James Griffin, 1650 VA

Some Families of East Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, & Virginia

Griffin, Daniel, Wise, Glenn, Strickland, Halsey, Moon, Davis, Jackson, Smith & numerous others

Direct Lineage to Kit 56085

Posted by Lew Griffin

James Griffin, who was perhaps the father of the James Griffin II who later moved to Chowan Co, NC, acquired land in Nansemond Co, VA, in 1683. According to Cavaliers & Pioneers, Vol. II, p. 258, "James Griffin, 400 acres, Upper Parish of Nansemond Co, 16 April 1683, p. 262. Beginning at Michael Brinkley, nigh south side of Cypress Swamp & etc. Transport of eight persons: John Ellis, Robert Frank, Law. Tompkins, Thomas Webb, Joyce Axell, William Butler, Robert Cockerell, and Thomas Wilkinson." Deed records and wills in Nansemond Co, VA have been lost, so it will be difficult to learn anything further about this James Griffin unless he left records in another county. He may have been the James Griffin who was involved in land transactions in Chowan County NC in 1700 and in 1714.

James Griffin II was probably born about 1680 in Nansemond Co, VA. Although we have no record of him there, he seems to have been part of a group of friends and relatives with connections first in Nansemond Co, VA, and later in Chowan and Perquimans Co, NC. These families included the Roundtrees, the Spiveys, the Hills, the Copelands, the Speights, the Perrys, the Brinkleys, and others (See Cavaliers and Pioneers by Nell M. Nugent for records on these families in Nansemond County, VA).

Early records in Nansemond County other than the original land grants (as documented in Cavaliers and Pioneers) have been lost. So we have no record of James and Sarah Griffin's marriage, which probably took place around 1705 in Nansemond County. Our first clear record of James Griffin II is in 1717, when he was about 37 years old. He seems to have moved from Nansemond Co. VA to Chowan Co., NC, about that time. In July 1717, Thomas Spivey, Sr., and Mary his wife sold 200 acres in Chowan County, NC, to James Griffin for £8. The land was on the north side of Catherine Creek Swamp in Meherrin Neck, adjacent to Spivey, Francis Roundtree, and Thomas Brooks. Witnesses were William Hill, Abner Spivey, and Thomas Roundtree (Deed Bk B1 #1004).

Also in July 1717, Thomas Roundtree "proved rights for the importation of James Griffin, Sr. (James II), James Griffin, Jr. (James III, son of James II), Sarah Griffin, Sr. (wife of James II), Sarah Griffin, Jr. (daughter of James II), John, Joseph, Susannah, and Moses Griffin (all children of James II)" (Chowan Deed Bk B1 #1664).

In April 1718, Francis Smith "assigns land unto James Griffin" in Perquimans County (Perquimans Deed Bk B #44). This land is described later as being 150 acres on the northeast side of the Perquimans River, at the mouth of Plum Tree Branch (Deed Bk D #12). Francis Smith may have had Nansemond County roots as well (Cavaliers and Pioneers, Vol. II, p. 297, Patent Book 7, p. 503).

James was on the 1721 tax list in Chowan County with 350 acres. A William Griffin, perhaps a brother, was also on the 1721 tax list with 500 acres. This may be the William Griffin who is mentioned in Hinshaw (p. 92) as one of the early members of the Pasquotank Monthly Meeting. It is not clear whether James became a Quaker in VA or in NC. The earliest record we have of his religious persuasion is in 1723, when he was about 43 years old. In June 1723, James Griffin, Moses Hill, and William Hill "requested a week day meeting amongst them, which the meeting approved, and they are to meet at the Lower Meeting House next fourth day to conclude about building a meeting house at the Upper Meeting House" (Hinshaw, p. 90d, Perquimans Monthly Meeting).

In April 1727, James bought 600 acres in Perquimans County from John and Ann Pettiver for £100. The land was "at the mouth of a small branch out of the Perquimans River," adjacent to Pettiver, Thomas Winslow, William Moore, and Joseph Jessop. Witnesses were Thomas Harvey and Samuel Phelps (Perquimans Deed Bk B #258).

In July 1740, James gave the 150 acres he had bought from Francis Smith to his son John. Testators were Thomas Roundtree, Charles Roundtree, and Thomas Roundtree, Jr.(Perquimans Deed Bk D-12). This was apparently John's share of James's estate as James did not mention his son John by name in his will a few years later.

James left a will in Chowan County dated June 1748 and proven in April 1749. He left his land to three of his sons, James, Joseph, and William, and mentioned that James was the "eldest son." He made his wife Sarah executrix, and left the remainder of his estate to "all my children." Witnesses were William Hill (a Quaker, he "affirmed" rather than swore), William Colthred, and James's daughter Susannah Overman.