John Griffin

The following is quoted from [http://www.bankert.org/genealogy-reports/newengland/ancec009.htm#subj264], John and his brother Edward (b. abt. 1601/2) were of Welsh descent, born in Wales, son of John and Ann (Langford) Griffin, she of Bigander, who were also the parents of Ann, Joan, Catharine and Margaret, all married in 1613. Employed as sailors for Capt. Claiborne, the Secretary of the Virginia colony. John and his brother, Edward, came to America in 1635 aboard the "Constance". While in the Chesapeake Bay, Lord Baltimore of Maryland seized the islands of Kent and Palmer and the brothers fled, Edward to New Amsterdam and John to New Haven where he appears in 1642. In January of 1643 he is fined a few pence, with others, for not having his arms in shape in the New Haven Militia. In 1646 John is still found in New Haven as a sailor and testifies to the General Court concerning the loss of a boat in New Haven. In 1647 He is married to Anna Bancroft in Windsor. John Griffin had joined with Michael Humphrey in the manufacture of tar and turpentine in the pine forest of Massaco and Salmon Brook. The tar, used by the British Navy and in the building of ships, promised fortunes for both. About 1646, the tar kilns of John Griffin were set afire by Indians. Somehow, John found that the name of the Indian responsible was Manahannoose, a local Algonquin, who had grown frustrated with the encroachment of the English. Manahannoose was captured, and, taking advantage of a new law, was ordered to be a servant of the plaintiff or shipped off in return for enslaved Africans or to pay £100. In order to prevent this from happening, Manahannoose's village deeded the area of Windsor knows as Massaco to John Griffin with the exception of two acres. Although it was technically illegal for John to accept this deed, he probably looked at it as a promising business venture and took advantage of it. Thirteen years later, John turned his deed over to the colony. At that time, in recognition of his being the first to manufacture tar and pitch in the region, John was given a grant for 200 acres of his choice "north of the falls". It would probably be safe to assume that before John presented the Massaco deed to the colony, he had probably taken all he wanted from the Massaco pine forests. The "Griffin's Lordship", as it came to be called, was given as recognition of John's work in wrestling all of Massaco from the natives and in beginning a profitable manufacturing operation in those parts. John is considered to be the first settler of Simsbury and Granby. John, along with Simon Wolcott, was made a leader of the train band in 1673 and represented Simsbury in the General Assembly from 1670-1674. A prominent and successful businessman and pioneer, John's involvement in the community was not confined to just politics and business. In 1655 we find that John is fined £20 on a complaint by William Hayden of the riotous conduct of John Griffin, John Bancroft, and Jacob Drake.