This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: jantrevor Surnames: Griffin Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.griffin/6658.1.1.1.1.2.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Also, it is also important to note, that there were Griffin families not only mixed with Native Americans during the Colonial Period but also with Africans. Paul Heinnegg, an award-winning researcher has compiled the names of individuals by surname of Free Persons of Color and Indentured Servants and others who intermarried or had children together during the colonial period for Virginia, NC, Maryland and Delaware. His research is taken from court records, census, wills, deeds, etc. Within those records, are several lines of Griffin's which like many other Griffin's may have moved into Georgia and The Mississippi Territory with westward expansion. For those lines, if a family researcher assumes that they are looking soley for white relations during the colonial period, this may be why nothing is turning up. Prior to say 1840, some folks may be listed as Mulatto or Free Person's of color. Further, mulatto could mean a variety of things. At that time, the child of perhaps an indentured servant who was Irish who married an Indian would be listed as Mulatto. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miscegenation_laws In any event, Mr. Heinegg's research on the Griffin line is located here: http://www.freeafricanamericans.com/Grace_Hamlin.htm Perhaps the most well documented mixed-heritage Griffin descendant of the Mississippi Territory was Mary Musgrove. "Known as Coosaponakeesa among the Creek Indians, Mary Musgrove served as a cultural liaison between colonial Georgia and her Native American community in the mid-eighteenth century. Musgrove took advantage of her biculturalism to protect Creek interests, maintain peace on the frontier, and expand her business as a trader. As Pocahontas was to the Jamestown colony and Sacagawea was to the Lewis and Clark expedition, so was Musgrove to the burgeoning Georgia colony. Musgrove was the daughter of the English trader Edward Griffin and a Creek Indian mother who was related to Brims and Chigelli, two Creek leaders." http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-688 I do not think anyone has traced successfully the ancestry of her father Edward Griffin. I always for years why I met so many Griffin's who were white, black and Indian. I had always thought the African American lines had taken the surname from Griffin slave owners (as there were many Griffin slave owners), but it turns out that this is much less likely the case. Some of these Griffin's carry the surname, because they directly descend from colonial period Griffin relationships/marriages. They simply are...Griffins. http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-688 So the point here is to not assume that every single one of your anscestors was of 100% European ancestry. In my personal research of 15 or so years, I have at least 5 direct ancestors from the Colonial period and later that were not identified as "white" at some point. We truly are a melting pot and all God's children. 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.