Lake County Ohio GenWeb
This was written and submitted by Judy Stebbins. She says, "There are a number of Griffith families in the 1840 Census for Lake, Geauga and Trumbull Counties. I have identified the separate Griffith lines as the families were not all related. My husband's Stebbins family line is related to Dr. Samuel Griffith. (Almosina Flavia Griffith married Dr. Loren Clark Stebbins.) In my researches for Dr. Samuel Griffith, I discovered information on the other Griffith families."
Clemons Griffith was born 1775 in Worcester, Montgomery Co. (later Otsego Co.), New York. He was the son of William Griffith and Martha Clemonds. William Griffith was born Aug 2, 1837 in Rochester, Plymouth Co., Mass. Clemons Griffith died in Geauga Co., in 1838. From the probate paperwork (of 1844) we have a complete list of the names of his heirs at that time (see further below).
In the 1800 census, in Upenheim (Oppenheim), Montgomery Co., Mass., William Griffith (brother of Clemons Griffith), Clemons Griffith, Abijah Lee, Randall Hewitt, and Richard Hewitt were listed in the census living within a few houses of each other. In the 1810 census for the same place, William has moved on but Clemons is still there. In the 1820 Farmington, Trumbull Co., Ohio census, we have Clemmons Griffith with Phillip Griffith living next door who has his own family. Phillip Griffith in 1815 married Lydia Lee (daughter of Abijah Lee listed above). I believe that Phillip Griffith was a nephew of Clemons Griffith. I think after William Griffith (Clemons brother) moved on, Phillip Griffith moved into the household of Clemons Griffith and was living with him in 1810. The families came to Farmington, Trumbull Co., Ohio and lived next to each other. We have Clemons Griffith and Phillip Griffith living next to each other in the 1830 Farmington, Trumbull Co., Ohio census; also, John Moffit, Roswell Lee, and Abijah Lee were living within a few houses of Clemons Griffith-- just like they were in Oppenheim, New York. They could have all come together but there is a family story online of Abijah Lee's trip to Trumbull Co., Ohio, which does not list the Griffiths as making the journey with the Lee family. This story was printed on the Find-A-Grave Website for Abijah Lee taken from the History of Trumbull and Mahoning Counties by H.Z. Williams & Bro 1882.
Abijah Lee
Birth: 1771
Connecticut, USA
Death: Apr. 9, 1856
Trumbull County
Ohio, USA
Abijah Lee moved to Farmington from Montgomery county, New York, in 1818, coming the whole distance of five hundred miles in a sleigh, bringing his mother-in-law, Lydia Swift, then eighty-three years old, his wife, Lois, and eleven children. The names of his children were as follows: Roswell, Lydia, Isaac, Almira, Harriet, Polly, Simeon, Hannah, Betsey, Seth, and Electa. Of these Roswell, Isaac, Hannah, and Harriet are dead. Simeon lives in Michigan; Lydia, in Ashtabula county; the others are all in Farmington.
Family links:
Spouse:
Lois Swift Lee (1773 - 1859)
Children:
Roswell Lee (1794 - 1879)
Lydia Lee Griffith (1797 - 1888)
Isaac Lee (1799 - 1882)
Almira Lee Griffeth (1801 - 1884)
Harriet Lee Wolcott (1803 - 1842)
Polly Lee Smith (1805 - 1896)
Simeon Lee (1808 - 1889)
Hannah Lee Easton (1809 - 1843)
Betsey Lee Lew (1812 - 1884)
Seth Lee (1816 - 1897)
Electa Jane Lee Lew (1818 - 1898)
Clemons Griffith, born 1775 in Worcester, Montgomery Co., New York, died in 1838. He married (1) Isobel Sterling who was born June 23, 1781 in Glasgow, Lanark, Scotland. She was the daughter of David Stirling b. Nov. 18 1754 Barony Parish, Scotland; and Mary Reid. David and Mary Stirling were married Feb. 15, 1777 in Barony Parish. Isobel Sterling Griffith died between 1807 and 1811.
Children born to Clemons Griffith and Isobel Sterling:
Children born to Clemons Griffith and Anna Hewitt.
Pembroke Griffith provided information for a biographical sketch in McHenry, Illinois. He said he was the "second of eleven children." I would have written it second "youngest" of eleven children as he was the second from the last born.
Listed below in the probate record for Clemons Griffith are the names of his living children and the names of his grandchildren who were born and living as of 1844 which was the date of this document to sell land.
PROBATE RECORD
Clemons Griffith, deceased of Montville, Geauga Co., Ohio 1844To the Court of Common Pleas within and for the County of Geauga and State of Ohio- Daniel Tucker, Administrator on the estate of Clemons Griffith, late of Montville in said county, deceased intestate, represents that the personal property of said intestate is insufficient to discharge the debts of said Estate; that the said intestate died seized in fee simple of the following real estate situate in said Montville, viz:--One piece of land being part of Lot No. 8 in said Montville, and known as being all that piece of land bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning in the center of the east road on the north line of said Lot No. 8, thence, south 10 ° West along the center of the road 16 chains 50 links; thence, south 3° West along center of road, 3 chains and 95 links; thence West 28 chains and 25 links to a post; thence north 19 chains and 64 links to a rock, on the north line of said Lot No. 8 ; thence, East on said north line 31 chains and 98 links to the place of beginning; excepting, however, a strip of equal width running the whole width of said piece of land, on the south end thereof, containing eight acres and 76/100 of an acre, containing deducting said piece exception just fifty acres of land. Also, one other piece of land, being part of Lot or Section No. Seven in said Montville, bounded as follows: North by Amasa Strong's land; East, by the east line of Lot No. Seven, and South and West by land owned by Randall Hait, containing forty acres, excepting, however, one acre in Northwest corner thereof sold for taxes, leaving thirty-nine acres belonging to said estate. That said intestate left Anna Griffith his widow who is entitled to dower in said lands, and, also, the following heirs at law, viz:
Franklin C. Griffith,
Mary Jane Mason,
O. P. Mason her husband in her right;
William S. Griffith,
Ann E. Griffith,
James Griffith, [son of William S. Griffith and Almira Lee]
Cynthia H. Loomis
and Nathanial Loomis her husband,
Pedee Griffith,
Pembroke S. Griffith,
Oris K. Griffith,
Maria E.Winn
and John H. Winn her husband in her right,
Emeline F. Griffith,
Charlotte M. Griffith,
Isabel Tucker, wife of your petitioner,
heirs of said Clemons Griffith over the age of twenty one years; all of whom have assented to the sale of said land by your petitioner and signified the same by signing the writing herewith presented and filed. And the said Clemons Griffith left, also, the following minor heirs to wit:
Lucina Griffith, [ child of Samuel Griffith and Polly Money Moore]
Angeline Griffith, [ child of Samuel Griffith and Polly Money Moore]
Salinda Griffith, [child of Samuel Griffith and Polly Money Moore]
Sarah Griffith, [child of Samuel Griffith and Polly Money Moore]
Warren Griffith, [child of Samuel Griffith and Polly Money Moore]
Rosey Griffith, [(Roxanna) child of Samuel Griffith and Polly Money Moore]
Martha Easton, [child of Nancy Griffith and Luman Easton]
Mary Easton, [ child of Nancy Griffith and Luman Easton]
Isabel Pratt, [child of Jennette Griffith and Harvey Pratt]
William Pratt, [child of Jenentte Griffith and Harvey Pratt]
Oliver Pratt, [child of Jenentte Griffith and Harvey Pratt]
Nancy Pratt, [child of Jenentte Griffith and Harvey Pratt]
Augustus Strong [child of Nancy Griffith and Harvey Strong]
and Malvina Strong, [child of Nancy Griffith and Harvey Strong]
all of whom are under the age of twenty one years. And together with said adult heirs above named are all the heirs at law of said intestate; all of whom your petitioner prays may be made defendants hereto. And your petitioner prays that the dower of said Anna may be set off and assigned to her in said premises by notes and bonds, and that this Court would authorize and empower him to sell and convey the whole of said premises for the purposed of paying the said debts of said Estate and costs of administration, which your petitioner shows to the Court is necessary for that purpose, and your petitioner as is duty bound to do-By Phelps Riddle his Attorney
March 18, 1845
PETITION TO SELL LANDS
The State of Ohio, Geauga County, Court of Common Pleas
Daniel Tucker, Administrator of
Clemons Griffith, dec. vs.
Anna Griffith, Widow, and Wm. S. Griffith, & others, Heirs at
Law of said Clemons Griffith, dec.The Heirs of said Clemons Griffith are hereby notified that the undersigned administrator of said Clemons, has this day filed his petition in said Court for the purpose of getting an order to sell and convey, for the purpose of paying the debts of said estate, two certain pieces of land of which said Clemons died seized situate in Montville in the county of Geauga and State of Ohio, one being fifty acres of land, part of Lot No. 8 of said township; the other thirty -nine acres part of Lot No. 7 in said Montville, being all the lands of which said Clemons died seized,--and that said Court will be moved at the next term, to be holden on the 25th March instant, to order the dower of said Anna, therein, to be assigned to her, and the said lands appraised subject to said dowry, and that at the next term thereafter, I shall move said court to order a sale thereof, subject as aforesaid: Of all which said Heirs are notified and that they may appear at the Court House in Chardon, in said County, at the next term, or next term thereafter and resist said proceedings, if they deem proper so to do.
Dated this 18 day of March 1845
Daniel Tucker, AdministratorThe within notice served by me this 24th day of March, 1845 by leaving a correct copy of the same at each of the residences of Martha Easton, Mary Easton, Ann Jennette Strong [child of Nancy Griffith and Harvey Strong], Malvina Strong, Isabel Pratt, William Pratt, David Pratt [child of Jennette Griffith and Harvey Pratt], Oliver Pratt, Nancy Pratt, Lucina Griffith, Angeline Griffith, Salinda Griffith, Roxanna Griffith, Sarah Griffith, and Warren Griffith.
Amos Stetson Sworn to and subscribed before me this 24th day of March A.D. 1845
Samuel Bodman, Justice of the Peace
Note: Ann Jennette Strong and David Pratt were not listed as minors in the first document listing the hiers, so they are now included in the March 18, 1845 notice.
Newspaper Obituary for Pembroke S. Griffith
Marengo Republican of July 6, 1900
Pembroke S. Griffith died at his home near this city in the town of Riley Monday evening, July 2, 1900, of kidney troubles, after many weeks of great suffering, aged 67 years, 8 months and 12 days. His funeral was held at his late residence on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock, Rev. W. H. Matthews of the Presbyterian church conducting the services. The funeral was in charge of Marengo Masonic Lodge of which the deceased had long been an honored and worthy member. The pall-bearers were the Masonic breth- W.J. Casely, Geo. D. Beldin, Geo. A. Bennett, E. S. Cadwell, E. F. McKinney, N. V. Woleben. The impressive burial ceremony was rendered at the grave by the fraternity.Pembroke S. Griffith was born on the Western Reserve, Ohio, October 10, 1832 and was the second of a family of 11 children, only three of whom survive him-Dr. O. K. Griffith of Huntley, Mrs. Ann Dewolf of Marengo, Mrs. Maria Winn of Soldier's Grove, Wis. His father died in 1838 and in 1844 the widow with her family came to Illinois and bought a farm in Riley. At the age of nineteen, Pembroke took charge of the farm and managed it until the death of his mother in 1883. He continued farming until a few years ago when he rented his farm and bought a home near this city in the town of Riley, where his last days were spent. He was married in October, 1856, to Miss Asenith St. John, daughter of the late Josiah and Mary St. John; his wife died only a few months ago. Mr. Griffith was in very poor health at the time of her death, since which time his decline has been quite rapid. There were four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Griffith, all of whom are living: Mrs. Flora Smith, Marengo; Mrs. Kate Graves, Colorado; Mrs. Cora Reid, Genoa; Mary, living at home. Mr. Griffith was a prominent and influential citizen of his town and held numerous offices of local importance during the years of his activity, the last being a justice of the peace, which he held at the time of his death. He was a successful farmer, a good, loyal citizen, a kind neighbor, and a firm friend and enjoyed the confidence and respect of a large circle of friends, not only in Riley, but in this city where he had been known for over fifty years. The family has the sympathy of many friends in their irreparable loss. They are deeply sensible of the kindness of friends and brethren of the craft in their time of affliction.
Marengo Republican of May 4, 1883
Mrs. Griffith, [date of death April 29, 1882]
Mrs. Griffith, of Riley, mother of Pembroke and Dr. O. K. Griffith, also of Mrs. A. E. Dewolf, and Mrs. Marcy, died at the home of her son, Pembroke, on Sunday evening. Her age was a little more than 95 years. Rev. J. N. Hutchison officiated at her funeral Tuesday afternoon.
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