Edward Griffin, born 1602 in the United Kingdom

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Many stories have been written about Edward Griffin, presumed b. 1602 in the UK, probably either Wales or England. I have been working on verifying those stories by documenting primary and secondary sources For now, I will only discuss the information that I have been able to verify and leave Edward’s life in England and/or Wales for a time when I’ve been able to validate that history. I do want to correct one item that has used in many family genealogies and was posted on the Internet:

There has been speculation that sometime in the early 1620s the Griffin family moved to Yorkshire from the UK and that Edward was pardoned for killing a man in the line of duty as a constable in London. The only evidence I’ve been able to locate to date follows. Note the date and King’s names have been erroneously posted previously. From Green, M. A. E., Ed. (1889). Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Services, of the Reign of James I 1623-1625 with addenda; preserved in the State Paper Department of Her Majesty's Public Record Office. London, Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans & Roberts., p, 439

1625 Jan 7. Grant to Edw. Griffin of pardon for manslaughter, committed in self-defence. (sic) [Docquet]

Edward Griffin boarded the Constance on 24 October 1635 in London, headed for Virginia.  He was indentured to Capt. William Claiborne, Secretary of the Virginia colony as was his brother, John (speculation) who departed London aboard the Abraham on the same day.

Edward was taken to Palmer’s Island where he worked on building staves for ships and trading with the Indians. In 1638, Edward was captured by agents of Leonard, the second Lord Baltimore, as a result of the land battle between Lord Baltimore and Claiborne. He was taken to prison in Maryland where he was put at the service of Lord Baltimore. Somehow, he escaped from the Maryland gaol and ended up in New Amsterdam.

 He stood trial in a Dutch court and even though Lord Baltimore’s attorney, Peter Draper showed up to claim Edward, he was freed based upon the testimony of Henry Pennington along with the condition that he post a bond. A fellow Welsh countryman, Captain Thomas Gems/Gams/Games/James, posted the bond for Edward. New York Colonial Manuscripts Vol 1 Page 214 State Archives Albany Calendar:

I, the undersigned Thomas Gems, an inhabitant of Maryland, bind myself as bail and principal for Edward Griffins who has agreed and contracted with Peter Draper for the sum of five pounds sterling who also acknowledges in the presence of the underwritten witnesses to have received the money and that for the freedom of said Griffens and if it happen should he exhibit Captain Clavers indenture, and molest him, Griffens, I substitute my person and property as aforesaid in place of the principal Edward Griffens.

Done this 28 August 1640.
     Thomas James
     Tho Willett, Witness
     John Hampton, Witness

To my knowledge Cornelis Van Tienhoven, Secretary.

We lose track of Edward until 1653, when he shows up in Gravesend, Long Island, New Amsterdam, where he bought property from Lady Deborah Moody/Mowdy. He bought and sold several pieces of property in the 1650s. In 1657, Edward was recorded as one of the signers of the Flushing Remonstrance and although several family genealogists insist Edward was a Quaker, he does not appear in any of the early Quaker meeting records that I have read. Edwards’s date of death has yet to be determined; some genealogists speculate that he lived until 1701, but I have only been able to find him in the Flushing Census of 1698 listed as living with his wife, Mary, their daughter, Deborah and a Negro male, Jack.