Mary W. Brown was born around 1822. Catherine Kidd Brown was born about 1831 in King William, Virginia, and died July 2, 1887, in Richmond City, Virginia. She married George Washington Coleman on December 23, 1857, in Essex, Virginia. Joseph W. Brown was born around 1733.
Descendants
of
Joseph Griffith*
Revolutionary War Service Records” Fold3, www.fold3.com
a common nickname for Mary. Mary’s birthdate is not known. However, an affidavit dated 1839, states that Polly is seventy years, but another affidavit dated 1843 states she is seventy-seven years old (“Rev. War Pensions” 3, 39). Based on this information she was born sometime between 1766 and 1769. On December 12, 1800, at the age 41 in King and Queen, Virginia, Joseph drown leaving his wife and children (“Rev. War Pensions” 5).
As stated earlier, Polly had to prove she was the widow of Joseph and that they were married before January 1, 1794. This was apparently not as easy as one may think. When asked for positive proof of the marriage date. She says there is no proof. She knows of no one who is still living that was at the wedding. That the Baptist minister, William James Greenwood was also now dead. Because of the burning of the clerk’s office, there is no marriage record. It was suggested that a record of the birth or baptism of their children may be helpful. Of course, there was no record of the births and because Joseph was a Baptist the children were not baptized in infancy (“Rev. War Pensions” 19).
“Revolutionary War Pensions.” Fold3, www.fold3.com
Joseph Griffith lived and died in King and Queen County, Virginia. Although some of the information comes from secondary and tertiary sources, much of what we know about Joseph and his family comes from the Revolutionary War pension files held at the National Archives.
Congress passed several acts that dealt with pensions for the men of the revolution and their widows and children. The pension file for Polly Griffith, widow of Joseph contains a wealth of information with affidavits and depositions from family and friends. Based on the act of Congress passed on July 7, 1838, and extended several times, a widow could qualify for a five-year pension and under a later act a lifetime pension, if the marriage took place before January 1, 1794 (Graves). Therefore, Polly had to prove that she was indeed the widow of Joseph and that they were married before January 1, 1794.
It appears that Joseph served in two different branches. There are two pages in the Rev. War Pension files for Joseph Griffith. Both of these pages show Joseph as a soldier of the Virginia State Line, one as a solder of cavalry and the other as a soldier of infantry (12, 14). Benoni Carlton states, “that he knows the said Griffith was in the Army as a militia man at Williamsburg in the year 1781” (“Rev War Pensions” 31). A couple of the deponents stated that they had heard Joseph speak of being recruited by Lieutenant Reuben Butler who was under the command of Colonel William Grayson of the Continental Regiment. They also point out that he talked about being at the battle of Stoney Point (“Rev War Pensions” 5, 15, 16). In the Revolutionary War Service Records, Joseph is listed as being in Captain Abner Crump’s Company, 1st Virginia State Reg’t commanded by Col. George Gibson. On July 9, 1818, Ansolem Bailey in his pension Application stated that he under the command of Capt. Abner Crump in the 1st Virginia Regiment under the command of Col George Gibson. He also says he was at the battle Stoney Point (Harris).
Positioned on the Hudson River, Stoney Point was an unfinished American fort when it was taken by the British in 1779. On July 16, 1779, in a daring and dramatic midnight attack, the American Patriots took back the fort. “Much of the combat was brutal hand to hand fighting at the point of the bayonet” (Maloy).
Joseph was born on November 17, 1852. He was married twice. The name of his first wife is unknown, however, we do know that they had one son, Sawyer B. Griffith who was born on April 11, 1783. Therefore, they were likely married sometime before 1783.
In his affidavit in the Rev. war pension file, Sawyer states, “… that he is the son of Joseph Griffith … by his first wife … that he has always been informed [that she died] October 1788” (5).
With a young child to raise, Joseph soon remarried. On August 20, 1789, he married Mary Webb*. Rev. James Greenwood, A Baptist Minister, performed the ceremony. In a number of the depictions, she is referred to as Polly,
On December 6, 1839, a neighbor of the Griffith’s, Elizabeth Basket gave a deposition. She states:
… she has often visited at said Griffith’s house and knows that he had two children born of the marriage with said Polly before
the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety four. The names of the said children were John & Caty. That John died in
the service during the late war and Caty died in the year 1794…
(“Rev. War Pensions” 22)
Presumably, the late war Elizabeth mentions is the War of 1812. On the same day Lilly Webb, sister of Polly, also gave a deposition, in which she confirms the birth of John and Caty before 1794.
Polly and Joseph had five children. In addition to John and Caty, they had a daughter, Elizabeth, a son Joseph, and a son Richard*. Although we do not have a date, we know that Joseph (the son) had died by April 1833. We also know from the various depositions that John and Joseph never married.
Joseph was eligible for a land bounty, based on bounties and pensions approved by the1779 May session of the Virginia General Assembly. Also contained in the pension file are copies of documents from King and Queen Court in which Polly, Sawyer, Elizabeth (her husband Richard), gave Richard Griffith power of attorney to apply for any land warranty that would have been due to Joseph. Within these documents, from the July term, 1833 from the King and Queen court is a record that states:
the court doth certify that the above named Mary Griffith widow & relict of said Joseph Griffith decd. Sawyer B Griffith Elizabeth Brown
wife of Richard Brown and Richard Griffith are the only children of said Joseph Griffith decd … are all of lawful age & are the only heirs
of the said Joseph Griffith decd… (“Rev. War Pensions” 9)
On Monday, August 12, 1833, at a quarterly count, the power of attorney was proved. On November 12, 1833, in the quarterly court for King & Queen County in which:
it was proved to the satisfaction of the court that Joseph Griffith decd late of King & Queen County died about December 1800 that he left a
widow named Mary Griffith still alive and five children named Sawyer B Griffith John Griffith, Betsey now wife of Richard Brown of King
William County Richard Griffith and Joseph Griffith that John & Joseph are since dead without will and were never married.
(“Rev. War Pensions” 10)
“Revolutionary War Pensions.” Fold3, www.fold3.com
The only son of Joseph and Mary to have issue was Richard. He was born about 1789 in King and Queen County, Virginia. He married Caroline Hundley*, the daughter of Elizabeth H. Watts* and John Hundley*. Richard and Caroline lived in the city of Richmond. To Caroline and Richard were
Richard Griffith*
-1.jpg)
born two children. Their first child, Virginia, died before her second birthday. Her death notice appeared in the February 25, 1835 issue of the Richmond Compiler and read:
Died. Yesterday about 4 o’clock, after a severe illness of two days, Virginia, only child of Richard and Caroline Griffith of this City, age one
year 8 months and 13 days. The friends of the family are requested to attend her funeral this afternoon at half past 3 o’clock, without further
notice, from the residence of her father on H street. (qtd. in LHC)
The second child, a son, Joseph Richard was born on November 14, 1836, in the city of Richmond, Virginia. Caroline died on December 1, 1836, only seventeen days after the birth of her son. Her obituary appeared in the Richmond Courier and Daily Compiler on December 2, 1836, and states:
Died. Yesterday morning, about 5 o’clock, Mrs. Caroline Griffith, wife of Mr. Richard Griffith, in the 24th year of her age, after a painful
illness of about 15 days, which she bore with Christian fortitude and resignation, leaving an infant child and a bereaved husband to mourn
their irreparable loss. The deceased was an exemplary member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. (qtd. in LHC)
On December 13, 1836, only 12 days after his wife’s death Richard died, leaving his mouth old son an orphan. The December 14, 1836 issue of the Richmond Compiler and Daily Courier, stated, "Died yesterday, Mr. Richard Griffith, age 38" (qtd. in LHC).
Works Cited
LHC. “Descendants of Joseph Griffith.”
Joseph Richard Griffith*
Joseph Richard Griffith was born on November 14, 1836, in Richmond City Virginia. He is the son of Richard Griffith and Caroline Hundley. Both his headstone and his memoir show that he was born in 1837. However, we know that this year is incorrect because both his mother and father died in 1836, leaving him an orphan within a mouth of his birth. His parentage is documented by several sources including his headstone and several chancery records of Virginia. Also documented in these chancery records are several other members of the Hundley family.
Caroline’s mother, Elizabeth Watts Hundley of King & Queen County, took her grandson to raise. Elizabeth was the widow of John Hundley. In addition to Caroline, John and Elizabeth had two sons, George Kaufman and John F.
Based on a couple of accounts, Elizabeth was a devoted Christian woman of the Methodist faith. She apparently instilled her faith into her grandson. At the age of sixteen, Joseph joined Shepherd’s church. Frist as a scholar and later a Sunday school teacher under the supervision of Rev. John W. Shackford who became his mentor (memoir 34).
Although Elizabeth was raising her grandson, he does not appear in her household in the 1950 census. Perhaps he was at boarding school, educating her grandson did seem to be important. He attended for a year a school in Richmond City conducted by the Rev. Peter F. August. He then attended Fleetwood Academy in King and Queen County Virginia (memoir 34). Oliver White was the preparator and headmaster of Fleetwood Academy. A school for boys, many notable men of Virginia attended the Academy. Charles Walker tells us that “… many youths of the best families of the neighboring counties …” (387) attended the academy. An ad in the Richmond Enquirer in 1838, for Fleetwood Academy states, “The course of instruction will embrace the Greek, Latin, and French Languages, Mathematics, the Elements of Natural and Moral Philosophy and Chemistry, and such branches as constitute a good English education” (3). At some point, the Academy started to send a report to the parent or guardian every two months. These reports, what we may call a report card contained information about the boy’s intellectual progress and moral standing. In 1844, a session was five months and cost $65 for tuition, room and board (Richmond Enquirer 17 Dec 1844 page 1). At some point, military training was also added to the course of study (K & Q Museum). Joseph’s education continued as he entered Randolph-Macon College. While in college his thought turned toward entering the ministry and in 1859, he was licensed to preach (memoir 34).
After leaving college in 1860, Joseph returned to King and Queen County. In the 1860 census, he appears in his grandmother's household. Also, in her household are two more orphaned grandchildren. Her youngest child John F. married Martha M. Camden in 1847 and they had three children: William Shields, George K. and John Camden. Martha died on October 15, 1853, and John F. died on July 14, 1854. In 1860, William is 11 and John C. is 8 and both are in Elizabeth household. However, George K. who is 9 is not in her household.
In 1858, Oliver White had closed Fleetwood Academy due to his felling health (Find a Grave). Perhaps, this played a part in Joseph’s decision for the next step in his life, in which, he started his own school for boys and young men, call Walkerton Academy. When he had the opportunity, he preached in the area Methodist churches, “preaching with great earnestness and fervor” (memoir 34).
In February of 1862 at “Orange Grove,” the home of his mentor, Rev John W. Shackford, Joseph married Mary Temple Evans (memoir 34). John is Mary’s uncle and “Orange Grove” is the family home. Mary’s great-grandparents, Susannah Walker* and Humphrey Temple* purchased the property, known as “Old Place,” sometime before 1797. “Old Place” passed to Susannah and Humphrey’s daughter Mary Temple and husband Rev. Hezekiah McLelland and then to their daughter, Martha, and husband John Shackford. The Shackford’s changed the name of “Old Place” to “Orange Grove” (Cox 176).
In June of 1862, the woman who raised Joseph, the only mother he ever knew died at the age of 73. The next year sometime in 1863, after three years, Joseph closed Walkerton Academy. Faced with complications and hardships brought on by the Civil War, it was likely hard to find students in this time of uncertainty.
In 1863, Joseph accepted the presidency of Carolina Female College (The Mathews Journal).
Joseph had already begun to make a name for himself as someone of experience. This is pointed out in the announcement of his appointment in the Minutes of the South Carolina Conference:
This institution having been closed for some time, has now a fair prospect of being reopened. The trustees have elected the Rev. Mr. Griffith, a local preacher, and a teacher of considerable experience, who comes highly recommended from Virginia, He will enter upon the duties of the college on the 1st of January next, and there is reason to believe that it will be well patronized and sustained (31).
Joseph and his bride left King and Queen County, Virginia, where both their family had lived for generations. They moved almost 300 miles south to Ansonville in Anson County, North Carolina. From an ad in the Fayetteville Semi-Weekly Observer in 1863, we know what the subjects were and what the cost was to attend this college. Board which included fuel and washing for five months period cost $250. The cost for a student to take English and Math was $40. To take language courses, whether ancient or modern was an additional $10 per course. If a student wanted to take music it cost and $30, however, this did include the instruments.
Joseph and Mary had two daughters and a son. Their first child, Lillian* was born around 1865, and she was likely born in Ansonville while her father served as president. Appointed president of Davenport Female College, Joseph and family move from Ansonville to Lenoir, Caldwell County, North Carolina. His first session as president started on February 26, 1866. In December of that year, Joseph traveled to Marion, South Carolina for the South Carolina Conference. He was admitted into the South Carolina Conference on trial.
Although the Civil War was over, four years of war have changed “… the pleasant homes of wealth and affluence into hovels of poverty and want” (Parton). These would have certainly been hard times for many to find the money to educate their daughters. For a twenty-week session board was $50, English branches cost $20, music, which included the use of piano was $22.50, for $8 one could take drawing while oil painting cost $20. Classes in other languages which included Latin, Greek, French and German were $5 each. A $2 contingent fee was charged for each student (J. R. Griffith). Even in these hard times, according to Parton, the session was successful with a large number of girls from different parts of North Carolina as well as neighboring states (3). According to the Minutes of the South Carolina Conference of 1866, the two terms of that year were successful with seventy-eight students attending during the year. In addition, they had five students to graduated (31). The courses included history, ancient and modern languages taught by Rev. Samuel A. Webber. Rev. J. S. Montgomery was a professor of natural science and mathematics and L. Whitaker oversaw the music, while Miss Mollie Winfree was an instructor of ornamental branches. In addition, Dr. A. A. Scroggs is to give lectures on anatomy, physiology, and hygiene. Parton also tells us that Joseph has built a reputation “… known throughout the state” and that he “… secured the services of Miss Sarah Rankin … whose reputation is unsurpassed in the State for proficiency in all the “Ornamental Branches” of learning” (3).
On March 15, 1867, Mary gave birth to her second daughter, Emma Virginia who was known as Jennie in her youth. She was likely born in Lenoir. In 1867, Joseph resigned his position as president; presumably, he served until the end of the term ending in November of that year. At that time part of North Carolina was in the South Carolina Conference. In December of 1867, Joseph traveled to Morganton, North Carolina for the 1867 South Carolina Conference. During this Conference, Joseph is confirmed as still on trial. During the week he was elected to the membership in the South Carolina Historical Society. Having resigned his position as president, Joseph is appointed to the Marion, North Carolina circuit in the Spartanburg district (Meth. Episc. Ch, “S C Conf.”116). A circuit consists of two or more churches. From this point, Joseph spent the rest of his career as a pastor. As a Rev. in the Methodist Church, every year or two, Joseph is appointed to different communities.
The 1868 Conference is held in Abbeville, South Carolina. During the Conference, Joseph is admitted into the Conference in connexion. He is appointed to Marion, North Carolina for a second year. At this time Marion is listed as a station, which means there is only one church. The following year Joseph has to travel to Cheraw South Carolina for the 1869 Conference. He is appointed to the Marion and McDowell Circuit in the Spartanburg district.
Mary gave birth to her third child and only son on September 10, 1869. Walter Evans was almost certainly born in Marion. In 1870 the part of North Carolina that is in the South Carolina Conference is transferred to the North Carolina Conference. Joseph is now part of the North Carolina Conference and had to travel to Greensboro, North Carolina for the 1870 Conference. He is appointed to Goldsboro in the Newbern [sic] district. In 1871 Joseph had to travel to Charlotte for the Conference that year and is reappointed to Goldsboro for another year.
To be continued.
Lillian "Lillie" Griffith
Obituary
Lillie Griffith Barnett
Raleigh Christian Advocate -
10 Feb 1892 - Page 6
The Roxboro Courier -
15 Dec 1887 - Page 3
On Monday afternoon, December 21st, 1891 at the young age of twenty-six, Lillie departed this life leaving two small children. Lillie’s mother died at the age of thirty when Lillie way eight. Lillie’s daughter Effie was three (Effie also died young with small children.) and Alma was one.
According to family history, Lillie was buried at what is now Long Memorial United Methodist Church. Church history states that the cemetery was on the south and east sides of the original wooden church. It also says that in preparation for the construction of the second church building, the graves were moved to the then-new Birchwood Cemetery. However, family history has it that Samuel would not allow Lillie to be moved and that she lies under the current church.
Lillian "Lillie" Griffith*
Lillian “Lillie” Griffith was born around 1865, likely in Anson county, N. C., where her father was serving as president of Carolina Female College. She is the oldest child of Mary Temple Evans* and Rev. Joseph Richard Griffith*. Educated at Williamston Female College in Williamston, S. C., she taught school for three years before her marriage. Based on newspaper articles of the time she was well-liked. One article, from The Roxboro Courier in 1887 states, “Miss Lillie Griffith with her many admirable and fascinating charms threw rays of brilliant light in the social circles of our town last Friday and Saturday.”
The Roxboro Courier -
21 Jul 1887 - Page 3
Another, also from The Roxboro Courier 1887 says, Misses Lillie Griffith and Lizzie Yancey, of Collier, attended our meeting here at Allensville last week to the great delight and pleasure of our young people.”
Dressed “in a neat brown tailor cut traveling suit” Lillie became the bride of Samuel Barnett* on December 14th, 1887. The Rev. R. M. Royster performed the ceremony at the residence of R. M. Royster near Oak Hill, Granville county. The attendants were Miss Susie Barnett and T. Pass, Miss Emma Daniel and Frank Woody, Miss Jennie Griffith (the bride’s sister) and John Royster, Miss Alice Fuller and C. Daniel.
Lillie and Samuel had two daughters, Effie Temple* and Alma Griffith. Effie married Hubert Martin Whitfield* and Alma married William Henry Yarborough.
The Roxboro Courier -
19 Jun 1890 - Page 3
Marriage Announcement
of
Lillie Griffith
and
Samuel Barnett
The Torchlight - 4 Jan 1888 - Page 3
* Indicates Direct Ancestor
Copyright © Barry Whitfield
All Right Reserved
On December 19, 1833, warrant #7416 for 100 acres of land was issued to Mary, Sawyer, Elizabeth, and Richard.
Polly was proved for a pension. She started to receive her pension on March 4, 1836, and it continued until her death on July 30, 1843 (U.S. Pensioners).
Sawyer Bennett Griffith was born on April 11, 1783, in King and Queen, Virginia, and died on January 13, 1844. He married Elizabeth Gleason on January 15, 1810. They had at least one child, Joseph B. Griffith born about 1822 in King and Queen County, Virginia, and died June 27, 1872, in Essex, Virginia (LCH).
Elizabeth, also known as Betsy, married Richard Brown and they had three children.
Works Cited
Graves, Will. “Federal Pension and Bounty-Land Acts for American Revolution.” Revwarapps.Org, 28 Mar. 2017, revwarapps.org/revwar-pension- acts.htm. Accessed 23 July 2020.
Harris, C Leon. “Pension Application of Ansolem Bailey S37702.” Southern Campaigns Revolutionary War Pension Applications & Rosters, www.revwarapps.org/. Accessed 23 July 2020.
LHC. “Descendants of Joseph Griffith.”
Maloy, Mark. “The Battle of Stony Point.” American Battlefield Trust, 4 May 2020, www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/battle-stony-point. Accessed 23 July 2020.
“Revolutionary War Pensions.” Fold3, www.fold3.com/image/22895782?terms=griffith. Accessed 22 July 2020.
“U.S. Pensioners, 1818-1872.” Ancestry.com, Online Publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2007.Original Data - Ledgers of Payments, 1818-1872, to U.S. Pensioners Under Acts of 1818 Through 1858 From Records of the Office of the Third Auditor of the Treasury, 1818- 1872, www.Ancestry.com.
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