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HELLO, EVERYONE. THIS IS MY FIRST POST SO BE KIND (grin). I AM RESEARCHING THE GRIFFIN, GRIFFEN, GRIFFITH FAMILY OF GREENBRIER VA. MY GGGGGRANDFATHER WAS GORDON GRIFFIN (WITH ALL THE VARIOUS SPELLINGS) BORN 1755 IN AUGUSTA CO VA, DIED 1851 IN BATH CO KY, MARRIED CATHERINE KESSINGER OF LANCASTER PA IN GREENBRIER VA IN 1781.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW MANY OF THE GRIFFINS ARE CHEROKEE AND OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN DESCENDANTS. I DO NOT KNOW OUR TRIBAL CONNECTION BUT MY GRIFFINS SEEM TO ALWAYS SHOW UP IN THE AREAS ASSOCIATED WITH NA FAMILIES – GREENBRIER, EASTERN KY, KANSAS-MISSOURI BORDER, ETC. THESE ARE THE SAME GRIFFINS ABOUT WHOM KATE GORE PLAKE (WHOSE MOTHER WAS A GRIFFIN AND WHO MARRIED HER FIRST COUSIN JOHN G. GRIFFIN) WROTE THAT SOMEWHAT DUBIOUS STORY ABOUT THE WAY SHE WAS TREATED SO SHE WOULD NOT REVEAL THE SUPPOSEDLY TERRIBLE “SECRET” ABOUT THE FAMILY’S “PEDIGREE”! ONE COULD ASSUME THE “SECRET” WAS THEIR NA HERITAGE. AND THEN OF COURSE, THERE IS CHARLES GRIFFIN, THE MUCH LOVED SCHOOLMASTER OF THE SAPONI CHILDREN AT FORT CHRISTANNA WHO TURNS UP YEARS LATER WITH A GROUP OF SAPONI MEN. WHETHER HE WAS ONE OF OURS I DO NOT KNOW BUT LANCASTER PA IS ONE OF THE PLACES THE SAPONI WENT.
ANYWAY, I AM LOOKING FOR THE FATHER OF GORDON GRIFFIN AND HIS SIBLINGS, WILLIAM AND ISABELLA ALL OF GREENBRIER VA, LATER KY, AND ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS GRIFFIN FAMILY’S NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE. ANY INFO GREATLY APPRECIATED AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO SHARE WHAT I HAVE. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WORK, I AM VERY EXCITED TO HAVE FOUND YOU. e-wi
Hi, e-wi, Welcome.
Is there any substanciation for the following?
Abraham Griffith, b.12 Feb 1713 Phila, Pa, m’d Elizabeth Lynn, b. 13 Jun 1720, parents of
William Griffith, b. 1741 (1731? )
he had children:
Thomas, m’d Sarah Harris 1788 Greenbrier Va
GORDON, m’d Catherine Kessinger 1781 Greenbrier Va
William, m’d Sarah Baker 1777 Charlotte Va
Eliza, m’d Samuel Ramsey 1788 Greenbrier Va
Patterson, m’d Agnes Scarborough 1794 Greenbrier Va
John, m’d Sarah Lewis 1788 Greenbrier Va
James, m’d Susannah Davis in Greenbrier Va
Tempernia m’d John Price 1804 Greenbrier Va
Mary m’d Ralph Steele 1803 Tazewell Va
…….
Gordon Griffin is on the 1800 Clark Co Ky Tax List.
Bill
Hi, Bill. Thank you, Good to hear from you.
Bill I found in “Register of Marriages in Greenbrier Co 1781-1849” in Hard Copy in the Filson Club Genealogical Library in Louisville KY, as well as the microfilm of these records in a LDS Library, the following:
GORDAN GRIFFETH M. CATHERINE KISENGER Jan 2 1781
JOHN GRIFFITH M. SARAH LEWIS May 20 1788
THOMAS GRIFFETH M. SARAH HARRIS Sept 8 1788
WILLIAM GRIFFITH M. MARY LEWIS Oct 24 1790
PATTERSON GRIFFIT M. ANES SCARBOROUGH Aug 14 1794
JAMES GRIFFITH M. SUSANNA DAVIS Sept 3 1795
JOHN GRIFFIN M. ELIZABETH CHAPMAN Dec 3 1822
JACOB GRIFFETH M. SARAH JONES 1828
I have not seen WILLIAM or anyone else given as Gordon’s father but William is certainly a plausible name for his father as Gordon had a brother named William. This is verified in the pension application of Israel Meadow’s widow Barbara Meadows, filed in 1838 in Estill County KY. Also in that application ISABELLA Griffin Howard, sister of Gordon and William gives interesting info about Greenbrier. I have run across ABRAHAM Griffin before but not as Gordon’s ancestor. Could you share with me please where you found ABRAHAM and WILLIAM as GORDON’S father and Grandfather? As Gordon’s wife Catherine Kessinger was from Lancaster PA, William’s being from PA connects a dot.
The earliest I have found GORDON in KY is on the Fayette Co. KY 1788 Tax List. Clark, Montgomery and Bath Counties eventually were formed from Fayette Co. Gordon’s son MATHIAS, who lived most of his life in Bath Co KY, is my direct ancestor.
If you have any further questions, please let me know and also about Abraham and William please.
Thank you,
e-wi
Eve Rudder
Bill, Thought you and other Southwest VA reasearchers might enjoy this tidbit I found in “A History of Greenbrier Co”.
Elder John Alderson, a Baptist preacher, came to Greenbrier (then Botetourt Co) in 1775 and found “A WILD, UNCULTIVATED PLACE IN WHICH CHRIST AND HIS CHURCH WERE SELDOM IF EVER PREACHED”.
We Griffins can be consoled, however, as he baptized JOHN GRIFFITH when he returned in 1776. He also married GORDON GRIFFITH and CATHERINE KESSINGER in 1781 as well as several other Griffins during the next 20 years.
Cheers!
e-wi
Eve,
Do you have any information on who the 55 to 100 yr old FPC is who lived in the household of Gordon’s son Andrew Griffin on the 1830 Bath Co census?
Bill
Bill, No, I do not know who the FCP is on the 1830 census. It would not be Andrew’s mother Catherine as she and Gordon are counted under their own household. I do not think it was Lucinda’s mother, Gracey Gore as she and John Gore were both still living, apparently together. Andrew’s older sister is only 4 years older than he and his Aunt Isabella is living in Estill Co.
There is a mark under Male Slaves over 100 that looks like a 1. If it is a “one” I wouldn’t think he could have a Free Wife. Do you see that mark? My copy is not entirely clear and I can’t tell if there is a total number for that column at the bottom of the page. Any further thoughts on who the FCP Female might be? It could be very significant. Thanks, e-wi
The “1” in the slave column appears to be a ‘bleed-thru’ mark from another page, indicated by it’s faintness and that it slants in the ‘reverse direction’ from the way this ennumerator was writing.
The total persons listed on line 1 for Andrew Griffin’s household is 6, which accounts for the 3 white males, 2 white females and the 1 female FPC.
hello e-wi. I read with interest you post about the griffiths. I live here in Greenbrier co. I am also a member of the Historical Society in Greenbrier co. we have some marriage bonds stored there so I went there to see if I could find any on any of the people you mentioned. I found the original marriage bond for William Griffith and Mary Lewis. Dated 24 oct 1790. If you like I could go to the Greenbrier co. Courthouse and look up some information for you.
Hello Waitman, how nice to hear from you. Thank you so much for the look-ups on the Griffiths. It is very exciting your living in Greenbrier Co and I will take you up on your kind offer to do some further look-ups! I will need to get back with you this week-end with some names and data you can probably verify and/or clarify for me. I am also descended from the Kincaids of Greenbrier Co but my Kincaid lineage was recorded many years ago. However I would like to clarify some of those dates one day but right now I am focusing on the Griffiths, Griffins.
Thanks again, I’ll be in touch in a few days. e-wi
Hi, Waitman. thanks again for your kind offer to help.
What we know:
Gordon Griffith/Griffin lived in Greenbrier as early as 1775.
He married Catherine Kessinger in 1781 in Greenbrier
The Kessingers (Kisengers) came from PA
He had a sister, Isabella, who married Henry Howard
He had brothers, William, Thomas, Patterson
He served in the Rev. War under Capt James Burnsides
He was in Fayette Co KY in 1788
He was born ca 1755
He died in Bath Co KY 30 May 1851
He is my direct ancestor
What I would like to know:
Where was he born (have seen Greenbrier, Augusta, Botourt, Gloucester)
Who was his father – William? from PA?
Were they of Native American heritage?
Any help greatly appreciated, e-wi
e-wi, I am going to the Historical Society today and I’ll see what I can find out for you. I like to help others out because I know that it is so much easier searching for your ancestors when you have more than one looking with you. I have had help in my search also from people like Bill Childs and others which I appriciated very much. If you can think of anything else just let me know.
Thank you so much Waitman and Good Luck.
Note: Gordon had another brother, James and maybe a John in addition to William, Thomas and Patterson.
In the old records Griffith/Griffin is spelled about 10 different ways
Griffen, Griffett, Griffeth, Griffit – all for the same person – you get the picture. e-wi
e-wi, Did you know that Catherine the wife of Gordon lived in Monroe co. West Virginia? I found references to her and Gordon concerning her father’s will. I’m still looking for information on Gordon and have found just a few. I’ll be at the Court house this week. I believe that catherine lived in Monroe co. during the last part of her life but well have to check to make sure.
Waitman, no I wasn’t aware she had lived in Monroe Co. Was that when she was young or later. I know she lived in Bath Co KY most of her married life. She lived to be over 100 years old. I have her dying in Fleming Co (adjacent Bath Co) in 1855 but that is unverified info. Gordon died in Bath in 1851. Anything you can glean will be greatly appreciated. Thanks bunches, e-wi
P.S. I too enjoy helping others with their searches whenever I can.
e-wi, here are a few things I have found so far. Monroe co. Deed and Will book.
Deed Book A.( 1799-1805)
Page 25-26, 17-Sept-1799. Andrew Kissinger and wife Lavenah Kissenger; Gordon Griffith and wife Katherine Griffin; Jacob Mann jr. and wife Mary Mann; Jacob Kessinger and wife sarah Kessinger; Thomas Fulton and wife Susanna Fulton; Michael Kissinger and wife Mary Kessinger; Eziekel Parsons and wife elizabeth Parsons; James Maddy and wife Ann Maddy; and mathias Kessinger all heirs of Mathias Kessinger dec’d and Judith Kissenger his relict to Jeremiah Roach 133 acres for 40 pounds on greenbrier River.
Page 86. 8-Oct-1796. Jacob Kissenger, Gordon Griffith, Ezeikel Parsons of Clark co. Kentucky appointed William Maddy of Greenbrier co. Lawful attorney to sell land as legatees of mathias Kissenger dec’d.
Also found in Monroe marriage bonds these Griffiths. I don’t know if they are related to you or not but I thought i would put them down in case you knew the names.
1. William Griffith married Eleanor Cowan 17-Mar-1802.
2. John Griffith married Rachel M. Irons 17-June-1845.
I’ll keep searching for more information.
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