Person:John Griffin (110)

John Griffin was one of the Early Settlers of Augusta County, Virginia

Contents 1 Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA 2 Records in Augusta County, VA		Welcome to Old Augusta Early Settlers Beverley Manor Borden's Grant Register Data Maps Places Library History Index
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Early Land Acquisition in Augusta County, VA

Acquisition of Land from Chalkley's:

• Page 215.--27th November, 1773. Same [Thomas Bell, heir of Joseph Bell, of Botetourt County], to John Griffen, lot 12 in Staunton.

Disposition of Land from Chalkley's:

• Page 308.--2nd May, 1774. John Griffen, silversmith, and Elizabeth, to Alexander Sinclair, merchant, lot 12 in Staunton. Teste: Thomas Jones, Samuel Bell, Thomas Poage.

• Page 106.--17th July, 1785. John Griffin to Martha Cowdon, filed in suit, Cowdon vs. Handly, 19th August, 1791. In 1775 John gave up to Martha his right to the house now occupied by her and Dennis Callahan, which he was entitled to in right of his wife, Elizabeth Griffin, and she gave up her right in lot 4 sold by John to Robert Reed.

Records in Augusta County, VA

From Chalkley's: [unless otherwise listed]

• Vol. 2, pg. 278. Marriage Bond: 1773 - August 30, John Griffin. [Note: bride's name not listed on many marriage bonds prior to 1785]

• Page 227.--26th February, 1774. James Hartgrove's estate appraised by John Griffen, Thos. Smith, John Abney.

• Augusta County, VA Deed Book 20/21, pg. 424. This Indenture made the sixth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy four made between Martha Wilson Widow and Dovefon? of Samuel Wilson deceased late of the Town of Staunton in the County of Augusta and Colony of Virginia of the first part and John Griffin of the same place in the County and Colony aforesaid and Elizabeth his Wife late Elizabeth Wilson one of the Daughters and Devisees of the said Samuel Wilson deced. of the second part. Whereas the said Samuel Wilson deceased was in his lifetime and at the time of his death seised in his Demissne? as of Tee of said in all that Tenement and Lotts of Land in the said Town of Staunton Known and Called by Lot (No. 4) in the plan of the said Town Containing half an Acre also of an out Lott (No. 1?) in the plann of the out lot belonging to the said Town and ___ so thereof seised made his last will & testament in writing bearing date the XXviij day of May MDCCSX & therein and thereby devised one third part of his said Tenement & lots of land in Staunton together with one third part of the out lott or woodland to his said Wife Martha one third part of the said Out Lot or Wood lands to his Daughter Elizabeth Wilson and the other third part of the said Tenement and Lott in Staunton with the other Third part of the said Out Lott or Woodland to his Daughter Martha Wilson. And Whereas the said Daughter Martha Wilson is now an Infant underage and Cannott join in this partition her said Mother Martha has entered unto the following Covenants on her Behalf Now this Indenture Witnesseth that the said Martha Wilson the Widow of the said Samuel Wilson as well on her own part as on the part of her daughter Martha an Infant and the said John Griffen and Elizbeth his Wife have agreed to make of savetition? and by these presents do make a full absolute and perfect partition of the said Tenements and Lots of Lane to and amongst them & her Martha Wilson the said John Griffin and Elizabeth his Wife and the said Martha Wilson an Infant in three parts in manner following that is to say that the said Martha Wilson the Widow (in Consideration of her ualding? up to the said John Griffin and Elizabeth his wife the Half of her said third part in the said Lott (No. 4) in the Town of Stauntonand in the Out Lott (No. 1) for and during the remainder of her natural life shall have hold & enjoy the other part of her said third part in the said Tenement and Lott of Land (No. 4) in the said Town as also in woodland or out Lott (No. 1) dureing her natural life for the full part I have and proportion of her the said Martha Wilson the Widow of the said "Samuel Wilson deceased)....

[Signed] Marthew Martha Wilson, John Griffin, Elisabeth Griffin.

Wit: Robert Reed, Margaret Reed, Saml. Coleman, Samp. Mathews, Daniel Kidd

At a Court continued and held for Augusta County November the 16h 1774 this deed of Partition between Martha Wilson and John Griffin and Elizabeth his wife (she being first privately Examined) was Acknowledged by this and parties and ordered to be Recorded.

Teste

• Page 381.--15th August, 1775. George Caplinger's estate settled by Geo. Hammer, executor; paid John Griffen, Christopher Ove.

• Vol. 1 - DECEMBER 17, 1776. - (138) County levy. To John Abner, as above, and then to the following (no doubt Abner's men), viz: John Parell, Henry Hall, William Smith, John Griffin, John Crosswhite, Alexr. McKensey, James Dunn, Thomas Bell, William Evans, Israel Crisby, John Meredith, Robert Shall, Jacob Peck, Robert Gamble, John McDonough, Francis Hall, James Brush, Owen Owens, James Thomas.

• Vol. 1 - JULY 20, 1779. - (41) John Cowden, by consent of his mother, Martha Cowden, his father having been many years absent from the State and it appearing to the Court that his education is much neglected, to be bound to John Griffin.

• Vol. 2 - List of Tithables for the Town of Staunton to be collected at $4 each to be applied to the Repair of Streets, 1779-1780. Samuel Armstrong: Thos. Hughes, Wm. Bowyer, Michael Bowyer, John Abney, Jno. Bowers, Dennis Calahan, Jno. McDonagh, Robt. Eastrip, Sam Bell, Val. White, Owen Owens, Geo. Wyford, Val. Clonegar, John Blair, Peter Grass, John Buzange, Jno Price, Archibald McClaughlin, Hu McDowell, Robert Reed, Geo. Potts, Daniel Kidd, Wm. Smith, Doctor Cluny, Robert. Cochran, John Griffin, Henry Anderson, Jacob Peck, Josiah Humphreys, Wm. Gilham, Wm. Fleming, James Bohanon, Anthony Mustoe, David Gryner, Geo. Gray, Henry Hall, Alex. Kilpatrick, Wm. Blair, Jacob Grass, Henry Cearse, Thos. Roads, Pady McDavid, Alexander Sinclair, Doctor Ham, Jos. Perry, Peter Funk, Jno. Collins, Henry Howard, Henry Hughes.

• Page 120.--2d October, 1780. Michael Coiner's will, soldier under Major Posey--To wife, Margaret; to daughter, Margaret Counner [Coiner], remainder of pay for services in present war. Executors, wife Margaret and Robert Scott. Teste: Walter Davis, Francis Best, Jas. Davis, Chas. Doneley. Should daughter Margaret die before coming of age or before marriage, her estate to be divided between John and Wm. Griffin, my stepsons. Proved, October Court, 1793, by Walter Davis. Scott refuses to execute, and 15th July, 1794, proved by James Davis.

• Vol. 1 - SEPTEMBER 3, 1781. - Page (351) Called Court on William Ashley for larceny from John Griffin.-- Guilty and bound over to the Grand Jury.

• Page 437.--15th April, 1784. Jemima Bradley's will--To Samuel Merritt, Military Warrant 1666 for 400 acres; also 1 interest certificate of 86 pounds, all property. Teste: John Griffin, James Stricklar, Jenet Frazer. Proved, 25th December, 1784, by Griffin and Strickland.

• Page 178.--6th April. 1785. Jacob Grass's will--To daughter, Mary, to live in small house on plantation built by Anthony Mustoe; to son, Peter, daughter, and John Bosang, property in Staunton; to son, Frederick, has sold his share to his brother Peter; to daughter, Barbara; to daughter, Mary. Executor, son Peter. Teste: John Griffin, Hugh McDowell, Anthony Mustoe. Proved, 21st July, 1789, by McDowell, and 15th September, 1789, by Mustoe.

• Vol. 2 - Marriage Bond: 1787--March 6, George Shaw and John Griffin, George Shaw and Nancy Mays, daughter of Rebecca Mays (consent). Teste: Charles Stewart, Charles Donnelly.

• Page 268.--24th July, 1788. Martha Cowden (relict of Samuel Wilson. deceased), John Griffen and Elizabeth, with Robert Gamble, contract of arbitration.

• Vol. 1 - DISTRICT COURT JUDGMENTS. APRIL, 1790. Augusta Sec.--Inquisition at Staunton the 19th of May, in the thirteenth year of the Commonwealth, before Joseph Bell, gent, one of the coroners. Upon the view of the body of a person unknown in a cave, discovered by Michael Grove, John Robeson, Robert Jacobs, -- dead and much consumed and upon oaths of (the jurors who sign below) -- do say that he was a white man, and it appears to them from circumstances to be the body of a certain William R. Watson, who was an inhabitant of Staunton about November last, and that the said person has been murdered wilfully by some person or persons unknown to us. (Signed) Joseph Bell, coroner; John Griffen, foreman; Michael Garber, Samuel Merritt, William McDowell, Michael Sivert, Herman Lovingood, Owen Owens, James McLaughlin, Abraham Groves, Francis Huff, John Gorden, Henry Hauk, Robert Astrop, Hugh McDowell, Michael Cawley, James McGongal, Daniel Donavan. Augusta Sec.--On the 9th day of June, 1788, called before me Joseph Bell, coroner for said County, the subscribers being a majority of the within jurors, to take up the said matter from finding further testimony was to be had in the matter, caused to come before us Alexander Humphreys and William Wardlaw. After being sworn, Alexander Humphreys deposeth and sayeth: That about March last that his students, William Wardlaw and James McPheeters, did take from the place of burial a negro and dissect him for their information and that he understood they sewed him up in a bag and put him in the cave within mentioned, and further deposeth that after a negro lays some time in his grave the odds cannot be known between him and a white person as to color. Mr. Wardlaw deposeth and sayeth: That about March Court last him and James McPheeters opened a negro grave and took therefrom the body, in order to dissect the same for their insight in their business, and after doing so, did sew him up in a crokass bag and put him in the cave within mentioned. But sayeth when they took him up he appeared of an ash color and that, while they had him in custody, his color did not change as well as he recollects and further sayeth not. (Signed) Joseph Bell, coroner; Michael Garber, Daniel Donovan, Hugh McDowell Michael Syvert, Hermon Lovingood, Samuel Merritt, John Garden, James Megongal Francis Huff, Owen Owens, James McGlachlin.

• Vol. 1 - AUGUST, 1791 (A to G). Cowdon vs. Handley.--Settlement of Samuel Wilson's estate. Ejectment. John Griffin and Elizabeth Griffin, his wife, gave up to Martha Cowdon all the right he had in the land in the right of his wife, Elizabeth. The property was occupied by Martha and Dennis Callahan. Margaret Mathews deposes 9th June, 1791, that some years ago her late husband, Robert Reed, was not willing to accept a title to the land from John Griffin and Elizabeth, his wife, until Mrs. Martha Cowdon would relinquish her dower therein.

• Vol. 2 - APRIL, 1800 (A to C). Cowdon vs. Gamble--Mrs. Martha Cowdon vs. Robert Gamble. John Griffin and Elizabeth, his wife, late Elizabeth Wilson (daughter of Samuel Wilson and Martha). Involves lot 4, in Staunton. Martha pleads infancy. Martha Wilson, daughter of Samuel, married Patrick McDivit.

• Vol. 1 - OCTOBER AND DECEMBER, 1813. Bowyer's Administrator vs. Griffin.--Bill to foreclose mortgage recorded 18th September, 1781. John Griffin and Elizabeth to Bowyer. Original mortgage filed. From 1794 to 1803 John Griffin was residing at German Town, in North Carolina.