THE GRIFFITH FAMILY
The parents of Richard Carter were James Carter and
Susanna(Griffith)Carter. Susanna was the daughter of John Griffith.
John Griffith was born about 1655(?), probably in Wales. We do not know the
names of his parents. The name "Griffith" was a very common one in Wales,
and several by that name immigrated to Pennsylvania and New Jersey at an
early date.
John Griffith was found in Quaker records, living in Eglos Orow Parish, in
the northern part of Pembrokeshire, Wales where three daughters were born
in his family. A daughter, Sarah, was born in 1676; another daughter, Sara
was born in 1678. The first Sarah may have died. Susanna Griffith, daughter
of John Griffith, was born on 4 8th month 1681.
The Griffith family probably came to Pennsylvania before 1696. The first
record of John Griffith was when he served on a Grand Jury of Bucks County
in 1696.
John Griffith, cordwainer, bought 290 acres of land from Israel Taylor on 22
March 1696/7. This land was on Neshaminy Creek and bordered the widow
Walmsley's land and Mill Creek. Witnesses to the deed were John Brock, James
Heaton, and David Lloyd. We learn from this deed that his occupation was
"cordwainer", which was a common term for shoemaker. A cordwainer was a
worker in cordovan leather.
Ann Griffith, a daughter of John, married James Heaton, a son of Robert
Heaton, on 7 May 1696. They did not have a Quaker ceremony, and were
expelled from the church. On 1/8/1696 in Middletown, Robert Heaton condemned
having given consent to his son James' marriage contrary to truth, " though
done more through necessity than choice." Stephen Wilson and Thomas Harding
reported at Middletown Monthly Meeting on1/2/1607 that they had spoken with
James Heaton about his disorderly marriage with his wife and the child he
has fathered. On 1/5/1697 James Heaton condemned his disorderly proceeding
in marriage and denied the begetting of the child.
On 6 July 1697, Thomas Stackhouse complained at Middletown Monthly meeting
against John Griffith for worrying one of his hogs.
On 6 June 1702, John Griffith asked the advice of the Middletown Monthly
Meeting, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, as to what he should do concerning
his daughter, Susanna. She had "entangled herself with one not of our
society." Susanna Griffith married James Carter, sometime after that date.
John Griffith of Southampton in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, cordwainer, sold
200 acres on Neshaminy Creek to James Carter, blacksmith, on 26 October
1706. Three acres were reserved for John Griffith and his wife, Katherine(or
Catherine). Witnesses to this deed were John Hayhurst, John Wildman, and
John Cutler. This land was bounded by Samuel Griffith's land, Ralph
Draycot's land, King's road, and John Swift's land. We learn from this deed
that John Griffith's wife(in 1706) was named Catherine.We do not know if
Catherine was the mother of John Griffith's children. Catherine apparently
was dead before 1709.
On 7 January 1709, John Griffith requested a certificate from the Middletown
Monthly Meeting in order to marry with Elizabeth Gades(sic), a member of the
monthly meeting at Woodbridge, New Jersey.
John Griffith married Elizabeth Vail Gach, a widow, in the Woodbridge, New
Jersey M.M. on 20 October 1709. The maiden name of Elizabeth is not of
record. She had married(1) Samuel Vail, by whom she had seven children.
Elizabeth married(2) Thomas Gach(Gauge) of Westchester, New York, a ship
builder.They had at least two children. they moved to Woodbridge, New jersey
about 1701. Thomas Gauge died between the 28 March 1703 and 23 April 1703,
dates of his will. Elizabeth married(3) John Griffith, who was from Bucks
County, Pennsylvania and brought a "Certificate of Clearness" from the
Middletown M.M.in Bucks County.
John Griffith wrote his will in Woodbridge, east Jersey, on 27 June 1713. he
mentioned daughters, Mary and Martha Griffith, Ann Heaton, Susanna Carter.
He mentioned his cousin, Abraham Griffith. his son-in-law, James Heaton and
his wife Elizabeth Griffith, were to be joint Executors. Witnesses were
Ephriam Heaton and Diana Griffith.
John Griffith died at Woodbridge, New Jersey on 20th day, 8 month, 1713. An
Inventory of Estate was dated October ye 22nd 1713 at Woodbridge, East
Jersey and was signed by James Carter and John Vail. It mentioned cash paid
by Thomas Thwaits. The inventory was filed ye 11th of 9br 1713, which we
would write as 11 November 1713.
Abraham Griffith, who was mentioned as a cousin in john Griffith's will, was
an early settler in Richland township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Abraham
was born in Wales in 1680, son of Howell Griffith, a cordwainer. Abraham
came to this country with his parents in or prior to 1689. Diana Griffith,
who was witness to the will of John Griffith in 1713, was a sister of
Abraham. She married(1) Abraham Hewlings of Burlinton County, New Jersey. In
1730 she married(2) Thomas Heed in Richland, (Pennsylvania?)