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Well, here goes another new member….The surname I am researching is Griffin. My GGGGrandfather was Gordon Griffin. He had a brother William and a sister Isabella. No mention of the mother’s name. I just recently got some info..not documented for certain..that Gordon’s father was a William Griffin. There is no mention of a wife. Ring a bell to a lot of researchers..no name for a parent? Anyway, Gordon was born in 1755 in Va and he married Catherine Kissinger who came from Pa. My Dad always said we were from the Sioux tribe but he couldn’t prove it. I have a picture of another side of his family..my GrGrGrandma..around age 70 with coal black hair and long braids. Her maiden name was Snyder, born 1805 in Va. There again..no parents names.
If anyone has come up with any new info since 2005 or 06 please let me know. As I told Linda, I would be so proud to be able to say for certain what tribe I’m from. I think everyone needs to know their past.
Bonnie
Hi Littlebear
Whenever I see the name Griffin, my ears perk up, as I am always trying to get more info on how that name got into the family.
Here are the threads of information that I have, sorry it’s not much, but maybe another piece of the puzzle.
My Grandfather was John Griffin Weaver, son of Lucinda Angeline (Early) Weaver.
A Charles Griffin was installed by Governor Spotswood to start the Indian School (English School really) at
Fort Christanna. Charles was obviously closely associated with the Saponi, but not sure just how close.
Lucinda was Blackfoot, but the census shows everyone in the family as white. I would give a nickel to know where the name Griffin came into the family, but I do know it was important and was also passed on to my Brother and a cousin.
Hi, Littlebear and Three Crows,
I would give two nickels to find out the Griffin story.
My connection is more remote – my ggg grandparents were John Collins and Lydia Tanner or Toner, whose 1821 Grainger Co., TN marriage bond was signed by Griffin Collins (this John is also Brenda Collins Dillon’s Collins family). There turn out to be three Griffin Collinses – father, son and grandson – from the date this would have to be either the father or the son. The only Griffin Collinses in the 1830 Grainger Co. census are listed as Free colored persons, which is a big clue right there. I think a Griffin Collins descendant has had a DNA match to Vardy Collins, also.
Hi Barbara..Our Griffin was a surname. It keeps popping up but can’t seem to verify part of the family line. A lot of blanks…family “stories” but no documentation. Sure would love to prove something beyond Gordon Griffin..my GrGrGrGrandpa.
Hi Three Crows..I replied the day I got your message but I think I hit the wrong button and deleted it!
I have heard of Charles Griffin numerous times but don’t know if he connected to us. A lot of unanswered questions floating around for anyone trying to make the NA connection. My youngest son and I want so badly to document something valid but can’t seem to get anywhere. I’ve been looking through old census records to see if anything turned up but the only thing was an 1830 census showing a “FCP’ female living with my GGGrandpa, Andrew Griffin. Could be his Grandma..his father’s mother. The age would have been about right. Can’t think of any other explanation.
Keep in touch.
Hi Barbara & littlebear
Don’t feel bad littlebear, this is my third attempt to respond to this thread. I keep pressing the wrong button too.
Anyway, one thing seems certain, no one wants to give up that name. John Griffin Weaver was known as J.G. or Griffin. My crystal ball says it comes from the Early/Melton side. Lucinda Angeline “Lucy” (EARLY) WEAVER’s parents were Lawson EARLY and Manerva MELTON. Lucy would have been J.G.’s Mother. As far as I can figure this is where the Blackfoot I.D. comes from, my Great Grandmother Lucy Early. No one from that time and place is left living. All there is are few words passed to me by my Mother when I was a little boy. A picture of her is posted on my Saponi profile. So we will keep putting pieces in the puzzle and see what we find. Talk to you later, I hope I hit the right button this time.
I’m just playing around trying to figure out how to respond to the thread. Eureka! I think I have found it. Sorry for the bother…
On page 35 of the Order Book, Volume I (April 24, 1855-January 30, 1869) of the Clay County Records (Kentucky State Archives, Frankfort) revelation is made that “John Griffin was released from being placed on the Negro list, and hereafter he will be listed as a white man, proof being made to the satisfaction of the court that he was of Portuguese descent instead of African descent.”
Many of these Portugese mixed with local the Indians since the 1600’s.
This Griffin family came from Virginia. Please see 1850 census.
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