THIRD GENERATION

5. John GRIFFITH was born on 21 May 1713 in Nantmel Parish, Radnorshire, Wales. He died on 17 Jun 1776 in Chelmsford, Essex, England. He was buried on 23 Jun 1776 in Friends Bur. Gr., Chelmsford, Essex, England. He has reference number 5. !OCCUPATION: Quaker Minister; in England he was listed as a wool and linen
draper.

!BIOGRAPHICAL: John writes in his "Journal": "When I was about the age of
thirteen years, a Friend who had lived some time in Pennsylvania, being in our
parts, and frequently at our house, gave a very pleasing account of that
country. I haveing two uncles and one aunt there, some of whom had before
written to encourage our going over thither, my inclination grew very strong to
go; though my parents, especially my father, was at first very much against it.
But I was as one imoveably bent for going; which, when my parents saw, and that
an elder brother inclined to go with me, they at length consented thereto, and
procured a certificate of our being in unity with Friends." (See copy of
Certificate under 3-Thomas Griffith.)

John continues, "There being a family of Friends living in the compass of our
Monthly Meeting, also going over in the same ship, we were delivered under
their care;...We had a passage of about eight weeks from land to land. We were
about eighty or ninety passengers, generally healthy, amongst whom three
children were born whilst on board, and none of us removed by death."

John remininces rather sadly, "my mother, as I remember, was educated in
Society with the people called Quakers, and a steady and valuable Friend she
was...My father, as I have heard him relate, was convinced...after he arrived
to man's estate and found it a great cross to join in society with the despised
Quakers; he being the only one in the family, which was pretty large, that
joined in society with that people....[he eventually became] a truly living
minister...as I well remember, though I left him when I was young [age 14], and
never saw him again."

Although much of John's "Journal" is dry reading, detailing his view on
religion and the Society of Friends, we do get a glimpse of the more personal
side of his nature from the following excerpts: he was afraid to tell lies
(except to embellish a pleasant story), never swore an oath or uttered a curse,
never departed from the plain speech, kept "much love and regard" for those
whom he regarded as truly religious and commonly attended first day meetings.
We get a picture of a man driven by his religious convictions and needs when he
tells us that in attempting to conquer temptations, he first Triumphed over the
sins of the flesh and then found that Satan became an "angel of light" to make
him mortify his body. After going around half-starved, with too little sleep,
and attempting to work continually, he fell into a religious depression until a
ministering Friend visited and told him that his torturing of the body was a
design of Satan. John Griffith, caught between good and evil, realized that he
had the power of decision. Afterward the Lord "broke in upon my soul, by his
judgments mixed with mercy, in such a powerful manner, as that I was made
willing to yield up thereunto, come life or death." John, in the midst of his
"high career" in the ministry, lost his gift to speak for nearly five months.
He tells us that the "Lord finally saw his suffering and restored the ability."

We also learn from the "Journal" that John married twice. His first wife,
Rebekah, daughter of Josiah and Sarah Fearne, granddaughter of John Blunston,
was a woman of property. They made their home at Darby, near Philadelphia. He
mentions three children and a fourth that died. He tells us that he became a
minister of the Quaker faith, visiting the Meetings in New England,
Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, and that he was sent to England and
France. [NOTE: Hopewell Monthly Meeting minutes, Frederick co., VA records
John's visit in 1765, calling him, "an English Friend with a Welsh name." His
visit was two years after the end of the French and Indian War, and he says,
"It was an exceedingly dark, afflicting time." (Hopewell Friends History,
1734-1934.)] We learn from the "Journal" that his second marriage was to
Frances Wyatt. When John died at the age of 63, he had been a minister for 42
years.

MARRIAGE: Darby Monthly Meeting records. 8 mo, 5, 1737: John & Rebecca Fearne
announce intention to marry. 9 mo, 2, 1737, 2nd announcement of intention, 9
mo, 13, 1737, John of Chester co., PA and Rebecca Fearn, daughter of Josiah
(deceased) of Chester Co., PA, married at Darby Monthly Meeting, PA.
7-22-1746, his wife Rebekah died and one of the children died just one week
earlier of what John calls "distemper." Of the three children left, the
youngest was only 2 1/2 weeks old. In 1747, he made a trip to England and
Wales, visiting his mother, his father had died 3 years earlier. There were a
brother and sister living at home with the mother in South Wales, another
sister was married nearby. 10-10-1749, he left London, at St. Albans, where he
was met by Benjamin Kidd.

He obtained a Certificate of Removal from Darby Monthly Meeting in Chester
county, PA, directly to the Monthly Meeting of Witham, Essex, England. He had
one daughter with him and his sister Mary (Johns) who had been his housekeeper
since before Rebekah died. He left and traveled to East Nottingham, PA on
8-12-1750, where his sister left them. He sailed 9-11-1750 and cleared the
Chesapeake Bay on the 18th. 10-19-1750, he landed at Falmouth Harbor, England
and after marrying Frances Wyatt, settled in Chelmsford, Essex, England.

He visited his mother again in 1751 and visited the Pales Meeting, Talcoyd
Meeting and the Coom Meeting, 6 miles from his Mother's house. His brother,
Benjamin, then acted as guide to Cardiganshire, where he visited a small, poor
meeting at Evans.

In 1765/66, he visited America again.

SOURCE FOR THE ABOVE: Journal "The Life, Travels and Labor in the Work of the
Ministry of John Griffith," can be found at the Friends Historical Library,
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA. Additional copies can be found at the
Pennsylvania Historical Society at Philadelphia.

Mrs. Nancy Speers, Archivist at Friends Historical Library, writes in a March
1992 letter to this researcher: "John Griffith was granted a certificate to
Witham M.M. in Chelmsford, Essex, Eng., leaving Amy and Rebecca behind in the
care of his sister, Mary Speakman, wife of Micajah Speakman of Concord M.M.
John married 2nd in Chelmsford, Essex, to Frances Wyatt, and they had one son,
John, b. 11 Mar 1754, d. the 21st of that same month. In 1765, on 31 Oct. he
[John] was received back at Darby M.M. on certificate from Chelmsford on a
visit both religious and to relatives. As we have seen, his daughter Hannah was
already married when he arrived, unless he got there in time for her marriage.
I have no idea whether it was Nathan Davis with whom he had the problems, and
could not find the reference in the PA Magazine to which you and Dr. Frost
referred. What I did find, in a different volume of it, was a memorandum
written by John Griffith on 13 Nov 1766 in which he left his daughters Amy and
Rebecca in the care of his sister Mary Speakman, and hoped his friends Isaac
Zane, John Pemberton, and Edmund Hollinshead would advise and counsel them as
to marriage when and if the time came. I have not found any signs of marriage
for either of these daughters. Soon after the Memorandum was written, John
sailed for England again, and never returned."

After receiving the above message from Mrs. Speers, a copy of the letter from
John Griffith to his friend John Pemberton was located that reveals much about
his daughters and other personal matters:

Chelmsford 10 12 mo. 1767

Dear Friend John Pemberton:

I recd thine yesterday of last 10 mo with the affecting account of the
escape [death] of my daughter Amy which sudden and unexpected event caused for
the present some sorrow and sadness yet not without a degree of hope that in
the wise disposal of Divine providence it is all ordered for the best. It
affords great satisfaction to find by thy account that her conduct had been
such as to engage the affections and regard of friends and that she left the
world with so much resignation to the Divine Will. The Departure of such a
child tho it comes near is abundantly more easy and satisfactory than when
parents (as too many have to have the great and deep anxiety on acct of the
irreligious & disorderly conduct of their children.) I sincerely wish her
sudden removal in the prime of life may have a due impression on the minds of
her sisters that are left behind, as well as upon others, that they may be
quickened in a dilligent preparation for that awful change -- I am entirely one
with thee in thy sentiment that the poor young man sho'd not suffer in his
circumstances by marrying my daughter and if thy father Zanes and thee think
it proper that he should have the remaining part of the L50 to make up any
defficiency you have my full consent to deduct the said L50 out of the money
arising from the sale of the land, which you have wholly in your power to stop
as they cannot a present make any tittle to it without your yes. I think that
if the young man has all that money, he ought to deliver all her wearing
apparel and things which she had before she married him to her two sisters --
and as my daughter Hannah has I hope a good husband to take care of her and the
perfect use of both her arms; tho she has as great a share in my affections as
any; yet I think considering the condition of my poor daughter Rebecca that she
ought to have much the greatest part, her best gound or gounds and ____ having
said so much I shall leave the order of it to my sister Mary with thy father
and thee -- With respect to the selling the land I must wholly leave it to your
disgression in conjunction with those to be benefitted by it. Also consulting
Brother and Sister Speakman on behalf of my daughter Rebecca pray take great
care to have her part of the money arising from the sail well secured. I still
think Wm Hornes price is far below what might be made of it if things in your
country in relation to Cash was to return to its former Condition. What if my
son in law and daughter Hannah were to take down the old house to bild one upon
it with the materials & endeavor to get a price of Morphmedow to help them out
and Nathans father with him, to secure Beckeys part, he ought to advance
something handsome if he can having done little yet, but I only just mention
it. I don't doubt but I shall redily acquiess in any way that you all think for
the best -- I very well approve of thy intention of sending the years rent with
the money for my horse in one bill. Please to speak to my cousin Josiah Bunting
before hand & let him know I wo'd take it kind if he and Silas Jones wo'd pay
the whole rent upon its being due but wo'd not care how soon I have it next
year. I have since winter came been much troubled with my old disorder, tho I
keep pretty much about. My dr wife and the rest are in usual health. Sister
Shelton and her eldest daughter deceased the last summer and fall, the
daughter about 9 weeks before her mother. It has been a time of pretty great
mortality in divers places -- and has long been and is still like to continue a
dearth of most all sorts of provisions. Wheat sells one less than 7/.7/6 or 8/
pr bushell so than many of the poor suffer much & indeed it is a hard time upon
milling people from the dullness of trade, the great charge of housekeeping and
poor rates running so high. I think care sho'd be taken in the sale of the land
that Wm Horne sho'd have liberty to take his crop of that year of in which it
is sold and then I think hele not be much of a sufferer, but as he is not like
to have it long, I hope youl be as sparing as possible in regard to cutting
down timber for rails as that wo'd injure the prices but am willing to leave
all to you believing youl order things as well or better than I can -- I have
had the opportunity by means of a frd of London to peruse S Smith's History of
New Jersey and sho'd be glad thou'd send me that of Pensilvania unbound wh I
understand was to be in two vols vix one of the State & one of the church, &
take the price of them out of the money in thy hands. Direct them to any frd in
London for me -- thou intimates the affair relating to those who have armed is
not like to be resumed any more; but don't tell me how far your mo & quarterly
meeting have censured that conduct which was what I wanted to hear -- I am
sorry to find thy mother my good landlady had had such a bad state of health
but hope as she seems upon recovery she will yet be spared a while to her
family since a wife's dear love is remembered by her husband and family to thy
well wife & your relations and to frds as has opportunity & freedom Not
forgetting my children bro & sister when seest them. I conclude & remain thy
affectionate friend.

John Griffith

P.S. I send this by packet as I don't expect any other opportunity soon enough.

He was married to Frances WYATT on 14 Jan 1750/51 in Chelmsford, Essex, England. Frances WYATT died in Chelmsford, Essex, England. She has reference number 5-s2. John GRIFFITH and Frances WYATT had the following children:

20 i. John GRIFFITH was born on 11 Mar 1754 in Chelmsford, Essex, England. He died on 21 Mar 1754 in Chelmsford, Essex, England.

He was married to Rebekah FEARNE on 13 Nov 1737 in Lower Darby M.M., Chester, PA. Rebekah FEARNE died on 22 Sep 1746 in , Chester, PA. She has reference number 5-s. !DEATH: Rebekah's death was due to complications during the birth of her fourth
child. We learn a little more about the Fearne family from the references
that follow:

!SOURCE: HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA, George Smith, M.D.,
Philadelphia, 1862. Page 463:

Page 462. FEARNE, ELIZABETH (widow), with her son Joshua, and daughters
Elizabeth, Sarah and Rebecca, emigrated from "Darby," in the County of "Darb,"
England, in 1682. They were all Friends, and her husband, who is not named in
the certificate, had suffered imprisonment in England on account of his
religion. She was a woman of excellent character, but was not very active in
meeting affairs. In 1684 her daughter Elizabeth was married to John Kay, and
her daughter Sarah to Thomas Sharp, both of Newtown, N.J. Her younger daughter,
Rebecca, married Walter Faucet, of Ridley, and after his death, John Wood, of
Darby.

Page 462-463. FEARNE, JOSHUA, who had resided in Ashoner, Derbyshire, England,
immigrated with his mother Elizabeth, and sisters, Elizabeth and Sarah, and
settled in Darby township in 1682. His father, in his day, had borne "a good
testimony against ye false prophets, by suffering imprisonment for tythes," and
it may be truthfully said, that the remaining members of the family, in their
new home, maintained with consistency and propriety the doctrines and practices
for which he had been a sufferer. Joshua Fearne was married to Abigail Bats,
of Newtown, in West Jersey, in 1687, and died in 1693, leaving two children,
Joshua and Mary, to survive him. He was a man of ability, and during the short
period his life was spared, after his arrival in Pennsylvania, his time was
much occupied in public employments. He was Sheriff of the County, Clerk and
also Justice of the Court, and upon two occasions was elected a member of the
Provincial Assembly. He was one of those selected to testify against George
Keith. Abigail died more than two years before her husband.

FEARNE, Josiah, was a younger son of the immigrant Elizabeth Fearne, but he did
not arrive in this country till some years after the elder members of the
family. In 1700 he was married to Sarah, the daughter of John Blunston.
Letitia Penn, the daughter of the Proprietary, was present at the marriage, and
signed the certificate. Their children were Elizabeth, Sarah, Martha, Joseph,
Mary, REBECCA and Josiah. The were all strictly in unity with Friends.

Page 451. BUNTING, SAMUEL, the first of the family of that name who settled
within our limits, did not arrive till 1722, when, being a Friend, he presented
his certificate to Darby Meeting. In 1727, he married Martha, the daughter of
Josiah Fearne and sister to Rebekah Fearne Griffith]. Samuel, though a very
pious man, was addicted to making verses. He left a poetic account of his
voyage to America, from which we learn that it was a very unpleasant one. He
was detained five weeks waiting for the vessel, the "Neptune," to proceed to
sea, was sixty-five days on the water, and running out of provisions was
obliged to land at Hampton, in Virginia. From that place the passengers walked
to Pennsylvania. John GRIFFITH and Rebekah FEARNE had the following children:

21 i. Hannah GRIFFITH was born on 18 Dec 1738 in , Chester, PA. She died on 2 Oct 1777 in , Chester, PA. MARRIAGE: from Chester Monthly Meeting records.

1770 removed from Chester to Concord Monthly Meeting.
1773 removed from Concord to Darby Monthly Meeting.
22 ii. Amy GRIFFITH was born on 17 Jan 1741/42 in , Chester co., PA. She died in 1766 in , Chester co., PA. From the letter her father wrote to John Pemberton, we can deduce that she died
sometime in the latter part of 1766 and that she was married at the time of her
death, although to whom has not been discovered as yet.
23 iii. Sarah GRIFFITH was born on 21 Mar 1743/44 in , Chester co., PA. She died on 2 Sep 1746 in , Chester co., PA. Information from father's JOURNAL.
24 iv. Rebecca GRIFFITH was born on 6 Sep 1746 in , Chester co., PA. In her father's letter to John Pemberton, dated 1767,
it would appear that Rebecca did not have use of her arms. Her
father says "as my daughter Hannah has I hope a good husband to take care of
her and the perfect use of both her arms; tho she has as great share in my
affections as any; yet I think considering the condition of my poor daughter
Rebecca that she ought to have much the greatest part..."

Rebecca was under the care of her aunt and uncle, Mary and Micajah Speakman of
Concord Monthly Meeting and we find her as a witness to several weddings at
Concord: 1766, Isaac Larken and Sarah Brinton; 1769, James Moore and Ann Newlin
(widow); 1771, William Temple and Esther Newlin; 1771, Jacob Taylor and Edith
Grubb; 1774; Joseph Brinton and Mary Martin; and 1775, John Humphreys and Mary
Hatton. Surprisingly, she does not show up on the witness list for Thomas
Speakman's marriage. Thomas was her first cousin and she would have probably
been living with the Speakmans at that time.

ESTATE: "To my uncle, Micajah Speakman, a silk purse with gold twist on it. To
cousin Thomas Speakman, a bond of L50 which I hold against him. To cousin Amy
Speakman, wearing apparel."