BackGround: Boston Temple, Boston, Massachusetts.
Benoni Griffin3, (Thomas2, John1, JohnA JohnB ap GriffithC ap RichardD ap GriffithE.)
Note: in the Welch Terminology the ap means son of John ap Griffith ap Richard ap Griffith is:
John son of Griffith son of Richard son of Griffith RF
BenoniSr. was born 1714, in Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Thomas GRIFFIN and Elizabeth WELTON, and married 1742, in Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut, Mary _______. She was born about 1716, and died 13 February 1801, in Simsbury, Hrtford, Connecticut. Benoni died about 1789 in East Granby, Hartford, Connecticut.
Had 13 children
Possiably She was married first to Steven Griffin.
the following was taken from an e-mail from Donna Holcomb Larose of Alburg, VT on 10/16/2000:
Notes for MARY (possibly/probably NOT DeLacey) UNKNOWN:
Many genealogists have stated that this was Mary de Lacey, who after Stephen "drowned" married his younger brother, Benoni, Benoni Jr. therefore being the child of Stephen. My Great Aunt Myrtie, a descendant, believes this to be "Nonsense. His (Stephen's) widow applies for guardianship of Martha, age 6, and Stephen, Jr., age 4, in May 1743..."
In a letter dated 1-14-1978, Myrtie continues by writing: "She can not be the same Mary, for Benoni is, within perhaps 5 days, perhaps later, to have this his first child (Benoni Griffin, Jr., baptized June 16, 1743) born to HIS WIFE Mary.
Mary de Lacey, Stephen's WIDOW appears in Probate Court in Hartford, Connecticut, May 3, 1743, so she HASN'T any new born child if she is taking such a long trip, 34 miles, to Hartford so soon. So, she's not the same Mary. Besides, both Marys have a daughter, Martha, EACH; one born 1737, one born 1757. Mary de Lacey wouldn't have two Marthas born to her, both healthy women to grow up and have families."
Later in the letter Myrtie adds: "I'm sure she can't be Mary de Lacey, and I'm sure Mary de Lacey wasn't taking any unborn or any nursing child on horseback to Hartford Probate Court, May 3, 1743, and documents say she WAS PRESENT, with Joshua Holcomb and both she (administatrix) and Joshua were under bonds, for it was a good estate Stephen had."
Mrytie surmize: "I believe the older Mary (this Mary), widow of Stephen, died" between 12-28-1789 (the writing of Benoni's will) and 1801 (date of probate of Benoni's will) and "got recorded in East Granby as Mary Griffin."
She goes on to say that "She'd (Mary, the wife of Benoni) would have used "de Lacey" as a last name since she was a Spaniard, her husband's Griffin name BEFORE it."
Some genealogists have listed that Mary de Lacey was FIRST married to Benoni's elder brother, Stephen. Given that Joshua Holcomb, who had appeared with Stephen's widow, Mary, in Probate Court to settle Stephen's estate, had previously been guardian of Benoni Griffin, husband of Mary de Lacey; and given the strength and determination of our fore-parents; this theory could be possible. However, given the careful consideration of the arguments provided (see notes under Stephen's widow and under Benoni Griffin, Jr.) by My Great Aunt Mrytie, descendant, it is more likely that Mary de Lacey and Stephen's widow, Mary, were NOT one and the same.
"Because Mary de Lacey was Spanish, with 'long black hair', it would seem that some tried to fasten "Indian" to HER... She was NOT Indian, but Spanish, apparently well-to-do or rich. She spoke both Spanish and French as well as English. Mrytie wrote, 1-18-1973, "Lyman Griffin, son of Levi, son of Benoni told over and over that Mary de Lacey came from Spain, had property due her there; but it has gone into the records as if she was FROM the West Indies." Mrytie questions, "Maybe married there? Maybe with relatives there? Nobody has looked THERE for a record of her marriage to (Stephen or Benoni) Griffin, who must have brought her to this country."
1. Her father was (possibly) governor of the West Indies.
2. She was Spanish, of high class, spoke at least three languages, and owned property in Spain. Her long black hair caused some people to think she was Native American, but she was not.
(The Griffins might have had dealings with West Indies companies. Otherwise, how did they ever meet?)
It is hard to find information about Mary DeLacy. Here is a quote taken from the Webb:
"Does anyone have information on Mary DeLacy, widow of Stephen Griffin in April 1743, Simsbury, CT? She married Stephen's brother, Benoni Griffin in 1743 about two months after the death of Stephen. Mary is said to be the daughter of the governor of the West Indies. But I have been unable to locate any documentation that well prove this as fact."
Posted by Constance Diamont, Sept.20, 1997
"I have been unable to find out anything about this, and a letter Simsbury, CT asking for her records, came back with a statement saying they were unable to locate them. (LGB, 1999) It is written that Mary had long black hair, causing some people to think she was an Indian. Actually she was Spanish and had property in Spain. She could speak both Spanish and French. How, then, do we place her in the West Indies? Perhaps her father was there. Perhaps she was married there.
For sure, Mary was the mother of many Griffins. She had three children by Stephen, and another thirteen by Benoni, including Benoni Griffin, our ancestor.
Update: October 2000, A new "cousin", Donna Holcomb Larose has been heard from. She has still a different "take", on the Mary who married Stephen and then Benoni. She refers to a letter from her Great-Aunt Myrtie descendant of Benoni Griffin, who has "word-of-mouth information" about Mary DeLacy. She believes Stephen's wife, Mary, and Benoni's wife, Mary DeLacey were two different people. She states the idea they are the same person is "hog-wash". Some reasons she gives are that each Mary had a daughter, Martha, 20 years apart. Both were healthy and grew up to have families. She also says in a letter dated December 21, 1977 that Mary De Lacey listed Benoni Griffin, born early in 1743 was the first of thirteen children she bore to Benoni Griffin, her Husband& Great Aunt Myrtie states that other women had their children listed as well, perhaps the Revolution and the burning of homes gave them the idea, so that there would be a record of their children. She also notes that Mary, Stephen's wife appeared in Probate Court in Hartford May 3, 1743 as administratrix along with Joshua Holcomb of Stephen's estate which was considerable. This is either just before or just after the birth of Benoni. She doubts that she would travel so far on a horse with a nursing or unborn baby. Also she thinks that if she were Mary DeLacey she would have used that name, according to the customs of the Spanish, not Mary Griffin.
Information from internet: Notes of Skip Patnode and Notes of Donna Holcomb Larose and *Ancestry.Com !Fix This Location-1901No. Name Father Mother Birth Date 12 Matilda Griffin Davis Benoni Griffin Mary Delacey 1769 08 Abner Griffin Benoni Griffin Mary Delacy 30 Nov 1760 10 Abraham Griffin Benoni Griffin Mary Delacy 02 Feb 1765 00 Benoni Griffin Thomas Griffin Elizabeth Wilton 1714 --- Benoni Griffin Jonathan Griffin Rachel Sharp 1798 01 Benoni Griffin Benoni Griffin Mary Delacy 26 Jun 1743 05 Elizabeth Griffin Benoni Griffin Mary Delacy 26 May 1755 02 Hannah Griffin Benoni Griffin Mary Delacy 19 Apr 1746 07 Joab Griffin Benoni Griffin Mary Delacy 04 Feb 1759 13 Levi Griffin Benoni Griffin Mary Delacy 1771 06 Martha Griffin Benoni Griffin Mary Delacy 23 Apr 1757 04 Mary Griffin Benoni Griffin Mary Delacy 24 Jun 1753 12 Metilde Griffin Benoni Griffin Mary Delacy 11 Apr 1769 11 Ninian Griffin Benoni Griffin Mary Delacy 1767 03 Peter Griffin Benoni Griffin Mary Delacy 24 Nov 1750 09 Phineas Griffin Benoni Griffin Mary Delacy 25 Sep 1762
Marriage
Name Spouse Date City County State
Benoni Griffin Mary Delacy -- --- 1742 Simsbury Hartford Connecticut
Benoni Griffin Mary _______ -- --- 1742 Simsbury Hartford Connecticut
Benoni Griffin Martha Viets 20 May 1762 Simsbury Hartford Connecticut
CHILDREN of Benoni GRIFFIN Sr and Mary _______:
+ 1. BENONI Jr b: 26 Jun 1743; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
md: 20 May 1762; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
Martha VIETS,
d: ; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
2. HANNAH b: 19 Apr 1746; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut
md: 1 Oct 1767; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut
Martin STRATTON.
d: ; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
3. PETER b: 24 Nov 1750; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
4. MARY b: 24 Jun 1753; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
md: ; , , .
Jonathan WALTER.
5. ELIZABETH b: 26 May 1755; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
md: ; , , .
Timothy HOLCOMB.
d: 1808/9; Greenbrier, Randolph, West Virginia
6. MARTHA b: 23 Apr 1757; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
7. JOAB b: 4 Fen 1759; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
d: 1844; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
8. ABNER b: 30 Nov 1760; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
9. PHINES b: 25 Sep 1762; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
10. ABRAHAM b: 2 Feb 1765; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
md: 4 Dec 1788; Granby, Hartford, Connecticut.
Mehitable MOORE.
11. NINIAN b: Abt 1767; Simsbury Hartford, Connecticut.
md: 1788;
Deborah HOLCOMB.
12. MATILDA b: 11 Apr 1769; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
md: 21 Sep 1788; North Bloomfield, Hartford, Connecticut.
Silas DAVIS.
13. LEVI b: 17 fEB 1771; Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut.
md: ; , Hartford, Connecticut.
Sarah HOLCIMB.
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