Griffin/Saunders Family of Knocknaboley Wicklow

Thomas GRIFFIN Sr.

Thomas GRIFFINAge: 71 years18161887

Name
Thomas GRIFFIN
Birth about 1816 36
Shared note: Census records of 1861 and 1881 indicate that he was born about 1815, not in 1809 as had been reported on his death record. The Coolatin Estate Residents book puts his birth year as about 1816 as does his immigration record from Coolatin in 1851.

Death of a paternal grandfatherJohn GRIFFIN
before 1834 (Age 18 years)
Death of a fatherThomas GRIFFIN
before 1839 (Age 23 years)

Death of a motherMargaret
after 1839 (Age 23 years)
Shared note: Margaret Griffin, age 65, was living on the Kemmitt,Griffin,Pollard Lease in 1839 - a widow, according to the Account of Residents Book of the Coolatin Estate - MS 6082 of NLI. She had exactly 2 sons - presumably Peter and Thomas Griffin who took over the lease in Knocknaboley in 1843. Margaret probably had died by 1843.
MarriageJane SAUNDERSView this family
April 11, 1844 (Age 28 years)
Birth of a son
#1
John GRIFFIN
February 5, 1845 (Age 29 years)
Birth of a daughter
#2
Margaret Jane GRIFFIN
November 17, 1846 (Age 30 years)

Residence 1848 (Age 32 years)
Property
Kemmitt/Griffin/Pollard Lease
1848 (Age 32 years)
Shared note: By 1848 Thomas and Peter Griffin assumed the old John Griffin portion of the lease on the Coolatin estate. They replaced Margaret Griffin and William Griffin respectively, who had replaced Thomas Griffin on the lease in the early 1840s. It is thought that Margaret was the wife of the elder Thomas and the mother of Peter and Thomas. William was the elder Thomas' brother.
Birth of a daughter
#3
Mary Ann GRIFFIN
June 8, 1849 (Age 33 years)
Immigration May 30, 1851 (Age 35 years)
Birth of a son
#4
Thomas GRIFFIN
March 19, 1852 (Age 36 years)
Shared note: Thomas was probably born in Cartwright Township, Durham Co Ontario. His parents had immigrated from Ireland just a year before his birth and were living in Cartwright in the 1851 and 1861 censuses.
Birth of a son
#5
Peter GRIFFIN
October 24, 1854 (Age 38 years)
Residence 1861 (Age 45 years)
Marriage of a childEzekiel PhairMargaret Jane GRIFFINView this family
February 13, 1866 (Age 50 years)
Birth of a son
#6
Albert James GRIFFIN
May 31, 1866 (Age 50 years)

Property
Conc 13 Lot 22
1869 (Age 53 years)
Shared note: Thomas bought 1 acre of land in Howick Township, Huron County in 1869.
Marriage of a childJohn GRIFFINMary GILESView this family
March 13, 1873 (Age 57 years)
Residence 1873 (Age 57 years)
Shared note: The marriage record for John Griffin and Mary Giles indicates that either Thomas or John Griffin lived at Conc 13 Lot 22 in Huron Co.
Marriage of a childJohn DYNESMary Ann GRIFFINView this family
1875 (Age 59 years)
Marriage of a childThomas GRIFFINEllen MILNEView this family
January 29, 1878 (Age 62 years)
Marriage of a childPeter GRIFFINJane Maud MILNEView this family
July 15, 1880 (Age 64 years)

_PHOTO

Death July 29, 1887 (Age 71 years)
Family with parents - View this family
father
mother
himself
-2 years
elder brother
Family with Jane SAUNDERS - View this family
himself
wife
Marriage: April 11, 1844Co Wicklow, Ireland
10 months
son
21 months
daughter
3 years
daughter
3 years
son
3 years
son
12 years
son

Birth

Census records of 1861 and 1881 indicate that he was born about 1815, not in 1809 as had been reported on his death record. The Coolatin Estate Residents book puts his birth year as about 1816 as does his immigration record from Coolatin in 1851.

Residence

Thomas Griffin(the elder) supplanted John Griffin on his lease in Knocknaboley by 1830. The following justifies the claim that he is our ancestor.

In the 1839 Rental Book (NLI, MS 6082) Thomas Griffin's part of the lease was occupied by Margaret (30 acres) and William (20 acres). Margaret was probably Thomas' widow, age 65 with 2 sons and 1 daughter. William was 60 and had no wife and unknown children.

By 1848 Margaret and William were replaced by Peter and Thomas (junior) respectively. In fact the entries in 1848 were:

Peter Griffin, age 30, wife age 25, 1 son and 1 daughter. Thomas Griffin, age 32, wife age 25, 1 son and 1 daughter. and Samuel Fisher, age 30, wife age 26.

The 1850 Tenant census was similar and shows Thomas' family just before they left for Canada. This record shows that this particular Thomas Griffin is the same man who moved to Durham Co Ontario in 1850, because Samuel Fisher gave his immigration ticket to Thomas, according to the Emigration records of the Coolatin Estate.

Property

By 1848 Thomas and Peter Griffin assumed the old John Griffin portion of the lease on the Coolatin estate. They replaced Margaret Griffin and William Griffin respectively, who had replaced Thomas Griffin on the lease in the early 1840s. It is thought that Margaret was the wife of the elder Thomas and the mother of Peter and Thomas. William was the elder Thomas' brother.

Immigration

Note: Transcribed from the manuscripts of the Fitzwilliam estate in the National Library of Ireland, as part of Jim Rees's research for his book, SURPLUS PEOPLE.

Fitzwilliam Tenants - Family Group ID: 508 Parish Kilcommon Year Listed: 1851 Surname Griffin Reference No. 57 Group Members: Thomas 35, Jane 29, John 6, Margaret 4, Mary 2. Townland Knocknaboley

Original Record in National Library Ireland, MS 4975, EMIGRANTS ASSISTED 1851.

Thomas' family was listed along with his neighbor John Kimmitt. The Kimmitts and Griffins had shared a 100 acre farm lease for over 70 years in Knocknaboley.

Ship Glenlyon Departure New Ross, Co Wexford, Ireland. April 15, 1851 Arrival Quebec. May 30, 1851 Holding Chest/Graves in side column.

The GLENLYON, a ship of 909 tons, was built in Saint John New Brunswick, by Hugh Irvine and his brothers (?). She was launched in August 1841, and registered in November 1841, at first by R.D. Wilmot, and later in the month by Stephen and AugustusWiggins. Sold by the latter firm to London owners. Samuel Robert Graves registered the GLENLYON in Liverpool in 1851, but the next year re-registered her in Ross [Scotland] for other members of the Graves family. She was abandoned in a sinking state in January 1861, on a voyage from Savannah to Liverpool.

Residence

Address: Lot 3 Concession 2

Extract from Archeologist's Report on Cartwright:

West Half of Lot 3 Conc 3

On March 30, 1855, William Darcy signed over the south 50 acres (~20 ha) of the west half of lot 3 to his sister-in-law, Catherine Darcy, who was the widow of his brother Benjamin (Deed #661). She immediately transferred the 50 acres to her son John who, for a number of years, rented it out to area farmers (Deed #663). The agricultural census for 1861 showed THOMAS GRIFFIN occupying and farming 30 (~12 ha) of the 50 acres (~20 ha) while later maps showed James Miller and later Peter Darcy as the occupants. On September 10 1864, John Darcy transferred ownership of the 50 acres to his brother Thomas (Deed #3800) who transferred it on October 7, 1869 to Alice Darcy. William Darcy held title to the north 50 acres (~20 ha) until his death on December 20, 1877 when he bequeathed it to his son Thomas (Will #1272). The census for 1851 shows the William Darcy family occupying a one-story log house and the agricultural census of 1861 shows both the north and south halves of the west half of lot 3. Thomas Darcy is shown as owning part of Lot 3, Concession 2. The northwest half of Lot 3 is owned by William Darcy and the southwest half of Lot 3 is owned by James Miller. No structures are indicated for the study area on the Tremaine map. The east half of Lot 3, Concession 3 is owned by James Saunders. No buildings are depicted on the 1861 Tremaine map.

Property

Thomas bought 1 acre of land in Howick Township, Huron County in 1869.

Residence

The marriage record for John Griffin and Mary Giles indicates that either Thomas or John Griffin lived at Conc 13 Lot 22 in Huron Co.

Shared note

1861 census record for Durham Co ONT, living next door to James Saunders family.

Name Place Gender Occupation Birth Place Age Thomas Griffin Cartwright m farmer - 47 Jane Griffin Cartwright f - - 39 John Griffin Cartwright m labourer - 16 Margaret Griffin Cartwright f - - 14 Mary Griffin Cartwright f - - 12 Thomas Griffin Cartwright m - Canada West 9 Peter Griffin Cartwright m - Canada West 6

1851 Census Cartwright Township, Durham Co, Ontario page 47

Thomas Griffin 56?? Ireland English Church Jane Griffin 28 John Griffin 6 Margaret Griffin 4 Mary Ann 2 All born in Ireland. Living in "log shanty."

BirthRoad sign to Knocknaboley, Wicklow -Thomas' birthplaceRoad sign to Knocknaboley, Wicklow -Thomas' birthplace
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BirthOne of the Ruined Griffin Houses in Knocknaboley, 1989One of the Ruined Griffin Houses in Knocknaboley, 1989
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ResidenceKemmitt/Griffin/Pollard Lease Tenants for 1850Kemmitt/Griffin/Pollard Lease Tenants for 1850
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PropertyKemmitt/Griffin/Pollard Lease on 1848Kemmitt/Griffin/Pollard Lease on 1848
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ImmigrationCopy of Immigration Ledger Entry from Coolatin Estate for Thomas and Jane GriffinCopy of Immigration Ledger Entry from Coolatin Estate for Thomas and Jane Griffin
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Residence(Partial) Archaelogical Report on Old James Saunders Land
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PropertyDeed Recorded in Huron for Thomas' Purchase
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DeathOfficial Death RecordOfficial Death Record
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Media objectThomas GRIFFIN Sr.Thomas GRIFFIN Sr.
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Media object1840 Map of Southeast part of Knocknaboley1840 Map of Southeast part of Knocknaboley
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Media objectThomas Griffin and Jane Saunders Griffin, circa 1883Thomas Griffin and Jane Saunders Griffin, circa 1883
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