Anatomy of an Online Search - Levi Griffin

We recently shared the Soap Opera of the life of Benoni Griffin, Jr., mentioning a son named Levi Griffin. How did we discover this son and establish the relationship? Read on.

A description of the Griffin family in West Virginia never mentioned youngest son, Levi Griffin. But when we were at the Bath County courthouse a few years ago, we found our Jonathan and other Griffins selling or purchasing portions of the land in Benoni Griffin, Jr.'s estate, with Levi Griffin as the person paying taxes on the land, even though he lived in Kentucky.

Who was this Levi? Googling the name of Levi Griffin and Kentucky, brings us to a message board with a complete posting of "Family Bible of Levi Griffin, Gallatin Kentucky" contributed by Carl Bogardus, Sr. M.D. What a find!!!! Many birth and death, marriage dates of Levi and his descendants. Even the statement that Levi was son of Benoni and Sarah Griffin. (This may have been his step mother.) It shows his birthdate as January 10, 1788.

With that information, Levi would have been about 3 years old when the family came to the Green Bank area, Bath County, VA, in the early 1790s. His name would never show up until he came of age at 21, and would have been old enough to be taxed or to vote and sign legal documents. Going to Ancestry.com records, Levi is first found as an adult in the 1810 Census but is listed as Love Griffin male, age between 16 - 26.

We also found a biography of Samuel P. Griffin, which mentions his paternal grandfather, Levi Griffin in a mini bio. "Levi Griffin, the paternal grandfather of Samuel P., was a native of Culpeper County, Va., and a farmer; he moved to Kentucky at an early day, and first settled in Bourbon County, but subsequently went to Fayette County, where he lived for a short time, and then moved to Gallatin County, where he died. He took part in the war of 1812."

Now I have several paths to follow.... looking for Griffins in Culpeper County, VA, and several counties in Kentucky, plus a search for participants in the War of 1812. A book, "The Battle of Tippecanoe" by Pirtle, says that Levi Griffin participated as a Private in that battle. And Ancestry.com shows census records for Levi Griffin and family in 1820 - 50, in the counties mentioned above. It does not include his death date, but since we don't find Levi in 1860 Census and the last date in the Bible is 1859, perhaps he died around that time.

When I look back at the Bath County land records that started this search, I have come up with this "supposed chain of events." Levi Griffin was the youngest son of Benoni Griffin, Jr., and was the last son living on the 220 acres near Green Bank Virgina, after Benoni died. I don't find a record that he was the executor, but he was continuing to pay taxes on the land, even after he went to Kentucky and settled after the War of 1812. By the 1830s, our 3Gt Grandfather, Jonathan Griffin, probably a half brother to Levi, bought up portions of the estate from siblings out of state, Abraham, Mary, Samuel S., and Levi. Jonathan gave part of the land to son William at the time of his marriage.

I won't say that searching a particular person is easy, but so rewarding. And now I have "met" online descendants of Levi. I hope to find out more about his pioneer life in Gallatin, KY, during the mid 1800s, putting this family into their place in history.