Emanuel Family - Person Sheet
Emanuel Family - Person Sheet
NameBenjamin Griffith 
Birth1794, Pennsylvania, USA [352]
DeathOct 1853, Holmesville, Holmes, Ohio, USA [353]
FatherUnknown Griffith
Spouses
Birthabt 1812, Ohio, USA
Death6 Nov 1878, Holmes, Ohio, USA
Burialaft 6 Nov 1878, Holmes, Ohio, USA
FatherMichael Hites (1787-1876)
MotherMargaret Hatfield (~1789-1826)
Biography notes for Benjamin Griffith
Benjamin Griffith (ca 1794 – Oct 1853)
Benjamin Griffith was likely born in Pennsylvania in about 1794 (559). His parents have not been identified. Benjamin migrated to Wayne County, Ohio before 1826, possibly along with an older brother John Griffith.
The 1820 federal census of the Sugar Creek Township of Wayne County, Ohio enumerates the household of 26–44 year-old John Griffith with a 16–25 year-old female, presumably John’s wife (712). A second 26–44 years old male living in the John Griffith household may have been Benjamin Griffith. Also living in the John Griffith household were three females less than 10 years old.
The 1826 Wayne County, Ohio tax list for the Sugar Creek Township lists Benjamin Griffith as the owner of 80 acres of land described as the East 1/2 of the Northwest 1/4 of Section 35, valued at $196 (720). John Griffith owned 160 acres in Sugar Creek Township described as the Southwest 1/4 of Section 17 and valued at $412 (720).
The 1830 federal census of Wayne County, Ohio enumerates the household of John Griffith, 40–49 years old, and a 30–39 year-old female, presumably John’s wife (701). Also living in the household were a male, 30–39 years old, 20–29 year-old female, and an elderly female, 70–79 years old. Benjamin Griffith may have been the 30–39 year-old male and a brother to John Griffith. The elderly female may have been the mother of John and Benjamin Griffith.
On 9 Jun 1831, Benjamin Griffith and Mary Hites married at Millersburg in Holmes County, Ohio (551, 552). James Hockenberry, a Justice of the Peace, presided over the ceremony. Born in Ohio in about 1802, Mary Hites was the oldest known child of Michael Hites and his wife Margaret (Hatfield) Hites. At their marriage, Benjamin was 37 years old, and Mary was 29.
On 27 Apr 1832 and again on 18 Apr 1835, Benjamin Griffith was appointed as Justice of the Peace for the Sugar Creek Township of Wayne County, Ohio (717, Page 843)
By 1840, Benjamin and Mary Griffith were living in the Prairie Township of Holmes County, Ohio. The 1840 federal census of Prairie Township enumerates the Benj. Griffith household in Prairie Township (550). Benjamin Griffith was 40–49 years old. A female, 20–29 years old, was presumably Mary (Hites) Griffith. The census implies that five children were born to Benjamin and Mary Griffith before the 1840 enumeration that recorded two males, 5–9 years old; two females, 5–9 years old; and a male and female, each less than 5 years of age. In addition to Benjamin Griffith, another male, 40–49 years old, was also living in the household. The 1840 federal census also enumerates the household of Michael Hites, Mary Griffith’s father, in Prairie Township of Holmes County, Ohio (553).
During 1846, Benjamin Griffith brought legal action in the Holmes County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas against Joseph Wolland and Henry Shoup (184).
The 10 Aug 1850 federal census of Prairie Township in Holmes County, Ohio enumerates the Benjamin Griffith household, including 10 children (559). Benjamin Griffith was 56 years old and born in Pennsylvania. His wife Mary Griffith was 37 years old and born in Ohio. The census enumerates children: Benjamin Griffith, Jr., 17 years old; Catharine, age 16 years; Percilla, age 14; Daniel, age 10; James age 8; Elijah, age 7, Luticia, age 3; William age 2; and Silas Griffith, 10 months old.
In Holmes County, Ohio on 30 Aug 1853, a son, Michael John Griffith, was born to Benjamin and Mary Griffith. Seven weeks later, in Oct 1853, Benjamin Griffith was killed by a falling tree while he was gathering wood. A daughter of Michael Griffith, Maude Ellen (Griffith) Countryman, would later recall (560):
Dad was seven weeks old when his father died. He went out in the woods to chop wood, and a tree fell on him and killed him. Grandmother went to hunt him and found him where a tree had fallen on him. He was getting pretty old.
Following the death of Benjamin Griffith in 1853, various households in Holmes County appear to have taken in his children.
The 1860 federal census enumerates Elijah Griffeth, 16 years old, with the household of Robert Flack and 19 years old Danl Griffeth with the household of Isaiah Jones. Michael Griffith, the youngest of Benjamin Griffith’s children, continued to live with his mother Mary Griffith.
Benjamin Griffith was likely born in Pennsylvania in about 1794 (559). His parents have not been identified. Benjamin migrated to Wayne County, Ohio before 1826, possibly along with an older brother John Griffith.
The 1820 federal census of the Sugar Creek Township of Wayne County, Ohio enumerates the household of 26–44 year-old John Griffith with a 16–25 year-old female, presumably John’s wife (712). A second 26–44 years old male living in the John Griffith household may have been Benjamin Griffith. Also living in the John Griffith household were three females less than 10 years old.
The 1826 Wayne County, Ohio tax list for the Sugar Creek Township lists Benjamin Griffith as the owner of 80 acres of land described as the East 1/2 of the Northwest 1/4 of Section 35, valued at $196 (720). John Griffith owned 160 acres in Sugar Creek Township described as the Southwest 1/4 of Section 17 and valued at $412 (720).
The 1830 federal census of Wayne County, Ohio enumerates the household of John Griffith, 40–49 years old, and a 30–39 year-old female, presumably John’s wife (701). Also living in the household were a male, 30–39 years old, 20–29 year-old female, and an elderly female, 70–79 years old. Benjamin Griffith may have been the 30–39 year-old male and a brother to John Griffith. The elderly female may have been the mother of John and Benjamin Griffith.
On 9 Jun 1831, Benjamin Griffith and Mary Hites married at Millersburg in Holmes County, Ohio (551, 552). James Hockenberry, a Justice of the Peace, presided over the ceremony. Born in Ohio in about 1802, Mary Hites was the oldest known child of Michael Hites and his wife Margaret (Hatfield) Hites. At their marriage, Benjamin was 37 years old, and Mary was 29.
On 27 Apr 1832 and again on 18 Apr 1835, Benjamin Griffith was appointed as Justice of the Peace for the Sugar Creek Township of Wayne County, Ohio (717, Page 843)
By 1840, Benjamin and Mary Griffith were living in the Prairie Township of Holmes County, Ohio. The 1840 federal census of Prairie Township enumerates the Benj. Griffith household in Prairie Township (550). Benjamin Griffith was 40–49 years old. A female, 20–29 years old, was presumably Mary (Hites) Griffith. The census implies that five children were born to Benjamin and Mary Griffith before the 1840 enumeration that recorded two males, 5–9 years old; two females, 5–9 years old; and a male and female, each less than 5 years of age. In addition to Benjamin Griffith, another male, 40–49 years old, was also living in the household. The 1840 federal census also enumerates the household of Michael Hites, Mary Griffith’s father, in Prairie Township of Holmes County, Ohio (553).
During 1846, Benjamin Griffith brought legal action in the Holmes County, Ohio Court of Common Pleas against Joseph Wolland and Henry Shoup (184).
The 10 Aug 1850 federal census of Prairie Township in Holmes County, Ohio enumerates the Benjamin Griffith household, including 10 children (559). Benjamin Griffith was 56 years old and born in Pennsylvania. His wife Mary Griffith was 37 years old and born in Ohio. The census enumerates children: Benjamin Griffith, Jr., 17 years old; Catharine, age 16 years; Percilla, age 14; Daniel, age 10; James age 8; Elijah, age 7, Luticia, age 3; William age 2; and Silas Griffith, 10 months old.
In Holmes County, Ohio on 30 Aug 1853, a son, Michael John Griffith, was born to Benjamin and Mary Griffith. Seven weeks later, in Oct 1853, Benjamin Griffith was killed by a falling tree while he was gathering wood. A daughter of Michael Griffith, Maude Ellen (Griffith) Countryman, would later recall (560):
Dad was seven weeks old when his father died. He went out in the woods to chop wood, and a tree fell on him and killed him. Grandmother went to hunt him and found him where a tree had fallen on him. He was getting pretty old.
Following the death of Benjamin Griffith in 1853, various households in Holmes County appear to have taken in his children.
The 1860 federal census enumerates Elijah Griffeth, 16 years old, with the household of Robert Flack and 19 years old Danl Griffeth with the household of Isaiah Jones. Michael Griffith, the youngest of Benjamin Griffith’s children, continued to live with his mother Mary Griffith.
Census notes for Benjamin Griffith
Benjamin Griffith Census Summary
1820 U.S. Federal Census (712)
John Griffith Household
Sugar Creek Township, Wayne County, Ohio
John Griffith, a: 26–44
+ Female, a: 16–25
Male, a: 26–44 (Benjamin Griffith)
Female, a: < 10
Female, a: < 10
Female, a: < 10
1830 U.S. Federal Census (701)
John Griffith Household
Sugar Creek, Wayne County, Ohio
John Griffith, a: 40–49
+ Female, a: 30–39
Male, a: 30–39 (Benjamin Griffith)
Female, a: 20–29 (Mary Hites)
Female, a: 70–79
1840 U.S. Federal Census (550)
Benj. Griffith Household
Prairie Township, Holmes County, Ohio
Benj. Griffith, a: 40–49
+ Female, a: 20–29 (Mary Hites)
Male, a: 40–49
Male, a: 5–9 (Benjamin Griffith, Jr.)
Male, a: 5–9
Female, a: 5–9 (Mary Jane Griffith)
Female, a: 5–9 (Catharine Griffith)
Male, a: 0–4 (Daniel Griffith)
Female, a: 0–4 (Presilla Griffith)
1850 U.S. Federal Census (559)
Benjamin Griffith Household
Prairie Township, Holmes County, Ohio
10 Aug 1850
Benjamin Griffith, a: 56, b: Pennsylvania
+ Mary (Hites) Griffith, a: 37; b: Ohio
Mary J. Griffith, a: 19, b: Ohio
Benjamin Griffith, a: 17, b: Ohio
Catharine Griffith, a: 16, b: Ohio
Percilla Griffith, a: 14, b: Ohio
Daniel Griffith, a: 10, b: Ohio
James Griffith, a: 8, b: Ohio
Elijah Griffith, a: 7, b: Ohio
Luticia Griffith, a: 3, b: Ohio
William Griffith, a: 2, b: Ohio
Silas Griffith, a: 10 months, b: Ohio