This is a history of the Griffith family descended from Walter Griffith, who married Martha Cox in Christ Church, Philadelphia in 1720.
The following are some events in the life of Walter Griffith that I've found in records concerning Philadelphia and neighboring New Jersey. They begin to provide some idea of his life, but no indication of his origins, or of his death.
| Event | Source |
|---|---|
| 6 Aug 1720 - Marriage of Walter Griffith and Martha Cox | Marriages at Christ Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Archives, Series 2, Vol 8, 1878, p. 58. |
| 3 Dec 1721 - Baptism of Mary Griffiths, daughter of Walter and Martha, born 18 Nov | Charles R. Hildeburn, compiler, Baptisms and Burials from the records of Christ Church, Philadelphia, 1709-1760, p. 45. Baltimore: Clearfield Company, 1995. |
| MAJOR, ELIN. Late of London, now of Philadelphia. Widow. James Steward of Philadelphia, tailor becomes executor and receives property in Brumpton Lane parish of Kensington, London, which was willed to testatrix by her father Edward Stark and also any legacy left to testatrix by her mother Elin Stark. Ann Steward his daughter mentioned. Witnesses: Thomas Perrey, Henry Jones, Walter Gruffyth, Junior and Edward Crossthwaite. Signed April 18th, 1722; proved May 18th, 1722. Recorded Book D, page 314. |
Abstracts of Philadelphia County Wills, Vol. 3, pt. 1. Philadelphia: Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, 1893. |
| 1731 - Walter Griffiths paid from estate of John Brown, Sr, Deptford Twp, Gloucester County | New Jersey Colonial Documents, Calendar of Wills 1730-1750, Vol 30, p. 68 |
| 1733 - Griffith's mill and Griffith's tavern were mentioned in Gloucester County, NJ Tax Roll, 11 Dec 1733 |
Thomas Cushing and Charles E. Sheppard, History of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland Counties, p. 108. Woodbury, NJ: Gloucester County Historical Society, 1974 (1883). |
| 1733 - Walter Griffith made inventory of estate of Mark Lyndsey, Gloucester County | New Jersey Colonial Documents, Calendar of Wills 1730-1750, Vol 30, p. 312 |
| 1735 - Walter Griffeth mentioned in will of Joseph Richardson, Gloucester County | New Jersey Colonial Documents, Calendar of Wills 1730-1750, Vol 30, p. 397 |
| 1736 - Walter Griffes mentioned in the will of Jacob Medcalf, Newton Twp, Gloucester County | New Jersey Colonial Documents, Calendar of Wills 1730-1750, Vol 30, p. 329 |
| John Goheen, County of Chester, yoeman, adm. of Walter Griffith, June 25, 1740 Phila. Admin. Book D., p. 47 |
FHL film #0384817, Philadelphia Administrations, 1683-1744 |
| 1744, Feb. 25. Gryffith (Griffith), Walter Jr., of Newton, Gloucester Co., cordwainer. Int. Adm'r, Walter Gruffith, of Gloucester township and County. Bondsman -- Henry Sparks. Witnesses -- Daniel Eastlake, Henry Siddons. Lib. 5, p. 180. 1743, Oct. 25. Inventory (£12.16.6) includes shoemaker's tools, £0.11.6. Appraisers -- Jno. Kaighin, Robert Stephens. |
New Jersey Colonial Documents, Vol 30, Calendar of Wills -- 1730-1750, p. 208 |
This Griffith family is related to my Hopkins family through the marriage of Martha Griffith to Hezekiah Hopkins. The image below is a transcription of the Hopkins family Bible records done by my Great-Uncle Charles Logan Hopkins. The records had been copied from the family Bible of the parents to those of the sons and daughters for several generations, as was often the custom at that time.
2 Cushing and Sheppard, History of Gloucester, Salem, and Cumberland Counties, p. 139.
3 Documents Relating to the Colonial History of New Jersey, Vol 22. p. 160.
John GRUFFYTH, Joseph HARRISON and John DOE, all of the County of Gloucester, yeoman...
[bound to]... Jonathan BELCHER, Governor... 500 pounds... 29 June 1754. ... John GRUFFYTH...
obtained license of marriage for himself and for Susanna YOUNG of ye Township of Greenwich,
spinster... [w] Sarah HOWELL, Hannah HOWELL.
I've been unable to find much information about Joseph Griffith. He was the eldest child of John and Susannah. William Griffith was the youngest son; he married Ruth Webster and had at least two children, Susan and Isaac.
Martha Griffith, who had married Hezekiah Hopkins, moved to Pennsylvania from New Jersey about 1800, first to Upper Dublin Township and later to Southwark in Philadelphia County. From there they moved to Waynesville, Warren County, Ohio. See more about them at westward.htm.
Isaac Griffith lived for many years in the Northern Liberties of Philadelphia at 181 North Third Street. He was a carpenter and shop keeper. He married Elizabeth Lukens, daughter of David and Sarah (Lloyd) Lukens in 1809. Their son, Lukens Griffith, was born in 1810. He moved to Waynesville in 1837 and married Elizabeth Wharton there. He later moved to Pennville, Indiana, along with the Hopkins family.
I've transcribed Isaac Griffith's will from the microfilm of Philadelphia Will Book 22. In his will, he mentions a number of his relatives, including three sons of Martha Griffith Hopkins, his sister. Also provided for are the three daughters of his son Lukens Griffith.
Lukens Griffith married twice: first to Elizabeth Wharton in 1837, and second to Sarah Grisell at Pennville in 1846. His son from his first marriage, named after his father, was one of the Indiana Quakers who served in the Civil War, despite the family's religious convictions about war. After returning from the war, Isaac married Loura Apaline Taylor and had four children with her. After she died in 1882, he married a second time to Anna S. Griffith. He had one child with her before his untimely death in 1886. He and his family were living in western Kansas, and he was caught in a sudden blizzard on January 6th, and froze to death before he could reach his home. The following is a transcription of his obituary:
Thomas County Cat
January 14, 1886
Isaac Griffith
News came to Colby on Friday of the disappearance of the above named gentleman. His home was near Otterbourne*. He had been to town on Wednesday, returning just before night; was at the house of Thomas Trump, just one mile from his home, before the storm, leaving when the storm had scarcely commenced. On Thursday the sotrm continued all day, and on Friday the neighbors turned out in force to search for him. His wagon was tracked to within one hundred yards of his house, where the mules made several circles, and then drifted south with the storm. On Saturday the wagon was discovered within forty rods of the residence of Mr. Harris, and about three miles from his home, and in the wagon was found Mr. Griffith dead. He had loosened his team evidently intending to try to keep up until daylight. When found his head and body were out of the wagon, while his frozen limbs caught on the side boards and kept his body from falling to the ground. On Saturday night the body was taken to the residence of his mother, Squire Archer summonsed a jury, the verdict being "Frozen to death in the storm of January 6th."
Mr. Griffith was a man of about 40 years of age, a disabled Union soldier, industrius and strickly temperate, and well thought of by all his neighbors. He leaves a wife, mother, and 5 children. Funeral services took place on Monday at the residence of the mother of the deceased.
[* Otterbourne is a small historical community about 6 miles north and slightly east of Colby.]
Thomas County, The Early Years
by Bill James (1985)
Mr. Isaac Griffin
Mr. James recounts the story of Isaac's tragic death, saying that he died when his wagon got stuck in a ravine near Wes Hutchins' place. He says that Isaac was buried near his home on a small hill, but that his body was later removed and reinterred in the family burial plot in the east [presumably in Jay County, Indiana].
The following is a descendant report for Walter and Martha Griffith:
1. Walter Griffith was born about 1700.
Walter married Martha Cox on 6 Aug 1720 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA. Martha was born about 1700.
They had the following children:
2 F i. Mary Griffith was born on 18 Nov 1721 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA.
Mary was baptized on 3 Dec 1721 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA.
+ 3 M ii. John Griffith was born on 17 Aug 1726. He died on 17 Apr 1812.
3. John Griffith (Walter) was born on 17 Aug 1726. He died on 17 Apr 1812.
John married Susannah Young daughter of Joseph Young and Elizabeth ---- about 29 Jun 1754 in New Jersey. Susannah was born on 3 Mar 1731. She died on 10 Dec 1780.
They had the following children:
4 F i. Elizabeth Griffith was born on 29 Sep 1754. She died on 29 Nov 1759.
5 M ii. Joseph Griffith was born on 7 Oct 1756.
6 M iii. William Griffith was born on 3 Nov 1758. He died in Sep 1759.
7 M iv. John Griffith was born on 3 Aug 1760. He died in 1779.
+ 8 M v. Isaac Griffith was born on 6 Sep 1763. He died before 6 Jul 1849.
9 F vi. Nancy Griffith was born on 22 Feb 1766.
+ 10 M vii. William Griffith was born on 9 Oct 1768.
+ 11 F viii. Martha Griffith was born on 3 Oct 1770. She died on 29 Mar 1848.
8. Isaac Griffith (John, Walter) was born on 6 Sep 1763. He died before 6 Jul 1849 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA.
Isaac was employed as Carpenter & shop keeper.
Isaac married Elizabeth Lukens daughter of David Lukens and Sarah Lloyd on 12 May 1809 in Horsham Township, Montgomery Co, PA. Elizabeth was born in Gwynedd Township, Montgomery Co, PA.
They had the following children:
12 M i. Lukens Griffith was born on 27 Apr 1810 in Pennsylvania. He died on 20 Jul 1873. He was buried in Pennville, Jay County, Indiana.
(See following report for details)
10. William Griffith (John, Walter) was born on 9 Oct 1768.
William married Ruth Webster .
They had the following children:
13 F i. Susan Griffith was born in 1810 in Pennsylvania. She died on 30 Apr 1875.
Susan married Edwin Comly Tyson son of John Tyson and Sarah Comly. Edwin was born on 5 Feb 1809 in Pennsylvania. He died on 11 Nov 1886.
Edwin was employed as Grocer.
14 M ii. Isaac Griffith .
Isaac married Rachel Heaton daughter of Richard Heaton and Hannah ---- on 23 Sep 1829 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA.
11. Martha Griffith (John, Walter) was born on 3 Oct 1770. She died on 29 Mar 1848 in Camden (Pennville), Jay County, Indiana. She was buried in Camden (Pennville), Jay County, Indiana.
Martha married Hezekiah Hopkins son of Haddon Hopkins and Hannah Stokes on 5 Nov 1789 in Gloucester County, New Jersey. Hezekiah was born on 23 Oct 1767 in Haddonfield, Gloucester County, NJ. He died on 22 Sep 1823 in Maryville, Ohio. He was buried in Waynesville, Warren County, Ohio.
For details about Martha and Hezekiah's children, see westward.htm.
1. Lukens Griffith was born on 27 Apr 1810 in Pennsylvania. He died on 20 Jul 1873. He was buried in Pennville, Jay County, Indiana.
Lukens was employed as Miller, Farmer.
Lukens married (1) Elizabeth Wharton daughter of Silas Wharton and Mary Davis on 31 May 1837 in Waynesville, Warren County, Ohio. Elizabeth was born on 10 Jan 1816. She died on 29 Oct 1842.
They had the following children:
2 F i. Elizabeth Lukens Griffith was born in 1838 in Ohio.
+ 3 F ii. Mary W. Griffith was born in 1839.
4 F iii. Martha Hopkins Griffith was born on 21 May 1842 in Ohio. She died on 30 Jun 1866 in Jay County, Indiana. She was buried in Pennville, Jay County, Indiana.
Martha married G. A. Horn on 24 Jun 1858 in Jay County, Indiana.
+ 5 M iv. Isaac Griffith was born on 9 Nov 1845. He died on 6 Jan 1886.
Lukens married (2) Sarah Grisell daughter of Samuel Grisell and Ann Whitacre on 18 Feb 1846 in Pennville, Jay County, Indiana. Sarah was born on 29 Sep 1828 in Ohio. She died on 2 Dec 1891. She was buried in Pennville, Jay County, Indiana.
Sarah was counted in a census in 1885 in Kansas, Sheridan County, Thomas Twp.
They had the following children:
6 M v. Lewis G. Griffith was born on 18 Mar 1853 in Indiana. He died on 5 Jul 1854 in Pennville, Jay County, Indiana. He was buried in Pennville, Jay County, Indiana.
7 F vi. Jane Griffith was born in 1852 in Indiana.
8 F vii. Louisa Griffith was born in 1854 in Indiana.
9 F viii. Florence Griffith was born in 1858 in Indiana.
3. Mary W. Griffith (Lukens) was born in 1839 in Warren County, Ohio.
Mary married William W. Hartley on 1 Oct 1862 in Pennville, Jay County, Indiana. William was born on 8 Jan 1832 in Montgomery County, Ohio.
William was employed as Wagon maker, farmer.
William and Mary had the following children:
10 M i. Walter L. Hartley .
11 M ii. Edwin Charles Hartley .
12 M iii. Frank L. Hartley .
13 M iv. Roy Griffith Hartley .
5. Isaac Griffith (Lukens) was born on 9 Nov 1845 in Warren County, Ohio. He died on 6 Jan 1886 in Colby, Thomas County, Kansas.
Isaac served in the military Civil War 3 Sep 1863 - 18 Feb 1866. He was counted in a census in 1870 in Indiana, Jay County, Pennville. He was counted in a census in 1885 in Kansas, Sheridan County, Thomas Twp.
Isaac married (1) Loura Apaline Taylor daughter of James Taylor and Elizabeth Letley on 12 Sep 1867 in Pennville, Jay County, Indiana. Loura was born on 24 May 1845 in Columbiana County, Ohio. She died on 3 Dec 1882 in Linn County, Kansas.
Loura was counted in a census in 1870 in Indiana, Jay County, Pennville.
They had the following children:
14 M i. Charles William Griffith was born on 15 Feb 1871 in Jay County, Indiana.
Charles was counted in a census in 1885 in Kansas, Sheridan County, Thomas Twp. He was counted in a census in 1910 in Illinois, Morgan County, Jacksonville Pct, Dist 10. He was counted in a census in 1920 in Iowa, Linn County, Rapids Twp, Cedar Rapids. He was counted in a census in 1930 in Iowa, Linn County, Cedar Rapids Twp.
Charles married Pearl Susan ---- . Pearl was born about 1871 in Kentucky.
Pearl was counted in a census in 1910 in Illinois, Morgan County, Jacksonville Pct, Dist 10. She was counted in a census in 1920 in Iowa, Linn County, Rapids Twp, Cedar Rapids. She was counted in a census in 1930 in Iowa, Linn County, Cedar Rapids Twp.
15 F ii. Loura Amber Griffith was born on 3 Nov 1874 in Assumption, Christian County, Illinois.
Loura was counted in a census in 1885 in Kansas, Sheridan County, Thomas Twp.
16 F iii. Eva Pearl Griffith was born on 1 Feb 1877 in Jay County, Indiana.
Eva was counted in a census in 1885 in Kansas, Sheridan County, Thomas Twp.
Eva married Ervin S. Ulsaver on 8 Jun 1908 in Jay County, Indiana.
17 M iv. Earl Garfield Griffith was born on 5 Apr 1881 in Linn County, Kansas.
Earl was counted in a census in 1885 in Kansas, Sheridan County, Thomas Twp. He served in the military Spanish-American War 27 Jul 1899 - 18 Jun 1901 in Philippines. He was counted in a census in 1910 in Indiana, Jay County, Pennville. He was counted in a census in 1920 in Washington,
Spokane County, Milan Twp. He was counted in a census in 1930 in Washington, Spokane County, Spokane.
Earl married Dervie H. Jones on 10 Aug 1910 in Jay County, Indiana. Dervie was born about 1880 in Indiana.
Dervie was counted in a census in 1920 in Washington, Spokane County, Milan Twp. She was counted in a census in 1930 in Washington, Spokane County, Spokane.
Isaac married (2) Anna S. Griffith daughter of William H. Griffith and Susan Rose on 17 Mar 1884 in Hastings, Adams County, Nebraska. Anna was born on 31 Jul 1866 in Ashton, Lee County, Illinois.
Anna was counted in a census in 1885 in Kansas, Sheridan County, Thomas Twp.
They had the following children:
18 M v. Frank Lukens Griffith was born on 11 Nov 1885 in Thomas County, Kansas.
Go To Griffith Family History Excerpt
This file was last updated on 7/14/2004.
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