Part Three: How Do You Spell Griffis?

This is the third part of a four part series on tracing the Griffis surname for the family that started in Huntington, Suffolk County, New York.

From my father I picked up a patterned answer to a common question when asked what is your last name. I can recall in the past and to the present, when asked to provide my last name, I state it and then intentionally spell the last name, “Griff… two f’s as in Frank.. i…s… as in Sam“. Even today it is oftentimes challenging for others to hear and accurately identify the spelling of my surname. I can only wonder what it was like in the 1700’s to the present.

The name purportedly started as Griffith or Griffiths then morphed into Griffis, Griffith and Griffes. The variability of spellings across and within the documented second and third generations of the family perhaps reflects the fluid nature of how individuals viewed and used surname conventions among Welsh descendants in Colonial America. It also may reflect how others hear the name and how it gets transcribed in various public documents.

Depending on the source of information, some of the family individuals are referenced by two or more spellings of the name. Without direct proof, it is not entirely certain if ‘Griffis’ or Griffith’ was used.

“Griffis … G…R…I..two ‘F’s’… I…S… as in Sam” – Typical reply on questions on what is my last name.

Family Folklore:

“In the tumultuous days preceding and during the Revolution, many records and many buildings were destroyed. At best the records are sketchy and inconsistent, and, obviously the spelling by clerks laboriously writing by hand as casual and irregular; for instance, in one book we find the name spelled GRIFFIS on one page and then spelled GRIFFITHS on another page.”

“According to the family legend, as told by Albert Buffet Griffith… , William Griffith had difficulty pronouncing ‘th’, and in a name or worth ‘th’ sounded like an ‘s’. As this speech impediment was an embarrassment to him, he allowed the clerk to record his name as Griffis rather than confessing the spelling was Griffith which would have called the clerk’s attention to the impediment.”

“My Great Grandfather, on my father’s side came from Wales & settled in Huntington, Long Island. They spelled the name Griffiths. My Grandfather, who died at my Father’s house could never give me a reason why he changed it to Griffis.” – William Case Griffis [1]

It is not until the third or fourth generation of the descendants of William Griffis that the surname was finally stabilized in a respective branch of the family tree. A major challenge in reconstructing the family past is determining what constitutes evidence and proof of how a specific individual and their descendants spelled his or her name.

” The OW (old world) form was Grippiud (Gripiud); this would change in the first place to Griffudd, and then to Gruffudd, for when i was followed in the next syllable by u, the i changed to u. (In the name Griffri, the i of Gripp – or Griff remained unchanged). When u came to have the same quality as the ‘clear y’ (the y of monosyllables and final syllables) the name generally became Gruffydd, and this is now regarded as the standard form. But forms such as Gruffith, Gryffydd are not uncommon in early documents. In South Wales the peculiar vowel sound of u/y was lost entirely and ‘Griffidd’ would be the normal pronunciation. The medieval scribes who were not Welsh generally wrote Griffith, even when they heard the original Welsh vowel, for Griffith would be the nearest they could get within their writing system. And this form, Griffith and Grilfiths came to be used almost universally, as forename and surname, throughout Wales.

The addition of -s to Griffith, which came about when the name became a surname, might not cause any alteration in appearance, i.e. in the spelling, but the pronunciations of -iths cannot be expected to stay unaltered and Griffiths is inevitably simplified to Griffis (which is the way the surname is usually pronounced) or Griffies. Versions of this kind are found in the Shropshire registers, and it is possible that other versions such as Griffits represent a simplification of -iths . There is very little point in trying to classify the many versions and provide an explanation because in most cases the various versions merely represent attempts to spell in English a name of Welsh origin with an unusual combination of sounds.” [2]

As indicated in part one of this story, there are a number of web based family trees and manuscripts of family genealogies that reference William Griffis(th) and his 12 descendants. There are four notable limitations for all of these sources on the Griff(is)(ith)(es) family from Huntington, New York: 

  • The proposed ancestors of William lack sound, corroborating facts that support the linkages to his purported parents or grandparents and other ancestors;
  • many of the internet based family trees contain inconsistent or contradictory facts;
  • many of the family trees list family members with the same uniform surname without documenting or recognizing facts regarding the discrepancies in the spelling of the surname in the various branches of the family tree; and
  • none of the genealogical sources, whether they are family trees or manuscripts, provide complete family lines of descendants for all of William’s 12 children.

While this part of the story and remaining fourth part of the story do not attempt address these four limitations, I will hopefully provide documentation on how the surname changed between family members across and within generations. Documenting the complete family tree for William’s 12 descendants coupled with the variations of the surname spelling is an ongoing process but will be covered in a future story.

My Madness in the Method

In my attempt to document the different spellings of the surname within and across generations of the Griff(is)(th)(es) family, I have compared various genealogical sources for an individual person and assessed the reliability of those sources. It is not a fool proof method. I may still have missed the target on specific individuals.

The following ordinal scale of ‘proof’ was used as a heuristic guide to determine how I reviewed various sources of evidence for a given individual . In many cases, if I was able to find a family or individual headstone, I figured a headstone with a name carved into the stone reflected a convincing basis of how the surname was spelled. While mistakes have been made on head stones, the amount of effort put into creating a marker for an individual’s burial is much more involved than simply transcribing a name on paper. Proof of a headstone and its spelling of the surname also may have influenced my views on how an individual’s immediate family may have spelled their surname since they were the ones that had the tomb stone made.

One thing I am certain of is you can not totally rely on how census or tax roll enumerators spelled names in their census, tax, or government documents. I imagine they relied on what they heard from who ever answered the door. In relation to the spelling of the surname in census sources, I am inclined to believe that any spelling of a family member as ‘Griffiths’ would point to or corroborate the actual spelling of the surname as ‘Griffis’ since phonetically it sounds very similar. So if I found the name spelled as ‘Griffiths’, I assumed the name was ‘Griffis’. This could also be true for the recording of the name as ‘Griffith’ since this was a common form of the spelling of the surname.

In the end, I felt the determination of the spelling of the surname for a given individual in a branch of the family came down to finding: primary sources (e.g. actual documents written by an individual, which, unfortunately is rare), a headstone, or following a person’s line of descendants to see if there is any continuity of how they spelled their last name.

Table One: Levels of Proof and Genealogical Evidence

Proof LevelLevel of CertaintyDescriptionConsistency Between Sources &
Examples / Types of Sources of Evidence
ONEConclusiveBeyond a Reasonable Doubt Consistency between all available records

Evidence supported by birth marriage & death certificates, wills, probate and court records, headstones, family headstones, family names in bibles, personal direct knowledge, how descendants spelled the name, etc.
TWOAlmost CertainlyPreponderance of EvidenceConsistent spellings across a wide range of types of various documents.

Evidence supported by sources found in level one but there may be a few exceptions in surname spelling in sources.
THREEMost LikelyPreponderance of EvidenceConsistent spellings across most sources of documents

Evidence supported by sources found in level two but there may be a number of exceptions in surname spelling.
FOURProbable Preponderance of EvidenceConsistent spellings across at least half of all types of various documents

Spellings of surnames in transcribed documents are numerous and the lack of a majority one way or another draw support to those that identify key events such as both marriage and death.
FIVELikely Conflicting EvidenceLimited sources of conflicting evidence.

Based on available genealogical sources of information, it appears that three variations of the surname have been used by the descendants of William and Abiah Griffis. For some individuals, it is not entirely certain if they used Griffith or Griffis.

An Overview: The First and Second Generations of the Family

The variations of spelling the Griff(is)(es)(th) surname in the first two generations of the family. Click for larger view.

The chart to the left reflects the variations in spelling in the family surname among William’s 12 children.

Based on my assessment of genealogical evidence, seven of the children used the ‘Griffis’ surname, three used the ‘Griffith’ surname and one used the ‘Griffes’ surname.

The third generation of the family reflects a continuation of various spellings of the surname. The descendants of William’s second child, James Griffis, reverted back to the ‘Griffith’ surname. The descendants of the third son, William Griffis, used both Griffis and Griffith. Three of his four sons used ‘Griffis’ while a fourth son used ‘Griffith’.

The fifth son, Stephen Griffis, appeared to have used or was recorded as a Griffith and Griffis but it is not entirely certain what he actually used as a last name.

Nathaniel Griffes, the sixth son, was the only child that spelled his name as an adult with an ‘es’ on then, Griffes. His descendants continued the tradition.

While it is not entirely certain, Joel Griffith probably spelled his name with a ‘th’ on the end.

Little is known of the second daughter of William, Esther Griffis, but she probably spelled her last name with an ‘-is’.

Epenetus and John used Griffith and Daniel and Jeremiah used Griffis.

A Review of Historical Sources

Starting with the ‘Pater Familias‘ William Griffis and his 12 children, the following story goes through all of the various sources that led me to my conclusions on what surnames each of the first two generations of the family used.

Not much is known of William Griffis. I can only find two records that document his existence. Both records are not original documents so it is assumed the individuals who documented and transcribed the records in publications had spelled the surname as it was reflected in the original document. Baptism records indicate his name as William Griffis. [3] An assessment of property in Huntington, Long Island about the close of the war in 1782 referenced a “William Griffis” living in Huntington, New York. [4] Published and unpublished family manuscripts spell his name as William Griffis or William Griffith. [5]

William Gates Griffis was baptized 7 Nov 1756 and his name is spelled ‘Griffis’. [6] Not much is known of William Gates Griffis. Records indicate his possible participation in the Revolutionary War and in receiving a pension for his service between 1831 thru 1849. Records indicate the spelling of his name as ‘Griffis’. [7] It is not known if he was married and had children. A family manuscript indicates that he “served in the American Revolution, settled in Oneida County, New York“. [8] However, I have not been able to corroborate this assertion.

The records associated with William’s second son, James Griffis, document a confusing reflection of how others spelled his surname in different sources. His name is either spelled as Griffis or Griffith. Based on a review of the various records and accounts by his descendants in family manuscripts, I am lead to believe, it is ‘almost certain’, he spelled his name as Griffis despite the fact that his descendants reverted to spelling the surname as ‘Griffith’.

James William Griffis was baptized with the surname name “Griffis’ on 2 July 1758. [9] When James William Griffis was born in 1758, in Hauppauge, New York, his father, William, was 22 and his mother, Abiah, was 29. When he was 26 years old, he married Sarah Totten on January 11, 1785, in Smithtown, New York. They had seven children in 16 years. He died on November 21, 1838, in Dix Hills, New York, having lived a long life of 80 years.

Between the ages of 17 and 21, James Griffis also fought in the Revolutionary War. Various war roll call and payment records indicate the spelling of his name as Griffis. He is listed as James Griffis, an enlisted soldier in the First Regiment of Minutemen from Suffolk County. [10] He is listed as James Griffis in pay roll records of Captain Nathaniel Platt’s Company in Colonel Josiah Smith’s Regiment of the New York Militia in 1776 for pay drawn from July 26th to December 2nd. [11] He is also listed as James Griffis as an enlisted man in the Third Regiment for the New York Troops. [12]

Census enumerators in various census years have spelled his name in various fashions. In the 1790 Federal Census, he is listed as James Griffiths [13]. In the 1810 Federal census, he is listed as James Griffis [14].

What is interesting about the 1820 census is that five family members are listed in close proximity to each other. The census enumerator spelled the surname as ‘Griffis’. Brother Stephen Griffis lived one household away from James Griffis. Another brother, Jeremiah Griffis, lived 8 households away from James Griffis. A census page before the three aforementioned Griffis households lists another brother, Epenetus Griffis, who lived next to a William Griffis who was a son – a member of the third generation of the Griff(is(es)(th) family. [15]

1820 Federal Census
1820 Federal Census
1830 U.S. Census

The 1830 census also reflects a number of Griff(is)(its)(iths) family households in the Huntington area. This time the census taker spelled the name as ‘Griffiths’ or ‘Griffith’. [16]

Based on the route the census enumerator took, the family households of Epenetus Griffith and James Griffith were next to each other. Eight and eleven households away were the households of Jeremiah Griffith and William Griffith respectively.

Doubting the veracity of various enumerator’s abilities to reliably transcribe names is underscored when looking at the Huntington, New York Tax Rolls (see below). The surname is spelled as Griffeth, Griffeths, and Griffiths. In 1799, the tax assessors located three of the brothers. I imagine the enumerator of the tax information probably knew the three ‘Griffis’ brothers. Nonetheless their names were spelled three different ways: Stephen Griffeths, Epenetus Griffeth, and James Griffiths! [17]

1799 Hunting Tax Rolls

There were two applications for membership into the Sons of the American Revolution by descendants of James Griffis. [18] Both applications list his name as Griffis or Griffith. It is interesting to note that one application, submitted by Everett Arthur Babcock, incorrectly lists James’ wife as Ann whereas the application submitted by Clarence Albert Griffith correctly lists his wife as SarahTotten. His marriage to Sarah Totten is documented in a genealogical application and his last name is spelled as Griffis. [19]

William’s oldest daughter and third child was Nancy Anne (Ann) Griffi(s)(th). When Nancy Anne Griffith was born in 1760, in Huntington, New York, her father, William, was 24, and her mother, Abiah, was 31. At the age of 20, she married Alexander Brush on November 11, 1781, in Smithtown, New York. They had ten children in 21 years.

“Four years after Elisha Maynard (first ) settled in what is now Bovina, Alexander Brush came from Long Island and settled on the site of the present Bovina Center. He cleared brush from an area that is now the home of Tim McIntosh and purchased about 400 acres of land, including the present site of the hamlet of Bovina Center. Parts of this land he later sold to new settlers. In 1796, he erected the first grist mill in Bovina at the site of the current Town Garage. Brush also was the local preacher for the Methodist Society. In later life he became blind and crippled, but continued to preach – often from a rocking chair. For nearly a half century after his death Bovina was called “Brushland” in his honor. Mr. Brush’s friend and nearest neighbor was James Bogardus. His home was on the site of the Parsons residence, next to the current United Presbyterian Church. He cleared and owned a large piece of land at the northern end of the village. For many years, Brush and Bogardus existed here in real pioneer fashion.” [20]

She died on October 13, 1835, in Delaware, New York, at the age of 74, and was buried in Bovina Center, New York. She died five years before the passing of her husband Alexander.

Based on a review of available records, how she spelled her maiden name is a toss up. However based on marriage records and documentation on her burial, despite not having a photo of a headstone, it is ‘probable’ her maiden name was spelled as Griffith. A transcription of records of the First Church in Huntington by Moses Scudder, indicate her name as Ann Griffis. [21] Another genealogical publication documents her marriage to Alexander Bush and her name is listed as Ann Griffith. [22] Although a headstone is not identified for Ann Bush, a memorial record in the Find A Grave website lists her name as “Nancy Griffith Brush” . [23]

William and Abiah had two sons named William. The fourth child was William Griffis. When William Griffis was born around the early part of February of 1763, in Fresh Pond, New York, his father, William, was 26 and his mother, Abiah, was 33. He married Tunta “Content” Noxon in 1791 in Dutchess, New York. They had four children during their marriage. He died in 1847 in Fredericksburg, Ontario, Canada, having lived a long life of 84 years.

William Griffis’ name is consistently spelled across a wide range of sources as Griffis. A family tree website provides instances of his name being spelled as ‘Griffis’, ‘Griffits’, ‘Griffes’, ‘Griffiths’ [24] He and his four sons are listed as Griffis in a list of American loyalists that emigrated to Ontario [25]. In Revolutionary War Pension claim files, he signed various affidavits as William Griffis but is at times is referred to as William Griffith. In fact the cover folder lists his name as William Griffis or Griffith. He is referenced as William Griffis in Daughters of the American Revolution lineage documentation. [26]

William was listed in The Executive Council List in Ontario, Canada, as a United Empire Loyalist; however, he also had joined up with the Americans in Dec 1775 for short stints, three times for 3 month periods, one for 4 months, and one 5 month period, until Dec. 1780. In a family manuscript, which documents his descendants in Canada and provides individual accounts, the surname ‘Griffis’ is consistently used by William and his descendants. [27] However, one of his four sons, Gilbert, appears to have used the Griffith surname, contrary to what the family manuscript states. [25] His descendants also used the Griffith surname, as documented the fourth part of this story. The Ontario Bureau of Industries census listed William Griffis from March 18, 1794 with a wife and three sons but sometime about 1815 his name disappears from the records. 

Stephen Griffis was William’s fifth child. He was born nine months after his older brother William. When Stephen Griffith was born in December 1763 (he was baptized 19 Dec 1763), in Fresh Pond, New York, his father, William, was 27 and his mother, Abiah, was 34. He married Nancy Anna Ruland on March 4, 1789, in Smithtown, New York. He died on December 24, 1838, in Huntington, New York, having lived a long life of 75 years.

Based on available records of his existence, it is possible he went by either Griffith or Griffis. I am tipping the argument in favor of Griffis based on census data and baptism documentation. As indicated above, census enumerators identified Stephen as ‘Griffis’ and as ‘Griffith’. In the first United States census in 1790, his name is spelled as Griffiths [28]. In 1800, Stephen and James are identified as ‘Griffiths’ [29]. An enumerator may be lead to spell Griffis as Griffiths based on sound. In 1810 Stephen and brother Epenetus are identified as ‘Griffis’. [30] In the 1820 census he is identified as a Griffis and in the 1830 census he is referred to as Stephen Griffith. [31] Records of Stephen’s marriage to Nancy Anna Ruland on 4 March 1789 indicate his name is ‘Griffith’. [32]

There is a Stephen Griffis referenced as an enlisted Revolutionary War soldier in the Albany County Militia (Land Bounty Rights) – Sixth Regiment Regiment. However, it is not certain that this Stephen Griffis is the same Stephen that lived in Huntington, New York. Similar to his older brothers, it is possible that he fought in the Revolutionary since he was born in 1763. [33] It is not known where Stephen or his wife are buried. Family manuscripts indicate Stephen Griffis died on December 24, 1838, in Huntington, New York, when he was 75 years old. [34]

The lack of documentation on Stephen Nancy Anna Ruland’s family makes it difficult to determine who are his descendants. In the 1800 U.S. Census for Huntington, New York , it indicates that Stephen, at 37 years of age, was a head of a household that had one male under 10 and one female under ten along with his wife Anna.

Headstone of Nathaniel’s wife Esther. Click for larger view.

Nathaniel Griffes, the sixth child of William and Abiah, is discussed in the second part of this story. Based on his will, church records, and gravesite documentation, there is conclusive evidence that he spelled his last name as ‘Griffes’. He is the only child of William to spell his surname as such. In the 1810 U.S. Census his name is spelled Griffis. [35] In the 1820 census, it is spelled Griffies. [36] In the 1840 census it is spelled Griffes. [37] A Nathaniel Griffis is found as an enlisted Revolutionary soldier in Albany in 1776 named Nathaniel Griffis. [38] Church records indicate that his name was spelled as Griffes. [39] His Will [40] and probate records also reflect that his name was spelled Griffes. [41] Burial documentation reflects his name was spelled Griffes and there is a large family presence of Griffes family members in Vale cemetery in Schenectady, New York [42]

A family manuscript erroneously indicates that he married Anna Ruland 4 March 1789. Unless Mildred Peets Griffith, who wrote the unpublished manuscript, had access to the original ledger or documents of the Reverend Hartt who conducted the marriage ceremony , a genealogical publication that lists marriages and baptisms by the the Rev. Hartt indicates that Anna Ruland married Nathaniel’s brother Stephen. [43]

There is not much documentation on the sixth child of William and Abiah Griffis: Joel Griffi(s)(th). In family manuscripts, it is mentioned that he was born on 26 December, 1770, Fresh Ponds, Suffolk County and died in 1816. [44] In the context of a discussion of the life of the Reverend Joshua Hartt, who was the pastor of the church in Smithtown, New York, it was mentioned that among the many roles he played, he opened a school in Smithtown.  One of his pupils in the school was a ‘Joel Griffis’. However, it is unlikely this Joel Griffis is the Joel Griffis who was born in 1770 since Reverend Hartt opened his school in 1793. It is unlikely Joel would have been a pupil at the age of 23 unless Hartt’s school was for young adults. [45] The Joel mentioned as a pupil of Reverend Hartt might be a nephew of Joel’s and son of Epenetus Griffith, Joel Griffith, who was born around 1818.

There is little information on Esther Griffi(s)(th). Given the limited pieces of evidence, I currently am leaning towards her surname as ‘likely Griffis’. Based on baptism records that were kept by the Reverend Prime for the First Church of Huntington, an “Esthes” Griffis was baptized on 27 February 1774. [46] Family manuscripts indicate that Esther Griffis was born 22 March, 1773, baptized on 27 February, 1774 by the Reverend Prime, and died 28 June 1829. [47]. Unfortunately there is no corroborating documentation on her birth or death.

As indicated in the second part of this story, reviewing the 1850 New York state Federal census in Mayfield revealed a puzzling household composition for Esther’s brother Daniel Griffis.  [48] In the 1850 New York census, Daniel is still listed as the head of the household at the age of 73. He reported is birth year as 1777 and born in Suffolk County. There is an Esther Griffis, age 86 in the household. While is it possible on face value that this could be Daniel’s wife, based on information in the 1840 Federal census, his wife would have been estimated to be in her 60’s when the 1850 census was undertaken. Daniel’s wife’s name is not known and presumably she died between 1840 and 1850. The 1850 state census did not list relation of family nor county of birth for individuals. This Esther might have been his spinster sister; and if so, the Griffith manuscripts have an erroneous date of death for Esther.

Table Two: Household of Daniel Griffis 1850

NameAgeBirth Year
Esther Griffis861764
Daniel Griffis731777
Sally Griffis241826
Stephen Griffis161834
Wm Griffis
1850 New York State Census, Mayfield, Fulton County

Epenetus Griffith was William’s ninth child. From cradle to grave, he and his two families lived in Suffolk County, New York. When Epenetus Griffith was born at the end of September or beginning of October in 1775, in Fresh Pond, New York, his father, William, was 39 and his mother, Abiah, was 46. Records of his baptism list his name as Epenetus Griffis. [49]

At the age of 29, he married Mary Smith in 1803. [50] They had four children. Mary died 19 January 1813 at the age of 31. Her fourth child, Mary Elizabeth Griffith, also passed away two months after her death. It is not known what were the causes of both their deaths. Their deaths may be attributed to what was called at the time, Spotted Fever, or Typhus. There are historical accounts of a wave of spotted fever that impacted areas in New England and part of New York in the winter of 1812-1813. [51]

Headstone of Mary Smith Griffith
Headstone of Mary Smith Griffith, click for larger view.
The short life of Mary Elizabeth Griffith, click for larger view.

Two years after Mary’s death, Epentetus then married Elizabeth Vail on 15 Feb 1815 and they also had four children. He died on the 24th of April 1857, in Northport, New York, having lived a long life of 81 years.

As mentioned above, U.S. census enumerators have spelled Epenetus’ surname either as Griffis or Griffith. [52] A record of his marriage indicates an Epenetus Griffis marrying an Elizabeth Vail on 15 February 1815. Documentation on his children from both wives however reflect their use of the Griffith surname.

The Children of Epenetus Griffith. Click for larger view.

Whether Epenetus used Griffis or Griffith, it is not entirely certain. Huntington tax rolls mention an Epentetus Griffith in 1801 and 1803 [53].

It is not known where he is buried. Documentation associated with the burial of his first first wife Mary indicate her married name was Griffith. [54] On the basis of available documentation, it is more than likely he went by the last name of Griffith.

When Daniel Griffis was born on April 1, 1777, in Fresh Pond, New York, his father, William, was 40 and his mother, Abiah, was 48. Based on the reported age and sex distributions of his household in various U.S. census, it is believed he had four sons and two daughters between 1802 and 1827. It is presumed that he died after 1855 and before 1860 in Mayfield, New York, having lived a long life of up to 83 years. His name is spelled as Griffis in various state and Federal census documents as indicated in part two of this story.

Not much is known about Daniel. However, as indicated in part two of this story, two of his sons, William and Joel, and his two daughters Sally and Ruth, were documented as using the surname ‘Griffis’. It is not known where he is buried. There is no evidence of a will. Despite the lack of genealogical sources that support his use of the Griffis surname, given information about his immediate family and census data, it is most likely he used the ‘Griffis’ surname.

John Griffith was baptized on 29 Jun 17, 1778 . [55] In a family manuscript, it is mentioned, based on unstated church records, that he married Hannah Smith in Smithtown, New York. [56] It is ‘likely’ that he used the ‘Griffith’ surname. There are no available records of his descendants if he had children. There are no known records of a will or where he is buried.

Jeremiah Griffis was the youngest William’s 12 children. Jeremiah was born on 9 January 1781 [57] and was baptized 18 September 1781 and his name was listed as Griffith. [58]

Jeremiah, listed as Griffiths, married Elsie Mott on 3 Nov 1814 in New York City. [59]

Click for larger view

Based on census documentation, Jeremiah spent his entire life as a farmer in Huntington, New York. His name is spelled in various forms in the U.S. census. In 1820, he is listed as Jeremiah Griffis. In 1830 he is listed as Griffith. In the 1840 census there is a Jeremiah Griffiths living in Huntington, New York. In 1860, there is a Jeremiah Griffiths in Huntington and in 1865 there is a Jeremiah Griffis. [60] The following illustrates the variation of spelling in the surname and the proximity of Griffis family farms in Huntington, New York in 1840.

1840 U.S. Census, click for larger view.

While a Jeremiah Griffis(th) is found in Federal and New York state census in 1860 and 1865, it is not certain that this is the Jeremiah that was born in 1781. If he was living in the 1860’s he would have been 84 in 1865. It is possible that the Jeremiah listed in the 1860 and 1865 census was a son named Jeremiah.

One Family Three Surnames

As reflected in this story, it is difficult to pinpoint with certainty what surname may have been used by some of William’s children. What perhaps can be distilled from this journey through genealogical records and the discovery of an occasional grave site is three surnames have been used and passed on to the descendants of William Griffis who lived in Huntington, New York.

The last part of this four part story will provide information on the third and fourth generations of the family surname. However, given the number of individuals, it will not provide the level of detail as found in this third part of the story.

The following table provides a summary of the genealogical sources that informed my judgements on whether ‘Griffis’, ‘Griffith’, or ‘Griffes’ was used by William’s children.

Table Three: List of Family Members and Names Based on Sources

NameSpellingSource
William GriffisGriffisFamily manuscript (Peets)
GriffisFamily manuscript (Hall)
GriffisFamily Lore
GriffisTax Record
GriffisBaptism
William G. GriffisGriffisBaptism
GriffisFamily Manuscript
GriffisRev. War Pension Records (Peets)
GriffisFamily manuscript (Hall)
James GriffisGriffisBaptism
GriffisRev War Participation
GriffisPay Roll War Records
Griffiths1790 U.S. Census
Griffis1810 U.S. Census
Griffis1820 U.S. Census
Griffith1830 U.S. Census
Griffiths1799 Tax Record
GriffisApplication for Rev War Ancestor
GriffisFamily manuscript (Peets)
Anne GriffithGriffisBaptism
GriffisMarriage
GriffithMarriage
GriffithBurial
GriffisFamily Manuscript (Peets)
William GriffisGriffisSurvivor’s Pension Application File
GriffisFamily manuscript (Peets) (Welch)
GriffisThe Loyalists in Ontario
Griffisdaughters of the American Revolution
GriffithsCanada Land Petitions
Stephen GriffisGriffisRev War: 6th NY Militia Albany Co.
Griffiths1790 U.S. Census
Griffiths1800 U.S. Census
Griffis1810 U.S. Census
Griffis1820 U.S. Census
Griffith1830 U.S. Census
GriffithMarriage
Griffiths1801 Tax Assessment
Griffeth1803 Tax Assessment
GriffisFamily Manuscript (Peets)
Nathaniel GriffesGriffis1810 U.S. Census
Griffies1820 U.S. Census
Griffes1840 U.S. Census
GriffisLand Bounty Rights 6th Regiment Albany NY
Grifes1776 Residence
GriffesChurch Records
GriffesWill
GriffesHeadstone
Griffith(s)Family manuscripts (Peets) (Hall)
Esther GriffisGriffisBaptism
GriffisFamily manuscript (Peets) & (Hall)
Griffis1850 U.S. Census
Epenetus GriffithGriffithBaptism
GriffithTax Rolls
GriffisMarriage to Vail
Griffis1810 U.S. Census
Griffis1820 U.S. Census
Griffith1830 U.S. Census
Griffiths1840 U.S. Census
Griffeth1799 Tax Rolls
Daniel GriffisGriffisBirth
Griffis1810 U.S. Census
Griffies1820 U.S. Census
Griffis1830 U.S. Census
Griffis1840 U.S. Census
Griffis1850 U.S. Census
Griffis1855 N.Y. Census
John GriffithGriffithBaptism
GriffithMarriage
Jeremiah GriffisGriffis1820 U.S. Census
Griffith1830 U.S. Census
Griffiths1840 U.S.census
Griffiths1860 U.S. Census
Griffis1865 U.S. Census
GriffithsMarriage

Sources

Featured Image: Gruffudd or Gruffydd is a Welsh name, originating in Old Welsh as a given name and today used as both a given and surname. It is the origin of the Anglicised name Griffith[s]. The Welsh form evolved from the Common Brittonic Grippiud or Gripuid. – Morgan, T.J., Welsh Surnames, Qualitex Printing Limited, Cardiff, 1985, The Orthography of Welsh Surnames 5-8Gruffydd pgs 103–105

[1] The first quote is from Mildred Griffith Peets, Griffith Family History in Wales 1485–1635 in America from 1635 Giving Descendants of James Griffis (Griffith) b. 1758 in Huntington, Long Island, New York, compiled by Capitola Griffis Welch, 1972 . Page 8

The second quote is also from the Peets manuscript, page 9.

The third quote is from information that was added by William Case Griffis to his father’s personal journal, William Griffis, in a family manuscript written compiled by Mary Martha Ryan Jones and Capitola Griffis Welch, compiled by, Griffis Sr of Huntington Long Island and Fredericksburg, Canada 1763-1847 and William Griffis Jr, (Reverend William Griffis) 1797-1878 and his descendants. A self published genealogical manuscript, 1969. Page 103 PDF copy of the manuscript can be found here.

[2] T. J. Morgan M.A., D.Litt., LL.D. and Prys Morgan M.A., D.Phil., Welsh Surnames, Cardiff: Cardiff University Press of Wales, 1985, Page 102.

[3] Moses L. Scudder, ed., Records of the First Church in Huntington, Long Island, 1723 – 1779, Being the Records Kept by the Rev. Ebenezer Prime the Pastor During Those Years, (from old catalog) (Huntington, NY: Moses L Scudder, 1899) Page 31.

Record of baptisms and marriages performed by the Rev. Joshua Hartt as extracted from his daily journal. This journal is in the hand writing of Rev. Joshua Hartt.  The extracts were made by Evelyn Briggs Baldwin on November 5th and 6th, 1910 from the originals held by great grand daughter Miss M. L. Brown and they supplement the records obtained from his great grand daughter Mrs. Martha Hartt Collars of 1652.

[4] “Assessment of property in Huntington about the close of the war – 1782” in Charles Rufus Street, ed. Huntington Town Records, Including Babylon, Long Island, N.Y.: 1776-1873. Volume III, N.p., Huntington, L.I.: The “Long Islander” Print, 1889.

“William Griffis 16 pounds page 91”

[5] The three manuscripts are 

Mildred Griffith Peets, Griffith Family History in Wales 1485–1635 in America from 1635 Giving Descendants of James Griffis (Griffith) b. 1758 in Huntington, Long Island, New York, compiled by Capitola Griffis Welch, 1972 . PDF copy of the manuscript can be found here.

Mary Martha Ryan Jones and Capitola Griffis Welch, compiled by, Griffis Sr of Huntington Long Island and Fredericksburg, Canada 1763-1847 and William Griffis Jr, (Reverend William Griffis) 1797-1878 and his descendants. A self published genealogical manuscript, 1969. PDF copy of the manuscript can be found here.

M.K. Hall, Griffith Genealogy: Wales, Flushing, Huntington, Unpublished Manuscript 1929, originally published 1937. It has been reproduced for commercial access by a variety of publishers. The copy I accessed was published by Creative Media Partners, LLC, Sep 10, 2021. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America. A PDF copy of the book can be found here.

[6] Moses L. Scudder, ed., Records of the First Church in Huntington, Long Island, 1723 – 1779, Being the Records Kept by the Rev. Ebenezer Prime the Pastor During Those Years, (from old catalog) (Huntington, NY: Moses L Scudder, 1899) Page 48.

[7] William Griffis, Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1801-1815, 1818-1872 , Volume 10: Revolutionary War: 1838 – 1850[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007. Page 51

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. NARA microform publication T718. 23 rolls. Records of the Accounting Officers of the Department of the Treasury, 1775-1978, Record Group 217. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Pension Payment Roll of Veterans of the Revolutionary War and the Regular Army and Navy, 3/1801 – 9/1815. NARA microform publication M1786. 1 Roll. NAI: 2600769. Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773–2007, Record Group 15. The National Archives at Washington, D.C.

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William Griffis, Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Pensioners, 1801-1815, 1818-1872 , Volume 9: Revolutionary War: 1849 – 1864 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007. Page 147

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[8] Mildred Griffith Peets, Griffith Family History in Wales 1485–1635 in America from 1635 Giving Descendants of James Griffis (Griffith) b. 1758 in Huntington, Long Island, New York, compiled by Capitola Griffis Welch, 1972 , Page 10.

[9] James Griffis baptized 2 July 1757, Moses L. Scudder, ed., Records of the First Church in Huntington, Long Island, 1723 – 1779, Being the Records Kept by the Rev. Ebenezer Prime the Pastor During Those Years, (from old catalog) (Huntington, NY: Moses L Scudder, 1899) Page 49.

[10] Frederic Gregory Mather, The Refugees of 1776 from Long Island to Connecticut, Westminster, MD: Heritage Books Page, reprint 2010, Page 995

[11] James Griffis, U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783, 28 Sep 1775, Third Regiment of the New York Troops. Image 668,

Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.Original data: 

Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783; (National Archives Microfilm Publication M246, 138 rolls); War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records, Record Group 93; National Archives, Washington. D.C.

Revolutionary War American Forces included various organizations formed by the Continental Congress as well as individual states, counties, and towns. Regular military units created by the Continental Congress comprised the Continental Army. Often this Army was reinforced with units created by individual states. The records contained in this database regard only the Continental Army, and state and other units that served with them.

James Griffis, U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783, 28 Sep 1775, Third Regiment of the New York Troops. Image 668, Click for Larger View

See also: James Griffis, U.S., Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783, York 2nd Regiment, 1777-1783 (Folders 31-37) – 3d Regiment, 1776-1780 (Folders 40-41), Image 631, Nov – Dec 1779

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[12] Frederic Gregory Mather, The Refugees of 1776 from Long Island to Connecticut, Westminster, MD: Heritage Books Page, reprint 2010, Page 1006

[13] James Griffiths, 1790 United Stated Census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Image 2 of 9, Page 79, Line – third name from bottom of the handwritten list.

Stephen and James Griffiths 1790 census
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[14] James Griffis, 1810 United Stated Census, Smithtown, Suffolk County, New York, Page 536, Line 5

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[15] 1820 U.S. Census; Census Place: East Hampton, Suffolk, New York, Page 295 NARA Roll M33_74: image 308

James Griffis, 1820 United States census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 153, Line 28

Stephen Griffis, 1820 United States census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 153, Line 26

Jeremiah Griffis, 1820 United States census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 153, Line 36

William Griffis, 1820 United States census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 152, Line 39

Epenetus Griffis, 1820 United States census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 152, Line 38

[16] 1830 United Stated Census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, NARA M19_ 103, Page 300, Image 7 of 72, Family History Library 0017163

Epenetus Griffith, 1830 United States census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 300, Line 11

James Griffith, 1830 United States census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 300, Line 12

Jeremiah Griffith, 1830 United States census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 300, Line 20

William Griffith, 1830 United States census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 300, Line 23

[17] 1799 New YorkTax Assessment Rolls of Real and Personal Estates, 1799 – 1804, Suffolk County, 1801, Huntington, Image 8, Lines 30, 31 and 37.

Data source: New York State Archives, Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., Tax Assessment Rolls of Real and Personal Estates, 1799-1804 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: New York (State), Comptroller’s Office. Tax Assessment Rolls of Real and Personal Estates, 1799–1804. Series B0950 (26 reels). Microfilm. New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

In 1799 the New York state legislation provided for the collection of taxes on real estate and personal property in the state of New York. This database includes tax rolls that were prepared on the county level and submitted to the state comptroller’s office. It also includes some lists of taxes that remained unpaid.

The tax lists include the name of the “possessor,” a description of the real estate (e.g., farm, house, land), value of real estate, value of personal property, and the amount taxed. The lists of unpaid taxes list the name of the possessor, the amount, and in some cases a brief description of what was being taxed and the reason the tax wasn’t collected.

[18] Everett Arthur Babcock, Application for Sons of American Revolution SAR Membership Number 88189 for James Griffith 16 Feb 1962, National Society, Sons of the American RevolutionAncestry.com. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Original data: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls.

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As reflected on the pages below, Mr. Babcock incorrectly states that James Griffith’s son was Epenetus Griffith. Epenetus was actually a brother of James Griffith(is).

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Clarence Albert Griffith, Application for Sons of American Revolution SAR Membership Number 94594 for james Griffith 27 Oct 1966, National Society, Sons of the American RevolutionAncestry.com. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 

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[19] Baldwin, Evelyn Briggs contributed by, Marriages and Baptisms Performed by Rev. Joshua Hartt of Smithtown , Long Island, with a Sketch of his Life, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol 42, April 1911, July 1911 . Page 137

[20] Ray LaFever, Brief History of Bovina,  Delaware County NY Genealogy and History Site, 8 February 1999, page accessed 13 March 2022

[21] Moses L. Scudder, ed., Records of the First Church in Huntington, Long Island, 1723 – 1779, Being the Records Kept by the Rev. Ebenezer Prime the Pastor During Those Years, (from old catalog) (Huntington, NY: Moses L Scudder, 1899) Page 51.

[22] Baldwin, Evelyn Briggs contributed by, Marriages and Baptisms Performed by Rev. Joshua Hartt of Smithtown , Long Island, with a Sketch of his Life, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol 42, April 1911, July 1911 . Page 134

Another source indicates that her maiden name was Ann Griffis:

Anne Griffis and Alexander Brush – Printed by order of Gideon J. Ticker, Secretary of State, Names of Personsfor whom Marriage Licenses Were Issued by the Secretary of the Province of New York Previous to 1784. Albany: Weed, Parsons and Company, : Page 160

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[23] Nancy Griffith Brush. Memorial Number 66781372, Created by Rick Bushong, Find A Grave, Brush Cemetery Bovina Center, Delaware County, New York, Plot: First Row

[24] William Griffis, Individual Web Page, Person Id: I6051, Tree Id: 118202, RootsWeb, Updated 14 Oct 2019, owner: Cheryl (Kemp) Taylor

[25] William Griffis of Fredericksburgh and Adolphustown, William D. Reid, The Loyalists in Ontario: The Sons and Daughters of the American Loyalists of Upper Canada, reprinted Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1973, page 134

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Ancestry.com. The Loyalists in Ontario [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Original data: Reid, William D. The Loyalists in Ontario: The Sons and Daughters of the American Loyalists of Upper Canada. Lambertville, NJ, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1973.

[26] William Griffis, Pension Year 1845 Application, Applicant Designation Survivor’s Pension Application File, Archive Publication Number M804, Archive Roll Number 1133, 39 pages in packet; Ancestry.com. U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files (NARA microfilm publication M804, 2,670 rolls). Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Revolutionary War Pension File folder for William Griffis

[26b] See also a reference in Daughters of the American Revolution for William Griffis:

Charter member 39800 Mrs. Mary Jones, Lineage Book National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, of the Charter Members of the DAR Vol 040 Harrisburg, Pa: Telegraph Printing Co. 1915, Page 293-294

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[26c] Another reference to William Griffis can be found at a website: Fort Plank, Bastion of My Freedom, Colonial Canajoharie, New York, Additional Partisans

“His pension file is too light to read on microfilm]. See also American State Papers Class 9, page [ ]. In October of 1780 he served under the command of Captain Jacob Lansing of Colonel Morris Graham’s Regiment at Schoharie. He states he took part in the pursuit of Sir John Johnson through Stone Arabia under the command of Major Melancton Woolsey of Colonel Lewis Dubois Regiment of Levies in October of 1780. His file contains depositions by Jellis A. Fonda and [ ] Gates [Cates].”

[27] Mary Martha Ryan Jones and Capitola Griffis Welch, compiled by, Griffis Sr of Huntington Long Island and Fredericksburg, Canada 1763-1847 and William Griffis Jr, (Reverend William Griffis) 1797-1878 and his descendants. A self published genealogical manuscript, 1969. PDF copy of the manuscript can be found here.

[28] Stephen Griffiths, 1790 United States Census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 79, Line 31

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[29] Stephen and James Griffiths, 1800 U.S. Census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 84, Lines 3 and 12.

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[30] Stephen and Epenetus Griffis, 1810 U.S. Census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 519, Image 9, Lines 8 and 22.

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[31] Stephen Griffith, 1830 U.S. Census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Image 31, Line 14

[32] Marriage of Stephen Griffith and Anna Ruland 4 Mar 1789, Baldwin, Evelyn Briggs contributed by, Marriages and Baptisms Performed by Rev. Joshua Hartt of Smithtown , Long Island, with a Sketch of his Life, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol 42, April 1911, July 1911 . Page 137

[33] Stephen Griffis, Albany County Militia (Land Bounty Rights) – Sixth Regiment Regiment, New York in the Revolution as Colony and State, Vol. I: The Militia, Compillation of Documents and Records from the Office of the State Comptroller, Albany: J.B. Lyon Company, 1904, page 227

See the page reference below. This page also reveals puzzling information on other individuals named ‘Griffis’. To date, I have not been able to link Abner Griffis, Jasper Griffis, and Nathaniel Griffis to the Huntington, New York family. In fact, it is not certain that the Stephen Griffis listed in this source is the Stephen Griffis that resided in Huntington, New York. Since Nathaniel Griffes lived most of his life in the Schenectady / Albany area, this reference of Nathaniel Griffis may be our Nathaniel Griffes.

Abner Griffis enlisted at Little Hoosick, Albany County, New York and served various times an in various New York Companies, accounting to 12 months and eleven days in all from 1776 to 1781. He served as a first corporal in various companies in New York. In 1834 he was living in Unadilla, Otsago County, New York when he moved to live with his son.  A son of Abner, Solomon Griffis was a resident of Unadilla. The might be related to the Huntington Griffis family.

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[34] Mildred Griffith Peets, Griffith Family History in Wales 1485–1635 in America from 1635 Giving Descendants of James Griffis (Griffith) b. 1758 in Huntington, Long Island, New York, compiled by Capitola Griffis Welch, 1972 . 

[35] Nathaniel Griffis, 1810 U.S. Census, New York, Albany, Watervliet, Line 20, Page 1312

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[36] Nathaniel Griffes, 1820 U.S. Census, New York, Schenectady, Niskayuna, Line 16, Page 577

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[37] National Griffes, 1840 U.S. Census, New York, Schenectady, Niskayuna, Line 15, Page 353

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[38] Nathaniel Griffis, Albany County Militia (Land Bounty Rights) – Sixth Regiment Regiment, New York in the Revolution as Colony and State, Vol. I: The Militia, Compillation of Documents and Records from the Office of the State Comptroller, Albany: J.B. Lyon Company, 1904, page 227 See footnote 32 above for image.

[39] Nathaniel Griffes and family were members of the Dutch Reformed Church in Schenectady, New York. The church records indicate that Nathaniel Griffes and his wife Mary Ann Griffes, and Mary Esther Griffes became a members in 30 October 1834. The three are listed again as being received into the church on 1 November 1842. Nathaniel’s son James A. Griffis was received into the church congregation on 6 June 1853. His wife was received by ‘confession’ on 4 June 1869.

Click for larger view of left had photo | Click for larger view of right hand photo.

[40] Will of Nathaniel Griffes, U.S. Wills and Probate Records, 1659 – 1999, Schenectady Wills, Vol D – E, 1832 – 1845, date of Will 20 May 142, date of Probate 15 Apr 1842, Probate Place Schenectady NY, Image 325 – 327, Pages 386 – 390. See PDF copy of will.

[41] Nathaniel Griffes, Probate Date 15 Apr 1842, Probate Place Schenectady, New York, Inferred Death Date 1842 Letters Test, Vol 0004-0006, 1839-1863, image 68, Page 32, Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: New York County, District and Probate Courts.

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[42] Vale Cemetery Memorials for Individuals named Griffes, Find a Grave website, accessed 31 Mar 2022. There are nineteen individuals buried in the cemetery with the surname Griffes.

[43] Mildred Griffith Peets indicates that Nathaniel married Anna Ruland (page 8), Mildred Griffith Peets, Family History in Wales 1485–1635 in America from 1635 Giving Descendants of James Griffis (Griffith) b. 1758 in Huntington, Long Island, New York, compiled by Capitola Griffis Welch, 1972 . 

However, Anna marriage with his brother Stephen is documented in : Marriage of Stephen Griffith and Anna Ruland 4 Mar 1789, Baldwin, Evelyn Briggs contributed by, Marriages and Baptisms Performed by Rev. Joshua Hartt of Smithtown , Long Island, with a Sketch of his Life, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol 42, April 1911, July 1911 . Page 137

[44] Baldwin, Evelyn Briggs contributed by, Marriages and Baptisms Performed by Rev. Joshua Hartt of Smithtown , Long Island, with a Sketch of his Life, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol 42, April 1911, July 1911 . Page 129:

[45] Mildred Griffith Peets, Griffith Family History in Wales 1485–1635 in America from 1635 Giving Descendants of James Griffis (Griffith) b. 1758 in Huntington, Long Island, New York, compiled by Capitola Griffis Welch, 1972 . PDF copy of the manuscript can be found here.

M.K. Hall, Griffith Genealogy: Wales, Flushing, Huntington, Unpublished Manuscript 1929, originally published 1937. A PDF copy of the book can be found here.

[46] Moses L. Scudder, ed., Records of the First Church in Huntington, Long Island, 1723 – 1779, Being the Records Kept by the Rev. Ebenezer Prime the Pastor During Those Years, (from old catalog) (Huntington, NY: Moses L Scudder, 1899) Page 58.

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[47] M.K. Hall, Griffith Genealogy: Wales, Flushing, Huntington, Unpublished Manuscript 1929, originally published 1937. A PDF copy of the book can be found here.

Mildred Griffith Peets, Griffith Family History in Wales 1485–1635 in America from 1635 Giving Descendants of James Griffis (Griffith) b. 1758 in Huntington, Long Island, New York, compiled by Capitola Griffis Welch, 1972 . PDF copy of the manuscript can be found here.

[48] Daniel Griffis family household, 1850 United States Federal Census, Mayfield, Fulton County, New York, National Archives and Administration, page 38, lines 6-10

[49] Baptism of Epenetus Griffith, Baldwin, Evelyn Briggs contributed by, Marriages and Baptisms Performed by Rev. Joshua Hartt of Smithtown , Long Island, with a Sketch of his Life, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol 42, April 1911, July 1911 . Page 282

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[50] Marriages are referenced in: Mildred Griffith Peets, Griffith Family History in Wales 1485–1635 in America from 1635 Giving Descendants of James Griffis (Griffith) b. 1758 in Huntington, Long Island, New York, compiled by Capitola Griffis Welch, 1972 , Pages 8 – 9

Baldwin, Evelyn Briggs contributed by, Marriages and Baptisms Performed by Rev. Joshua Hartt of Smithtown , Long Island, with a Sketch of his Life, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol 42, April 1911, July 1911 . Page 279:

[51] See, for example: Alan F. Rumrill, The “Spotted Fever” Epidemic of 1812, Historical Society of Cheshire County Website, 15 February, 2021,

[52] See [14] 1810 U.S. Census, Epenetus Griffis;

Epenetus Griffis, 1820 United States census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 152, Line 38

Epenetus Griffith, 1830 United States census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 300, Line 11

Epentetus Griffiths1840 U.S. Census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 192, Line 6, image 79

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[53] Epenetus Griffith, New YorkTax Assessment Rolls of Real and Personal Estates, 1799 – 1804, Suffolk County, 1801, Huntington, Image 9, Line 20.

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Epenetus Griffith, New YorkTax Assessment Rolls of Real and Personal Estates, 1799 – 1804, Suffolk County, 1803, Huntington, Image 13, Line 3.

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Epenetus Griffeth, New YorkTax Assessment Rolls of Real and Personal Estates, 1799 – 1804, Suffolk County, 1799, Huntington, Image 8, Line 31.

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[54] Mary Smith Griffith, Find A Grave Website:

BIRTH31 Jan 1781
DEATH19 Jan 1813 (aged 31)
BURIALCrab Meadow Burial Ground, Crab Meadow, Suffolk County, New York, USA Add to Map
MEMORIAL ID30620772 · View Source

[55] John Griffith baptism: see footnote [48]Baptism of Epenetus Griffith, there are two references to baptisms of Griffith brothers Epenetus and John.

[56] Mildred Griffith Peets, Griffith Family History in Wales 1485–1635 in America from 1635 Giving Descendants of James Griffis (Griffith) b. 1758 in Huntington, Long Island, New York, compiled by Capitola Griffis Welch, 1972 . Page 9

[57] Ibid, Page 9

[58] Baptism of Jeremiah Griffith, Baldwin, Evelyn Briggs contributed by, Marriages and Baptisms Performed by Rev. Joshua Hartt of Smithtown , Long Island, with a Sketch of his Life, New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, Vol 42, April 1911, July 1911 . Page 284

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[59] Marriage of Jeremiah Griffiths and Elsie Mott, Book 1, Marriages Bloomingdale, New York, Marriages from 1804 – 1868, page 65, image 80, Ancestry.com. U.S., Dutch Reformed Church Records in Selected States, 1639-1989[database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Image 80, New York > New York > Bloomingdale Church Records Consistory, 1805 – 1913.

Original data: 

Dutch Reformed Church Records from New York and New Jersey. Holland Society of New York, New York, New York. 

Dutch Reformed Church Records from New Jersey. The Archives of the Reformed Church in America, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Founded in New York City in 1885, the Holland Society is home to collections relevant to the settlement and history of Dutch colonies in America, with an emphasis on New Amsterdam and Hudson River settlements. This Holland Society collection includes records of the Dutch Reformed Church dating back to 1639. Within the collections are records of baptisms, marriages, and burials. 

For more information see the Holland Society.

[60] Jeremiah Griffith, 1830 United States Census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 300, Line 20

Jeremiah Griffis, 1820 United States Census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 153, Line 36

Jeremiah Griffiths, 1840 United States Census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 168 , Line 18

Jeremiah Griffiths 1860 United Stated Census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 9 , Line 12

Jeremiah Griffiths 1865 United Stated Census, Huntington, Suffolk County, New York, Page 62 , Line 39