Charles Griffis

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103173653/charles-griffis

Charles Griffis was the son of Samuel Griffis and brother of Samuel Griffis Jr. He was born in 1800 in Georgia probably Montgomery Co. He was either cut into Emanuel Co with his parents or moved there about the time of its creation. He married Miss Keziah Kirkland born 1802 daughter of John Kirkland and wife Elizabeth Lane, of Emanuel County.

He served as a private under Capt. John S. Henderson in the Ware County Militia 1840.

Charles Griffis home and plantation was on Big Creek in Appling County, Georgia and he was a member of Big Creek Primitive Baptist Church. He spent the last years of his life with his son David and family. He was buried in the family burying ground on the Old Daniel Griffis home-place in Appling County.

Ref: Pioneers of Wiregrass Georgia, Volume 2, page 125.* Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 10 2020, 17:49:59 UTC

Notes for Samuel B. Griffis, Sr: Samuel is buried in Homerville, Clinch County, Georgia on the family burial ground at the homeplace. As a letter written by Charles E. Griffis on November 5, 1930 he wrote: "Your letter rec I will give you what information I know of the starting of the Griffis family which was 2 brothers was all they was in this world, as my father knew of. the first 2 Griffis's that any one ever knew of, was 2 orphan children Charles & Sam Griffis and all the Griffis'es sprang from them, Charles was my Grandfather they was born in S. C. there father & mother died when they was small and if they had any relatives it was never known, Charles my grandfather was the eldest, he would take Sam on his back and carry him to where he could get work he was to small to walk much and he kept drifting this way till he reached the Altamaha River on the north side and lived in that community till grown and married. He Charles my grandfather served in the Revolution War, he moved from the north side of Altamaha River to this county which was called the new purchase which then was all Appling County and settle near where J.W. James now lives the old field called the Griffis field in the year 1821. He raised a larg family of boys and girls which my father was the youngest boy, the names of they boys of my grandfather was Sam & Juniper, Charles & Maning and Kindred my father. Most all the Griffis' below Homerville and in Clinch County orginated from Sam Griffis not this Sam above but the 2 first mentioned. My grandfather Charles and his brother Sam the first starting of the Griffis family my great uncle. My father was the youngest boy and was born in Oct 4, 1817. Juniper by uncle was born in 1808 and Sam was older but now know the others ages. This county was thinly settled living 12 to 15 miles a part and all kinds of varments tigers, wolves, bears. J.C. he lived by grandfather at the Griffis field near J.W. James 4 or 5 years and then moved north of the Bay called Hunters Bay which now is the Guess Mill pond and lived there till my father and all the childred were grown and married and he and my grandmother was buried at the Mill pond nearly 100 years basck. Nearly all the Griffis' had a boy named Charles and Sam but the 2 first mentioned was the only 2 have any record of I mean the starting of the Griffis family and my grandfather Charles father came from Ireland. You see I am clost to the original. Old man Bill Griffis father and my father was brothers. Well I am writing you right back and cant wright like I could tell you. I am satisfied I know more about the Griffis family and the Sears family which was my mothers than any one now that is living. I am writing on one knee and cant write so you can sense it I dont expect. I could tell you much better than I can write. Wishing you good luck. I am yours truly. Charles E. Griffis Atson, Ga."

Samuel was the younger brother of Charles and brought south as a minor by his brother and shorly after coming to Georgia he was married. Nancy died about 1830. Samuel married Pollie and they had no children. Sometime about 1819 he moved to Appling county probably in connection with his brother and his family, but he did not move on further into Appling about 1822-23 when his brother did, but remained in Appling county unitl about 1833 when he moved to the 12th land district of Ware (territory now Clinch) county. He was cut into the new county of Clinch out of Ware, in February, 1850, and died at his home a few miles south of Homerville in 1859. He lived on lot 484, 12th district, where his son, Samuel, also lived and died. He was buried in a family burying-ground on the old homeplace. He served as a private in the Indian War under Captain Levi J. Knight.

Notes for Nancy LNU (American Indian): Nancy was a Creek Indian.

Children of Samuel Griffis and Nancy Indian) are:

  i.   Samuel B. Griffis, born 1794 in Clinch County, Georgia; died April 27, 1884 in Homerville (Clinch), Georgia; married Naomi Kirkland 1828; born 1806 in Georgia; died December 23, 1874. 

 2 ii.   Charles Griffis, born 1800 in Montgomery County, Georgia; died 1875 in Appling Country, Georgia; married Keziah Kirkland Abt. 1821. 

  iii.   Joel Griffis, born 1803 in Montgomery County, Georgia; died 1871 in Clinch County, Georgia; married Elizabeth Bennett 1841 in Clinch County, Georgia; born 1807 in Bulloch County, Georgia; died 1895. 

 Notes for Joel Griffis: Joel moved with his parents to Appling county in his youth. He did not marry until he was nearly 40 years old. For several yars after marriage they lived on lot of land No. 310, 12th district of Clinch county, (but at the time Ware County). He sold out to Abraham Hargraves of Ware county in 1851, and moved to the southwest corner of Clinch county, wehre he located on lot of land No. 149, 12th district, and lived until his death in 1871.  Joel was captain of the militia in the 719th district, Ware County (territory now in Clinch and Echols), 1835-1840. He served a short volunteer term of enlistment in Capt. Levi J. Knight's independent company of Lowndes County militia in 1838.  His widow was baptized into Prospect Primitive Baptist Church, in Clinch County, August 22, 1872, and was dismissed by letter February 10, 1977.  She died at an advance age in about 1895.  Joel is buried at Wayfare Church, Echols County, Georgia Taken from the Griffis Family Book written by Mr. Robert James Robinson 

Census Reference: 1830, 1840 Ware County, 1850, 1860,1870 Clinch County, Georgia

 Notes for Elizabeth Bennett: Elizabeth was baptized into Prospect Primitive Baptist church in Clinch county august 22, 1872 and was dismissed by letter February 10, 1877. she died at a very advanced age about 1895. she is buried at Wayfare church in an unmarked grave. 

iv. Rebecca Griffis, born 1808; died WFT Est. 1832-1902; married George Lee 1826; born WFT Est. 1781-1808; died WFT Est. 1831-1895.

  v.   John Griffis, born 1809; died 1880 in New River (Bradford) County, Florida; married Easter Padgett Stalvey WFT Est. 1826-1856; born 1810 in Colleton District, South Carolina; died WFT Est. 1854-1905. 

 Notes for John Griffis: John served as 2nd Lieutenant in the Ware County Militia, 719 District, 1830-1835. Private in Captain Levi J. Knight militia in 1838 in the Indian War. Located in Columbia County, Florida same county where his brothers James and Richard W. and 1st cousins, Samuel, Charles & Manning and Eli his brother later moved. This was later New River (Bradford) County, Florida, there John died in 1880. 

Notes for Easter Padgett Stalvey: Easter Padgett first married John Stalvey and had eight children. She left him taking her only daughter, Rebecca and went to Florida with John Griffis where they married. John Stalvey and most of the children moved in the 1850's to Louisanna.
vi. Berry Griffis, born August 24, 1811; died 1881; married (1) Easter Bennett WFT Est. 1830-1850; born 1817; died 1855; married (2) Sarah Brooker WFT Est. 1838-1867; born 1826 in Wayne County; died WFT Est. 1870-1921; married (3) Sidney Lee December 16, 1878; born 1846; died WFT Est. 1884-1941.

  vii.   James Griffis, born 1813 in Emanuel County, Georgia; died 1893; married Frances Emanuel March 10, 1836; born 1829 in Lauty (Bradford), Florida; died November 1884. 

  viii.   Celia Griffis, born 1818; died WFT Est. 1842-1912; married Zachariah Chancey 1836; born WFT Est. 1791-1818; died WFT Est. 1841-1905. 

 Notes for Celia Griffis: Celia had no children. They moved from Clinch County, Georgia to New River (Bradford) County, Florida about 1857 and died there. 

ix. Richard W. Griffis, born 1820; died WFT Est. 1845-1911; married Elizabeth 1839; born WFT Est. 1802-1826; died WFT Est. 1844-1915.

  x.   Eli Griffis, born 1825; died WFT Est. 1842-1915; married Eliza WFT Est. 1842-1875; born WFT Est. 1821-1841; died WFT Est. 1842-1925.

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Nov 10 2020, 19:43:32 UTC