Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Descendants of Rydderch Ap Kydivor

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Descendants of Rydderch Ap Kydivor

Generation No. 16

19. WILLIAM¹⁷ GRIFFITH (GRIFFITH JOHN¹⁶, JOHN¹⁵, GRIFFITH HUGH JENKIN¹⁴, HUGH JENKIN¹³, JENKIN AP¹², GRIFFITH AP JENKIN AP¹¹ THOMAS, JENKIN AP THOMAS AP RYS¹⁰ DU, THOMAS AP⁹ RYS, RYS⁸ DU, LLEWELYN AP⁷ KYDWGAN, KYDWGAN⁶ VYCHAN, KYDWGAN⁵ VAWR, RICHARD AP⁴ RYS, RYS AP³ RYDDERCH, RYDDERCH AP² KYDIVOR, KYDIVOR AP¹ DINWAL)^109,¹¹⁰ was born Abt. 1704 in Cardigan So. Wales ¹¹¹, and died February 1790 in Easttown, Chester Co., PA¹¹¹. He married SARA RHYS¹¹². She was born 1662 ¹¹³, and died 1729¹¹³.

Notes for WILLIAM GRIFFITH:
William, 1st son of Griffith John Griffith, was born near the conjunction of the ancient boundaries of the parishes of Nantewnlle, Llanddewi Brefi, and Trevlian, in the County of Cardigan, South Wales. He removed to Pennsylvania with his brothers John and Griffith, after December, 1716. He ultimately settled in the Township of Easttown or Eastown, in Chester County where he died in or about the month of February, 1790. He was a planter, and, it is stated, a member of the Baptist Church. His wife's name has not been ascertained. Like his brother, Griffith, and possibly also John, he resided with his uncle Hugh John after his father's death in or about 1711. His name, with that of Hugh John, appears in relation to the settlement of the estate of the Rev. David Edwards, a relative and neighbor, and a Non-conformist minister who died in 1716. [Rambo-Forde merge 05-31-2002.FTW]

William and his brother(s) came to America in 1682. The number of brothers who came is uncertain. It appears that the brothers were related by marriage to the Royal House of Wales. William settled on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River from Philadelphia. William is said to have walked the streets of Philadelphia at the age of 105. He was a Quaker.

NOTE: There were other settlers in Chester County of the same name, and care has been exercised in identification. Some have stated that William was the second son, but this seems incorrect.

More About WILLIAM GRIFFITH:
Burial: Unknown, Warrington Cemetery, York Co., PA ^114,¹¹⁵

Children of WILLIAM GRIFFITH and SARA RHYS are:

22.	i.	WILLIAM¹⁸ GRIFFITH, d. September 21, 1778.
23.	ii.	JOHN GRIFFITH, b. Bet. 1690 - 1692, Nantmel Parish , Radnorshire, South Wales; d. April 04, 1745, Nantmel Parish , Radnorshire, South Wales.
	iii.	DAVID GRIFFITH¹¹⁶, d. Unknown.
24.	iv.	SARAH GRIFFITH, d. Unknown.
25.	v.	ANN GRIFFITH, d. Unknown.

20. JOHN¹⁷ GRIFFITH (GRIFFITH JOHN¹⁶, JOHN¹⁵, GRIFFITH HUGH JENKIN¹⁴, HUGH JENKIN¹³, JENKIN AP¹², GRIFFITH AP JENKIN AP¹¹ THOMAS, JENKIN AP THOMAS AP RYS¹⁰ DU, THOMAS AP⁹ RYS, RYS⁸ DU, LLEWELYN AP⁷ KYDWGAN, KYDWGAN⁶ VYCHAN, KYDWGAN⁵ VAWR, RICHARD AP⁴ RYS, RYS AP³ RYDDERCH, RYDDERCH AP² KYDIVOR, KYDIVOR AP¹ DINWAL)¹¹⁶ was born Bet. 1707 - 1708 in Nantewnile, Llanddewi Brefi, Cardiganshire, Wales ¹¹⁷, and died Abt. October 1774 in East Nantmeal Twp., Newtown Twp., Chester County, PA ¹¹⁸. He married MARY JOHN¹¹⁸ October 31, 1734 in Uwchlan Twp., Chester Co., PA ¹¹⁹, daughter of SAMUEL JOHN and MARGARET. She was born December 19, 1709 in Goshen, Chester Co., PA ¹²⁰, and died Unknown.

Notes for JOHN GRIFFITH:
John Griffith, 2nd son of Griffith John Griffith, was born near the conjunction of the ancient bounaries of the parished Nantewnlle, Llanddewi Brefi, and Trevlian, in the County of Cardigan, South Wales. He removed to Pennsylvania with his brothers William and Griffith, after December, 1716. He settled, first, in the township of Newtown, Chester County, where he was taxed in 1722. He died in the township of East Nantmeal, in or about the month of October, 1774. He erly allied himself wth the Society of Friends, and became prominent among them. In 1750 he removed to Wilmington, Delaware, from Goshen, and, in 1754, he returned to Goshen.

John Griffith married August 31, 1734, being then of Uwchlan, Chester County, Mary, daughter of Samuel and Margaret John of the same place. She was born December 19, 1709-10.

More About JOHN GRIFFITH and MARY JOHN:
Marriage: October 31, 1734, Uwchlan Twp., Chester Co., PA ¹²¹

Children of JOHN GRIFFITH and MARY JOHN are:

26.	i.	WILLIAM¹⁸ GRIFFITH, b. March 28, 1736, Uwchlan Twp., Chester Co., PA; d. 1788.
27.	ii.	JOHN GRIFFITH, b. June 13, 1737, Uwchlan Twp., Chester Co., PA; d. January 22, 1833, Frederick County, VA.
28.	iii.	SAMUEL GRIFFITH, b. Bet. 1739 - 1740, Chester Co., PA; d. Bef. June 05, 1787, Frederick co., VA.
	iv.	ANNA GRIFFITH¹²², b. Abt. 1741, Goshen, Chester Co., PA ¹²³; d. Unknown; m. JESSE WICKERSHAM¹²⁴, October 16, 1771 ¹²⁵; d. Unknown.

Notes for JESSE WICKERSHAM:
from East Nantmeal

More About JESSE WICKERSHAM and ANNA GRIFFITH:
Marriage: October 16, 1771¹²⁵

RUTH GRIFFITH¹²⁶, b. Aft. 1741, Goshen, Chester Co., PA ¹²⁷; d. Bef. 1854¹²⁷; m. SAMUEL FISHER¹²⁸, November 16, 1771, Uwchland Twp., Chester Co., PA^128,¹²⁹; d. Unknown.

Notes for SAMUEL FISHER:
He was from East Caln, at Uwchlan Meeting

More About SAMUEL FISHER and RUTH GRIFFITH:
Marriage: November 16, 1771, Uwchland Twp., Chester Co., PA ^130,¹³¹

21. GRIFFITH¹⁷ GRIFFITHS (GRIFFITH JOHN¹⁶ GRIFFITH, JOHN¹⁵, GRIFFITH HUGH JENKIN¹⁴, HUGH JENKIN¹³, JENKIN AP¹², GRIFFITH AP JENKIN AP¹¹ THOMAS, JENKIN AP THOMAS AP RYS¹⁰ DU, THOMAS AP⁹ RYS, RYS⁸ DU, LLEWELYN AP⁷ KYDWGAN, KYDWGAN⁶ VYCHAN, KYDWGAN⁵ VAWR, RICHARD AP⁴ RYS, RYS AP³ RYDDERCH, RYDDERCH AP² KYDIVOR, KYDIVOR AP¹ DINWAL)¹³² was born in Cardigan So Wales¹³², and died Bef. October 16, 1760 in On his plantation-Township East of Nantmeal, PA¹³². He married GWEN THOMAS¹³² 1722¹³², daughter of EVAN THOMAS. She died Unknown.

Notes for GRIFFITH GRIFFITHS:
      Griffith Griffiths is the 3rd son of Griffith John Griffith. This is based on a signed statement from John, son of John, son of John Griffith G.G.'s brother. He sets forth that the brothers, William Griffith, John Griffith, and Griffith Griffiths, were the sons of Griffith John (or Johns as it is sometimes written.)

      Griffith Griffiths was born on a farm near the conjunction of the ancient bounds of the parishes Nantewnlle, Llanddewi Brefi, and Trivilan, of which his family had been freeholders for several generations.

      His parents lived for a time in the adjacent town of Tregaron, and after the father's death, the children lived with their uncle, Hugh John, whose lands, a part of the family estates, were situate partly in Nantcwnlle, and on the borders of Llanddewi Brefi. These lands, of which Cae Riced probably formed a part, adjoin Ty'n y Park, then the property of David Griffith, the great uncle of Griffith Griffiths and Cae Maddock, a farm belonging to Rev. David Edwards, the Nonconformist minister, and were adjacent to Aber Meurig, also the property of the latter, and to other lands of Hugh John, a part of which, in Nantcwnlle but bordering on and perhaps then extending into what is now the Chapelry of Bettws Leiki, then Llanddewi Brefi, is still called Allt Hugh Shon, i.e. Hugh John's or Hugh Jones' Grove.

      The peculiar situation of Hugh John's residence, and, indeed of a considerable part of the family lands here, in a narrow valley, with high hills on the east, explains the statement of John Griffith, son of John, and nephew to Griffith Griffiths, who speaks of the family home "in Cardiganshire in a valley where daylight first appeared as a reflection on the western mountains," visible through the passes to the West.

      Adjacent to Hugh John and David Griffith of Ty'n y Park (The Park Farm) resided Rev. David Edwards, the first Nonconformist (Baptist) minister in the neighborhood. He was a man of considerable education and held large landed interests here. He first established a meeting house for Baptists at a cottage on his Aber Meurig farm, but later erected a Chapel at Bettws Leiki. He died in 1716. The family of Griffith Griffiths were not only related to, but intimate with Rev. Edwards. Hugh John was one of the witnesses to his will, dated July 18, 1716. William Griffith, Hugh John's nephew, brother of Griffith Griffiths, appears as assisting hin in conjunction with the settlement of the estate, December 12, 1716.

      The early affiliation of Griffith Griffiths and his brother, William, with the Baptists is thusly explained. John, however, was brought up by a Quaker, and early attached himself to the Society of Friends, and he continued as a member for the rest of his life.

      A Welsh Bible, now in the possession of Foster C. Griffith, (Now was 1901) of Trenton, NJ, and formerly the property of Grifith Griffiths, and which contains a number of family records, bears the autograph, under the date of 1710, of one Richard William who is probably the original owner. Griffith probably obtained it from him. This Richard William has been positively identified. His signature is on the will of Rees Evan, of Llanddewi Brefi, as a witness. The will was dated 17 February, 1704. (proved 23 March, 1704) He was a neighbor of the Griffith family, and also a follower of the Rev. David Evans who, probably was responsible for their distribution.

      The tradition in the family is that about the year 1715, when Griffith was 16-17 years old, his uncle sent him one day with the tithe of wool to the "Parish Priest." (the Vicar) Somehow a dispute arose. It was either over the correctness of the tithe, or perhaps Griffith's nonconformity, the Vicar threw the bags, or at least one of them, at Griffith's head.

      Griffith promptly hit him. To escape the consequences, and more especially it is said, the wrath of his uncle, he fled the country. He was joined by his brothers, and the three sailed for Pennsylvania.

      The Parish Priest mentioned was the Vicar of Llanddewi Brefi. That such an assult upon the Vicar by young Griffith actually took place at this time is unquestionally confirmed by a tradition to that effect still current amongst the oldest inhabitants of this neighborhood. (The compiler of the book, at this time, credited "...the veneravle Rev. Evan Williams, Vicar of Nantcwnlle, and his antiquarian friend, Mr. Rogers, for the confirmation of this tradition.")

      Elijah Griffiths, his grandson, who was born in 1769, in his "Historical Biography of the Griffiths Family," says that "Griffith Griffiths emigrated to this country from Wales, it is supposed about 1715, when a youth of 16 or 17 years of age, also his two brothers, William and John Griffiths, who all settled in Chester Co., Pennsylvania." The date of emigration, however, was after February, 1716 (old style).

      Griffith Griffiths first settled in Newtown Twp., where he became a taxpayer in 1724.

      At this time Griffith Griffiths was a member of the Great Valley Baptisi Church, the congregation of which was composed partly of persons from the neighborhood of his home in "Wales. In 1726 hpowever, "the following persons broke off from the Great Valley Church on account of their change of sentiments concerning the Sabbath: Philip Davis (David), Lewis Williams, Richard Edwards, Griffy Griffiths, and the next year (1727) William James. These five, with their families, removed to French Creek in the aforesaid year. (Futhey and Cope's Hist. of Chester County, 272) Here (French Creek) is a meeting house, 20 X 22 feet, built in 1726 on a lot of one acre, the gift of David rogers. the congregation came to be called Seventh Day Baptists."

      Griffith Griffiths marries, 1722, Gwen, daughter of Evan Thomas, and she was living 1770. (Will Book B., Vol. 2, 31 West Chester. Pa.)

      He died on his plantation in the Township of East Nantmeal before 16 October, 1760.



More About GRIFFITH GRIFFITHS and GWEN THOMAS:
Marriage: 1722¹³²

Children of GRIFFITH GRIFFITHS and GWEN THOMAS are:

29.	i.	ABEL¹⁸ GRIFFITH, b. April 25, 1723, Chester Co., PA; d. February 04, 1804.
30.	ii.	WILLIAM GRIFFITHS, b. Bef. 1727; d. 1800.
	iii.	EVAN GRIFFITHS¹³², b. February 23, 1728/29^132,¹³³; d. Unknown.

Notes for EVAN GRIFFITHS:
Evan, born 23 February, 1729. (Will of his father, Will Book D. Vol. 4, 278, West Chester, Pa.) "He became deranged early in life and died without issue," (Ms. Genealogy by Dr. Elijah Griffiths). Mentioned in the will of Philip David of East Nantmeal, Chester County, proved 23 March, 1747-8. Dan Griffith, 4th son of Griffith Griffiths in his Will of 20 August, 1802, charged the remainder of his estate "with a decent livelihood for their (his childrens) Uncle, Evan Griffith during his natural life which I order to be given him off my old plantation, where I now live."

31.	iv.		DAN GRIFFITHS, d. Abt. August 1802.
	v.		LEVI GRIFFITHS¹³⁴, b. 1738¹³⁴; d. January 30, 1825, Fayette Co., PA¹³⁴; m. ELIZABETH EVANS¹³⁴, October 29, 1772, St. Gabriel Pe Church, Douglasville, Berks, PA ¹³⁵; d. Unknown.

Notes for LEVI GRIFFITHS:
He was from West Nantmeal. (described in a deed)
At the beginning of the Revolution, Levi Griffith entered the Continental Army and served during the entire war. He was commissioned Ensign on January 8, 1776, in Captain Persifor Frazer's Company, of the Fourth Pennsylvania Battalion, Colonel Anthony Wayne commanding. (Mad Anthony Wayne) He was in the Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment, Continental Line, promoted fron Ensign to Second Lieutenant, promoted to Lieutenant, Ranking from January, 1777, and in a rearrangement of the Fifth Regiment (Regulars) January 17, 1781. Levi Griffith is mentioned as a Lieutenant, having been formerly Ensign, Fourth Battalion. The Fourth Bat. was recruited principally in Chester County.
At the close of the war, he became a member of the Society of Cincinnati, and his signature for the subscription of one month's pay is attached to the Roll of the Pennsylvania Association.
His name appears on the Pension List for Pennsylvania, under the Act of March 24, 1812.

More About LEVI GRIFFITHS and ELIZABETH EVANS:
Marriage: October 29, 1772, St. Gabriel Pe Church, Douglasville, Berks, PA¹³⁵

vi.

AMOS GRIFFITHS¹³⁶, d. Unknown.

Notes for AMOS GRIFFITHS:
In the will of Griffith Griffiths (Codicil 3 July, 1754) he says: "As concerning my son Amos Griffiths that now lives with his Uncle David John: under some expectation of reward &c., it is my will concerning him that if the said David John shall give my son answeral or equivalent to ye share of my younger children then if so I give him only 2 shillings and sixpence." Amos remained with David John, and was the devisee of his real estate, as appears by the will of the later, then New Britian in the County of Bucks, dated 1 August, 1771: proved 26 August, 1778 (Will Book 4, 1, Doylestown, Bucks County, Pa.)
Amos Griffith left no issue, and by will proved 26 November, 1812, devised his estate to his nephew, Dr. Amos Griffiths, son of hisa brother, Abel.

32.

vii.

REBECCA GRIFFITHS, d. Unknown.

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