| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. I am having difficulty in resolving John against the two Sarahs reported in recent published sources. The problem lies in who is correctly reporting the baptismal and burial entries in the Kenilworth Parish Register in England. Consider the two following competing perspectives, both of which are very convincing. The first quote does not mention the baptism of the second Sarah nor the burial of the first Sarah, but it does include John who doesn't show up whatsoever in the second citation. If there were in fact two Sarahs, then the surviving one did in fact marry at age 15. The citations:
A. The booklet "The Griswold Family in England before 1639 - A Report of the Findings of Bonnie Boone Day Griswold and James Wells Griswold," 1984, Exeter, NH, copy in the library of the Windsor CT. Historical Society. The authors went to England to look up actual records. Quote from pp. 10-13:
"The search for hard facts about our direct Griswold ancestors in England has yielded information only on Edward. This we found in the Warwickshire County Records Library. Even this information is evidently not new because the names and accurate dates are given in Glen E. Griswold's Vol. II of the Griswold Family. But since he does not cite the source of his information, maybe the following will add a bit.
The above-mentioned library, located in Warwick, is well staffed and has a good catalog. However, the novice finds it confusing at the beginning. It takes several visits to learn how to use the available resources. We learned that there have been many visitors inquiring about he Griswolds.
Of great interest is the Kenilworth Parish Register. This is a leather-bound book, about 13 inches long and 5 inches wide. Originally it was a bound blank book with about 200 pages. Entries were made chronologically in ink in four sections: Baptisms (not births), Marriages, Burials, and finally in the back of the book, the 'Beneficences" of Lady Dudley of Kenilworth Castle to the members of the parish at the time of Christmas (read the book 'Kenilworth' by Scott). The librarian had to help us by translating archaic terms of some entries. The handwriting of the book changed from period to period indicating a different recorder. We are sorry to report that an earlier Griswold researcher had marked each of te relevant entries with a penciled X in the margin.
All the entries that relate to the family of Edward Griswold are listed below. Please note that even for the entries for the same family the spelling of the last name may be different.
In the section on Baptisms:
Sarah daughter of Edward Grissold was baptised Jan 29 1631.
George the sone of Edward Griswold was baptised may 19 1633.
Sarah the daughter of Edward Grissold and Margaret his wife was baptized Jan 10 1635.
Liddia the daughter of Edward Grissold and Marg-t his wife was baptised Dec 17 1637.
In the section for Burials:
Sarah the daughter of Edward Grissold was burried Dec 28 1634.
It is interesting to note tha the family names their second daughter Sarah in honor of her older sister who had died only two weeks before the second daughter was baptized.
These were the only references we could find that apply directly to our family, even though there were many other entries for other Griswold families.
It was exciting to hold this parish record book in our hands, but it was also frustrating to be so close to the facts we wanted and yet could not find. If the book could only talk, there would be so many answers to our questions."
B. The book "The Griswold Family, the First Five Generations in America," comp. and ed. by Esther Griswold French and Robert Lewis French, May 1990, printed by The Griswold Family Association, 116 Garden St., Wethersfield, CT, 06109, pages 6-24. The authors note that their book updates Vol. II, "The Griswold Family England - America," which was published 50 years ago. The following is a partial transcription regarding the children of Edward and Margaret of which the whole transcription can be seen in the notes of Edward Griswold:
"...Based on additional research, the order of birth and number of children of Edward and Margaret have been revised from that given in the earlier Griswold family genealogy. Kenilworth Parish Register entries show four children baptized there of which Lydia is the only one who did not come to this country, indicating she died as an infant in England. The first John died in 1642 in Windsor, Conn. The Kenilworth Parish Register begins with the year 1630 so no baptismal record has been found for Francis who was undoubtedly the oldest child, born about 1629 to have been married about 1652 at approximately 23 years of age. Sarah bp. Jan. 29, 1631/2 in Kenilworth is the logical one to have married in 1650. Savage's Genealogical Dictionary and the Kenilworth Parish Records refer to only one Sarah, born in England who came to Windsor with her parents in 1639. She would have been 18 years of age at the time of her marriage in 1650, not 15 nor 12 as has previously been asserted.
Children, first five born in Kenilworth, England, the rest in Windsor, Conn.:
Francis b. ca. 1629.
Sarah, bp. 29 Jan 1631/2.
George, bp. 19 May 1633.
John, bp. 10 Jan 1635/6; d. 1642 Windsor, Conn.
Lydia, bp. 17 Nov 1637; d. England before 1639.
Ann (Hannah), bp. 19 Jun 1642.
Mary, b. 5 Oct 1644.
Deborah, bp. 28 June 1646.
Joseph, bp. 12 Mar 1647/8.
Samuel, bp. 18 Nov 1649; d. 6 Jul 1672. Inventory of his estate is dated 26 Feb 1672/3, probated 6 Mar 1672/3. His brother George was appointed administrator.
John, bp. 1 Aug 1652.
References: Parish Register, Kenilworth, England; Killingworth and Clinton, Conn. Records; Historic Families of America, p. 297; Conn. Society of Colonial Dames Register; Savage: Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England II:316; Dimond Family pp. 13-14; Bemis Family p. 211; NEHGR Vol. V; Magazine of American History I:120-129; Wyllys Papers XXXI; Trumbull: Hartford County II:521, 548, 552; Hartford Probate Records; Stiles: Ancient Windsor I:71, 148, 157, 158; II:351; Anniversary of the First Church, Clinton, Conn. p. 25; Conn. Magazine VIII;489, 504; Booth and Allied Families; Caulkins: History of New London p. 283; History of Norwich, Conn. pp. 92, 176; Conn. Historical Society Collections XXII; Conn. Colony Records I, II, III; TAG 41:214."
2. FHL book 929.242 G868f "The Greswold Family, 12 Generations in England," researched and edited by Robert L. and Esther G. French, comp. by Coralee Griswold [Wethersfeld, CT; 1999]. The authors standardize spelling as Greswold for England and Griswold for America. As of 2012, it appears that this book is the most current evolution of the Griswold ancestry and includes all previous research up to 1999 when it was published. (It also supersedes the author's own work in 1990 for the later English generations). See notes in this database of the original Griswold for a more detailed explanation of the various sources and a bibliography of previously published books that the authors include in this genealogical compilation.
"Edward12 Griswold (George11, Roger10, John9, John8, John7, John6, John5, William4, Richard3, Ralph2, John1) was christened 26 Jul 1607 in Wooton Wawen, Warwickshire, England. In lieu of a will, Edward on Christmas Day, 1672, signed a conditional inheritance deed of his property to his son John, who was to pay certain legacies; but Edward did not die until 30 Aug 1691, in Killingworth, Middlesex, Connecticut, at the age of 84, and was buried in the Indian River Cemetery in Killingworth, Middlesex, Connecticut. He married (1) Margaret (___) about 1628 in England. ["New England Genealogy," Vol. 1, p.250, cites her surname as HICKS, but the Robert Hicks family was already in Plymouth as of 1621. Records indicate Margaret and Edward were married in England after this date.] She was born about 1609. Margaret died 23 Aug 1670 in Killingworth, Middlesex, Connecticut, and was buried in the cemetery behind the Congregational Church, in Killingworth (now Clinton), Middlesex, Connecticut. Her stone being the oldest marked, "M.G., 1670."
When the Rev. Ephraim Huit arrived in Windsor, Connecticut with his congregation about 17 Aug 1639 to assist the Rev. John Warham, Edward and Margaret Griswold, their four children: Francis, George, John and Sarah; and Edward's brother Matthew, were with the company. ["Savage's Genealogical Dictionary," Vol. 2, p. 316.] In his own deposition, dated 15 May 1684, Edward stated that he was then aged about seventy-seven years and that, "about the year 1639 Mr. William Whiting, Dec'd, was Undertaker [financial sponsor] for a shipp in England, in which Shipp I came to New England." [Ferris, "Dawes-Gates Ancestral Lines"; Gates & Allied Families; Vol. II; p. 399.] Mr. Huit had been pastor at Knowle and Wroxall, Warwickshire, England. A writer of note upon religious subjects and a powerful preacher of the Puritan faith, he was censured for his non-conformity and silenced by the Bishop of Worcester. This no doubt was the cause of his moving to New England with the company he organized, of which both Edward and Matthew were members.
Edward speedily became prominent in the affairs of the new community and was frequently mentioned in colonial records. He served as deputy to the General Court from 18 Aug 1658 to 14 Mar 1660 and again from 15 May 1662 to 11 Mar 1663. Edward served repeatedly on juries, at least two of which, in 1651 and 1662, deliberated on witchcraft cases and brought in verdicts of guilty. In 1659 he was one of the men from Windsor to build the fort at Springfield for Mr. Pynchon. He also served as Justice of the Peace.
Although he was granted land at Poquonoc he did not move there until after the title of the Indians had been fully extinguished in 1642. He was resident there in 1649 with two other families, John Bartlett and Thomas Holcomb. His home stood near the highway at the top of the hill, and contained 29-1/2 acres bounded mostly south and west by Stony Brook and east by the river. His sons George and Joseph received the homestead when he moved to Hammonassett in 1663 with his son John and two daughters, Hannah Westover and Deborah Buell, with their families.
The present Clinton, Connecticut is the original Killingworth; Main Street is the identical ground where the first settlers took their home lots. These were surveyed in 1663 by Byron Rossiter of Guiliford. Edward was one of the first settlers and doubtless suggested the name from Kenilworth Parish in England. He was the most prominent man in the new settlement and must be given full credit for first organizing this community. He was its first deputy to the General Court. He, with his two sons-in-law, were recorded as freeman in 1669.
Edward was instrumental in organizing the first church and was its first deacon. He frequently served on important civil matters; his services, counsel and guidance evidently much sought. He also served on the committee to establish a Latin school at New London.
Ancient land records on file at the office of the Secretary of State, Hartford, show land grants in favor of Edward: one of 200 acres; another of 100 acres given by the town of Killingworth. He showed the spirit of those early English settlers to accumulate large land holdings. They had 11 children:
i. Francis Griswold [male], born about 1629, died 1 Oct 1671.
ii. Sarah Griswold, christened 29 Jan 1631, died 6 Nov 1715.
iii. George Griswold, christened 19 May 1633, died 3 Sep 1704.
iv. John Griswold, christened 10 Jan 1635 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, died 1642 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut.
v. Lydia/Liddia Griswold, christened 17 Nov 1637 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, died about 1637 in England, and was buried 1637 in England.
vi. Ann (Hannah) Griswold, christened 19 Jun 1642, died 3 May 1714.
vii. Mary Griswold, born 5 Oct 1644, died 1690.
viii. Deborah Griswold, christened 28 Jun 1646, died 7 Feb 1717.
ix. Joseph Griswold, born 12 Mar 1647, died 14 Nov 1716.
x. Samuel Griswold, christened 18 Nov 1649 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut, died 6 Jul 1672 in Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut.
xi. John Griswold, christened 1 Aug 1652, died 7 Aug 1717.
Edward had 1 stepchild:
xii. Mary Bemis, born 18 Nov 1654, died 27 Oct 1679.
Edward married (2) Sarah Diamond before 25 Dec 1672. She was born about 1632 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England. She was the daughter of John Diamond and Rebecca (___). No children. Sarah also married (1) John Bemis."
3. From the book "The Griswold Family," by Edward Elbridge Salisbury, privately published 1884, copy in Windsor, Conn. Historical Society Library, pp. 8-10:
"[Edward] was twice married; first, in England, to Margaret ___, who died 23 Aug 1670. ('Her gravestone stands in the Clinton Congregational Burying Ground, with the letters M.G., and is called the oldest monument.') and secondly, in 1672 or 1673, to the widow of James Bemis of New London. 'Before coming to Windsor he had Francis, George, John, and Sarah, probably all born in England, and he had at Windsor; three sons and three daughters - all, as appears by their days of birth or baptism recorded at Windsor, by his first marriage...
Edward's third son, John, who was born in England, died in 1642; but he had another son of the same name, born in Windsor in 1652, whose grandson Josiah (son of Daniel, b. 1696) was the maternal grandfather of Hon. William H. Buell, now of Clinton, Conn. A daughter of Edward Griswold, Deborah (b. 1646), who married Samuel Buell in 1662, 'was the ancestral mother of all the Buells in Killingworth (Clinton), all the Buells east of Connecticut River, and nearly all of Litchfield, Conn.' Her husband was the great-grandfather in the fourth degree of Hon. W.H. Buell, so that the latter is descended on both sides from Edward Griswold of Killingworth. Edward Griswold's son John, (b.1652) had a son Samuel (b. 1685), whose daughter was the 'Mary, daughter of Samuel Griswold Esq. of Killingworth,' who married, in 1739, Elihu son of Rev. Nathaniel Chauncey of Durham, Conn., and was the mother of the late Judge Chauncey of New Haven. (See Memorials of the Chaunceys, by Wm. Chauncey Fowler, Boston, 1858, pp. 112-13.)"
4. The book "The Ancestry of Allen Grinnell Cleaver and Martha Irene Jessup," by William Jessup Cleaver (Baltimore, MD: Gateway Press, Inc., 1989), pp. 486-90, 494-95:
"1. EDWARD GRISWOLD, son of George and Dousabell--, was baptized 26 July 1607 in Wooten Wawen, a chapelry of Henley in Warwickshire, England. He married in England Margaret-- and they emigrated to New England in 1639 with perhaps six children and his younger brother Matthew. Margaret died in Killingsworth, Connecticut 23 August 1670. Her gravestone marked "M. G. 1670" is the oldest in the cemetery. Edward married, second, in 1672/3 Sarah (--) Bemis, widow of James Bemis of New London. Edward may be buried in the empty space beside Margaret's stone in Clinton. He died in 1691 in his 84th year. (1)(4)(15)
In a deposition dated 5 May 1684, Edward Griswold stated that he was about sixty-seven years old and that "about the year 1639 Mr. William Whiting, Dec'd, was Undertaker [financial sponser] for a shipp in England, in which Shipp I came to New England." He was to act as agent for Whiting in collecting £200 from a Mr. John St. Nicholas who was expected to soon be in Windsor. The Rev. Ephraim Huet of Wroxall near Kenilworth, though an eminent preacher and writer of the Puritan faith; had b6en persecuted as a non-conformist by Archbishop Laud. He emigrated with a party which undoubtedly included the Griswolds, arriving in Windsor, Connecticut 17 August 1639. Huet became the first teacher in the church there. Edward received his first share of lands at Windsor in January 1640/41. In 1642 title to Poquonack-about four miles away -- had been cleared with the Indians and a few families including the Griswolds moved there and Edward had a corner lot of twenty-nine acres bounded by Stony Creek on both the south and the west. This settlement seemed so remote to the General Court that in September of 1649 in consideration of the exposure of so many dangers it freed one "souldger" from each family from attendance on each training-day requiring that he who "tarryes at home, stands about the aforesaid howses uppon his sentinel posture." (4)(5)(15)
Edward was deputy from Windsor to the General Court (legislature) from 1656 until the charter was received from King Charles II in 1662/3 -- except for one session. He later represented Killingsworth almost continuously from 1667 to 1689 and he was Judge at Killingsworth from 1667 through 1677. (7)
In 1659 William Pyncheon contracted Edward Griswold to build "Old Fort," a mansion for the Pyncheon family on Main Street in Springfield in the Bay Colony. The building stood sixty or seventy-five feet back from the street, was forty-two feet long, twenty-one feet wide and was twenty-two feet from the ground to the eaves and the same distance perpendicular from the eaves to the ridge beams -- a very steep roof. The walls were red Long Meadow stone and bricks made in Northampton. The brick walls were over two feet thick on the first floor and half that on the second story. Eight by ten oak timbers supported the roof. Edward Griswold was paid €40 for the construction including both the stonework and the brickwork. A future son-in-law, Samuel Buel, prepared the hewn logs. On 5 October 1675 when Springfield was attacked and burned by the Indians, the house was one of three fortified houses. The building stood until 1831 and until 1800 was the only brick building in Springfield. Major Pyncheon held Court in one of the lower rooms and records were stored in a space above the porch. (4)(17)
In March-1663 the General Court appointed a committee to view Hamonoscett to ascertain if it would be a fit location for a new settlement or plantation. The second report of the committee which had decided in favor of the location and that it would support thirty families included Edward Griswold's name as one of the first settlers. He was then age sixty-four. The settlement was called Kenilworth (later corrupted to Killingsworth) as a courtesy to Edward's memory of his home in England. It was specified that each settler was to stay four years -- and to build within two years. Edward deeded his lands in Windsor to his older sons, reserving a small annuity for himself, and moved in 1663. The new town was first represented on the General Court in May of 1667 and Edward Griswold was its first Deputy. He was Deacon of the First Church, as well, and Commissioner (Justice) for more than sixteen years. At this same time his son Francis sat on the General Court representing Norwich and his younger brother, Matthew, was Deputy from Lyme. Only two men, including Edward, were accorded the prefix "Mr." on the 1669 list of Freeman. He was involved with laying out land for other plantations, arranging roads and bridges and their upkeep and establishing a Latin School at New London. The General Court in appreciation granted him two hundred acres of land in 1674, laid out at the north end of the "Lyme bounds," and the town of Killings-worth followed suit with a one hundred acre grant. (4)(6)(7)
Rather than a will he signed a conditional inheritance deed on Christmas day 1672 -- nineteen years before his death. John Griswold was to receive all the property out of which he paid certain legacies. He had, in the spirit of most .colonists, accumulated considerable land. (4)(8)
Children of Edward Griswold and Margaret:
i. FRANCIS, b. about 1629 in England.
ii. Sarah, bapt. at Kenilworth, England 1631, died young.
iii. George, bapt. at Kenilworth, England 1633; d. at Windsor, Conn. 3 Sept. 1674; m. 3 Oct. 1655 Mary Holcomb, daughter of Thomas.
iv. Sarah, bapt. at Kenilworth, England 1635, d. at Windsor 6 Nov. 1715, m. (1st) at Windsor 10 Nov. 1650 Samuel Phelps, son of William, who d. 15 May 1669. They settled at Windsor, had nine children. She m. (2nd) at Windsor 21 July 1670 Nathan Pinney.
v. Lydia, bapt. 1637. Kenilworth, England.
vi. John, d. at Windsor, 1642.
vii. Ann, bapt. at Windsor, 19 June 1642; known as Hannah; d. at Simsbury, 3 May 1714; m. at Windsor 19 Nov. 1663 Jonas Westover of Killingsworth and Simsbury.
viii. Mary, bapt. at Windsor, 13 Oct. 1644; m. at Windsor 19 Mar. 1661 Timothy Phelps, son of William.
ix. Deborah, bapt. at Windsor 28 June 1646; d. at Killingsworth 7 Feb. 1717; m. at Windsor 13 Nov. 1662, Samuel Buell, son of William.
x. Joseph, bapt. at Windsor 12 Mar. 1647/8; d. at Windsor 14 Nov. 1716; m. 10 or 14 June or July 1670, Mary Gaylord.
xi. Samuel, bapt. at Windsor 18 Nov. 1649; d. 6 July 1672. Inventory taken 26 Feb. 1672/3. Administered by George Griswold.
xii. JOHN, bapt. at Windsor 1 Aug 1652. (4)(6)(8)
References:
(1) TAG, vol. 39, 1963. Mrs. Genevive Tvlee Kiepura.
(2) TAG, vol. 40, 1946, John G. Hunt and Donald Lines Jacobus.
(3) TAG, vol. 41, 1965, John G. Hunt.
(4) Dawes-Gates Ancestral Lines, Mary Walton Ferris 1931-43, vol. II.
(5) Colonial Records of Connecticut, vols. I, II, III.
(6) Waterman Family, D. L. Jacobus, 1939.
(7) A List of Civil, Military and Ecclesiastical Officers, Donald Lines Jacobus.
(8) The Griswold Family, England and America, Glenn E. Griswold, 1935, 1942.
(9) Family Histories and Genealogies, E. E. and E. M. Salisbury, 1892, vol. II.
(10) History and Genealogies of Ancient Windsor, Henry R. Stiles, 1892.
(11) Saybrook Vital Records
(12) Norwich Vital Records.
(13) Lebanon Vital Records.
(14) Killingsworth Vital Records, TAG, vol. 12.
(15) Griswold Family of Connecticut, Edward Elbridge Salisbury, 1884.
(16) Soldiers in King Philip's War, George M. Bodge, 1896.
(17) One Branch of the Booth Family, Chas. E. Booth, 1910."
ACTION:
1. Look up Kenilworth Parish Registers to resolve the conflict per the notes given above for Sarah and John Griswold.
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Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
1636 - 1642 (~ 5 years)