1810: Indenture between Samuel Griffing, Jr. & John Griffing

The John Griffing referred to in this indenture is believed to be a great-grandson of Jasper Griffing (1648-1718). This John Griffing (number 33 in Clara Stone’s book), lived from 1737 to 1822 in Riverhead, New York. He is known to have married Deborah Wells of Southold, the daughter of Samuel Wells, and to have had at least three sons: John, Samuel, and Stephen. It is conjectured that the Samuel Griffing appearing in this indenture as a witness is John Griffing’s son, and that the Samuel Griffing, Jr. is Samuel’s son. I don’t have any birth and death dates for Samuel and his son. I’m not sure what “the Roanoke” refers to but there is a Roanoke Avenue in Riverhead today (also known as County Road 73). Benjamin Brewster was the Suffolk County Sheriff at the time this indenture was entered into. Isaac Norton, also mentioned in this indenture, married an Anne Griffin who may have also been related to this Griffing branch. The document says this parcel of land was bounded easterly by land “formerly owned” by Isaac Norton. The Norton’s sold their land about 1800 and moved to Herkimer County, New York.

Indenture between Samuel Griffing, Jr. &  John Griffing of Riverhead, Long Island

TRANSCRIPTION

Three months after John Griffing shall demand it, I promise to pay him on order one hundred dollars with interest from that time or otherwise to convey to him in fee simple a tract of land near the Roanoake in Riverhead said to contain sixty acres bounded northerly by the land of David Wells; westerly by the land of Amariah Benjamin; southerly by the land of Stephen Griffing and Benjamin Brewster, and easterly by the land formerly belonging to Isaac Norton, which said lands are conveyed to me by the said John Griffing by deed bearing even deth herewith witness my hand and seal. August 8th 1810. — Samuel Griffing, Jr.

In presence of:

Grover Moore
Samuel Griffing