Come a Hip, Come a Whoop, Come a Hi Low

This is a song passed down in our Griffin/ McGill family for at least 4 generations. We always thought it was a nonsense song, as the "poor reindeer" couldn't have climbed a tree. But now as I search the Internet, I find it was a hunting song about a fox "Beau Reynard". I am wondering which branch of my family tree brought this song into the family lore, and which generation "mis-heard" the lyrics. Here are the words we know and below are the lyrics from a hunting song from Cornwall.
COME A HIP, COME A HOOP, COME A HI-LO
Chorus:
Come a hip, come a hoop, come a hi-lo
Across the merry way.
With a rip tip tip, and a rap, tap, tap,
And hurrah, boys..
And a bow wow wow and a roodle doodle doo,
And the bugle horn plays fee fie eeedle-ey I - dee oh...
And through the woods we’ll run brave boys,
And through the woods we’ll run.
Verse:
The first thing I saw was a school boy a-comin’ home from school
He said he saw a poor reindeer a - swimmin’ in a pool...
Chorus:
Verse:
The next thing I saw was a blind man, as blind as he could be,
He said he saw a poor reindeer climb up a hollow tree...
Chorus.
______________________________________________________________________________
Published in "The Book Buyer, Vol 11" in 1894, the song was at least 50 years old when printed. The writer says it was brought from Cornwall at that time.
Come all ye merry sportsmen
Who love to hunt the fox,
Who love to chase bold Reynard
Among the hills and rocks!
Come a whoop, come a whoop, come a hi lo
Along the merry lane
With a rap tap tap and a rip tip tip
And hurrah boys, with a bow wow wow
And a roodle doodle do goes the bugle horn
Sing fee-fi-fiddle-di- i -dee-ay
And through the woods we'll run brave boys,
And through the woods we'll run.
_________________________________________________
Another version, attributed to the Germans, says:
With a hoop, hoop, hoop and a heigh-O
Along the narrow straat.
Rat tat tat and a tippee tippee tap
With a bow wow wow
Come a hoodle doodle do
And a bugle sound.
As through the woods he ran brave boys,
And through the woods he ran.
Followed by many verses about Beau Reynard, the fox.

To Those Who Drop in Regularly

I see that a few readers stop by regularly at this blog and I need to apologize for not adding anything new in a long time. Since this blog has touched on all different branches of our families, I would love to have some comments on what would make your searches worthwhile ! Please leave a note and let us know what you might be interested in finding when you arrive at this site. We have so many stories to share. Been working on the Griffin and McGill 2009 tree at Ancestry.com so if you would like to visit there, I can send a guest invitation.

Early School in Edray District, Pocahontas County, WV

I believe the description below, found in the History of Edray Community by S.B. Moore, and published in the Pocahontas Times in 1926 is the school our ancestors attended, probably between 1820 and 1850. The school mentioned was built very near to the Griffin property near Stony Creek in the Edray area of Pocahontas County. The teacher who led classes in this school was William Young. He came from Madison Co, in Eastern VA, and may have had connection to our Rodgers ancestors who hailed from that county. I think the sons and grandsons of Jonathan and Rachel Griffin may have been educated at the school described in this passage. The Baxter family mentioned has descendants who now live on the old Griffin land. They may have been very near by in those days as well.

"Some of the first schools were taught in the old farm homes. One among the first, if not the first was in an old house near Mrs. George Baxter's home. The house was a round log structure, clapboard roof, held in place with press poles. The fire place took up most of one end of the house. It was made of rough stone. Chimney made of slate and mud. Now,for light, paper was pasted over the cracks and creased to let in the light. Other cracks in the building were chinked and daubed. Seats were made of split logs or poles, holes bored and pins put in for legs. The term of school was about three months. The salary was one dollar per scholar a month. Writing was done with quill pins. The teacher boarded with the scholars. My father Isaac Moore, taught at this school when a young man. The first schools were called "Open Schools." Everyone spelled and read aloud." S. B. Moore

Jonathan's sons, William and Benoni, became teachers, going over the mountain to what became Webster County, and teaching near Point Mountain. Jonathan is also listed as a teacher and may have held school in his home before the above school was built. His daughter, Rachel, married a teacher, Charles Ruckman. Her children became teachers in Ohio where they moved. The Griffin tradition as educators goes on through other branches of the family to our generations today.

William Terry & Charlotte Clark, of Kent, England

William Terry, our gt. gt. grandfather, was born in England around 1812-15. Charlotte Clark, according to family letters, was born in England in 1806. Family letters tell us that William's parents were William and Ann Terry. The parents of Charlotte are said to be John and Nancy Clark. Both families are from the County of Kent. Watch for more to come on these families as we search further.

The name of Terry is found throughout the county records. We find this marriage record of William Terry and Charlotte Ann Clark at St. Luke's Anglican Church, Old Charlton, Kent, England. (Current photo of St. Lukes' above.)

William Terry
Spouse: Charlotte Ann Clark
Marriage: 12 September 1836
St. Luke, Old Charlton
Kent, England

Family lore says that Charlotte was disinherited by her father, John, when she married. William Terry was a tradesman, a carriage maker or wheelwright. John Clark, her father, was superintendent of Government Military Hospitals, stationed at Woolwich. The engraving below is the Woolwich area, drawn in 1775. The St. Luke's Church is mid-left in the skyline.

The County of Kent is east of London, on the southeast coast of England. The cliffs of Dover are in this area, as well as several castles. The ancient town of Bath and legendary area of Canterbury are found in Kent.

Several children were born to William and Charlotte Terry in England, before the family left for America in 1848. We have found birth registrations for: Charles Terry, Amelia Terry, and Edwin A. Terry in Kent County England Records. Family letters state that the family sold their carriage making business in Deal, Kent County, and took a sailing shop to America. Below is a view of the city of Deal, seen from the harbor. Not far from Deal is Dover, famous for the white cliffs. The White Cliffs of Dover would be the first view of England seen by those crossing the English Channel from France (unless they are taking the "chunnel.")

Dan Harrell Griffin

My Daddy, Dan H. Griffin of Edmond and Oklahoma City, OK. Posting his obituary here at Father's Day, along with a few comments made by minister at Daddy's funeral.

DAN HARRELL GRIFFIN, 85, died Thursday, September 30, 1993, at Edmond. He was born before statehood at Edmond, OK, October 26, 1907, oldest son of early settlers of Oklahoma Territory, Charlie and Hattie Griffin. He was preceded in death by brothers, Forrest Lynn (Jiggs) Griffin and Charles Warren (Chick) Griffin, an wife of 55 years, Bess Eloise Avera Griffin.

(I have edited out list of living descendants: Three daughters, one son; nine grandchildren; and now fifteen great grandchildren.)

Mr. Griffin’'s mother, Hattie McGill, was an 89er, daughter of Daniel Patrick McGill, who staked a claim at Deer Creek during the Run of '‘89. Paternal grandmother, Lizzie Terry Griffin, and family settled near Edmond in 1890. He grew up in Edmond and in Cotton County, graduating from Normal Highschool in Edmond, and then from Central State Teachers’ College in Edmond in 1932, with a degree in Industrial Arts Education. For nearly 14 years, he traveled throughout several states working for Phillips Petroleum Co. on seismograph drilling crews. With the establishment of Griffin Drilling Co. in 1946, he and his family returned to Edmond, then to Oklahoma City in 1950. He was always personally involved with every phase of the family business even after retirement and to the final weeks of his life.

He was a member of Edmond Masonic Lodge, #37, Scottish Rite Consistory in Guthrie, and a member of the India Temple Shrine in Oklahoma City. He was an avid sports fan, bird watcher, flower gardener, photographer, and constant student of every type of earth and natural science, geography and history. Sharing these loves with his family, he had traveled to 41 states, Canada, Mexico, and Cuba.

During the past few months he was a resident of Teal Ridge Retirement Community at Edmond where he will be missed by many friends.

Services will be Monday, October 4, at 10:30 a.m. Baggerly Funeral Home in Edmond, with burial at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.

Notes from Minister for Dan Griffin's funeral:
Dan... Grandaddy
Determined, persevering, integrity, never a quitter, his word was his bond.
Always interesting and interested, more to learn.
Natural teacher, knew much information.
Telling the young guide, and the tour crowd, in Capitol rotunda about the acoustic bounce.
When he took kids on vacation, it was "industry on Parade", touring factories, dams, etc.
Explaining scientific principles to family.
Multi-faceted, world class student of everything.
Wanted everyone to learn how to do well.
For brief period, a wealthy man, but not very materialistic.
Told future son in law: "Don't marry ___ for my money, I intend to spend it all."
But he didn't ---Generous man.
As a husband, he was the Boss.
As a father, the authority.
As a father in law, a role model and an affirming and generous man.
As a boss, all business to employess, but made lasting friendships with many.
As a Grand Daddy, lively and fun, showing you how to do it. Wanted the grandchildren busy.
OU fan - big time - red jacket - football and basketball.
Type A personality behind wheel of a car.
Taught sharing and giving, very practical. Always picked up the check.
Mad a bird trap (for birds he didn't want in his yard). Took them away opened trunk and bluejays and sparrows flew. Leaving the birds he loved and fed, watching from his office window.
Word person, oral and written communication. Frustration in later years when a stroke left him with problems of communication.
Enjoyed life, did what he wanted to do, was finished.

Miss you, Daddy.

More About Samuel Huston of Iowa

The History of Iowa County Iowa by Union Historical Company
Publ 1881 – Available on Google Books

Page 672
SAMUEL HUSTON – Sec. 11, P.O. Koszta, is one of Iowa’s earliest settlers, coming to Johnson County in 1839, and soon after entering a quarter section where Tiffin now is. When arriving there his wealth was two dollars and fifty cents, and not owning a horse walked from Tiskilwa, Illinois where he had been in business but lost everything in the panic of 1837. He built his first house in Iowa—a cabin—on his claim and kept bachelor hall; breaking up his first 50 acres by procuring the use of a neighbor’s team by breaking two acres [in exchange] for the use of the team and plow, and one acre for himself, and the farm thus broken up is now [1881] known as the Tautlinger Farm near Tiffin. His first crop was that of pumpkins which he had gathered and was about effecting sale of them when an early and unexpected freeze blasted his plans, but being plucky, and never known to give up, he soon conceived the idea of manufacturing them into pumpkin butter, and from the proceeds of which and the sale of wild turkies [sic.] sold at Iowa City, he replenished his badly dilapidated wardrobe –at that time consisting partly of a suit made of a white Indian blanket and a wolf skin cap – he buying his first Sunday suit in Iowa. In 1850 he went to California, returning to Iowa in 1852. Selling his farm in Johnson County, in 1854 he moved to Iowa County, settling in Honey Creek township, at Koszta, he being the original proprietor of that village, where he dealt in real estate and carried on a general merchandise business and also farmed extensively. His farm now consists of 597 acres, and he is ranked among the wealthy men of Iowa County and is now filling the position of Vice President of the First National Bank of Marengo. He was born in Stroudsburg, Monroe County, Pennsylvania in 1811, and has been married four times. His present wife was Margaret B. Lamberton of Marengo, whom he married March 13 1866. He has two children living: George A. Huston (of Clifton, Kansas) Emma L. (wife of Dr. D. B. Darr of Ladora). Mr. Huston is Republican in politics and both he and his wife are members of the M.E. Church.

From pg. 664.. “He laid out the town of Koszta, built the bridge over the Iowa River and made other improvements.”

From History of Solano and Napa Counties, California – found online
One of the early immigrants to California was Samuel Huston, of Pennsylvania, who after eight months of weary travel across the plains, arrived here in 1850. For two years he farmed in the Suison Valley but in 1852 went [back] to Iowa by way of Panama, and remained in that state, engaging in farming and merchandising until his death in 1892. He married Mary Been, [this being her surname from first marriage] a native of Indiana, and two children were born of this union, George A. and Emma L.

More about George A. Huston of Napa CA, in this article.

Valentine Letter from Secret Admirer, 1864

Valentine Letter written on a folded paper, decorated on the outside by a pen drawing of a wreath of leaves, with a dove in the center. At the bottom are two overlapping hearts, pierced by arrows. I have left the spelling as the original.

14th Febuary /64 [1864]

Miss Lavonia Davis
As I do not enjoy [take part in]
a corrispondance with you, I take advantage of
the 14th of February to give you some token of the many
hye regards witch I entertain for you.
You will pleas except my best wishes for your
happiness and prosperity. Ever be assured
that some bosom breathes forth a constant
silent prear for thee.

Perhaps you may find out who this is from.
If so pleas pardon him for so doing and
ever remember that he esteems you hy as a lady.
Also read the inblem of the drawing on the
opposite page and may your path be strene [strewn?]
with roses & heaven bless your whole life,
and crown your death with peace and endless bliss.
From your Valentine

[My note: The handwriting matches the later letters by Alonzo Bosworth, Lavonia’s future husband. These are my husband's Gt gt grandparents.
Alonzo was a Confederate Sgt., AL 14th Regiment, Company D, who had fought in VA and Gettysburg. The above writing was when he was about 21, after the war. He died young, age 37, in 1880, possibly a result of earlier war wounds. Martha Lavonia outlived him by 40 more years. She saved these letters in a trunk as she moved with family to Oklahoma. She was the first victim of an automobile/ buggy accident in Oklahoma, 1921.]