This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jantrevor Surnames: Griffin, Cherokee, AL, VA, GA, TX Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.griffin/6658.2/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Some folks had referenced the Snead Notebook in various sites. I happened to get a copy of the page referencing Benjamin Griffin. The following is transcribed from page 199. Griffin In the folklore of the Griffin family is a story of the great size and physical strength of the Griffin men. Great Great Grandfather Griffin or maybe it was one of his sons was reported to be so strong that when he went to the woods to search for a cow and a calf, he came home with the cow over one shoulder and the calf under his arm. However this was not the present day beef animal, but a scrawny range animal. Still the image is most impressive and the story is told and retold. Benjamin Griffin 1773-1846 is the first Griffin of whom we have a record. It is likely that he was born in Virginia. From the record of David V. Kersh III, Benjamin's parents emigrated from Dublin Ireland. Their names are not available at this time. Benjamin is said to have left Virginia about 1802 and moved to Wilkes County GA then to Goat Hill Montgomery Alabama. Goat Hill is near the present State Capital Building. From there he moved to Bibb County Alabama. He had many children fourteen were named in the settlement of his estate in 1850. There may have been more than one wife. According to their grave marker, Polly Griffin was born 1785 twelve years later than her husband. She was only 15 years old when Benjamin's first son Robert W. was born. Considering this and the great span of time between Robert's birth 1800 and the last child Elizabeth birth in 1830, it is plausible that Polly may have been a second wife and not the mother of some of the earlier children! . The date of her marriage is unknown. The heirs who participated in the sharing of Benjamin Griffin's estate were: Polly Griffin his widow and fourteen children: Robert W. Griffin born 1800 in Virginia Bird Griffin born 1803 in Georgia Daniel Griffin John W. Griffin born 1811 Martha Griffin born 1807 wife of Joseph A Blakely James S. Griffin born 1810 Henry P Griffin born 1812 in GA William Griffin Nancy Griffin Notes about the above: I've been unable to find the research of David V. Kersh III as mentioned or any sources proving the Dublin Ireland origin. In fact, documents point to this Griffin line being in Virginia back to 1656. It is however possible that they originally (prior to 1656) came from Dublin Ireland and that this origin myth was passed down but out of its original context...but that is yet to be proved. As to Mary Polly Bird Griffin not being the mother of some of the earlier children, possible, not proved. Many lines also believe her to have been Cherokee....which is also consistent with the time period, historical texts and where they were at. The Griffin men being strong and running cattle in GA/The Mississippi Territory (AL) - very plausible and consistent with historical documents on the period and local and certainly true of my line to present day. Big square strong men. As to them being in Goat Hill, very likely. State capital records state that a "Mr. Griffin owned a market ! next to the original jail." For more research/source documentation on this family see: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=updatedjan&id=I4938 Anyway, hope this is helpful to family researchers. Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.