These three well respected men of El Dorado, Arkansas family were descendants of Thomas Griffin who was a Revolutionary Soldier. Thomas Griffin was living in Essex County, Virginia in 1776. He had wed Mary Elizabeth Mullis, and by 1776 they had several children. Thomas served in the 1st Virginia Regiment of the continental Army during the American Independence. Richard Griffin was the father of Thomas Griffin who also lived in the area of Essex County, Virginia.
Richard Griffin was family were the Griffin’s who moved from Great Gritian to the Northern Ireland in 1653. Because of Oliver Cromwell with his English army the war of extermination the Irish Nobles in the northern part of Ireland is and settle English farmers and these farmer were from Scotland and England.
Richard Griffin had a Brother Thomas Griffin who fought were involved in the Jacobite uprising, was against the Prince Charles Edward of Scotland in the year of 1745. After the Defeated by the English at Culloden Moor, the Griffin Brother’s flees across the narrow Irish Sea to the new found land and home in Antrim County, Ireland. Out of Fear the arrest and Thomas and Richard were had the feeling of unrest in Ireland that they obtained ship passage to the Colonies of the American to sail to the Colony of Virginia.
The brother Richard Griffin and his wife with two young children land in the area of Tappahanoch of Rappahannock River, Virginia in 1747. The two Griffin Children married in Virginia Colonies. who lived in Essex & Caroline County before the Revolutionary War and in Fredericksburg at the end of the war. Some of the lineage moved to the area of Culpepper Count, Virginia and other member stayed in Rappahannock, Virginia.rivate Thomas Griffin Served from Virginia he was born about 1745 and died in Oct 1807 in Anson County, North Carolina and he served under Captain John Gist and Colonel Nathaniel Gist. He as support the Patriotic Cause and his personal property and taxes records of 1782-1819 and paid supply taxes of 1783 in Essex County, Virginia and Revolutionary War records at the Library of Virginia. His wife was Elizabeth Mullis.
Thomas Griffin Sr. will was dated 16 Day of December 1806,
Thomas Griffin Sr. left his wife the house and plantation, and household furniture and the stock of Cattle as well as hogs and all working tools other then the ones given or disposed of. He gave his wife Elizabeth (mary) Mullis, all monies owe to him and to dispose of how ever she may think or to use for her profit or to aid or to provided in her children needs. He also gave his wife for during her natural life a Sorrel horse and two colts. Also she was to manage the stud horse and the income raised from the stud was to be divide fairly between all the Sons and Daughters. His wife was given the rights to the land of Lanes Creek to use for his grandsons. Enoch Griffin all the land that is associated with the plantation, as well as the some of 50.00 to be taken from the estate as well has his horse name Toby, two cows out of his herd. His daughter Sally Griffin 50.00 to be taken from the estate. He willed Mary (Griffin) Tull and Franky (Griffin) Curlee 25.00 Value of property of the Estate of land.
Thomas Griffin Sr. died on July 1807, they grave of son of Richard and Thomas are on the “Old Griffin Farm, in the area of Negrohead Creek, Ten Miles east of Monroe, North Carolina.
Children of Thomas Griffin Senior and Mary Elizabeth Mullis were Charles who married Betsy Ross, Enoch who was married 2 times, Mary who married Stephen Tull, Jack who married Sally Austin, Amos who married Alcy Austin, Nancy who married John Brewer, Thomas who married Annie Vann, Sarah (Salley) married William Hamilton.
The 5th Child was Enoch Griffin, son of Thomas Griffin Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Mullis married first Becky Austin the daughter of Bryant Austin. Second wife Becky Robards who was the daughter of Hugh Robards. Enoch Griffin and his wife Becky Austin: Evelyn who married Peter Parker, Malinda who married Charles Hinson, Magurie who married Jennie Sikes, Thomas who married Jane Huntley, Becky who married Andrew Helms.
Enoch Griffin and his second wife Becky Robards: Osborne who married Jane Dees, Catherine died unmarried, Emsley was married 3 times, to Ann Griffin, Mrs Alice M. Griffin, 3 Kate K. Lockhart, Jane married 2 times, Addison Moore, Jeremiah Perry.
The fourth Child of Enoch Griffin and Becky Austin who was Thomas B. Griffin married Jane Huntley and the children of this marriage was: Philip who married Becky Newsom, John P. married Racey Newsom, Thomas Griffin Jr. married Mary Aliph(Allie) Gaddy. Sandy married Emma Gaddy, Laura married 2 times, John Tadlock, Henry Bivens, Henritta married Erwin Phifer, Susan married Green Phifer.
The children of Thomas B. Griffin II and Mary Aliph (Allie) Gaddy moved with her family to El dorado, Union county, Arkansas. Wilson P Gaddy (1833-1929)Mother Juliet Frances Austin (1845-1929)Spouse Thomas Brice Griffin (1859-1900) Children were: Benford Wilson Griffin (1884-1948), Julia Griffin (1886-1934) Thomas “Tom” Brice Griffin (1889-1967) married widow Coral (King) ( James) Pendleton who was a King and Van Hooke lineage of El dorado Families. Preston Carl Griffin (1891-1976) Veda Jane Griffin (1894-1982) The history of the Griffin Business started with Horse and Buggy Business in the early 1900’s by the Griffin’s the moved on the Automobiles by the 1920’s. The business help support the area of Union County, Arkansas for many years to come.
Thomas Brice “Tom” Griffin was the husband of Coral King the daughter of James Sidney King and Callie (California) Van Hooke, The couple had only one child in the marriage who was Betty Sue (King) Griffin who married James “Jimmy” Cooper Mitcham who parents were Lorenzo Dow Mitcham and Edith Matilda Cooper. The children of Betty Sue and James Mitcham lives on today. With God help the lineage will keep going...They had two children and two grandchildren as well 3 great grandchildren...God at work...
So after 300 years move from England 1653 to Ireland and the wars in Scotland in 1740’s to the Colonies of Virginia the families and then the Fight for the American Revolution and becoming the United States the lineage go on and settled for the State of Arkansas...and beyond. Wish them all blessings...
