William Griffin II – 6th Great Grandfather, @1665 Wales – ?
William Griffin II was born in 1665, reportedly in Caernarfon, Caernorfonshire Wales.
Caernarfon Castle
St. Baglan’s Church, Caernarfon
Restored 17th c. thatched roof cottage, N. Wales
At that time, Wales was not an independent nation, but rather was ruled by England. If William Griffin Esq. came to Virginia in 1670 and William’s II’s birth date was indeed 1665, then William II would have been about 5 years old when he came to Virginia with his father.
Like his father, William II was a planter and continued that profession following his father’s death in 1684. As noted, he inherited 225 acres from his father. His brother, John, must have died in 1687, as some of the land John inherited from William Esq. was sold by William II in January 1688. Remember that William Esq.’s will stipulated that should one son die without issue, the other would inherit the full estate. It appears to have happened.
This William was married to a Rebecca. I have found no will for William and Rebecca. It is widely held that a will for a William Griffin dated 1725 is that of our 6th great grandfather. However, the wife of William Griffin who died in 1725 was “Anne”. There is a 1713 record of a William Griffin marrying an Ann Burgar. The 1725 will mentions four boys: William, John, Charles and Joseph. Where I find pause with this will is that William and Anne’s sons are not yet 24 years old when the will was written in March of 1724. Most descendants believe our 5th great grandfather, John, was born before 1700. So, I don’t think this is our William II’s will.
