Earliest proven ancestor: Thomas Griffis, b. Shropshire, England

About 1657, Edward, Margaret and Thomas Griffis left Salop, Shropshire, England, which borders Wales, and arrived in VA as indentured servants. Edward and Margaret Griffis lived in Calvert and Ann Arundel Co.'s MD. Edward passed away about 1730 and left his estate to Margaret.

After working off the service, Thomas Griffis received a 100 acre grant in the Isle of Wight, VA. He married Mary Morris and lived on a 650 acre plantation on the border of Surry/Sussex Co's, VA, near Cook's Bridge on the Blackwater Swamp (River). Thomas passed away about 1727 and left his estate to his family.

Thomas and Mary Morris Griffis had the following children:

1. Thomas Griffis

2. Edward Griffis

3. John Griffis

4. Travis Griffis

5. Jane Griffis

6. Mary Griffis

7. Elizabeth Griffis

The children lived on the farm until about 1772 when they put the farm up for sale. Thomas and Mary's oldest son, Thomas, and their youngest daughter Elizabeth moved to Chatham Co., NC where Thomas married Ann Ragland. That part of the family then moved to TN and westward. 

The second son, Edward Griffis, married Catherine Hay and had the following children:

1. Thomas Griffis b: 5 SEP 1749

2. Edward Griffis b: 26 DEC 1753 in Surry Co., VA

3. John Griffis b: 2 FEB 1755 in Surry Co., VA

4. William Griffis b: 8 MAR 1758

5. Ede Griffis b: 26 MAR 1761 in Surry Co., VA

6. …other daughters

Edward and his family moved to Calvert Co., Md, where Edward served as a sergeant in the MD Militia. One of his privates, William Sansbury, served in his troop. Following the Revolution, William moved to Winchester, Fredericks  Co., VA. William's daughters all married within a short time of living in Va., and his son, William, married Parmely "Milly" Sansbury in 1797.

After the death of her father, William and Milly moved to Knoxville, Knox Co., Tn in 1806. They had the following children:

1. Sarah "Sallie" Griffis

2. William Griffis , Jr. b: 1804

3. Nancy Griffis

4. Samuel Griffis b: 12 DEC 1812 in Knoxville, TN

William owned a 150 acre farm on the headwaters of Turkey Creek. The town, Campbell's Station, in the Grassy Valley region west of Knoxville on Kingston Pike was close to their property. William and Milly's daughter Sarah married Abner Jones, and daughter Nancy married Archibald Snow. Their eldest son, William Jr., married Margaret Blackwell. Their youngest son, Samuel, was born in December of 1812. William Sr. died in the summer of 1812.

About 1829 the Griffis and Snow families moved to Pulaski Co., Ky..  On Jan 2, 1830 Samuel Griffis married Lois Martin in Pulaski Co., Ky. Samuel and Lois are buried in the Tateville Baptist Cemetery,Tateville KY south of Somerset. The Griffis family lived near Cooper's Creek, south of Somerset, Ky, near Greenwood Ky, were Samuel had about 650 acres at one time. Many of my Griffis family are buried in the Keith Cemetery which is down the road from the Natural Arch in McCreary Co., Ky. 

Contact: bgriffis@cinci.rr.com

Passenger and Immigration Index

 The Complete Book of Immigrants, by Peter Wilson Coldham  

• 6 November 1657:  Sarah Griffis of Shrewsburg, spinster; was bound to William Cole to Virginia for 4 years.

•  26 January 1658:  Edward Griffis of Shrewsburg (Shropshire) Salop was bound to Thurston Harris to serve 4 years in Virginia.

• BRO - Bristol Record Office,City of Bristol Record Office. The council House: College Green, Bristol, BSI, STR, England..

 Servants to Foreign Plantations, ref: 04220.

• 30 July 1658 William Griffis, yeoman, bound to Thomas Burgess to serve 3 years Virginia.

• Edward Griffis, age 25, husbandman, Southwark, England: on the Ship Minerva, arrival of Philadelphia

Direct Lineage to Kit 22305