Spencer Samuel Griffin Sr (abt. 1780 - bef. 1860)

Born about 1780 in Virginia, United States

Husband of Susannah (Day) Griffin — married about 1807 in Jefferson, Tennessee

Husband of Elizabeth (White) Griffin — married 1814 in Mammoth Cave, Warren, Kentucky, USA

Descendants

Died before 1860 before about age 80 in Calhoun, Mississippi, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Chrissy Locke [send private message]

Biography

from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi: Embracing an Authentic pg 823-824 - Spencer Samuel Griffin's a native of Virginia, and was of Irish descent, native of Virginia where he married Miss Day. Then he moved to KY, then to SC where JT spent his childhood.

Born abt 1780 either Tennessee or Virginia (probably Eastern TN Watagua Settlement) (age assumes over age 21 for a land transaction in 1801)

probably born prior to this date.

1809 land survey in Jefferson TN mentions "Spencer Griffin and Thomas Griffin"

Brother - Thomas Griffin is established via Y-111 Markers (see Griffin surname project on the FtDNA website) and Autosomal DNA matches

There are other Significant Y-111 marker DNA matches to the DAVIS and Madison surnames. I suspect that the family was separated when the children were young and raised with different prominent families. All these family surnames were present in Fincastle.

I suspect that he has a brother - " John Caswell Griffin", who is related to many prominent Virginia families (but his father has not been documented that I can find). He was also from Fincastle, VA. John Caswell Griffin's wife was Mary Talbot Hancock and the Hancock family also owned part of the Mammoth Caves in Kentucky (mentioned below). No paper trail of evidence and no DNA yet exists to support this theory.

Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi: Embracing an Authentic pg 823-824
W. H. Griffin, as a merchant, is progressive, enterprising, and industrious, and by his upright methods of conducting his affairs he has gained sufficient patronage to bring him in a handsome sum annually. He was born in Tuscaloosa county, Ala., in 1844, to J. T. and E. S. (McConnell) Griffin, the former of whom was born near Mammoth cave, Ky., in 1816, of which cave his father, Spencer Griffin, was at one time owner. The latter was of Irish descent, but a native of Virginia, in which state he was married to a Miss Day, afterward removing to Kentucky, from which state he moved to South Carolina with his family. note- her first name is not proven

Background

Autosomal DNA shows connections to descendants of Samuel Spencer Griffin's brother - Thomas Griffin. The evidence connecting Thomas to his father- William Griffin is presented there. William Griffin was born about 1750(guess). His origins are not known. It is believed that he traveled to the Watauga settlement after leaving Loudoun Co VA with the families of William Nodding, Samuel Hill sr, Col Samuel G Bayless, John Brown, William Calvert (son of Robert Covert). This group of families arrived in this settlement 1775-1779. Caution - County names and boundaries changed frequently). Spencer Griffin left the area and moved to Warren, Kentucky (as it says in the published biography above, in about 1810.

There were multiple families of Griffins - not all of them related. Samuel Spencer Griffin was NOT related to the William Griffins b1740 which moved to the Pulaski KY area per DNA evidence.

Spencer Griffin married 1st - Susannah Day (dau of Nathaniel Day - left will in Jefferson TN)

• Richard Griffin (m Terresa Mitchell)
• Susannah Ann Griffiin (married to Dennis Springer)

Spencer S. Griffin married 2nd - Elizabeth White (dau of John White)

• John "Jack" Taylor Griffin b. 13 Aug 1819 born near mouth of Mammoth Cave KY, died. Chickasaw Co. MS -1893 D. Mississippi m Elizabeth Stuart McConnell She was born 24 Nov 1819 Jefferson, Georgia-June 25 1890,
• Spencer S GRIFFIN Jr b 20 Feb 1817 in SC m Elizabeth DOUGHTY
• Elizabeth GRIFFIN b 1818
• Phillip Thomas GRIFFIN Sr b 30 Nov 1818 i SC m Mary Ann BYARS
• Mary R GRIFFIN b 21 Nov 1825 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama m Robert A. CRAWFORD Sr. [caution - not mentioned in family bible]

Timeline

William Griffin and Thomas Griffin and aligned families were all in Jefferson County (Watauga Settlement) at the same time as this Spencer Griffin.

06 Feb 1801 in Grainger, Jefferson Co, Tennessee, USA; Spencer Griffin conveyed three tracks of land from the "only heir" of Judge Samuel Spencer from the heir to three purchasers. [court order book minutes, Grainger TN] https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSHM-L9WT-V?i=86&cat=196033

Three warrants for Land Entered in John Armstrongs one of one-thousand acres No 605; One of one-thousand acres No 1095, also one of fifteen hundred acres No 1094, entered in the name of the Honorable Samuel Spencer Dec'd. Conveyed by the only heir of said Spencer deceased unto Spencer Griffin - of said Spencer Griffin, to 1) No. 605, to Thomas Jeffers Feb 6th 1801 2) No.1095 to Normrd Datson February 6th 1801; and 3) No.1094 to Thomas Henderson, Esq Feb 19th 1801.___ And acknowledged in open court by the said Griffin above named persons at Feb session 1802.

This court order entry is written somewhat confusingly. It appears that Samuel Griffin was acting as an intermediary for selling land warrants that were granted to Hon Samuel Spencer - who died in 1793. It is unknown who the "only heir to Hon Samuel Spencer" is. It is not clear if the "only heir" is also deceased.

I have plenty of questions about how Spencer Samuel Griffin became involved (and also why he was apparently named after Samuel Spencer).

Spencer Samuel Griffin must have been of legal age at this point- so I question his birth date of 1786... Maybe more like 1783 if he was 18 years old.

On June 1, 1801, Grainger, TN; (recorded 6 Oct 1809), Spencer Griffin, Isaac Wilson, Jesse Riggs, and Daniel Shelton bought 800 acres (200 each) from Martin Ashburn in Grainger TN. Spencer Griffin is listed as “living in Lincoln KY”. All others were living in Grainger, Jefferson County, TN. Land was on the South side of the Holston River, on bub (?) creek. [pg 244; Deed book, vol. A, 1798-1808.; film 464093 DGS 8265287] until 1780, Lincoln County was part of Virginia.

This appears to be a business investment and he probably never lived in Grainger, Jefferson, TN

03 Jul 1801 in Jefferson, Tennessee, USA; Juror in the case of Clemont Terry vs William Miller.

22 Aug 1801 in Jefferson, Tennessee, USA; Juror in the case of George Horace vs Thomas Chilton.

17 Aug 1802 in Jefferson, Tennessee, USA; Court found Spencer not liable for John Hawkin's debt.

19 Aug 1802 in Jefferson, Tennessee, USA; Court allows Matthew English, John Crabb and Spencer Griffin to open a Tavern.

21 Feb 1803 in Jefferson, Tennessee, USA; Court allows Spencer to open a Tavern in the city of Rutledge.

16 Aug 1803 (registered Aug 29 1803) Grainger , Jefferson Co, TN, Spencer Griffin buys land from John Cragg in Rutledge TN - lot 25 on the South side of Main St for $50. Deed book, vol. A, 1796-1808. pg306 [2]

15 Aug 1803 in Grainger, Tennessee, USA; Spencer buys 1000 acres from William Sasseen.

19 Aug 1805 in Jefferson, Tennessee, USA; William Clay tells the court that he has a calf that belongs to Spencer Griffin worth $3.33.

18 Aug 1806 in Jefferson, Tennessee, USA; Spencer Griffin asks the court to have David Hunt released into his custody.

8 Aug 1808; Maury, Tennessee, Early Land Registers, 1778-1927 Name: Spencer Griffin Grant or Warrant Number: 1390 Tennessee, Early Land Registers, 1778-1927 for Spencer Griffin Series 02: Entries 1805 - 1828[3] 640 acres on Richland creek/south side of Robertson Creek.

1809 land survey in Jefferson TN mentions "Spencer Griffin and Thomas Griffin"

22 Jul 1809 in Greene, Tennessee, USA; N335; Green County on Richland creek ^[1]

14 Nov 1810, Jefferson, Tennessee, USA Susanna DAY (daughter) - is mentioned in the probate records of Nathaniel DAY. [Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008; Jefferson Will Books Vol 1, 1792-1844; pg 349]

Oct 1810, Jefferson County, TN;Spencer Griffin mentioned in an estate settlement probate record of James Harles Irvine - with money due to him from deceased.[Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008; Jefferson Will Books Vol 1, 1792-1844; pg 351]

1810 in Warren, Kentucky, USA; The Spencer Griffin residence was Warren County, Kentucky in 1810. Today, known as Edmonson Co. KY. note that he was apparently married with one son

Name: Spencer Griffin

Home in 1810 (City, County, State): Warren, Kentucky

Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1

Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25: 1note that he was under 25 years old in this census

Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1

Number of Household Members Under 16: 1

Number of Household Members: 3

01 Sep 1812 in Kentucky, USA; Spencer Griffin served as a Private in Captain Alexander Stuart's S Company, 3rd Regiment, Kentucky Militia Volunteers during the war of 1812. https://www.fold3.com/record/641252940-spencer-griffin-private?xid=1945

Full Name Spencer Griffin

Rank: Private

Service Year: 1812

State: Kentucky

Military Unit: KY Vol, Capt. Alex Stewart, Col Miller

Warrant Number: 55-120-86512

1816 in Warren, Kentucky, USA; Near Mammoth Cave

Aug 1816 in Beaver Dam Baptist Church , Rhoda, Warren County, KY; Member

12 Apr 1824 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Purchased 79.8 Acres of property located at Section 29, Township 20S, Range 11W, Meridan_CD Huntsville

12 Apr 1824 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; LandSection: 29; Meridian: Huntsville; Range: 11-W; RegistrationOffice: Tuscaloosa

1830 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

Name: Spencer Griffin

Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 2

Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 14: 2

Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49: 1

Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1

Free White Persons - Females - 30 thru 39: 1

Free White Persons - Under 20: 5

Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2

Total Free White Persons: 7

Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 7

20 Sep 1839 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Purchased 39.2 Acres of property located at Section 32, Township 20S, Range 11W, Meridan_CD Huntsville NE¼NW¼

20 Sep 1839 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; LandSection: 32; Meridian: Huntsville; Range: 11-W; RegistrationOffice: Tuscaloosa

1840 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA

1845 in Yalobusha County, Mississippi, USA

05 Jan 1845 in Calhoun, Mississippi, USA; Property Ownership

Death - Bef. 1860 in Calhoun, Mississippi, USA; possibly 22 Nov 1861 • Rock Creek (Pre-Civil War) Church Cemetery - Metho, Orearville, Saline County, Missouri

Burial - Bef. 1860 in Maybe Calhoun County, Mississippi, USA; According to documented land deeds, he owned property given to him by the Government in Calhoun County, Mississippi. There are several undocumented cemeteries located throughout that very rural area.He may be buried in one of those undocumented cemeteries

Sources

1. ↑ Tennessee, Early Land Registers, 1778-1927 for Spencer Griffin Series 03: Plats and Surveys 1821 - 1823 repository-Ancestry.com[1]

• 1810 United States Federal Census; Year: 1810; Census Place: Warren, Kentucky; Roll: 8; Page: 249; Image: 00246; Family History Library Film: 0181353
• 1830 United States Federal Census;1830; Census Place: Tuscaloosa, Alabama; Series: M19; Roll: 3; Page: 310; Family History Library Film: 0002330
• 14 Nov 1810, Jefferson, Tennessee, USA Susanna DAY (daughter) - is mentioned in the probate records of Nathaniel DAY. [Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008; Jefferson Will Books Vol 1, 1792-1844; pg 349]
• Tennessee, Early Land Registers, 1778-1927 (Lehi, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016), Ancestry.com, Tennessee State Library and Archives; Nashville, Tennessee; Early Tennessee/North Carolina Land Records; Series Number: 03; Series Title: Plats and Surveys. Record for Spencer Griffin. http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=LandRecordsTNNC&h=449454&indiv=try.
• U.S. General Land Office Records, 1796-1907 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records; Washington D.C., USA; Federal Land Patents, State Volumes. Record for Spencer Griffin. http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1246&h=2076204&indiv=try.
• Tennessee, Wills and Probate Records, 1779-2008 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015), Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com, Will Books, 1792-1844, Jefferson County, Tennessee; Author: Tennessee State Library and Archives (Nashville, Tennessee); Probate Place: Jefferson, Tennessee. Record for Spencer Griffin - mentioned in the inventory of Nathaniel DAY. http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=9176&h=3237440&indiv=try.
• Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Mississippi: Embracing an Authentic ...pg 823 [4]