FOURTH GENERATION

10. William GRIFFITH was born on 13 Oct 1742 in Sadsbury, Chester, PA. He died on 7 May 1832 in Jenner Township, Somerset, PA. He was buried in Baptist Ch. Cem., near Boswell, Somerset, PA. COMMENT: There are no early official records that use the name William Owen
Griffith, all records indicate that he was William Griffith. HISTORY OF CAMBRIA
COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA is the only place we see the "Owen" middle name.

RESIDENCES: Chester to York County, circa 1758. York County to Bedford
County, between 1783 and 1791. Bedford County to Somerset County, 1809.

One account of William Griffith's migration from Bedford County to Somerset
County states: "He came in the spring of 1809 from Fishertown through
Johnstown, once an Indian path then up by way of Bens Creek -- where Berkey's
now live. He found a hut about where Thomas Mills is located. The 1st night the
wolves howled and he set fire to the bushes to keep off the wild animals. The
next day he built a hut and remained three months. He went back to Bedford Co.
and did not return for two years. Thomas came over the following spring after
the father returned and when the father returned in 1811 with his family --
William, Jesse, and Abner and their families. The Owens family came too, as two
of their daughters had married Griffith boys. This farm is where Glessner now
is located. He located where Jacob Speigle now lives. There is the big spring.
Each farm was about 300 acres. They owned the whole county round about. The
Lawyers Egles, etc. came here to hunt and shoot -- staying weeks at a time.
Griffiths had horses, whisky, and monies galore. The Quaker Road is from Jake
Speigle's barn down to the Johnstown Pike." (Found among some papers that Mrs.
Mary E. Wilson of Bedford County, PA allowed W.W. Griffith to examine and cited
by W.W. Griffith in his account of the Griffith family.)

CENSUS: 1790, Bedford County. William Grifeth, 1 male over 16, 3 males under
16, 1 female. (Household next to brother-in-law, Nathan Hammond's, and
William's oldest son, Thomas Griffith.)

OCCUPATION: Farmer

BIRTH-DEATH: Griffith Bible belonging to Mary Ann Griffith
Fleck, great granddaughter of William Griffith. She died in 1927. ("Laurel
Messenger" Feb. 1982)

MILITARY: PA Archives, 3rd Series, Vol. VII, page 57, William Griffith paid 40
pounds, 4th Battalion, Hans Morrison, Sub Lieut., 1777-1780.
PA Archives, 3rd Series, Vol. VII, pages 86-87, William Griffith, 4th
Battalion, Capt. Colmery's Company, paid 375 pounds, 17 shillings, 6 pence,
1780-83. (York County PA Militia)

MILITARY: April 18, 1791, bounty Land Warrant application #9427, 100 acres
granted.

MARRIAGE: Abstract of the Records of Warrington Monthly
Meeting, York County, Pennsylvania maintained at the Friend's Library at
Swarthmore College, PA.

On 9-10-1763 and on 10-8-1763, William Griffith and Sarah Hammond declare
intentions to marry.

William Griffith of Menallen township in the County of York, son of Thomas
Griffith and Eve his wife, and Sarah Hamond of the same township, daughter of
John Hammond and Deborah his wife, married 10-19-1763 at Menallen Meeting.
(Marriage record page 59) Witnesses: Ann McGrew, Alice Wright, Jane Falkner,
Jane Falkner (2), Elizabeth Hamond, Elizabeth Griffith, John Mickle, Robert
Miller, William Beals, John Pope, William Pigeon, Thos. Griffith, Jno. Hamond,
Finley McGrew, Mary Beals, Mary Glasgow, Mary Smith, Henry Marsh, John Morton,
James Glasgow, Wm. Hutton, Samuel Buyers, Robert Mordough, Jesse Falkner,
Nathan McGrew, Isaac Oldham, Finley McGrew, Benjamin Wright, Benja Wilson,
Samuel Hutton, James McGrew, Eve Griffith, Thos. Hinshaw."

LAND RECORDS: Menallen M.M. records indicate that William and Sarah Griffith of
Menallen on 5-25-1784 sold land to Abraham Snyder, on upper fork of Connewingo

LAND RECORDS: 1796, Thomas Griffith, William Griffith, and John Griffith
(brothers) bought land on Dunnings Creek in Bedford County, PA. Deed recorded 2
January 1823. (Deed Book D., page 541, Bedford county, PA).

LAND RECORDS: Spring Grove, surveyed 2 Jul 1770. Granted to Stephen Carmark,
Patented to Samuel Riddle, Esq. 1-11-1813 to William Griffith 2-6-1813 to Jesse
Griffith 10-13-1815. Jesse and wife Lydia of Jenner Twp. to Hugh Reed 25 Apr
1818.

TAX RECORDS: 1783, Menallen Twp., York (now Adams) County, PA.

List #1: William Griffith was assessed for 245 acres with 7 inhabitants, no
servants, no negroes.

List #2: Williiam Griffith was assessed for 245 acres with 7 inhabitants, 2
horses, 4 horned cattle, 8 sheep, 2 houses, 2 outhouses. Assessed valuation:
L304. Tax paid: 9L-16sh-4p.

PROBATE: Named as brother in Thomas Griffith will dated 28 Feb 1826, Somerset
county, PA.

BURIAL: RECORD OF BURIAL PLACE OF VETERAN, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
Department of Military Affairs: Somerset County, Veteran of Rev. War, Served in
Army, Dates of Service 1777-1783, Organization Capt. Colmery's Co., York Co.,
Rank Private, Cemetery Baptist Cemetery 2 mi. N. of Boswell, Pa, Somerset
County, Location of Grave in Cemetery - Section Lot No. 4, Grave No. 4,
Information given by PA Archives. (Recorded in the County Veterans' Grave
Registration Record and sent to The Adjutant Generals' Office, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania for final Record - Griffith, William.)

BURIAL: 1921 letter of Norman Bruce Griffith to the Pennsylvania Dept. of
Highways urges that the highway between Johnstown and Somerset be named the
William Griffith Highway. The letter states: "William Griffith's gravestone
is marked by veteran's groups by a small American flag on appropriate
occasions to commemorate his military service in the Revolution."

He was married to Sarah HAMMOND (daughter of John HAMMOND and Deborah DICKS) on 19 Oct 1763 in Menallen Twp., York, PA. Sarah HAMMOND was born on 16 Dec 1743 in , York co., PA. She died on 18 Jan 1821 in Jenner Township, Somerset, PA. She was buried in Baptist Ch. Cem., near Boswell, Somerset, PA. BIRTH/DEATH: Old Griffith Family Bible belonging to Mary Ann Griffith Fleck,
great granddaughter of William Griffith. ("Laurel Messenger" Feb. 1982)
Some records show Sarah's birthdate as the 16th of Dec., some show the date as
the 11th of Dec. All records use the Quaker old style of dating making the
10th month December.

PARENTS: "Laurel Messenger," November 1989 gives children of John and Deborah
Dix Hammond,
copied from photo copy in the Florence Dibert Collection of the Historical and
Genealogical Society of Somerset County, PA by Marguerite L. Cockley, November
26, 1979.

BURIAL: Tombstone reads: Sarah, Wife of / Wm. Griffith, born / Jany 16th, 1743,
& died Jany / 18th, 1824, aged 78 / years & 2 days. (Note age would make the
date 1821, not 1824. William GRIFFITH and Sarah HAMMOND had the following children:

+38 i. Thomas GRIFFITH.
+39 ii. William GRIFFITH Jr..
+40 iii. Jesse GRIFFITH.
+41 iv. Abner GRIFFITH.