Hello C*,

I decided to email you because my 3rd cousin’s, Gordon McKinley Garrison’s, Family Finder autosomal test results have been posted.

Gordon’s results show you as a 3rd-5th cousin and he is 2nd-4th cousin to William Griffis. William and I are 2nd-4th cousins from my past results. Why you aren’t also a match to me I don’t know.

I believe I sent you an email some time ago stating that I believe Richard Griffen/Griffis, born c1775 and deceased before 1840 was probably Alexander’s father. I included my document research and reasoning to support that conclusion/hypothesis.

I don’t remember receiving a reply from you giving your thoughts on the matter. After seeing Gordon’s autosomal results I thought I would bring the subject up again.

What I think I sent to you previously, slightly changed to reflect Gordon’s Garrison-Griffis relationships:

My Griffis autosomal match to your brother William. New: Autosomal matches between Gordon McKinley Garrison (my 3rd cousin) and both you and your brother William.


My research results and conclusions...

You and William’s “oldest known” paternal ancestor is Alexander 1803 Griffis who married Mary Ann 1805 Hickerson in 1828 in Fauquier County, Virginia.

I believe Alexander 1803 Griffis was Mary Polly Ann 1798 Griffis’ brother. She married Yelverton “Yearly” 1797 Garrison and they lived in Aquia, Stafford County, Virginia. The “source” of our Griffis/Garrison autosomal matches must be Alexander's and Mary Polly’s father.

I believe Mary's and Alexander’s father was Richard “Griffin/Griffis”…

Two possibilities:

Mary Polly c1798 Griffis’ and Alexander 1803 Griffis’ father would be either John Griffen or Richard Griffin, the only Griffen/Griffin/Griff*(s) living in Stafford County, in 1810.

NAME: John Griffen
HOME IN 1810 (CITY, COUNTY, STATE): Falmouth, Stafford, Virginia
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 10 Thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 And Over: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 2
Free White Persons - Females - 10 Thru 15: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 Thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 26 Thru 44: 1

NAME: Richard Griffin
HOME IN 1810 (CITY, COUNTY, STATE): Aquia, Stafford, Virginia
Free White Persons - Males - Under 10: 4 (including Alexander)
Free White Persons - Males - 10 Thru 15: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 45 And Over: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 10 Thru 15: 1 (Mary Polly)
Free White Persons - Females - 26 Thru 44: 1

James 1771 Garrison was the father of Yelverton Garrison and is shown in the 1810 Aquia, Stafford County census. Logically, Yelverton Garrison and his wife, Mary Polly Griffis, probably lived there also. Importantly, Thomas 1797 Griffis, Mary Griffis Garrison's brother, lived in Aquia in 1870 (They didn’t specify Aquia or Falmouth in the 1850 and 1860 census.)

Richard Griffin/Griffis living in Aquia in 1810 and I believe your Griffis ancestors lived in Aquia, not Falmouth. Logically, Richard c1775 Griffis was the father of Mary 1798 Griffis and Alexander 1803 Griffis.

Richard is also shown in the 1820 and 1830 Stafford County census. Note Richard’s surname is “Griffis” in the 1820 census.

Name: Richard Griffis
Home in 1820 (City, County, State): Stafford, Virginia Enumeration Date: August 7, 1820
Free White Persons - Males - 10 thru 15: 2
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 18: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over : 1

Name: Richd Griffin
Home in 1830 (City, County, State): Stafford, Virginia
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29:1 Richard 1806 Griffis, explained below.
Free White Persons - Males - 60 thru 69: 1 Born 1771-1780
Free White Persons - Females - 15 thru 19: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 50 thru 59: 1

Richard apparently died before 1840 and I haven’t seen anything that identifies his wife.

This gets interesting!

Alexander 1803 Griffis, shows up in the 1840 and 1850 St Albans, Licking County, Ohio census. He dies in 1854 in Bellefountain, Mahaska County, Iowa

Introducing a new Griffis...

Richard 1806 Griffis, who I believe is Alexander’s brother, also shows up in the 1840 St Albans, Licking County, Ohio census.

Richard 1806 Griffis and his spouse, Margaret, are in the 1850 and 1860 Licking, Licking County, Ohio census, both born in Virginia. They disappear after that.

Note that any land, farm, etc. probably went to Thomas 1797 Griffis, Richard c1775 Griffis' first born son after Richard died. This was probably the catalyst for Alexander and Richard Jr’s move, with families, to St Albans, Ohio before 1840.

The Alexander, Richard Jr, Richard c1775 documented connection:

Richard Jr and Margaret had five children in the 1850 census: Robert H., Richard F., Leo B., Ann S., and Caroline. According to the 1850 census Robert, Richard F, and Leo, were born in Virginia. Ann and Caroline were born in Licking County, Ohio.

Although Richard 1806 Griffis and his wife, Margaret, show up in the 1860 Licking County census, their children completely disappear after the 1850 census with one exception: Richard F 1836 Griffis shows up in a military record.

Richard 1836 Griffis joined the Union Army on 17 Feb 1862, enlisting in Milan, Sullivan County, Missouri, and was discharged 21 Feb 1865 in Warrensburg, Johnson County, Missouri.

Drumroll! Richard 1836 Griffis' military record (source Fold3) states that he was born in Stafford County, Virginia! This means Alexander 1803 and Richard 1806 moved to Ohio after 1836.

Thomas 1797 Griffis, Mary Polly 1798 Griffis, Alexander 1803 Griffis, and Richard 1806 Griffis must have been siblings, all born in Stafford County, Virginia, their father being Richard c1775 Griffis (“Griffis" in 1820 census).

Other things… Note that

1. the given name Richard being passed on: Richard 1775, Richard 1806, Richard 1836.

2. Mary Polly Ann 1798 Griffis and Thomas 1797 Griffis had children that married: Alexander Ellsworth 1826 Garrison and Mary 1832 Griffis. Mary died age 20, in 1853

With a reminder to myself, I will make another attempt to find Richard 1806 Griffis’ other children.

Regards, Jim Longway