2. William2 Griffith (William1) was born say 1663. He married Mary (--?--) say 1685. He died circa Jul 1734.
Smith (Chatham MA Hist., 152) shows that in 1701 William Griffith Jr. was chosen as one of the surveyors and fence viewers. On page 97, Paine shows that William Griffith was a witness, 2 May 1696, to the will of John Wing. This will is given in The Mayflower Descendant 33:89, and shows this to be William "Jr." [who signed by mark, as he did most of his Plymouth County deeds]. He purchased one-half of a proprietor's share in Rochester, ca. 1700. The Rochester proprietors' records show that on 7 July 1703, Samuel Lothrop of Barnstable and William Griffeth Jr. of Monomoy (sic) divide their one jointly held share of land, which at first was Joseph Lothrop's share (Rochester Proprietors' Records (mss. copy held at the County Commissioners' Office, Plymouth, MA), 1:60-61). That William Jr. was a son of William Sr. is established by a deed dated 18 July 1705, in which William Griffith Jr. of Rochester in the County of Barnstable for £8 10s paid by his "honoured father" William Griffith of same, sells his meadow and swampy ground in "Crowmeset Neck" formerly belonging to Joseph Lothrop's share (Plymouth Co. Deeds, 10 (Part II):459). In another deed dated 8 Jan 1707/8, William Griffith of Rochester sells "all my messuage of upland, meadow ground & swamp in Rochester & all my housing, fences, orchard & other land & all my salt meadows & what I bought of my son William Griffith" to James Winslow (Plymouth Co. Deeds, 7:234). Examination of various deeds in Plymouth County establishes that the wife of this William was Mary to whom he was married from at least 1714 to 1734, and strongly suggests that Mary was indeed the mother of the children of William born in Rochester 1704-1711. I am indebted to Richard Newcomb of Sun City West, AZ, for bringing some of these deeds to my attention. In a deed dated 22 March 1722, William Griffith of Rochester gave peaceable and quiet possession and seizure of certain property in Rochester to John Cushing Jr., attorney to Addington Davenport, James Hutchinson, and Edward Hutchinson Esq., surviving trustees named and empowered by an act of the General Court at the session of October 1714 for a loan of £50,000 in bills of credit, mortgaged under the hand and seal of said William Griffith and Mary his wife dated 28 Dec. 1714 (Plymouth County deeds, 16:186). In a deed dated 21 June 1734, and acknowledged 29 June 1734, William Griffith of Middleborough sells for £300 to his son Jesse Griffith of same, the farm and other land which he bought of William Short by deed of 3 June 1734, reserving to himself and Mary his wife the use and improvement of one half of the property during either or both of their natural lives (Plymouth County deeds, 29:76). This is followed by an agreement dated 23 July 1734, whereby Mary Griffith of Middleborough, widow, voids a bond of £100 [her widows dower] of that date, by her "loving son" Jesse Griffith of Middleborough, for good and sufficient meat, drink, washing, and lodging in sickness and in health, and gives up all rights in the property sold to Jesse by her late husband William Griffith (Plymouth County deeds, 27:77).
As a proprietor, he got more land every time an area of "common land" was divided, and he became an influential person, and was elected selectman. His home was "on the West Bank of the West Branch of the Sippican River", in North Rochester, and some of his holdings extended into Middleborough, South Purchase.
Children of William2 Griffith and Mary (--?--) were as follows:
3. Stephen2 Griffith (William1) was born say 1674. He married Rebeckah Ryder, daughter of Joseph Ryder, on 6 Apr 1699 at Yarmouth, Barnstable Co., MA.4,5
He was one of the earliest settlers of Brewster Village. He and his descendants lived in the area of Griffith Pond in Brewster for many years.
Children of Stephen2 Griffith and Rebeckah Ryder all born at Harwich, Barnstable Co., MA, were as follows:
4. James2 Griffith (William1) was born say 1676. He married Mercy ( Nickerson ) Mitchell circa 1704.
Smith (Chatham MA Hist., 152) shows that in 1701 James Griffith was chosen tithingman in Chatham. It is said in The Descendants of William Nickerson Part I, pg. 30, that this family went to the vicinity of Smyrna (Duck Creek) Delaware c. 1711 (Ref. Joseph Paine papers, NEHGS).
Children of James2 Griffith and Mercy ( Nickerson ) Mitchell were:
5. Philip2 Griffith (William1) was born say 1680; but could have been considerably earlier. He married Mary (--?--). He married Elizabeth Reynolds on 17 Jun 1740 at Charlestown, Washington Co., RI.12 He died in 1743 at Charlestown, Washington Co., RI.13
He may be the Philip Griffith who appears in Charlestown, Rhode Island, in the early 1700's, although the disparity in dates gives me some concern; to have him remarry at age 60 and have another child is somewhat unusual. The Philip of Charlestown was a cordwainer. He sold land in the Pettaquamscutt Purchase in South Kingstown (RI) in 1707 to William Brown, with wife Mary releasing her dower rights (North Kingstown Land Evidence 1:140-141). In his will, dated 4 April 1743, he mentions wife Elizabeth, eldest son William, and second son Philip; probate records mention a minor son George (Charlestown Wills 1:47, 52).14
Children of Philip2 Griffith and Mary (--?--) were as follows:
He was a cordwainer. Gifford has his relationship to this family as questionable.17
Children of Philip2 Griffith and Elizabeth Reynolds were:
6. Jeremiah2 Griffith (William1) was born circa 1685. He married Marey Barlow, daughter of Aaron Barlow and Beulah Wing, circa 1706. He died before 13 Jun 1756; the date of his daughter Content's marriage, when he is referred to as "late."
That Jeremiah was a son of William Sr. is established by a deed dated 29 June 1710, in which William Griffith Sr. of Rochester sells to his son Jeremiah Griffith of same, for £100, one half of all upland meadow and swampy ground bought of Aaron Barlow in a deed of 2 April 1708 (Plymouth Co. Deeds, 9:340).
Children of Jeremiah2 Griffith and Marey Barlow all born at Rochester, Plymouth Co., MA, were as follows: