families from the United Kingdom to the New World recorded that Isaiah Griffin of Stanford, Dutchess County, New York, had nine unidentified children with an unknown wife.^[1]

Records support that Isaiah's children who lived to adulthood include:^[8]

1. Gilbert Griffin (1762-)^[9][10]
2. Abigail Griffin (1765-1846), married Thomas Rushmore^[11]
3. Susannah Griffin (1770-1812),^[8] married Nehemiah Everett
4. Thomas Griffin (1772-1854), married Susannah Ireland^[12][13] Like brother Charles, Thomas later lived in Elba, Genesee County, New York.
5. Charles Griffin (1777-bef. 1860), married Martha Taylor.^{[12][14][15][16]} Like brother Thomas, Charles later lived in Elba, Genesee County, New York.
6. Stephen Griffin (1779-1872), married Rachel Wilson ^[12][14][17]
7. Henry Griffin (1783-1825), married Mary Mosher ^[12][14][18]

By 1790, the eldest Gilbert moved out, as he had his own household in Washington, Dutchess County, per the 1790 census.^[9] The other children, Abigail, Susannah, Thomas, Charles, Stephen and Henry, are accounted for, by age and gender, in the household of Isaiah Griffen on the 1790^[5] census in Washington, Dutchess County.

On 17 Apr 1805, the road logs in Stanford, Dutchess County, New York record that Isaiah and three sons were assigned to maintain roads. Griffin surnames on the log include Isaiah Griffin, 3 days, Charles Griffin, 3 days, Stephen Griffin, 3 days, Henry Griffin, 1 day.^[14]

Four of Isaiah's sons, Thomas Griffin, Charles Griffin, Henry Griffen and Stephen Griffin, are on a list of "Students in School District 8" in Stanford in the late 1700s, along with family names of many owners of properties bordering Isaiah Griffin's property circa 1800.^[12]

F.W. Beers' 1890 book, Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890,^[13] identified Thomas Griffin, husband of Susannah Ireland, of Elba, Genesee County, New York, as the son of Josiah Griffin of Stanford, Dutchess County, New York. It is highly likely that the name of Josiah was mistaken for Isaiah, as there is no Josiah Griffin in the federal census in Stanford.

Death

Isaiah Griffin is said to have died on 6 Sep 1824 at Nine Partners, Dutchess County, New York, according to the collaborative FamilySearch tree and a RootsWeb.com freepages website, ^[8] both with no supporting sources.

Nine Partners was not a town or precinct. It was a land patent and a Quaker meeting house in Millbrook, Dutchess County.

He most likely died in Stanford, Dutchess County, New York, where he lived.

Unless the census was in error, the Isaiah Griffin on the 1820 census in Stanford was too young to be born in 1738.^[19] It's possible Isaiah and his wife in their twilight years lived with their son Henry, as there was an older male and female living with Henry's family in Stanford, per the 1820 census.^[18]

Census

1790

Washington, Dutchess County, New York, United States. ^[5]

1800

Stanford, Dutchess County, New York, United States. ^[6]
[Note: The town of Stanford was separated from the town of Washington in 1793.]

1810

Stanford, Dutchess County, New York, United States. ^[7]

1820

Stanford, Dutchess County, New York, United States.^[19]

Research Notes

Book incorrectly identifies Isaiah as Josiah

F.W. Beers' 1890 book, Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890,^[13] identified Thomas Griffin, husband of Susannah Ireland, of Elba, Genesee County, New York, as the son of Josiah Griffin of Stanford, Dutchess County, New York. The name of Josiah was mistaken for Isaiah, as there is no Josiah Griffin in the federal census in Stanford.

Book incorrectly said Isaiah's sibling Thomas in father's will

John R. Griffin's 1993 book, Griffin families from the United Kingdom to the New World, V. 2, incorrectly said the 1787 will of Isaiah's father, Edward Griffin, includes his son Thomas.^[1] Image of the will is available on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Griffin, John R. Griffin families from the United Kingdom to the New World, Volume two: the maternal ancestors, (Grants Pass, OR: author, 1993), p. 271; digital copy, FamilySearch.org. Isaiah Griffin, child of Edward Griffin.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} 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)
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999. Dutchess. Wills, Vol. Aa, A, 1751-1796. Ancestry.com. Image. 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 [Vol. 1, page 40] (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L99R-N8M4?cc=1920234&wc=Q75G-DPX%3A213305701%2C225060001 : accessed 19 Aug 2023)
4. ↑ 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)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} "United States Census, 1790", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKP-HGG : Thu Jul 20 15:40:55 UTC 2023), Washington, Dutchess County, New York, United States. Household of Isaiah Griffin. Total 8: 2 males over 16 [ISAIAH, THOMAS], 3 males under 16 [CHARLES, STEPHEN, HENRY], 3 females any age [WIFE & DAUGHTERS ABIGAIL, SUSANNAH]. [Note: The town of Stanford was separated from the town of Washington in 1793.]
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "United States Census, 1800", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5T-HRV : Thu Jul 20 23:50:31 UTC 2023), Stanford, Dutchess County, New York, United States. Household of Isaiah Griffin. Total 8: 1 male under 10 [GRANDSON JACOB, SON OF THOMAS?], 3 males 16-25 [CHARLES, STEPHEN, HENRY], 1 male 26-44 [THOMAS], 1 male 45 and over [ISAIAH], 1 female 26-44 [SUSANNAH, WIFE OF THOMAS? Other daughters married?], 1 female 45 and over [WIFE] [Note: The town of Stanford was separated from the town of Washington in 1793.]
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} "United States Census, 1810", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH25-4RQ : Fri Jul 21 00:05:00 UTC 2023), Stanford, Dutchess County, New York, United States. Household of Isaac Griffen. Total 2: 1 male 45 and over [ISAIAH], 1 female 45 and over [WIFE]
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} "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)
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} "United States Census, 1790", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHKP-HGL : Thu Jul 20 15:42:51 UTC 2023), Washington (became Stanford), Dutchess County, New York. Household Gilbert Griffin. 6 Total: 1 male 16 and over, 1 males under 16, 4 females any age.
10. ↑ "United States Census, 1800", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5T-HPX : Thu Jul 20 23:50:48 UTC 2023), Stanford, Dutchess County, New York, Household of Gilbert S Griffin
11. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #55620954, memorial page for Abigal Griffen Rushmore (Nov 1761–5 May 1846), Find a Grave Memorial ID 55620954, citing Mount Pleasant Cemetery, New Salem, Albany County, New York, USA; Maintained by Pam (contributor 46995175).
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4} Stanford School District Student List. Image. Entitled "Students in School District 8," late 1700s. Names include Thomas Griffin, Charles Griffin, Henry Griffen and Stephen Griffin (Isaiah Stephen's male children), with family names of many owners of properties bordering Isaiah Griffen's property circa 1800. Posted on Ancestry.com by Sara Johns Griffen on 24 May 2018.
13. ↑ ^{13.0 13.1 13.2} Beers, F. W. Gazetteer and biographical record of Genesee County, N.Y., 1788-1890. Syracuse, N.Y.: J.W. Vose, 1890, p. 578-9. Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/gazetteerbiograp00beer/page/578/mode/2up : accessed 18 Aug 2023) [Identified Thomas Griffin, husband of Susannah Ireland, of Elba, Genesee County, New York, as the son of Josiah Griffin of Stanford, Dutchess County, New York. It is highly likely that the name of Josiah was mistaken for Isaiah, as there is no Josiah Griffin in the federal census for Stanford.
14. ↑ ^{14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3} Image of handwritten document of road log of Stanford, Dutchess County, New York. Indicates that Isaiah Griffin and three sons maintained roads. Griffin surnames include Isaiah Griffin, 3 days, Charles Griffin, 3 days, Stephen Griffin, 3 days, Henry Griffin, 1 day (Shared on Ancestry.com by Sara Johns Griffen on 04 Dec 2021)
15. ↑ "United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH25-4R5 : accessed 18 June 2023), Stanford, Dutchess, New York, United States. Charles Griffen household. Total in household: FIVE. Two Males under 10 [GILBERT, THOMAS]; One Male 22-44 [CHARLES]; One Female under 10 [DORCAS]; One Female 26-44 [MARTHA]
16. ↑ 1820 United States Federal Census. Ancestry.com. Stanford, Dutchess, New York, United States. Charley Griffin household. Total in household: NINE. Two males under 10 [SAMUEL, ISAAC]. Two males 10-15 [GILBERT, THOMAS]. 1 male 26-44 [CHARLES]. Two females under 10 [JULIA, PHEBE]. One female 10-15 [DORCAS]. One female 26-44 [MARTHA]
17. ↑ United States Census, 1810", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH25-4RV : Fri Jul 21 00:35:34 UTC 2023), Stanford, Dutchess, New York, Household of Stephen Griffen, 1810.
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1} "United States Census, 1820", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLV-92T : Thu Jul 20 16:30:34 UTC 2023), Stanford, Dutchess County, New York, Household of Henry Griffin, 1820.
19. ↑ ^{19.0 19.1} Census Records 1820. Dutchess County, New York, images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBZ-Y4M?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AXHLJ-BMB&action=view&groupId=TH-1942-25150-17987-63: Jul 14, 2023), image 141 of 197; United States. National Archives and Records Administration, Stanford, Dutchess County, New York. Household of Isaiah Griffin. Total 4: 1 male 16-18, 3 males 16-25, 1 female 14-25