CHRISTOPHER•ALLEN•SMITH•WINTON Family Tree - Person Sheet
CHRISTOPHER•ALLEN•SMITH•WINTON Family Tree - Person Sheet
NameGriffith THOMAS 
[1498], [5359], [5360], [5406, page 506], [5378], GGGG Grandfather
[1498], [5359], [5360], [5406, page 506], [5378], GGGG GrandfatherBirth Date1760 [5359], [1498, Memorial# 14106760 & 11710137], [5378], [5360]
Birth PlaceNew Jersey, United States
MemoOr 1763 based on inscription in Farmington, Michigan. 1850 census (Farmington) says 1761 in New York. 1850 census (Lansing) says 1760 in New Jersey.
Census Date1 Aug 1850 [5378]
Census PlaceFarmington Twp., Oakland Co., Michigan, United States
MemoSays he was born in New York.
Census Date12 Sep 1850 [5360]
Census PlaceLansing, Ingham Co., Michigan, United States
MemoHard to read on census page but it looks like his age is “90” as a correction to “47”
Death Date8 Dec 1850 [1498, Memorial# 14106760 & 11710137], [5359]
Death PlaceLansing, Ingham Co., Michigan, United States
MemoAge 90 yr. (Lansing, MI, headstone); Age 87 yr. inscribed on Farmington, MI, monument.
Burial PlaceLansing, Ingham Co., Michigan, United States [5359], [1498, Memorial# 14106760]
MemoMount Hope Cemetery: Lot 11 Sec. H, Grave 10
Alias/AKAGriffeth THOMAS [5360]
Misc. Notes
Griffith’s death is recorded on two separate gravestones, one in Lansing, Michigan, which is where he probably is physically buried, and the second is on the east face of the gravestone of his son, John, in Farmington, Michigan (the reference to Griffith on this monument is known as a “cenotaph”). [1498, Memorial# 14106760 & 11710137] The 1850 census shows him in two places: on 01 Aug 1850, he was reported living with his son, Henry, in Farmington, Michigan, but later on 12 Sep 1850, he was living with his son, John, in Lansing, Michigan. [5378], [5360] He probably returned to Lansing after his visit to Farmington, later to die in December of that year.
The Lansing gravesite is also documented at
https://billiongraves.com/grave/Griffith-Thomas/11780756
The Lansing gravesite is also documented at
https://billiongraves.com/grave/Griffith-Thomas/11780756
Research
The 1790 census has a Griffith THOMAS living in East Whiteland, Chester Co., PA.
with tallies 2, 2, 3, “-“ and blank ( 2 males 16+, 2 males 0-15, 3 females, no slaves, no other free persons). This appears to be the only Griffith THOMAS anywhere in the surviving 1790 census. The problem with this is that his only children I know about were born starting 1798.
1830 census lists a Griffith THOMAS and wife, both tallied in the 60-69 age bracket, living in Trenton, Oneida, New York.
If he was born in New York rather than New Jersey…
Possible Christening record: Griffith THOMAS, 06-JUL-1761, Saint Georges Church, Hempstead, Nassau Co., New York, United States. Father: Griffith THOMAS, Mother: Martha.
"New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2HD-PL4 : 12 December 2014), Griffith Thomas, 06 Jul 1761; citing SAINT GEORGES CHURCH,HEMPSTEAD,NASSAU,NEW YORK, reference ; FHL microfilm 974.7 B2N V. 9-11.
Curiously, a Richard THOMAS, was christened the same day with the same parents, same place.
"New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2H8-25F : 12 December 2014), Richard Thomas, 06 Jul 1761; citing SAINT GEORGES CHURCH,HEMPSTEAD,NASSAU,NEW YORK, reference ; FHL microfilm 974.7 B2N V. 9-11.
Ditto for a John THOMAS.
"New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2H8-Z9V : 12 December 2014), John Thomas, 06 Jul 1761; citing SAINT GEORGES CHURCH,HEMPSTEAD,NASSAU,NEW YORK, reference ; FHL microfilm 974.7 B2N V. 9-11.
So it would appear to have been a “group” baptism for three sons of the same couple.
Of course, if my Griffith was born in 1763, that eliminates the above records.
As of 10-OCT-2019, the only marriage record on Ancestry for a Griffith THOMAS, in the range 1778-1800, is one dated 10 Oct 1793, in Frederick Co., MD. The bride’s name was Elizabeth Grove.
A Griffith THOMAS, age 16, “Served on the Convention” 11 Apr 1777 to 1 Aug 1777, under Capt. John Rice, in the “Penna. Navy.” Muster Rolls of the Convention, March-July 1777. Pennsylvania State Archives; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File; Series Number: 13.50
Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, U.S., Veterans Card Files, 1775-1916
see also reference to John Rice here:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-06-02-0257
https://www.wolfensberger.org/pages/library/books/...lvaniaarch38penn.pdf >> p.85(pdf p.95) mentions Capt. John Rice and the Schooner Convention. "Muster Roll of the Brig[antine] Convention" p.270-273
Griffith THOMAS mentioned on p.272 as one of the Seamen, specifically noted as “a boy). Book saved as “pennsylvaniaarch38penn.pdf”
In the book the vessel “Convention” is variously referred to as a Schooner, Galley, Brigantine or Brig.
19 Nov 2023: Griffith THOMAS not found in DAR ancestor database.
with tallies 2, 2, 3, “-“ and blank ( 2 males 16+, 2 males 0-15, 3 females, no slaves, no other free persons). This appears to be the only Griffith THOMAS anywhere in the surviving 1790 census. The problem with this is that his only children I know about were born starting 1798.
1830 census lists a Griffith THOMAS and wife, both tallied in the 60-69 age bracket, living in Trenton, Oneida, New York.
If he was born in New York rather than New Jersey…
Possible Christening record: Griffith THOMAS, 06-JUL-1761, Saint Georges Church, Hempstead, Nassau Co., New York, United States. Father: Griffith THOMAS, Mother: Martha.
"New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2HD-PL4 : 12 December 2014), Griffith Thomas, 06 Jul 1761; citing SAINT GEORGES CHURCH,HEMPSTEAD,NASSAU,NEW YORK, reference ; FHL microfilm 974.7 B2N V. 9-11.
Curiously, a Richard THOMAS, was christened the same day with the same parents, same place.
"New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2H8-25F : 12 December 2014), Richard Thomas, 06 Jul 1761; citing SAINT GEORGES CHURCH,HEMPSTEAD,NASSAU,NEW YORK, reference ; FHL microfilm 974.7 B2N V. 9-11.
Ditto for a John THOMAS.
"New York Births and Christenings, 1640-1962," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2H8-Z9V : 12 December 2014), John Thomas, 06 Jul 1761; citing SAINT GEORGES CHURCH,HEMPSTEAD,NASSAU,NEW YORK, reference ; FHL microfilm 974.7 B2N V. 9-11.
So it would appear to have been a “group” baptism for three sons of the same couple.
Of course, if my Griffith was born in 1763, that eliminates the above records.
As of 10-OCT-2019, the only marriage record on Ancestry for a Griffith THOMAS, in the range 1778-1800, is one dated 10 Oct 1793, in Frederick Co., MD. The bride’s name was Elizabeth Grove.
A Griffith THOMAS, age 16, “Served on the Convention” 11 Apr 1777 to 1 Aug 1777, under Capt. John Rice, in the “Penna. Navy.” Muster Rolls of the Convention, March-July 1777. Pennsylvania State Archives; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Revolutionary War Military Abstract Card File; Series Number: 13.50
Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, U.S., Veterans Card Files, 1775-1916
see also reference to John Rice here:
https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/05-06-02-0257
https://www.wolfensberger.org/pages/library/books/...lvaniaarch38penn.pdf >> p.85(pdf p.95) mentions Capt. John Rice and the Schooner Convention. "Muster Roll of the Brig[antine] Convention" p.270-273
Griffith THOMAS mentioned on p.272 as one of the Seamen, specifically noted as “a boy). Book saved as “pennsylvaniaarch38penn.pdf”
In the book the vessel “Convention” is variously referred to as a Schooner, Galley, Brigantine or Brig.
19 Nov 2023: Griffith THOMAS not found in DAR ancestor database.