| Notes |
- He was a Revolutionary War Soldier, whose wounds caused him to become blind(Revolutionary War Records, South Carolina Archives.
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William Griffin was a soldier of the American Revolutionary War. From the S.C. Archives, Accounts audited of claims growing out of the Revolution in S.C. #3126; "In 1811, William Griffin petitioned the S.C. Legislature for a pension based on his seven years of service during the Revolutionary War. In it he stated that about 1807 he became blind and was unable to support his family. It was approved by the Pensions Committee Dec. 17, 1811. No further action had been taken as of Nov. 25, 1812. On that date Col. Richardson prepared a second petition for him. This petition stated that William Griffin entered Continental Service in 1776 under Col. Owens Roberts of the Artillery. He was injured at Stono in June 1779 (where Col. Roberts fell) by the explosion of the ammunition chest where William was stationed, occasioned by the bursting of a shell from the British. This has since terminated in total blindness. He completed five years in regular service and entered State service early in 1781 under the command of Col. Richard Richardson and remained until the British evacuated Charleston. He asked for a pension and a small present aid. Witn.: Robert Dow, J.P. Sumter District. He signed with his mark 'X'.
Senate and House approved the pension in December 1813.
On Feb. 9, 1814, Robert Dow, J.P. Sumter District, certified that William Griffin was still alive.
The following letter to Thomas Lee, Esq., Comptroller General:
"Sir,
Please pay to Col. James B. Richardson whatever sum or pension has been allowed to my Father William Griffin; he being blind has directed me to draw for them for his use.
Robert Dow Witness to Dempsy Griffin (L.S.)
D. Griffin signature Feb. 8, 1814
for his father Wm. Griffin"
On Feb. 26, 1814, an appropriation of $428.40 was paid to James B. Richardson at Charleston.
On Nov. 21, 1785, William borrowed money from his old commanding officer Richard Richardson, giving a mortgage:
"I, William Griffin of St. Mark's Parish, Clarendon County...Whereas I the said William Griffin by bond bearing....date with these present became holden and firmly bound unto Richard Richardson of the said Province and Parish of St. mark's in the ...sum of one hundred and ten pounds sterling money to be paid in English golden guineas at twenty on shillings and nine pence each or Mexican milled Dollars at four shillings and eight pence each...on or before the 1st day of January 1787. Know ye that I the said William Griffin for the further securing of the payment of the sum of 55 pounds sterling money...unto the said Richard Richardson...together with lawful interest...have bargained and sold and by these presents do bargain and sell unto the said Richard Richardson, one bay horse 14 hand and a half high, nine years old, branded on the mounting shoulder S. One grey gelding, ten years old, 13 hands high, branded on the... and obscure. One man's saddle and bridle and two feather beds and furniture, 12 pewter plates, on pewter dish, six stone plates, two iron pots, 2 cows and calves, marked in one ear with fish hook and underbit and in the other Swallow Fork crop and half crop no branded and two heifers with the same mark and brands, all my stock of hogs, more or less mark in one ear with Swallow Fork and in the other crop half crop, and two plows, two axes, two iron wedges and two...hoes together with all the increase of the said mare, cattle and hogs unto the said Richard Richardson...
Nevertheless if Wm. Griffin his heirs, executors, or administrators shall pay the full and just sum of 55 pounds sterling...on the 1st day of Jan. 1787...together with lawful interest, then this deed and bargain and sale and all and every claim article and thing therein contained...shall be utterly void and of none effect.
Witnessed by Samuel Bennet, Jr. before Wm. McConnico
Recorded March 14, 1786
(S.C. Archives)"
William Griffin was enumerated in Claremont County on the 1790 S.C. Census: 1 male over 16 years of age - William; 2 males under 16 years - Dempsey and probably another son; 3 females - Jemima, Tabitha and probably the other daughter; 2 slaves.
He was #146 on the 1800 Census in Clarendon: 1 male 1 to 9 years old - ?another son; 1 male 10 to 15 years old - Dempsey; 1 male 45 years or over - William; 1 female 26 to 44 years of age - Jemima. Tabitha was married by the 1800 Census and obviously, so was the other daughter.
William was the head of a household on the 1810 Census in Clarendon as the male 45 years or over, Jemima as 45 years or older, Dempsey as the male 16 to 25 years. Living with them in 1810 were young children, very likely the children of their daughter: 1 male 1 to 9 years, 1 male 10 to 15 years, 2 females 1 to 9 years.
After 1805, but before May 18, 1811, William Griffin bought at Sheriff's sale from deceased William Bradley 300 acres on Halfway Swamp; by survey equaled 448 acres. (Sumter, Roll 30 per VH). It has been assumed that this conveyance of land was for William Griffin Sr., but it is possible that it was the younger William Griffin, considering the following. Remembering that from the Revolutionary War claim it is known that about 1807 William became totally blind and was unable to support his family. It seems that again their friend Richard Richardson came to the aid of the Griffins. On May 8, 1813, Richard Richardson renounced all rights to James Corbett to any lands originally granted to Brinkley Corbett except 100 acres formerly laid off for Jemima Griffin by a deed of gift, which said 100 acres was laid out by a surveyor and by Bradley Corbett and myself In the presence of a number of other witnesses, on which said tract she is now living and has been ever since (Sumter, Conv. F, 206 per VH).
Jemima Griffin died March 19, 1816. Three days later on March 22, 1816, William Griffin died. There may have been some type of an epidemic as their granddaughter, Mary Weeks, died on March 18, 1816 and grandson, William Weeks, died on March 23, 1816. (A notebook containing dates of death for William and Jemima, dates of birth and death for Tabitha Griffin Weeks and her children, date of death for Chosel Weeks was in possession in 1980 of Mrs. Oneal Jenkinson of Pinewood, S.C.).
Source: Much of the Griffin Family information was sent to me by Kelly Barnhill of Florence, SC. She is writing a book on the Griffin Family of SC.
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NOTES AND COMMENTS ON THE ANCESTORS OF WILLIAM GRIFFIN
The ancestors, parents, siblings, etc. of William Griffin have been sought for the past 15 years with no definite success. Thomas Griffin was the only other Griffin in the Sumter District area in 1800. He is likely the ancestor of the "other" Griffins of the area, but his relationship to William, if any, is not known. Few records have been found for early Griffins in St. Mark's Parish - that part which became Sumter District. Joseph Griffin was a witness to the Will of Sherwood James of the High Hills on 4-1-1763. He may be the son Joseph of Joseph and Joyce Griffin of St. James Santee. Their son John Griffin, born 1719, was Baptized as an adult at Prince Frederick Parish Church on 6-17-1742. He may or may not be the John Griffin who received a grant of 250 acres in the fork of the Santee and Wateree 7-16-1765. James and Elizabeth Griffin had a daughter Baptized at Prince Frederick's in 1745. The records of Miss Janie Revill of Sumter stated that Edward Griffin had a 1765 mortgage in St. Mark's Parish. No connection has been found between any of these people and William Griffin.
William Griffin may not have been born in S.C. The earliest record found for him in S.C. was his Revolutionary War record. Nothing is known of his life before that time.
The pension application of William Griffin stated that he entered the Continental Service in 1776 under Col. Owen Roberts of the artillery, and that he was injured in June of 1779 at Stono where Col. Roberts fell.
The following was taken from American Revolution Roster Fort Sullivan 1776-1780 Battle of Fort Sullivan Events Leading To First Decisive Victory by Georgia Muldrow Gilmer, Charleston 1976: Private William Griffin, matross, 6th Co. (Capt. Harmon Davis') of the 4th S.C. Artillery 2-7-1776 to 1-1-1780. Owen Roberts, born 1720, was Major of the lst S.C. 6-17-1775, Lt. Col. of the 4th S.C. Artillery 11-14-1775 and Colonel on 9-16-1776. He was killed at Stono Ferry on 6-20-1779 having his leg shattered by a cannon ball. It was also noted that Lt. Col. Thomas Sumter was the commander of the 4th S.C. Regiment Artillery but not when. Twenty men of the 4th Regiment Artillery were within Fort Sullivan for the battle on 6-28-1776, but neither Thomas Sumter, Owen Roberts nor Harmon Davis were on the list of officers made by Col. William Moultrie as being within the fort on that day. If all of the 4th Regiment Artillery were at the battle of Fort Sullivan, then William Griffin and the rest were with the 700 men and officers under Col. Thomson stationed as the advanced guard at the northern tip of Sullivan's Island.
In 1778, General Moultrie ordered Col. Owen Roberts, Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery, put under arrest for "quitting his post and being too frequently in town without leave of the Commander-in-Chief" (Swamp Fox, Robert D. Bass, rep. 1976, p. 21). Evidently, the 4th was still at Fort Sullivan in 1778 and William Griffin with them.
The Pension application of William Griffin stated that he entered-Continental Service in 1776 under Col . Owen Roberts of the Artillery, and that he was injured at Stono in June of 1779 where Col. Roberts fell.
The following was taken from "American Revolution Roster Fort Sullivan 1776-1780 Battle Of Fort Sullivan Events Leading To First Decisive Victory", Georgia Muldrow Gilmer, Fort Sullivan Chapter, DAR, Charleston, S.C. 1976:
"Griffin, William,.Private, matross, 6 Co. (H, Davis'), 4th S.C. Arty 7 Feb. 1776/ 1 Jan. 1780. Sources given as Roll of S. C. Soldiers, Rev. War National Archives and Rolls of S. C. Continental Regiments National Archives.
Davis, Harmon, 1st Lt. 4th S.C. Arty May 1776, Capt. 29 May 1777, wounded on 9 Oct. 1779, taken prisoner at Charleston 12 May 1780, paroled, Bvt Maj. 30 Sept. 1783. Sources given as Roll of S.C. Soldiers, National Archives and "Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army", Francis B. Heitman Washington 1914.
Roberts, Owen (1720-1779) Maj. 1 S. C. 17 Jun 1775, Lt. Col. 4 S.C. Arty 14 Nov. 1775, Col. 16 Sept 1776, killed at Stono Ferry 20 June 1779 having his leg shattered by a cannon ball. He married Mrs. Ann Frazier Cattell. Sources given as Heitman Register given above, "South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine", Patriot Index, DAR.
Noted that Lt. Col. Thomas Sumter was the commander of the 4th S.C. Regt Artillery, but not stated when.
It was noted that 20 men of the 4th Regiment Artillery were within the Fort Sullivan for the battle on June 28, 1776, however on the list of officers within the fort on that day as made by Col. William Moultrie, neither Harmon Davis, Owen Roberts nor Thomas Sumter were included. If all of the 4th Regiment Artillery was at the battle then William Griffin and the rest were with the 700 men and officers of Col.-Thomson's Rangers stationed at the Advanced Guard at the northern tip of Sullivan's Island.
Two of those known as Thomson's Rangers at the northern tip of Sullivan's Island on the day of the. battle were Francis and Lewis Griffin.
Within the fort were the 374 men and officers of the 2nd S.C. Regt commanded by Lt. Col. Francis Marion. Wounded was John Griffin, Private of Capt. Richard Ashby's Co., 2nd S.C. Regt. also Private Owen Griffin of 2nd S.C.
Swamp Fox, Robert D. Bass, rep. 1976, p. 21: In 1778 General Moultrie ordered Col. Owen Roberts, Commandant of the Regiment of Artillery put under arrest for "quitting his post and being too frequently in town without leave of the Commander-in-Chief". Evidently, the 4th Regiment Artillery was still at Ft. Sullivan in 1778.
Assuming the usual migratory pattern of the south and that William Griffin of Sumter gave his son the unusual name of Dempsey because it was a family name, the index to Virginia wills and administrations 1632 to 1800 was checked. Although there are some 'burned" counties in Virginia, the surviving probate records reveal not any of the surname Griffin with the name "Dempsey" as the deceased. Also checked were Grific, Griffith, etc. All of the early North Carolina wills as recorded by Grimes and the later wills by Olds were checked for the use of the given name of Dempsey by Griffins. It was found that in the recorded wills of North Carolina, the name was used only by the Edgecombe County Griffins. A check of all published wills, probate, court minutes, marriages, deeds, etc. of Edgecombe County showed the name of Dempsey used by both the descendants of John Griffin (died 1761) and Francis Griffin of Edgecombe. These same Edgecombe records also revealed that the name was mostly given as "Griffin" but sometimes as "Griffis". No mention was found anywhere of William Griffin of St. Mark's, Clarendon Co. or Sumter District or for that matter, any Griffin in S.C.
The Griffins of Edgecombe had land in Edgecombe for which no deeds were found in which they received it. It is probable that the land was theirs before the formation of Edgecombe from Bertie Co. in 1741. Records have been found for Griffins in N.C. as early as 1681.
Because of the given names of Dempsey, Lewis, Francis and John in the families of both John Griffin (who died 1761) and Francis Griffin, they are probably related - perhaps even brothers. Edgecombe Co. deeds reveal that there were two men named John Griffin of age by 1744. One of these signed as "John Griffin" when he witnessed for the one styled as "John Griffin Jr.". It is unlikely that the John Griffin Sr. is the John Griffin who died in 1761 as that John had a minor daughter Mary at his death; the elder John had a married daughter Mary Williams in 1754. The elder John Griffin may be the father of John Griffin who died 1761 (and Francis Griffin as well as others). No probate has been found for the elder John, and it is difficult to decipher from deeds when he was dead and the younger John stopped using "Jr.".
John Griffin, assumed to be the one who signed "Jr." in 1744, died testate in 1761 naming sons Hardy as Executor, Joseph, "Demcey", John, Lewis; daughters Milender, Delilah, Anne, Mary. Edgecombe estate records state that Hardy was appointed guardian of Mary, Lewis and Delilah and at October Court 1764, it was ordered that the estate be divided among the proper representatives. So, possibly all were of age by 1764. As there were in 1761 4 sons of age Plus two daughters either of age or married, John's oldest son had to have been at least 30 years of age in 1761 or born by 1731. Therefore, John who died in 1761 was born by 1710. John (who died in 1761) and Francis Griffin of Edgecombe Co. appear to have been of the same generation, therefore both of them are the same generation of the grandfather of William Griffin of Sumter District, who was born 1755 or before according to the 1800 Census.
Hardy Griffin, son of John who died 1761, was in the Edgecombe Co. area as late as late as 1776 when his brother Lewis sold land to him. No probate naming children has been found for him in Edgecombe, but since much of the Griffin land in Edgecombe fell into Nash Co. when it was formed from Edgecombe in 1777, records for Hardy may be there. John, son of John who died 1761, died in Edgecombe testate 1796-1799. John had a son William who was in Sumner Co., Tenn. in'1801. Joseph, son of John who died in 1761, appears to have been the Joseph Griffin who died in Nash Co., N.C. in 1785 - no son William. No further records were found for Dempsey Griffin, son of John who died in 1761. Perhaps they too are in Mash Co. Lewis Griffin, son of John who died in 1761, was last found in Edgecombe records in 1776, but as a minor in 1761 he would have been too young to be the father of William Griffin of Sumter District. Information received from Mrs. E. C. Griffin of Chesapeake, Va. ca. 15 years ago stated that the sons of John Griffin, who died in 1761, were Quakers as well as at least some of the grandsons.
Francis Griffin first witnessed in Edgecombe Co. in 1747. By at least,1768 he was called "the Elder" or "Sr." His wife's name was Mary and they were both alive on 10-12-1772, the last date found for him. No Will or probate was found for Francis Griffin Sr., but it was not necessary as by deeds he had already given away his land to be effective after his and his wife's death. From these two deeds and another connecting deed - it is known that he had at least two sons: William and Dempsey Griffin. William married Oney Gosney. He died testate in Edgecombe Co. in 1813 naming children and grandchildren; his sons were Benjamin, Zachariah, John and Lewis. Dempsey Griffin, son of Francis Griffin Sr., was
married to a Mary. In 1785 Dempsey sold to his brother William the part of the plantation that his father had given to him by deed. Since no Will or probate exists in Edgecombe Co., it is not known where Dempsey died or who were his children.
Francis Griffin may have had other sons with whom he had "settled" in some way other than the deeding of land. Remembering that at least by 1768, he was called as "the Elder" or "Sr.", there must have been another Francis Griffin of age at that time. This Francis G. could have been a son or grandson. When Lewis Griffis married Mary Braswell on 1-28-1764, Francis Griffis was security for the marriage bond in Edgecombe. Whether this was Lewis, son of John who died in 1761 or a different Lewis is not known. Nothing more was found in the Edgecombe records for a Francis Griffin who would have been of age in 1764. There is a good possibility that there was another John Griffin. On 11-20-1754 Joshua Elkins of Edgecombe sold to John Griffis of same 255 acres on northside of Tyanquoque (also as Tyankoky., etc.) Swamp adjoining Francis Griffis. on 1-4-1758 John Griffis of Edgecombe to John Elkin 55 acres on north side of Tyanquoque at mouth of Miery Branch near Ruffin's Mill Branch. The fate of the remaining 200 acres was not found. The Griffins of Edgecombe lived in two different areas. John Griffin (died 1761) and his sons lived on Fishing Creek, Swift Creek and Beaverdam, which runs between Fishing Creek and Swift Creek. This area became Nash Co. in 1777. Francis Griffin Sr. and his known sons William and Dempsey Griffin lived on the north bank of the Tyanquoque Swamp which is some distance from John Griffin's family and still in Edgecombe Co. Whatever their relationship to Francis Griffin Sr., there may have been a John Griffin, Francis Griffin and Lewis Griffin whose records in Edgecombe Co. abruptly stop 1758-1764.
A History of Richland Countyl(S.C.) by Edwin L. Green states that Griffin's Creek was an early creek in Richland County. The same source states that John Griffin received 250 acres on 9-19-1764. The only other Griffin grant was 200 acres to Absalom Griffin on 9-8-1770, bound by Wm. Rawlinson, John Griffin and Henry Fox's estate. Henry Fox's grant of 9-11-1764 bound Second Creek and John Griffin, so John Griffin was on or near Second Creek. A 1770 grant to Edmund Carroll bounded a branch of Tom's Creek and John Griffin. Charleston conveyances show that in 1779 John Griffin sold to Joseph Kershaw 150 acres sold to Griffin by Thomas Smith. A History of Richland County states that Thomas Smith was granted 150 acres south of Wateree opposite the "Raft" on 3-12-1750. This may be the same 150 acres and was in Richland County. One John Griffin received a grant of 250 acres in the fork of the Santee and Wateree Rivers 7-16-1765. This grant was in the neighboring area of that which would become Sumter District. The fate of this land has not been found. The above proves only that there was a John Griffin in Richland Co., S.C. by September of 1764, and if the same man, he was still alive in 1779. If the same man, he received a grant of land in what would become Sumter District, S.C.
American Revolution Roster Fort-Sullivan 1776-1780 by Georgia Muldrow Gilmer states that Francis and Lewis Griffin were privates in the 3rd S.C. Regiment on 7-24-1776 and that Lewis Griffin was a prisoner of war on 12-19-1778. Gideon and Morgan Griffin were privates in the 3rd S. C. Regiment from 5-1-1778 to 2-1-1780. The 3rd S.C. Regiment was commanded by Lt. Col. William Thomson whose Mounted Rangers were first recruited in 1775 from men mainly (but not entirely) from the fork of the Congaree and Wateree Rivers. On 7-9-1785 the state of South Carolina paid for the children of Lewis Griffin of the 3rd Regiment taken prisoner 29 Dec. 1778 and died on board prison ship 8 pounds, 15 shillings; on 7-11-1786 paid to Mary Blakeman (late Griffin) widow of Lewis, a Soldier in the 3rd Regiment who died aboard a prison ship 4 pounds.
The 1790 Census was an incomplete census, but in Richland Co., S.C. were enumerated:
FRANCIS GRIFFIN 3 males over 16, 3 males under 16, 2 females.
GIDEON GRIFFIN 1 male over 16, 1 female (a young man with no family)
JOHN GRIFFIN 1 male over 16, 3 males under 16, 4 females, enumerated between Wm. Tucker and Wm. Smiley. Wm. Rollinson lived on the other side of Wm. Tucker see grants above.
JOHN GRIFFIN 1 male over 16, 5 males under 16, 3 females.
THOMAS GRIFFIN 1 male over 16, 5 males under 16, 3 females.
In the northern part of Orangeburg Co. which adjoins Richland Co.:
MORGAN GRIFFIN 1 male over 16, 3 males under 16, 4 females.
ABSALOM GRIFFIN 1 male over 16, 2 males under 16, 1 female, 2 slaves, living next to Ely Griffin. Both are young men with young families.
On the 1800 Census for S.C. (considered a fairly complete census), not one Griffin was enumerated in Richland District, S.C., nor does Francis, Gideon or Morgan appear in any district of the state. What happened to the Richland County Griffins? They may have died out. They may have all moved on. One Thomas Griffin was in Sumter District where William Griffin of these records was living. The rest may have died out, but not all of their children could have died. By the 1805 Land Lottery List in Georgia, Dempsey and Francis Griffin were in Hancock Co. , Georgia which had been made from Washington Co. By the 1820 Georgia Census (the first surviving), one Lewis Griffin was living in Washington Co., Ga. He and/or his children eventually moved to Decatur Co., in south Georgia. This Lewis' sons were named Burrell, Major, John, Francis, Shadrack, Dempsey and Dennis - clearly somehow related to the Griffins of Edgecombe Co., N.C. and the Griffins of Richland County, S.C. The family spread out over the south: 6 men named Dempsey Griffin served the Confederacy from different parts of the south.
It is the unproved feeling that William Griffin of Sumter District, S.C. was of the same Griffin family as the Griffins of Edgecombe Co., N.C. and most likely, the Griffins of Richland Co., S.C. Perhaps someone else will profit from these pages and succeed where this writer has failed-proving or disproving this relationship. Certainly, there is much work that can be done. The North Carolina records of those counties which surround Edgecombe Co. should be thoroughly searched - in particular those of Nash County. All available records of Richland County, S.C. should be checked for Griffins. The audited accounts for Revolutionary War service should be completely checked for Griffins in S.C. These are but a few of possible sources of information.
M. Jean Brunson, Lafayette, La.
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1754 - 1816 (62 years)
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