HI Gordon, I have in my database that Mary Griffith, b. abt 1720 in Dorchester Co., MD married William Willett, b. abt 1715 Bealington, Prince Georges Co., MD. In 1737 in Prince Georges Co., MD. I have one source "The Willett Families of North America" Vol. 1, by Albert James Willett, JR. that says that Mary Griffith's parents were John Griffith and Mary Stevens. However, I also have a source - "The Willett Family of Maryland, Colonial Petwerers Kentucky Pioneers" by Sister Mary Louise Donnelly. On page 22 of this book is the following paragraph: "MARY GRIFFITH, the wife of WILLIAM WILLETT (7), and her brother George Griffith were the children of George Griffith who died prior to 1756 in Dorchester Co., MD. Robert Griffin administered the estate of George Griffith on 5/28/1756 and in the Balance of Final Distribution the children of George Griffith were named John, George, Elinor, Mary and Elizabeth. George Griffith's estate amounted to L154:7:4 1/4." "On 3/7/1779 in Upper Marlborogh, MARY WILLETT, the widow of WILLIAM WILLETT (7), m/2 Richard Simmons, a widower. By the stipulation in WILLIAM WILLETT's (7)will at the time of this marriage all the pewterer tools and molds became the property of her son EDWARD WILLETT (23)." I tend to believe the last source. George Griffith's will at least lists a Mary Griffith as a daughter. Hope this helps some, Joanna Smith Dunn -----Original Message----- From: Gordon Bonnet [mailto:jaggy227@fltg.net] Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 9:28 AM To: GRIFFITH-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [GRIFFITH] Mary Griffith m. William Willett I'm looking for any documentation of the origins of Mary Griffith, b. ca. 1710 probably in Maryland, who married William Willett. References differ as to her origin, and no one seems to have much primary documentation on her. I've seen her listed as the child of George Griffith, b. late 1600's, d. 1756 in Dorchester Co. MD; others say she is the child of John and Mary (Stevens) Griffith. I don't have any further information on either George or John's family which might help narrow the search. One piece of information which would argue against the "George hypothesis" is that in George Griffith's will, 1756, his daughter Mary is still called "Mary Griffith" and not by what would be her married name of Willett -- and Mary (Griffith) Willett was married in the 1730's. This would seem to indicate that George's daughter Mary is not the Mary Griffith who married William Willett. Some sources indicate that the John Griffith who married Mary Stevens is of the William Griffith/Sarah MacCubbin line, but this seems unlikely -- there isn't enough time between William Griffith and Mary (Griffith) Willett to fit in the required number of generations. Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm happy to send more details on any of this information if anyone's interested. cheers, Gordon Bonnet Trumansburg NY ==== GRIFFITH Mailing List ==== Space provide by Rootsweb.com ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Hi Joanna, Thanks for the response. These are also the sources I've seen. Note that in the George Griffith will, Mary is not referred to as Mary Willett, which she would have been if this was Mary (Griffith) Willett. Any ideas where John Griffith and Mary Stevens fit in? Cheers, Gordon Joanna Dunn wrote: > HI Gordon, > I have in my database that Mary Griffith, b. abt 1720 in Dorchester Co., MD > married William Willett, b. abt 1715 Bealington, Prince Georges Co., MD. In > 1737 in Prince Georges Co., MD. I have one source "The Willett Families of > North America" Vol. 1, by Albert James Willett, JR. that says that Mary > Griffith's parents were John Griffith and Mary Stevens. However, I also > have a source - "The Willett Family of Maryland, Colonial Petwerers Kentucky > Pioneers" by Sister Mary Louise Donnelly. On page 22 of this book is the > following paragraph: > "MARY GRIFFITH, the wife of WILLIAM WILLETT (7), and her brother George > Griffith were the children of George Griffith who died prior to 1756 in > Dorchester Co., MD. Robert Griffin administered the estate of George > Griffith on 5/28/1756 and in the Balance of Final Distribution the children > of George Griffith were named John, George, Elinor, Mary and Elizabeth. > George Griffith's estate amounted to L154:7:4 1/4." > > "On 3/7/1779 in Upper Marlborogh, MARY WILLETT, the widow of WILLIAM WILLETT > (7), m/2 Richard Simmons, a widower. By the stipulation in WILLIAM > WILLETT's (7)will at the time of this marriage all the pewterer tools and > molds became the property of her son EDWARD WILLETT (23)." > > I tend to believe the last source. George Griffith's will at least lists a > Mary Griffith as a daughter. > > Hope this helps some, > Joanna Smith Dunn > > -----Original Message----- > From: Gordon Bonnet [mailto:jaggy227@fltg.net] > Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 9:28 AM > To: GRIFFITH-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [GRIFFITH] Mary Griffith m. William Willett > > I'm looking for any documentation of the origins of Mary Griffith, b. ca. > 1710 probably in Maryland, who married William Willett. References differ > as to her origin, and no one seems to have much primary documentation on > her. I've seen her listed as the child of George Griffith, b. late 1600's, > d. 1756 in Dorchester Co. MD; others say she is the child of John and Mary > (Stevens) Griffith. > > I don't have any further information on either George or John's family which > might help narrow the search. One piece of information which would argue > against the "George hypothesis" is that in George Griffith's will, 1756, his > daughter Mary is still called "Mary Griffith" and not by what would be her > married name of Willett -- and Mary (Griffith) Willett was married in the > 1730's. This would seem to indicate that George's daughter Mary is not the > Mary Griffith who married William Willett. > > Some sources indicate that the John Griffith who married Mary Stevens is of > the William Griffith/Sarah MacCubbin line, but this seems unlikely -- there > isn't enough time between William Griffith and Mary (Griffith) Willett to > fit in the required number of generations. > > Anyway, any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm happy to send more > details on any of this information if anyone's interested. > > cheers, > > Gordon Bonnet > Trumansburg NY > > ==== GRIFFITH Mailing List ==== > > Space provide by Rootsweb.com > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go > to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > > ==== GRIFFITH Mailing List ==== > Flame wars will not be tolerated on this list. > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237