Person:William Griffith (56)

[Smoke Ferree CD - November 2004]

Per Cromwell Oliver "Bud" Weaver at Family TreeMaker Web Site;

William Owen Griffith, born 13 Oct 1742 in Of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States; died 6 May 1832 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States; married Sara Hammond 19 October 1766 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, United States.

Notes for William Owen Griffith, Sr.:

Marriage of Griffith and Hammond: Whereas WILLIAM GRIFFITH of Menallen Township in the County of York and province of Pennsylvania, son of Thomas Griffith and Eve his wife, and SARAH HAMMOND of the township, county, and province aforesaid, daughter of John Hammond and Deborah his wife having declared their intentions of marriage with each other before several monthly meetings of the people called Quakers of Huntington and Washington in the County aforesaid and according to the good order used amongst them, and having consent of parents, their said proposals of marriage was allowed of by the said Meetings...Now they are to certify whom it may concern that for the full accomplishment of their said intentions, this nineteenth day of ye tenth month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-three, they the said William Griffith and Sarah Hammond appeared in a public Meeting of the said people at Menallen in the county aforesaid, and the said William Griffith taking the said Sarah Hammond by the hand, did in a solemn manner openly declared that he took her ye said Sarah Hammond to be his wife, promising through divine assistance, to be unto her a loving and faithful husband until death should separate them, and then and there in the said assembly, the said Sarah Hammond did in like manner declare that she took the said William Griffith to be her husband. Promising through divine assistance, to be unto him a loving and obedient wife until death should separate them. And moreover they the said William Griffith and Sarah Hammond, she according to ye custom of marriage assuming the name of her husband as further confirmation thereof did then and there to these presents set their hands, and we being present at the solemnization of the said marriage and subscription, do also subscribe our names the day and year above written. ---(signed): William Griffith (GROOM), Sarah Griffith (BRIDE),

Thomas Griffith, Elizabeth Griffith, John Mickle, Robert Miller, William Beals, John Pope, William Pigeon, Henry Marsh, John Morton, James Glasgon, Ann McGrew, Alice Wright, Jane Falkner, Eliz. Hammond, Mary Beals, Mary Glasgon, Mary Smith, Samuel Buyers, Benj. Wright, Benja. Wilson, Samuel Hutton, James McGrew, Eve Griffith, Thos. Hinshaw, Wm. Hutton, Robt. Mordough, John Hammond, Finley McGrew, Jesse Falkner, Nathan McGrew, Isaac Oldham.

More About William Owen Griffith, Sr.:

Military service: Revolutionary War Soldier from York County, Pennsylvania

Burial: Jenners Township Baptist Cemetery in Somerset County, Pennsylvania

http://www.pal2pal.com/genealogy/GrifDesc/d64.htm - 16 June 2007

FOURTH GENERATION 10. William GRIFFITH was born on 13 Oct 1742 in Sadsbury, Chester, PA. He died on 7 May 1832 in Jenner Township, Somerset, PA. He was buried in Baptist Ch. Cem., near Boswell, Somerset, PA. COMMENT: There are no early official records that use the name William Owen Griffith, all records indicate that he was William Griffith. HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA is the only place we see the "Owen" middle name.

RESIDENCES: Chester to York County, circa 1758. York County to Bedford County, between 1783 and 1791. Bedford County to Somerset County, 1809.

One account of William Griffith's migration from Bedford County to Somerset County states: "He came in the spring of 1809 from Fishertown through Johnstown, once an Indian path then up by way of Bens Creek -- where Berkey's now live. He found a hut about where Thomas Mills is located. The 1st night the wolves howled and he set fire to the bushes to keep off the wild animals. The next day he built a hut and remained three months. He went back to Bedford Co. and did not return for two years. Thomas came over the following spring after the father returned and when the father returned in 1811 with his family -- William, Jesse, and Abner and their families. The Owens family came too, as two of their daughters had married Griffith boys. This farm is where Glessner now is located. He located where Jacob Speigle now lives. There is the big spring. Each farm was about 300 acres. They owned the whole county round about. The Lawyers Egles, etc. came here to hunt and shoot -- staying weeks at a time. Griffiths had horses, whisky, and monies galore. The Quaker Road is from Jake Speigle's barn down to the Johnstown Pike." (Found among some papers that Mrs. Mary E. Wilson of Bedford County, PA allowed W.W. Griffith to examine and cited by W.W. Griffith in his account of the Griffith family.)

CENSUS: 1790, Bedford County. William Grifeth, 1 male over 16, 3 males under 16, 1 female. (Household next to brother-in-law, Nathan Hammond's, and William's oldest son, Thomas Griffith.)

OCCUPATION: Farmer

BIRTH-DEATH: Griffith Bible belonging to Mary Ann Griffith Fleck, great granddaughter of William Griffith. She died in 1927. ("Laurel Messenger" Feb. 1982)

MILITARY: PA Archives, 3rd Series, Vol. VII, page 57, William Griffith paid 40 pounds, 4th Battalion, Hans Morrison, Sub Lieut., 1777-1780. PA Archives, 3rd Series, Vol. VII, pages 86-87, William Griffith, 4th Battalion, Capt. Colmery's Company, paid 375 pounds, 17 shillings, 6 pence, 1780-83. (York County PA Militia)

MILITARY: April 18, 1791, bounty Land Warrant application #9427, 100 acres granted.

MARRIAGE: Abstract of the Records of Warrington Monthly Meeting, York County, Pennsylvania maintained at the Friend's Library at Swarthmore College, PA.

On 9-10-1763 and on 10-8-1763, William Griffith and Sarah Hammond decla intentions to marry.

William Griffith of Menallen township in the County of York, son of Thomas Griffith and Eve his wife, and Sarah Hamond of the same township, daughter of John Hammond and Deborah his wife, married 10-19-1763 at Menallen Meeting. (Marriage record page 59) Witnesses: Ann McGrew, Alice Wright, Jane Falkner, Jane Falkner (2), Elizabeth Hamond, Elizabeth Griffith, John Mickle, Robert Miller, William Beals, John Pope, William Pigeon, Thos. Griffith, Jno. Hamond, Finley McGrew, Mary Beals, Mary Glasgow, Mary Smith, Henry Marsh, John Morton, James Glasgow, Wm. Hutton, Samuel Buyers, Robert Mordough, Jesse Falkne Nathan McGrew, Isaac Oldham, Finley McGrew, Benjamin Wright, Benja Wilson, Samuel Hutton, James McGrew, Eve Griffith, Thos. Hinshaw."

LAND RECORDS: Menallen M.M. records indicate that William and Sarah Griffith of Menallen on 5-25-1784 sold land to Abraham Snyder, on upper fork of Connewingo

LAND RECORDS: 1796, Thomas Griffith, William Griffith, and John Griffith (brothers) bought land on Dunnings Creek in Bedford County, PA. Deed recorded 2 January 1823. (Deed Book D., page 541, Bedford county, PA).

LAND RECORDS: Spring Grove, surveyed 2 Jul 1770. Granted to Stephen Carmark, Patented to Samuel Riddle, Esq. 1-11-1813 to William Griffith 2-6-1813 to Jesse Griffith 10-13-1815. Jesse and wife Lydia of Jenner Twp. to Hugh Reed 25 Apr 1818.

TAX RECORDS: 1783, Menallen Twp., York (now Adams) County, PA.

List #1: William Griffith was assessed for 245 acres with 7 inhabitants, no servants, no negroes.

List #2: Williiam Griffith was assessed for 245 acres with 7 inhabitants, 2 horses, 4 horned cattle, 8 sheep, 2 houses, 2 outhouses. Assessed valuation: L304. Tax paid: 9L-16sh-4p.

PROBATE: Named as brother in Thomas Griffith will dated 28 Feb 1826, Somerset county, PA.

BURIAL: RECORD OF BURIAL PLACE OF VETERAN, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Military Affairs: Somerset County, Veteran of Rev. War, Served in Army, Dates of Service 1777-1783, Organization Capt. Colmery's Co., York Co., Rank Private, Cemetery Baptist Cemetery 2 mi. N. of Boswell, Pa, Somers County, Location of Grave in Cemetery - Section Lot No. 4, Grave No. 4, Information given by PA Archives. (Recorded in the County Veterans' Gra Registration Record and sent to The Adjutant Generals' Office, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for final Record - Griffith, William.)

BURIAL: 1921 letter of Norman Bruce Griffith to the Pennsylvania Dep Highways urges that the highway between Johnstown and Somerset be named the William Griffith Highway. The letter states: "William Griffith's gravestone is marked by veteran's groups by a small American flag on appropriate occasions to commemorate his military service in the Revolution."

He was married to Sarah HAMMOND (daughter of John HAMMOND and Deborah DICKS) on 19 Oct 1763 in Menallen Twp., York, PA. Sarah HAMMOND was born on 16 Dec 1743 in , York co., PA. She died on 18 Jan 1821 in Jenner Township, Somerset, PA. She was buried in Baptist Ch. Cem., near Boswell, Somerset, PA. BIRTH/DEATH: Old Griffith Family Bible belonging to Mary Ann Griffith Fleck, great granddaughter of William Griffith. ("Laurel Messenger" Feb. 1982) Some records show Sarah's birthdate as the 16th of Dec., some show the date as the 11th of Dec. All records use the Quaker old style of dating making the 10th month December.

PARENTS: "Laurel Messenger," November 1989 gives children of John and Deborah Dix Hammond, copied from photo copy in the Florence Dibert Collection of the Historical and Genealogical Society of Somerset County, PA by Marguerite L. Cockley, November 26, 1979.

BURIAL: Tombstone reads: Sarah, Wife of / Wm. Griffith, born / Jany 16th, 1743, & died Jany / 18th, 1824, aged 78 / years & 2 days. (Note age would make the date 1821, not 1824. William GRIFFITH and Sarah HAMMOND had the following children:

+38 i. Thomas GRIFFITH. +39 ii. William GRIFFITH Jr.. +40 iii. Jesse GRIFFITH. +41 iv. Abner GRIFFITH.

1. ↑ Kevin Howley <khowley@@aol.com>, 215-893-9343. Blackburn Family Association, Inc.. (www.blackburn-tree,org - 608 South 16th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19146).

   608 South 16th Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19146, Kevin Howley <khowley@@aol.com>, 215-893-9343, www.blackburn-tree,org

2. ↑ Michael Smoke - mikesmoke@@comcast.net. Smoke Ferree CD - November 2004. (about November 2004).

   Michael Smoke - mikesmoke@@comcast.net, Smoke Ferree CD File, (about November 2004), "Electronic." adds Owen.

3. ↑ Michael A. Smoke.

   1002 NE 198 Street, Shoreline, Washington, 98155, Mikesmoke@@comcast.net, 1-206-362-0504

4. ↑ Kindred Konnections WEB SITE.

   Submitter for sayre1: Clifford L. Sayre Jr. , 1415
   Ladd Street , Silver Spring, Maryland
   20902-3516 , Phone 301-649-3968 , Email:
   cliffsayr@@aol.com, Locator: Internet:
   cliffsayr@@aol.com & KKN CD-ROM #01

5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Michael Smoke - mikesmoke@@comcast.net. Smoke Ferree CD - November 2004. (about November 2004).

   Date of Import: Jun 17, 2005

6. ↑ Notes. (See Notes Section for this information).
7.   Charles Heisterkamp, III, M.D..

   1949 Pine Drive, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, 17601-5529, kamp3genealogy@netscape.net