Samuel Young Griffin and Elizabeth "Lizzie" Terry

Samuel Young Griffin
b. 23 Sept. 1840 Pocahontas Co, VA
m. 9 Oct. 1873, Sunnyside, Montgomery Co., KS
d. 2 Oct. 1891 Sycamore Twp. Montgomery Co., KS (Obituary says of typhoid fever)

Spouse: Elizabeth "Lizzie" Terry
b. 21 Jan. 1850, Milwaukee, Dane Co., WI
d. 20 Mar. 1939, Edmond, Okla. Co., OK

Samuel Young Griffin is the son of William Griffin and Elizabeth Rodgers. The family lived in Pocahontas County, VA (later West VA) farming in the area of the Greenbrier River near present day Marlinton. His grandfather, Jonathan Griffin, had migrated to VA from Connecticut and married, Rachel Sharp, daughter of pioneer William Sharp.

The following statements are abstracted from Samuel's obituary, not necessarily proven true.
Samuel "...was a drummer boy for Co. F 47th Reg. Ohio Vols. At the close of the war, he moved to Iowa with his father's family. Then moved to Jasper Co., MO. In 1869 moved to Kansas along with the late Col. Samuel Young. Lived north of Larimer, Kansas. On Oct. 9, 1873, he married Elizabeth Terry."

In Samuel Young Griffin's military pension records, registration and muster papers indicate that he enlisted Sept. 18, 1861 at Weston VA (became W. VA) at age 20, 5 days before his 21st birthday. We find no evidence that he was a drummer boy, although he was a provost guard (guarding officers' headquarters). His description was: blue eyes, dark hair, fair complexion, height 5 ft. 9 in.

Throughout his 3 years of service, he was taken ill at different times as were many soldiers of that war. He was hospitalized at Louisville, KY. He contracted measles in Feb. 1862, near Camp Tompkins, WVA, which resulted in chronic bronchitis. He was present in muster rolls during most of 1862. Spent most of 1863 at Louisville Hospital; had duty as provost guard there. During 1864, he was a member of the Veteran Reserve Corps, and was discharged in September at the end of his third year, at Chicago, IL. One major under whom he served was Major McCook, one of 15 of Ohio's "Fighting McCooks", who were involved in major battles at Chickamauga and Kennesaw Mt., GA, among others. A Col. Daniel McCook was killed at Kennesaw Mt., GA, fighting under General Sherman, June 1864. I do not know if Samuel Griffin's company was involved in this battle, although I do believe they were in Georgia, as one muster roll is dated Atlanta, Aug. 1864, which included his name. Follow this link to letters written by Samuel to his parents during the Civil War.

Lizzie Terry, daughter of William and Charlotte Terry, moved with her family from her birthplace in Milwaukee, WI, to Macon County, IL. During the Civil War, her brothers were naturalized and served in the Union Army. Her father died during the 1860s and the family moved to the Southeastern part of Kansas soon afterwards. Lizzie and Sam met in Montgomery County, Kansas, where they were married when Sam was 33 and Lizzie was 23 years of age. Their marriage certificate says the wedding took place "at the home of the bride's mother at Sunnyside."

Sam and Lizzie had seven children, six of whom grew to adulthood. Samuel's veteran pension papers verify the birthdates and places of the children, and who was present at the births.

Harry L. "Jack" Griffin, born Sept. 1874
Charles Walter "Charley" Griffin, a twin, born on March 15, 1877
Mata or Mattie Griffin, a twin, born on March 15, 1877
(Died at 6 months; buried at Crone's Cemetery)
Ira D. Griffin, born on Nov. 26, 1878
Clara M. Griffin, born on Dec. 17, 1881
Elmer E. Griffin, born on April 23, 1885
Floyd F. Griffin, born on Oct. 3, 1889

Samuel died in 1891. The funeral was at Krone's School Methodist Episcopal, where he was a member. He is buried at the Krone's Cemetery, Montgomery County, Kansas. His obituary states:
"Brothers still living at the time of his death: Andrew, Adam, Adonijah, John, William, and Peter. Sister: Mrs. Hugh McNutt."

A few months after Samuel's death, Lizzie and her children moved to Edmond, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, where her mother-in-law, Elizabeth Rodgers Griffin, and brother-in-law, Peter C. Griffin had settled as 89ers.

We have posted a page which includes obituary and a tribute to Lizzie Terry Griffin, who passed away March 30, 1939 at 89 years. She is buried at Greenlawn Cemetery in Edmond.

William Griffin, son of Jonathan

William Griffin, my great great grandfather, was the third child of Jonathan and Rachael Sharp Griffin. He was born March 27, 1812, in Bath County Virginia (later to become Pocahontas Co. West Virginia). An old family letter states that William was called “Billy”, and also that he was educated in Connecticut. I have seen no evidence of the latter. Although his father was born in CT, we find no information that family members returned to CT from West Virginia for education.

We do know that the family valued education, and William was a school teacher and Sunday School teacher. According to his obituary, he was an active member and later an officer, of the Methodist Episcopal Church from age 22. He may well have met his wife, Elizabeth M. Rodgers, at church, as her father, James Rodgers, was a devout man of the area. Of course, the churches met in homes in those days, or outdoors under the trees.

This quote is from “Moccasin Tracks and other Imprints” by William C. Dodrill, 1915.

“It is not known that any schools were taught in this county [Webster] before 1835. The first school of which I have any knowledge was erected by two brothers, William and Benjamin Hamrick, and James Dodrill, on the Elk [River] nearly opposite the mouth of Wolf Pen Run, six miles above Webster Springs. [My note: At that time this would have been in Nicholas or Braxton County, later Webster.] These three men employed William Griffin to teach three months, for which he was to receive 30 dollars and board. Spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic were the branches taught. The Bible was the text used in the reading classes. …”

Note: William would have been about 23 at this time. Another source says that William’s brother, Benoni Griffin, taught at the school. Benoni later married William Hamrick’s daughter, Nancy.

Elizabeth Rodgers, daughter of James and Elizabeth Jackson Rodgers, was born Aug. 4, 1818, in what she called “East” Virginia, probably Culpeper or Madison County, VA. Her mother died when Elizabeth was a child. Her father brought seven children over the mountains to the Buckeye area of Pocahontas County, where he married for a second time, and had six more children. They lived on Rodgers Mountain, south of the Stony Creek area where the Griffins lived.

After the time that William was a teacher, we next find a record of William as an adult, recipient of 62 acres (possibly more) of land transferred or sold to him by his father, Jonathan Griffin, Sept 4, 1838, just a few weeks before William and Elizabeth's marriage. The land was originally granted to Benoni Griffin of Connecticut, on the Greenbrier River (now site of the Green Bank Telescope.) Jonathan was somehow related to this Benoni; I hope to discover a father/son relationship.

We have a copy of the marriage certificate for William and Elizabeth, which is found on pg. 25, Pocahontas Co. Marriage Book as follows:

22 Oct 1838 Bond: William Griffin and Elizabeth M. Rogers. Surety, William Griffin and James Rogers.

25 Oct 1838 Return: William GRIFFIN and Elizabeth M. Rogers by Joseph G. McKeehan.

There is no indication that William and Elizabeth ever lived on the Green Bank land. Their first son, Joseph was born in 1839, in Pocahontas, where the rest of the Jonathan Griffin family lived. Then in 1840, William, Elizabeth, and son, under 5, are found in Nicholas County. This county was the home of Elizabeth’s two sisters, Tabitha Rodgers, wife of James McAvoy, and Sarah Ann Rodgers, wife of Adonijah Harris, and brother, Robert Rodgers. Harris and Robert Rodgers were both blacksmiths by trade. In later years, at least three of William’s children/grandchildren list their occupations as blacksmith.

William and his wife Elizabeth farmed in Pocahontas County near the family farm in 1850, as father, Jonathan, was aged. After Jonathan’s death around 1852, most of his sons and families, as well as their mother, Rachael, moved to Braxton (later Webster County west of the mountains near the Elk River. Brother, Abraham, stayed on the family farm on Swago and Stony Creek in Pocahontas County.

William was on the petition for the formation of Webster County West VA, in 1860. It has been stated in a family letter that he farmed 400 acres in Webster County. He was blinded in one eye by a corn stalk when walking through his field.

Military Service: Two sons, James M., and Levi J., died of illness, in service to the Union during the Civil War. James served in the 47th Regiment of the Ohio Voluntary Infantry - probably mustered in 1861. He died June 22, 1862. He was first buried in the military cemetery at Charleston West VA, then later re-interred at the military cemetery at West Virginia.

Levi J. was a Private in the 10th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, mustered at Sutton May 3, 1862, at age 18. He died Oct. 13, 1864, at Winchester, of fever. Another son, Samuel Young Griffin, also served the Union in the Ohio Vols 47th Regiment. Although he was stricken with illness, he did return from the war and accompanied the family as they headed west. Our Griffin line descends through Samuel. Letters to father, William, from Samuel during the Civil War.

During the latter part of the war, the families were forced to leave their farms in Webster County and relocate to the military base in Clarksburg, Harrison County. At the close of the Civil War, William and Elizabeth along with their remaining children, and several related families, decided to leave the new state of West Virginia to head for western states. Their sympathies for the Union brought persecution from their neighbors...to the extent that at one time they had to hide in a water filled ditch. The story of this exodus is recorded by a descendant of the Miller family, who traveled with Griffin and Harris families (all related). Click Here for John J. Miller's Civil War Story.

Family letters state that in 1865, William and Elizabeth and ten children, along with several other related families boarded a steamboat on the Ohio River (probably at Marietta OH), and sailed down the Ohio to the Mississippi, then to the Missouri River and up to Council Bluffs, Iowa. As John Miller had land in Exira, Audubon County Iowa, the family must have traveled there by wagon. Elizabeth’s aunts, Julia and Elizabeth Rodgers, in their 80s, (Julia was blind) traveled with them and then on to their brother Chesley’s home in Indianola, Iowa.

As stated in Miller’s story, the Griffins and Millers farmed for a short time in Iowa, then in Carthage, Missouri, and finally in Montgomery County, in southeastern Kansas. Sycamore Township became the home of this family and descendants for many years.

In 1889, William and Elizabeth’s youngest son, Peter Griffin, unmarried, age 28, made the Oklahoma Land Run, staking claims for himself and his parents, west of Edmond in Deer Creek. Soon after they moved to Edmond, Oklahoma Territory, William died. He is now buried at Gracelawn Cemetery. Elizabeth died in 1903, after her daughter in law, Lizzie Griffin, widow of Samuel, and children moved to Oklahoma.

This obituary comes from a Kansas Newspaper, although Wm.'s death occurred in Oklahoma. Jan Griffin Leaf has provided this.

GRIFFIN - William Griffin was born in Pocahontas County, VA., March 27, 1812, and died near Edmond, I. T., [should be Okla. Terr..] Nov. 4, 1889. He married Elizabeth M. Rogers, Oct. 25, 1838. There were born to them twelve sons and two daughters; seven sons and one daughter survive their father, and also his aged wife. He was a devoted member of the M.E. Church for 55 years, during which time he filled various offices in the Church. Father Griffin was a true type of a man and Christian. He was one of the few that opposed secession in his township at the breaking out of the Rebellion. He moved and settled for a time in Montgomery County, Kans., during which time the writer was his pastor and always found him in his place at church when it was possible for him to be there. He died as the good man dieth, and leaves behind him the savor of a good name, more to be desired than gold. J. ALBERT HYDEN. Cherry Vale, Kans.

More information on the children of William and Elizabeth:

Three children did not survive to adulthood and we do not know their dates of death or burial place. They are Rachel J., Robert O., and Alpheus. The oldest son, Joseph, is said to have died of fever about 1861, at age 22.

Samuel Young Griffin married Elizabeth “Lizzie” Terry, in Montgomery Co., Kansas. When he died in 1891, Lizzie brought the children to live in Oklahoma on the land claimed by her brother-in-law, Pete. The story of Sam and Lizzie, their life and family will be found on a separate blog page.

Adam Bland Griffin. We have a biography of Adam, contributed by a descendant, Elisha Dawn Barnett. Adam met Sarah Wiggins in Iowa, where they eloped. They then came to Kansas, farmed and raised a large family. Adam made the Oklahoma Land Run of 1893.

Sarah Ann “Sally” Griffin, the only surviving daughter of Wm. and Elizabeth, married Hugh McNutt when the Griffin family lived in Iowa. She was widowed in her 40s, and after living in Edmond, OK, with sister-in-law, Lizzie for a while, followed her children to Burbank, California, where she died in 1937.

Andrew W. Griffin married Zara Mayfield. He farmed in Montgomery Co., Kansas. Andrew was listed as a blacksmith in the 1870s, as was his brother Adonijah Harris Griffin. We have made contact with a descendant of Andrew and Zara, who lives in Colorado. Link to Andrew’s obituary.

John L. Griffin, with wife Clara O. Piersol & family, migrated from Kansas to Colorado around 1892. John was a mathematician and held positions as teacher, principal & Supt. of Schools, in Boulder and Everett, WA. We also have a biography of John L. and family, contributed by Jan Griffin Leaf of the Seattle, WA area.

Adonijah "Nije" Griffin went to Colorado at about the same time as John, and then to Texas. His first wife was Mattie Hinton, and second was Ida Groseclose. In Baylor County, TX, Nije was a blacksmith and served as postmaster. His descendants are found in New Mexico, Arizona and California.

William F. Griffin married Ellen Davis in Montgomery County, KS, in 1880. He was a farmer and settled in Sparks, Lincoln County, OK. Later he listed his occupation as house painter, was divorced, and lived for a time in Oklahoma City, OK. He died in Sparks, OK, in 1922. His children stayed in Oklahoma.

Peter Charles Griffin was the youngest son of William and Elizabeth. "Uncle Pete" never married. He worked the farm with his father. In 1889, he made the Oklahoma Land Run, staking a claim at Edmond, for himself and his parents. At his death in 1934, he willed his accumulated wealth to his many nieces and nephews. His will provided for a stone for his parents, Elizabeth and William Griffin, in Gracelawn Cemetery, Edmond, Oklahoma. Link to Uncle Pete's story.

Children of Jonathan and Rachel Griffin

Each family of Rachel and Jonathan's married children will be touched on here, although we do not have complete descendancy lists.

1. ABRAHAM GRIFFIN, B. 1808, D. AFTER 1880. Married at about age 21.
Records show - Abraham Griffin and Nancy Waugh, married 29 Oct 1829, Pocahontas, Virginia. Nancy was the daughter of James Waugh, jr., and Rebecca McGuire.

Children:
1. Jonathan James Griffin, sometimes called James, b: 1829 in Pocahontas, VA, married Lucinda Fleming at age 30, d. unknown after age 50.
2. Malinda Griffin b: 1831 in Pocahontas, VA, never married, d. 1922, Buckeye WV. Some glimpses of her life are recorded in the works of West Virginia Poet Laureate, Louise McNeill, in whose family "Aunt Malindy" spent her last years.
3. Dianna Rachel Griffin b: 22 Dec 1836 in Pocahontas, VA; At age 19, married 1) Jacob L. Buzzard, 2) Mr. Moorten ; d. 1912, WA.
4. Eliza B. Griffin, b. about 1839 , in Pocahontas, VA, married William Pritt at age 28; died after 1920, leaving many descendants in the Little Levels area.
5. Matthias "Potts" Griffin b: 1842 in Pocahontas, VA, d. 1862 in Confederate service at Sharpsburg (Antietam).
6. Sarah Griffin b: 1844 in Pocahontas, VA, died at about age 16.
7. Margaret Griffin b: 1847 in Pocahontas, VA, married Claiborne McNeel; d. 1926. She was step mother to Nathan C. McNeel, State Senator of West Virginia.

Abraham and Nancy and most of their family lived in Pocahontas County all their lives, farming near Edray P. O. probably on the Jonathan Griffin farm on Stony Creek and land he purchased in the 1830s on Swago Creek. Nancy died before 1880, possibly in Buckeye, and Abraham may have lived even longer, as the last time we find him in census [1880], he is 72 years old.

2. MARGARET GRIFFIN, B. ABOUT 1810, D. ABOUT 1903. Married at about age 29.
Marriage Record:
7 Dec 1839 Bond: Isaac Hamrick, of Nicholas County, & Margaret Griffin. Surety, Isaac (x) Hamrick & William Griffin. Jonathan Griffin consents for daughter. Teste, Abraham Griffin & William Griffin. William Hamrick makes oath his son, Isaac, is 21 years of age. Teste, William Griffin & Benomi [sic] Griffin. 10 Dec 1839 Return: Isaac Hamrick & Margaret Griffin by John W. Osborne.

The family lived on Point Mountain, four miles above Webster Springs, in Webster County (formed in 1860 from Nicholas, Braxton, Randolph Co.)
Children:
1. Jonathan Griffin Hamrick, b. 1846, Nicholas Co., VA, married Rebecca Jane Hamrick, daughter of Peter Hamrick. Jonathan lived on Point Mountain where his father lived, then moved to St. Petersburg, FL.
2. Mildred J. Hamrick, b. 1852, Nicholas Co., VA, married Robert A. Lilly of Randolph Co.
3. Nathan Hamrick, b. 1855, Nicholas Co., VA, married Isabel Harrah.
4. Levi Hamrick, b. 1848, Nicholas Co, VA, married Almarinda Cogar, a daughter of George Cogar. He also raised his family and lived for a number of years near the home of his father.
5. Rachel Ellen Hamrick, b. 1843, Nicholas Co., VA, married Alfred R. Miller. They raised their family on the Back Fork of Elk River in Webster County.
6. Andrew Hamrick, died when young.

Isaac Hamrick died 11 February 1893, and is buried in a private cemetery near the Pleasant Grove Church. His wife, Margaret, who died about 1903, at the age of 93 years, is buried beside him.

3. WILLIAM GRIFFIN, B. 1812, D. 1889, EDMOND OKLAHOMA. Married at about age 26,
Pocahontas County, Virginia. We have a copy of the certificate, October 22, 1838, William Griffin m. Elizabeth M. Rodgers.

Children: Information comes from family Bible and census records.
1. Joseph N. Griffin b. 2 Aug. 1839, VA; d. 1861-62 Braxton Co, WV.
2. Samuel Young Griffin , b. 23 Sept 1840, VA; Union Soldier, Ohio Vols.; d. 1891, Sycamore, Montgomery Co., KS; married Elizabeth "Lizzie" Terry
3. James M. Griffin b. 7 Jan. 1842, VA; Union Soldier, Died in Service, 1862
4. Levi J. Griffin, b. 8 Aug. 1843, VA; Union Soldier, Died in Service, 1864
5. Adam Bland Griffin , b. 1844-1845, Sutton, Braxton Co., VA; d. 1925, Caldwell, KS; married Sarah Ann Wiggins
6. Andrew W. Griffin, b. 3 Oct. 1846, VA; married Zarah E. Mayfield; d. 1917, Montgomery Co., KS
7. Sarah A. Griffin, b. 22 Feb. 1848, VA; married Hugh McNutt; died Sept. 1937, Burbank, California.
8. Robert O. Griffin, b. 23 Oct. 1849, VA; died between 1860-70, unknown location.
9. Adonijah Harris "Nije" Griffin, b. 6 Aug. 1851, VA; married 1) Mattie 2) Ida Groseclose; died between 1928-30, Texas.
10. William F. Griffin, b. Jan 1853, Ohio; married Ellen Davis; d. 1922, Lincoln Co., OK
11. John Luther Griffin, b. 24 April 1855, VA; married Clara Odessa Piersol; d. Jan 25, 1925, Everett, WA
12. Rachel J. Griffin, b. 22 Oct. 1856 , VA; d. about 1868, location unknown.
13. Alpheus Griffin, b. 1 Jan 1859, VA; d. before 1870 location unknown.
14. Peter Charles Griffin, b. 20 Aug. 1860; never married; d. April 25 1934, Edmond, OK



4. BENONI GRIFFIN, B. 1814, D. 1888. Married at about age 20. His wife was Nancy Hamrick.
"Descendants of William Hamrick" says of William's daughter, Nancy:
"Nancy Hamrick, born March 17, 1815, married Benoni Griffin in 1834. [They] lived in Pocahontas County until 1852, when [they] moved to Wainville [near Laurel Creek] in Webster County. In 1862, [they] moved to Salem, Harrison County, where she was living at the time of her death." Benoni died Nov. 29, in 1888 and Nancy died Mar. 13, 1891. They are buried at the 7th Day Baptist Cemetery, Salem, Harrison Co., WVA.

The date of the family's move to Webster County (1852) coincides with the death of Benoni's father, Jonathan Griffin. Then the move in 1862 was probably because of the fact that they were Union sympathizers in a county where they were not welcome. The following is from "History of Pocahontas County", "Griffin, Benoni, b. 1814 in Nicholas Co., VA, d. in Harrison Co., WV. He lived at Laurel Creek in Webster, West Virginia until 1862. He was a Unionist and fought in the Federal Army during the Civil War. On 29 December 1861 he led a unit of the Union Home Guard on raids to Laurel Creek from Sutton. Several of his neighbors were wounded and killed and farms and homes burned."

William Hamrick [father of Nancy] started the first school in Webster County, West Virginia along with his brother Benjamin and James Dodrill and built a log school house on Benjamin Hamrick's land. Benoni Griffin was the first teacher.

Full Context of West Virginia Prominent Men :
Griffin, Benoni, Pocahontas County, Beech Bottom, House of Delegates 1863-'64.
Griffin, Isaac H., Webster County, Webster C. H., House of Delegates 1871. [Son of Benoni.]

Children:
1. Jane Griffin, b. 1836; d. about 1860 at age 24. She was unmarried.
2. William Griffin, b. 1838; d. about 1856, at age 18. He was unmarried.
3. Isaac H. Griffin, b. 1839; d. in 1914. He was a Union Soldier.
4. Rachael C. Griffin, b.1842; d. at the age of 2 years, in about 1844.
5. Charles R. Griffin, b. 1844; d. at the age of 18 years, in about 1862.
6. George C. Griffin, b. 1846; killed in action Union Service, 1863, at about age 17. He was unmarried.
7. Elizabeth R. Griffin, b. 1848; was unmarried.
8. Jonathan S. Griffin, b. 1850; was unmarried.
9. Newton J. Griffin, b. 1852; married Jane Haskins.
10. Vanlinden S. Griffin, b. 1855; married Susan Haskins.
11. Mary E. Griffin, b. ; died at age 17. She was unmarried.
12. Matthew W. Griffin, b. 1857; married a Miss Elliott.

5. RACHEL S. GRIFFIN, B. 1822, D. AFTER 1880, OHIO.
Married Charles Ruckman. He was a scholar, teacher, and Methodist minister. They moved to Ohio, because he did not approve of his brothers' support of the south during the Civil War. In his later years became a rheumatic invalid. It is believed that there are no living descendants.

Children:
1. Julia Ruckman, b. about 1842; d. 1939, Noble Co. OH. She was an unmarried schoolteacher, Sharon, Ohio.
2. Leonidas T. Ruckman, b. about 1845; d. 1915, Noble Co. OH. He was an unmarried schoolteacher, Sharon, Ohio.
3. Morgan W. B. Ruckman, b. about 1855; died 1870-80.
4. Jonathan D. Ruckman, b. about 1857; died 1870-80.


6. JONATHAN GRIFFIN, B. 1826, D. AFTER 1910. Married Margaret Rader.
Quote from website: "Jonathan Griffin, another son-in-law of John Rader, first settled at the Jack Paugh place on Mill Creek, after several years, he sold to his wife's brother, Adam Rader, who married a Riddle."

Children:
1. Nancy "Nannie" R. Griffin, b. 1861; d. bet. 1920-30. Married Solomon "Low" V. Hickman.
2. Laura Griffin, b. May 1855; d. ? Married James C. Ruddell.
3. Sarah Griffin, ?

7. SAMUEL GRIFFIN, B. 1828, D. AFTER 1880. (never married)

Jonathan Griffin and Rachel Sharp

Our ancestors in the Griffin family have taken us on a journey which is far from complete. Jonathan Griffin, my 3Gt Grandfather, was born in 1777 in Connecticut, the year that the flag made by Betsy Ross was adopted by the Continental Congress. His wife was Rachel Sharp. She was born in 1787, at Huntersville, in Bath Co., Virginia. (later part of Pocahontas Co.) Rachel's maternal and paternal grandparents had each been killed by Indians, leaving her father, William Sharp, and mother, Mary Meeks, and their siblings, as orphans. William Sharp and Mary Meeks married, and William became a pioneer of the Bath County area. Another descendant has written an account of William Sharp and wife, Mary Meeks, where he is described as "a scout, spy, and soldier against the Indians and the British."

We have much circumstantial evidence to show that Jonathan Griffin, is son of Benoni Griffin Jr. of Simsbury. This Benoni was married several times and migrated to Virginia near the Green Bank area. This Griffin line has been said to trace to England, and back to Wales. The repeating names of Benoni, Abraham, Levi, Samuel are among Jonathan's descendants seem to refer to the Benoni and Abrahams of the Connecticut Griffin families. We are discovering land records which give further evidence of Benoni as Jonathan's father.

In 1800, Jonathan is found as a taxpayer in the personal property tax rolls of Bath County VA. I do not see his name as a land owner, but he was an adult and probably owned a horse and other property which was taxed. He married Rachel Sharp in 1806.

The Bath County Marriage Bonds book lists the following:
Aug 12, 1806: Bond for Jonathan Griffin and Rachel Sharp.
Surety, Robert Gay. Return filed Sept. 1 by Jeremiah Burns. Robert Gay was a justice of the peace. Jeremiah Burns was a Methodist Episcopal minister. I believe that Jonathan's father, whoever it may be, was no longer living, or not living in the area, otherwise, he would probably have signed the marriage bond.

Jonathan and Rachel must have lived with family after marriage as they are not found in 1810 Census records. Jonathan made purchases at the Bath County estate sale, of John Drennan, in 1815. This is recorded in Abstracts of Wills and Inventories of Bath Co. VA 1791-1842 - Bruns. Possibly he and Rachel were ready to set up housekeeping with their young family.

"Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County West Virginia," by Price, [written about 1900] states:
"Rachel Sharp, daughter of William Sharp, was married to Jonathan Griffin, and lived near the head of Stony Creek, on the farm now owned by Levi Gay . Her children were Abraham, Benoni, Jonathan, and Mrs. Charles Ruckman [Rachel]." [We know there were more children: Margaret, William, and Samuel.]

In 1813, we find Jonathan making a large purchase of land on Stony Creek (near present day Edray, WVA.) He also owned land on the eastern side of the Greenbrier River in the Green Bank area where we now find the National Radio Telescope, not far from the area where the first Griffins (from CT) are found in this county. Maybe these land records will give us clues as to Jonathan's ancestry. We find through census and other records that there are other children: sons, William, our ancestor, and Samuel, and another daughter, Margaret, who married Isaac Hamrick.

An article from "Moccasin Tracks & Other Imprints" by W. Dodrill:
"Pioneer School Teachers"…
"In 1850, Robert Gregory built a school house near the present site of the St. Mary's school house. The school building was of the most primitive kind. Among the early pioneer school teachers were the following: William Kain, William and Samuel Given, Israel Clifton, Jonathan Griffin, Joseph Woods and Timothy Holcomb." [ The Holcombs also came from CT with marriages to Griffins.] The Jonathan mentioned may have been the son of Jonathan and Rachel Griffin. He lived in Webster County in 1850s.

Residents of Webster County have related that the St. Mary's school house (and thus the Gregory school) were located "on the road going over Point Mountain from Webster Springs towards Elkins, between the Barton (Curtin) Road and Bergoo Rd."

The last census record where we find the elder Jonathan Griffin is the 1850 Census, Pocahontas VA. Jonathan is shown as age 72, born in Pennsylvania. [This is the only time that Pennsylvania is mentioned. See other notes that say b. CT. I believe the latter is correct.] Also in 1850 census in the same county, we find members of the Sharp, Waugh, Duffield families, and sons Abraham, William, and Benoni Griffin and their families.

By 1860, all the children of Jonathan and Rachel were married, except for Samuel, who never married.
Abraham, b. 1808 in Bath County, VA, married Nancy Waugh, daughter of James Waugh, Jr.
Margaret b. 1810 in Bath County, VA, married Isaac Hamrick, son of William F. Hamrick
William b. 1812 in Bath County, VA, married Elizabeth M. Rodgers, daughter of James Rodgers.
Benoni b. 1814 in Bath County, VA, married Nancy Hamrick, daughter of William F. Hamrick.
Rachel b. 1820 in Bath County, VA, married Charles Ruckman, son of D. L. Ruckman.
Jonathan b. 1826 in Bath County, VA, married Margaret Rader, daughter of John H. Rader.
Samuel b. 1828, in Bath County, VA, never married.

We believe that Jonathan, Sr. died sometime in the early 1850s possibly in Braxton Co. [from note on a land record.] We find that his son, Jonathan, bought property in 1852, possibly using his inheritance [no will has been found.] Benoni Griffin and his wife, Nancy Hamrick, also moved away from Pocahontas in 1852. Abraham and his family probably stayed on or near the home place. By 1860, Rachel Sharp Griffin, and son, Samuel, are living in Webster County, West Virginia with close family friends, William and Caroline Tracy. In 1870, she is about 84 years old, living with daughter, Margaret Hamrick, and her husband, Isaac, in Fork Lick, Webster County, West Virginia. We believe that Rachel died between 1870 and 1880. Her grave is found in the Isaac Hamrick Cemetery, marked "Rachael Sharp Griffin", with no dates.