JOSEP GRIFFIS ABT 1723

1. JOSEP1 GRIFFIS1 was born Abt. 1723 in Germany???, and died Bet. 1781 - 1783. He married MARGARET HUTTO, daughter of ISSAC HUTTO and MARIA VON STERN. She was born Unknown in Orangeburg District, South Carolina, and died Unknown.

In 1749 Rev. John Giessendanner, who had been a Disssenter minister in Orangeburgh Township theretofore, went to England in order to be ordanined to the Episcopal ministry. In order to strengthen his case a petition in his behalf was presented to His Majesty's Council of South Carolina by citizens of Orangeburgh Township. A copy of this petition was made by William Backshell, acting Secretary of the province, for Mr. Giessendanner to take with him. It bears evidence that Backshell was the poor copyist that Gov. Glen characterized him as on several occasions. This copy is now in Fulham Palace, London, and the following transcript thereof was procured therefrom by Mr. E. Alfred Jones, of London, for A.S. Salley, Jr.

His nephew John (Giessendanner), by the request of the congregation, went to Charleston for the purpose of "obtaining orders" from Rev. Alexander Garden, the Bishop of London's commissary, but was persuaded by Major Christian Motte, whom he met, that he ought not to apply to him, but to other gentlemen to whom he would conduct him, who, if they found him qualified, would give him authority to preach. Major Motte made him acquainted with the Presbytery of South Carolina, who in 1738 gave him authority to preach the gospel among his German neighbors. This he continued to do, and thus kept up the Church of their fathers unchanged for a season, though he afterwards went to London and took Episcopal ordination

v. CHARLES GRIFFIS R S, b. 1755, Orangeburg District, South Carolina; d. August 10, 1844, Clinch County, Georgia; m. CHARITY BRASWELL RICH, Aft. 1798, Georgia; b. 1770, Burke County, Georgia; d. 1849, Clinch County, Georgia.

Charles Griffis was a Revolutionary Soldier evidently in the South Carolina Line. Details of service unknown, no record found there of his service. His son Kindred, said his father was in the engagements with the noted Tory, Col. Carleton, and was present at Yorktown with his command at the surrender. Charles Griffis drew land as a Rev. Soldier in 1827 Georgia Land Lottery, a resident at the time of Ware (now Clinch) County. He is listed in the 1790 Census of Orangeburgh District, South Carolina but was not married at the time, living at the time with his widowed mother. His grave was marked in 1950 by the DAR.

The first known record in Georgia of Charles Griffis appears to be the tax-digest of Montgomery County for the year 1806 at which time he was living in the 57th District and owned 200 acres of land. However, census records of the children shows that all of them were born in Georgia.

Charles was living in Appling County in the 1820 Census. It was about 1822 that he moved further south into what was then Appling County on account of his large droves of cattle. He settled land lot #195, 7th District, now Clinch County. He lived there until his death.

Charles Griffis, a Revolutionary soldier, was born in Orangeburg District, S. C., in 1759, and was thought to have been a son of John and Barbara Griffis of Four Holes, Orangeburg County, South Carolina. John was killed in the Revolutionary War. Due to loss of the Orangeburg County records it is impossible to learn much about the Griffis antecedents there. It is known that on account of the father's death Charles took his younger brother, Samuel, who was at the time hardly grown, and came to Georgia during the 1790's, where he married Mr. Charity Braswell Rich, a widow lady. She was born about 1770 and died in 1859. To Charles and Charity were born:

The first known record in Georgia of Charles Griffis appears to be the tax-digest of Montgomery County for the year 1806 at which time he was living in the 57th District and owned 200 acres of land. However, the census record of the children show that all of them were born in Georgia.

He was living in Appling County in the 1820 Census. It was about 1821-22 that he moved further south into what was then Appling County on account of his large droves of cattle. He settled on Lot of Land 195, 7th district (territory now in Atkinson County) and lived there about two years, after which he moved to Lot 247, 7th district (territory now in Clinch County). He lived on this latter lot until his death in August, 1844. He and his wife were buried in nearby Guest Millpond Cemetery where the John Floyd Chapter, D.A.R. placed a marker over his grave in 1950. The Griffis home place was cut out of Appling into Ware County in 1825, and changed out of Ware into Clinch in 1850.

Mr. Griffis served in one of the South Carolina regiments in the Continental Line. He was present at Cornwallis' Surrender at Yorktown and in his last years, often recalled details of that memorable occasion. He was granted land in Georgia in 1827 as a Revolutionary Soldier (see Knight's Roster of the Revolution, pp. 354 and 464). Mrs. Eva Griffis Kirkland and several other ladies of Atkinson County, are members of the John Floyd Chapter, D.A.R. as descendants of Charles Griffis, R.S.

The 1790 Census of Orangeburg District, S. C., (territory probably now in Barnwell County) shows Charles Griffis family to have consisted of self and two females, the latter thought to have been his mother and sister since he was not married at the time. John and Barbara had no daughter, but Joseph and Margaret did. So this Charles has to be the son of Joseph and Margaret Hutto Griffis as far as I am concerned.

Several questions now come to mind. Who is right? Mr. Robinson or Mr. Huxford? I believe Mr. Robinson is from all the info that has been presented. The John we are all using is shown as being born 1754, married Barbara LNU. So if this Charles was really born in 1759 it is nigh on to impossible for John to be the father. Mr. Huxford made no mention of the third son, John, born 1778. He did mention a sister. Whose sister? Charles or his mama's? I have only been doing Griffis research for three years and most of yall have been doing it a lot longer. I have found no one that has mentioned a daughter of John and Barbara LNU Griffis. Maybe there was an older John and Barbara LNU Griffis whose children match the ones we are using and they married the same people or the lines are crossed or we all are using the wrong info somewhere. It is going to take a far smarter person than me to figure this out. All I can say is WHEW!!! I thought I was confused before but I am beyond confused now. LJG

GRIFFIS/GRIFFIN &GRIFFITS look-up: There is 1 for Abner, 1 for Benjamin, 1 for Charles, 1 for David Sr., 1 for James, 1 for Thomas, 1 for William Sr., and 1 for Zachariah Griffis/Griffin. 0 listings for John.

2. JOHN2 GRIFFIS, R S (JOSEP1) was born 1754 in Orangeburg District, South Carolina, and died Bet. 1781 - 1783 in Revolutionay War, South Carolina. He married BARBARA LNU. She was born Unknown, and died Unknown.

Barbara Griffiths, deceased for Admix. for the Estate of John Griffiths, deceased for provisions supplied the Continental Army and Militia in Aug. and Nov. 1781, two accounts audited for 6 pounds 18 shillings and 7 Pence sterling, Interest 9 shellings, 8 pence sterling.

Land Grant issued to Barbara Griffis for 100 acres of land on North Side of Four Hole Swamp in Orangeburg District, South Carolina 5 Feb, 1787. Land Grant issued to Barbery Griffis for 100 acres on North Side of Four Hole Swamp in Orangeburg District, South Carolina 6 Oct 1786.

Stub interies-Book 3, page 66, no. 359, Issued 26 Nov. 1785 to _________for Estate of Mr. John Griffis for militia duty as Captain, 38 pounds, 11 shillings, 5 pence sterling with interest 2 pounds, 13 shellings, 11 pence sterling.

I read where someone mentioned the 1790 South Carolina Census where it listed Charles and 2 FEMALES. I couldn't get that part out of my mind. So I decided to look at that census again and then it came to me. During the 3 years I have been doing research on this Griffis Family, NO WHERE have I seen a mention of a daughter of John & Barbara LNU. Not saying there wasn't one but she has never been mentioned. So, if this is our Charles and I think it is, then he can not be the son of John & Barbara. Just as Mr. Robert James Robinson said. So, this is either Barbara Griffis and his sister Mary, listed with Charles or it could be his mama, Margaret Hutto, would have to be between 70 & 80 years old at this time. Of course it could be her and Mary. I guess we will really never know.

Now, Barbara Griffiths had been granted all this land in Four Holes Swamp, Orangeburgh District, South Carolina why then is it that she would give it all up and move to Georgia as some say she did? The two land grants weren't issued until 1827 in Georgia and that would make Barbara well over a 100 years old. Charles would have been about 72 years old when he took Samuel & John and moved to Georgia or at least that age by the time the grants for the land was granted.

3. SAMUEL3 GRIFFIS (JOHN2, JOSEP1) was born 1775 in Four Holes, Orangeburg District, South Carolina, and died December 30, 1859 in Homerville, Clinch County, Georgia. He married (1) NANCY LNU (AMERICAN INDIAN) 1793 in Georgia. She was born Unknown, and died Unknown. He married (2) MARY "POLLY" REGISTER December 05, 1835. She was born Unknown, and died Unknown.

4. SAMUEL B4 GRIFFIS, JR (SAMUEL3, JOHN2, JOSEP1) was born 1794 in Montgomery County, Georgia, and died April 27, 1884 in Clinch County, Georgia. He married NAOMI KIRKLAND Abt. 1828 in Appling County, Georgia, daughter of JOHN KIRKLAND and ELIZABETH LANE. She was born 1804 in Bulloch County, Georgia, and died December 23, 1852 in Clinch County, Georgia.

i. JOHN COBB5 GRIFFIS, b. June 27, 1824, Appling County, Georgia; d. Abt. 1904; m. (1) ELIZABETH NETTLES, December 07, 1848; b. March 18, 1833, Appling County, Georgia; d. April 09, 1871, Homerville, Clinch County, Georgia; m. (2) VASHTI STAFFORD, March 31, 1872; b. Unknown, Ware County, Georgai; d. Abt. 1907.

5. CHARLES4 GRIFFIS (SAMUEL3, JOHN2, JOSEP1) was born 1800 in Montgomery County, Georgia, and died 1875 in Appling County, Georgia. He married KEZIAH KIRKLAND Abt. 1820 in Appling County, Georgia, daughter of JOHN KIRKLAND and ELIZABETH LANE. She was born 1802, and died Unknown.

6. JOEL4 GRIFFIS (SAMUEL3, JOHN2, JOSEP1) was born 1803 in Montgomery County, Georgia, and died 1871 in Clinch County, Georgia. He married (1) ELIZABETH CARTER June 05, 1828 in Wayne County, Georgia. She was born Abt. 1812, and died Abt. 1885. He married (2) ELIZABETH BENNETT 1841 in Georgia, daughter of AARON BENNETT and ELIZABETH LNU. She was born Unknown, and died Unknown.

Mr. Joel Griffis lived after marriage on lot #310 in Ware County, in 1851 he sold out to Abraham Hargroves and moved to southwest Clinch County, where he located on lot of land #149, 12th district. He lived here until his death.

Joel Griffis was Captain of the militia in the 719th district, Ware County, 1835-1840. He served a short volunteer term of enlistment in Captain Levi J. Knight;s independent company of Lowndes County militia in 1838.

7. REBECCA4 GRIFFIS (SAMUEL3, JOHN2, JOSEP1) was born 1808 in Montgomery County, Georgia, and died Abt. 1873 in Ware County, Georgai. She married GEORGE LEE 1837, son of JOHN LEE. He was born Unknown, and died Unknown.

8. JOHN4 GRIFFIS (SAMUEL3, JOHN2, JOSEP1) was born 1809 in Montgomery County, Georgia, and died 1880 in Bradford County, Florida. He married (1) ELIZABETH REGISTER. She was born Unknown, and died Unknown. He married (2) EASTER PADGETT 1843 in Florida, daughter of HOPKIN PADGETT and MARY BRANCH. She was born 1810 in Florida, and died Unknown.

John Griffis migrated to Florida from Georgia in search of better pasture land for his large herd of cattle and hogs. John moved to the northwestern section of what was later Bradford County. There were only two other families living in the area at that time. They settled near New River. Robert James Robinson

Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia, sates in 1831, John Stalvey, Jr and family moved back to Georgia and settled in Ware County in the 12th land district and in the portion made into Clinch County County in 1850. The 1850 census shows John Stalvey, Jr with no wife. Abt 1843 or 1844, Mrs Easter Padgett Stalvey eloped with John Griffis to Florida, taking with her only the daughter, Rebecca. About 1856-57, Mr. Stalvey with all his children except Rebecca and Mrs Mrs. Chancy, moved to Louisiana, locating there in Rapides Parish. At the time of removal, the son John was married, also the daughter Mar and teh son Benjamin. John and his wife movedto Louisiana as did Isaac and Mary Thornton, but Benjamin's wife did not go. Betty Herndon Williams/Margie Travis

9. JAMES "JIM"4 GRIFFIS, SR (SAMUEL3, JOHN2, JOSEP1) was born 1813 in Emanuel County, Georgia, and died 1894 in Raiford, Bradford County, Florida. He married FRANCES EMANUEL March 10, 1836 in Ware County, Georgia, daughter of AMOS EMANUEL and MARTHA LNU. She was born 1820 in Georgia, and died Unknown.

James Griffis was 5 feet 5 inches tall, Blue eyes, brown hair, light complextion. Served in Florida Seminole Indian War as a private in Captain David Johnson's Company of Ware County militia. November 1, 1839 to Dec 31, 1839. Recieved land Warrent for 40 acres in 1855 for service.

12. KEZIAH KIZZIE"5 GRIFFIS (SAMUEL B4, SAMUEL3, JOHN2, JOSEP1) was born 1830 in Ware County, Georgai, and died 1909 in Ware County, Georgai. She married ABRAHAM EASTON SMITH, SR 1845 in Ware County, Georgia, son of ISAAC SNITH and SYTHA STEEDLEY. He was born November 30 in Barnwell District, South Carolina, and died January 04, 1899 in Ware County, Georgai.