Obadiah Griffin

From: Paul <grifpaul@isu.edu>

Subject: [Q-R] Obadiah Griffin

Date: Mon, 01 Nov 1999 15:29:26 -0700

My ancestor Jonathan Griffin b 11-27-1750 in Dutchess County, NY moved to Erie County , NY (Buffalo area) in 1808. He was a Quaker. He died 1-30-1831 and is buried in the Friends Cemetery in Orchard Park, NY. Through an 1841 letter it was determined that he was a brother to Obadiah Griffin b. 4-12-1753 in Dutchess County, NY. He died in 1843 and is buried in Niles, Mich. Accoring to my refereces this Obadiah is the son of Joseph b.1718 (Richard2 Edward1) in Dutchess County, NY.

Jonathan married Phoebe Cook had many children who all lived in the Erie County area. Obadiah married Mary (Maria) Froelich and had Isaac b.1775, James b.1780 and Robert b.1788.

Obadiah b.1753 was in Canada (probably the Smithviile, Onatrio area) when the War of 1812 started. His son James b. 1780 had a son (George Washington Griffin) born 1812 in Smithville, Ontario. This Obadiah moved across the border into Erie County , NY about 1814. The

settlement where he lived is now called Griffins Mills and it's only a few miles from where his brother, Jonathan, lived in Orchard Park, NY (back then it was called E. Hamburg)

There is another more well know Obadiah b.1743 in Dutchess County, NY. This Obadiah was a loyalist who along with his brother Thomas fled to Nova Scotia during the Revolutionary War and obtained land grants there.

He is reported to have married a Mary Moore and and one child of record, an Obadiah Jr. b.1777 in Dutchess County, NY. Obadiah Jr. married Hanna McIntyre and he died in 1871 and is buried in Elgin County, Ontario. He

moved from Nova Scotia to Upper Canada (Ontario) about 1811. At least one of Obadiah Jr. Children was born in Smithville, so the assumption on my part is that Obadiah (Sr. b.1743) ) was also in the Smithviile area.

Not much is know about the Obaidah b. 1753 before he left Canada about 1814 and went to Erie County, NY. Unfortunately not much is know of the Obadiah b.1743 after he left Nova Scotia and moved to Ontario. To

complicate matters this is what is written by Justus A. Griffin in his book " Ancestors and Descendants of Richard Griffin b. 1732 (Edward3, Richard2, Edward1) of Smithville, Ontario - A Pioneer Family" :

Solomon Griffin b.1805 (Isaiah , Richard b.1732) about the time of the War of 1812 heard his father Isaiah talk to an Uncle "Obie" who was from New York It's my assumption that this Uncle "Obie" was visiting Ontario and had to come from nearby Erie County, New York (consider the difficulty in traveling long distances at that time) (Erie County is about 50-60 miles from the Smithville, Ontario area).

To make this Uncle"Obie" fit the puzzle he would have had to have been a brother to Richard b.1732. BUT the Odadiah who was the brother of Richard is NOT the one who according to the records went to New York (Griffins Mills).

To repeat the Obadiah b.1753 (father Joseph) went from Ontario to Griffins Mills about 1814. The Obadiah b.1743 (father Edward) left Nova Scotia and went to Ontario about 1811.

If you have read this far you might be able to determine that the correct father of the Obadiah who went to Erie County will determine my line of ancestors, as my ancestor Jonathan is the brother to the Obadiah

who went to Erie County.

Anyone who can shed some light on this Obadiah problem of mine should contact me immediatley.

I would also like to gather information on the loyalist Thomas who went to Nova Scotia. He apparently had 13 children. Any information on Thomas's descendants would be appreciated. Thomas's grandson, T.H. Griffin in 1891 was the President of the Canada Electrical Co. in

Amherst , Nova Scotia.

SOURCE: http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/QUAKER-ROOTS/1999-11/09414...

If you are specifically interesed in Griffins go to my web page at:

http://www.isu.edu/~grifpau