5) On October 10, 1774 John McGriff and his son

Patrick participated in the Battle of Point Pleasant

along with 1,100 other Virginia Militiamen against 1,200

Miami and Shawnee Indians led by Chief Cornstalk, Blue

Jacket and Little Turtle. It was a day long battle on the

Ohio River at the mouth of the Kanawa River that was

fought hand to hand, tree to tree and rock to rock. The

battle ended that afternoon when the Indians decided they

had enough, withdrew, and re-crossed the Ohio River and

returned to their homes in upper Ohio. More than 50

militiamen lay dead and many were wounded. Among

those killed was Colonel Charles Lewis, brother of the

commanding General, Andrew Lewis, who was killed in

the first shots of the battle.

6) In 1775, as the Revolutionary War began John McGriff

and his sons left Virginia and went to South Carolina were

they joined the South Carolina Militia. Patrick would rise

to the rank of Colonel and James to the rank of Captain

and the 16-year-old Thomas also joined the militia. Colonel

Patrick McGriff would fight under General Andrew Morgan

and General Nathaniel Greene and it is said, was at the

English surrender at Yorktown. Sons John Jr. and Richard,

who had remained in Pennsylvania, joined the Pennsylvania

Line. As the revolution ended all the brothers survived

and came home to marry and raise large families. John Jr.

remained in Pennsylvania and his descendants today are

in the Western Pennsylvania area. Richard and his family

left Pennsylvania and went to Nicholas County , Kentucky

where they can be found in 1800. They eventually migrated

to Warren County, Ohio by 1805 and finally settled in

Darke County, Ohio where Richard died Abt. 1820.

7) Thomas migrated North to Kentucky also and he

eventually settled next to his brother Richard, in

neighboring Preble County, Ohio where he died in

1821. There are many descendants in Southwestern Ohio

and Southeastern Indiana of Richard and Thomas McGriff.

8) Sons Patrick and James remained in the South and became

successful and wealthy with many descendants living today in

Georgia, Alabama and Florida. During the Civil War many

of the descendants of these brothers fought against each

other as cousins against cousins. Some were killed

and wounded and several were in prison camps.

9) After that painful period in our history, many in our

family chose to move on elsewhere, especially as our

country expanded westward, so that today we find

many McGriff descendants across the United States.

10) As for the origin of the McGriff family and name, there

is no satisfactory answer. There have been many unsuccessful

searches by professional genealogists in England, Wales,

Scotland and Ireland for the name McGriff. There is no

doubt that the early McGriff’s were of Scots/Irish lineage as

early records indicate. Several descendants of John McGriff

have stated "my great-grandfather was Irish", or, "my

grandfather came from Ulster." This is probably true but I

can only imagine that like so many other American names,

ours was a new variant of some conventional Scots/Irish

name such as McGrath or McGuff, changed through

mispronunciation or possibly illiteracy over several

generations. What is so unique about our family name is

that we appear to be the only family in the country with

that name and every Caucasian McGriff can be traced to

John McGriff and one of his five sons. Around 1792, John

went with his son Thomas to visit his son Richard in Ohio.

Apparently, he died on the trail; we don't know

where he is buried.

11) PA. Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. 3, Pg. 411. John McGriff in

"A return of the Company, late of ------- Nichols, now under

the command of Lt. William Vanlear of the Ninth Pennsylvania

Reg. commanded by Col. Richard Butler. The whole enlisted

during the war, September 10, 1778. Continental Line,

Ninth Pennsylvania, October 25, 1776-January 17, 1781.'

12) PA. Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. 3, Pg. 457. John McGriff

was a Sergeant in Captain Bowens company, Ninth PA,

Continental Line.

13) PA Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. 4, Pg. 218,

and Sixth Series, Vol. 2, Pg. 556 and Pg. 693

gives Richard McGriff's service.

14) PA. Archives, Sixth Series, Vol. 2, Pg. 659.

Capt. Thomas Clingan's pay roll from

August 24, 1782 to October 24, 1782. John

McGriff, Sergeant.

15) PA. Archives, Sixth Series, Vol. 5, Pg. 678.

John McGriff on payroll of PA. for militia services,

August 5, 1792 to September 29, 1792 under Capt.

Henry Felger, paid by Charles Campbell, Lt. of

Westmoreland Co., PA.

16) In the Westmoreland Co. Surveys in Land Office

at Harrisburg, PA. No. 561. Order of Commonwealth of

PA. to Surveyor General Daniel Brodhead. "Whereas

William McGriff of the County of --------hath requested

to take up four hundred acres of land adjoining land this

day granted to John McGriff, in the County of

Westmoreland (provided the land is not within the

last purchase made of the Indians) for which he agrees

to pay immediately into the office of the Receiver

General, for the use of this state, at a rate of Shillings

per hundred acres in gold silver, paper money or

certificates; agreeable to an Act of Assembly, passed

this first day of April 1784, and to an Act passed......

signed by Thomas Mifflin, Gov. of PA., May 9, 1794).

17) In reference to what Mr. Hill said about John

McGriff being in York Co., Heidelberg Twsp. in

1766. This from PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 1,

Page 155. There is a brief record of a dispute over

a boundary line between the land of Eleanor

Lynn and that of Patrick McSherry, brought

before the Pennsylvania Board of Property.

Eleanor was the widow of Adam Lynn. Patrick

was the assignee of the rights of a string of

claimants. Patrick, it appears, was something

of a land speculator, in a small way, as well as

a saloon keeper and local politician. The date

verdict is rendered in 1766. The Property Board

dismissed the case on the grounds that the

dividing line between the two tracts had been

amicably agreed upon by the original settlers

of the respective tracts; Henry Teuhtonger and

John McGriff. This property was in Heidelberg

Twsp., York Co., PA. This residence of the

McGriff's in that part of PA. claimed by

Maryland and settled by Maryland authority

may be the foundation of the myth of

Maryland McGriff's.

18) The Richard McGreat and John McGreat

in Westmoreland Co., Wheatfield Twsp. PA

census 1790 (listed together) could be sons of

John Jr. As Mike says, It depends on who is

interpreting the writing.

19) Sometime between 1785 and 1800 Richard

went to Kentucky, that's for sure. There is a

Richard McGriff who is listed in the PA.

Archives, 3rd Series, Vol. 26, Pg. 477. It says,

Warrantees of land, Westmoreland Co. James

McGriff, 400 ac., May 9, 1794 John McGriff,

400 ac., same date William McGriff, 400 ac.,

same date Richard McGraffe, 400 ac.,

April 4, 1794. These could be John Jr. and

his sons. Also in the PA. Archives, there

are several records of a William McGriff.

Could this be another son of John Jr.? We

never tried to figure out who this William

was but ultimately there was only one

McGriff left in PA. and that was John

McGriff Jr. and his family. I have several pages

I recorded from the PA. Archives and the

McGriff's appear in several. This is where I

found my Richard and brother John Jr's. war service

and company's served in.

20) So once again we have our John McGriff Sr.

back up there on New River at least by

1769 and then in the new Botetourt Co. by

1771 and called Fincastle Co. in 1773 (Fincastle

was discontinued in 1777 when Montgomery Co.

was formed) and then in Botetourt Co. in 1783,

but may have still owned land in Montgomery

Co. So I think we are back to having no record

of John McGriff and wife Catherine moving to

South Carolina Neither deed makes any

differentiation between the John McGriff who

received the land grant in 1787 and the John

McGriff who sold the land in 1813. It seems to me

that they have to be the same person.

21) Fiche #6015637 & 6015638 Charles T. Burton,

Botetourt Co. VA, Early Settlers (Troutville, VA

1979?)Brachfield, Christopher (Mary) 1782 tax on

39 acres K-456 1780, 39, Craigs Ck. From new grant

B DB3-289 9-14-1784, 29, Craigs Ck. To Christian

Snido Brachfield, Jacob (In Montgomery Co. in

1784) 1782 tax on 195 acres B DB3-268 8-3-1784,

165, Craigs Ck. From George Peter Tarr, Est. B

DB3-278 8-10-1784, 165, Craigs Ck to Christian Snido.

1762 Assessment York Co, PA John McGrif,

Warrington Twp. SCPGS Special Pub no. 5 (Oct 1978)

1766 Minutes of Board of Property 25 Aug 1766.

Elianor Lynn widow of Adam Lynn, agt. Patrick

McSherry Assne' of Anthony Sill "lines settled

between Henry Tenttonger & John McGriff."

22)Pennsylvania Archives, 3rd series, 1:144.

1766 deed shows John McGriff original settler

Heidelberg District, York Co PA. J. E. Hill,

McGriff book, p. 6? [CANNOT FIND DEED

Maybe he meant land warrant.]

23) 1766 SOURCE: Entry Record Book, 1737-1770

(Land Entries in the Present VA Counties of Halifax,

Pittsylvania, Henry, Franklin and Patrick) Marian

Dodson Chiarito. Dec 30, 1765: Samuel Canterberry

400a on the Brs. of Snow Cr. Adj. JOHN McGRIFF's

Lines. 1769 "John McGriff, 400 acres on both

sides of Sinking Creek surveyed in two surveys,

one 380 acres, 1775, the other 40 acres surveyed

1775, settled 1769."

24) Commissioners Certificates, p. 190, Mary

B. Kegley, Early Adventurers on the Western

Waters, II, (1982), p. 115. 1771 Botetourt County

taxables: John McGriff in the Lower District of

New River. Kegley, Early Adventurers I:93 1773

Surveyed for John McGriff 380 acres of land in

Fincastle Co. lying on Sinking Creek, a branch of

New River agreeable to an order of Council

of the 16 Dec. 1773 being part of the Loyal

Company's grant. Adj. Charles Lucas,

Martins land.

25) 1 Feb. 1775. Surveyed for John McGriff 24 acres

in Fincastle Co. order of council 16 Dec. 1773, being

part of Loyal Company grant south waters of

Sinking Creek a branch of New River adj. sd. McGriffs

land and Martins land. Montgomery Co, VA Record

of Plats, 1773-1782, Book A:178, 213. 1774 April 7th,

8th Hanson's Journal "traveled 15 miles to John

McGuffin's at Sinking Creek." Reuben Gold Thwaites

and Louise Phelps Kellogg,

26) Documentary History of Dunmore's War, 1774

(Wisconsin Historical Society, 1905) p. 111. 1774

May 6 Court John Lynch v. John McGriff on debt.

Deft not being served. alias copias ordered issued.

Michael L. Cook, Fincastle and Kentucky

Counties VA-KY Records and History volume 1

(Evansville, IN, 1987) 1774? A List of Capt. Daniel

Smith's Company of Militia Fincastle County,

John McGriff, Patrick McGriff.

27) Lewis Preston Summers, Annals of Southwest

Virginia, p. 1423. 1774 May 30 Militia of Capt.

Thomas Burk, Fincastle County, John McGriff,

Patrick McGriff. Lloyd Dewitt Bockstruck,

Virginia's Colonial Soldiers (Baltimore:

Genealogical Publishing Co., 1988), p. 155.

28) 1774 Oct 10 John McGuff participant in

Battle of Point Pleasant in Lord Dunmore's

War.Levicie Simpson Poffenbarger, Battle

of Point Pleasant. 1777 May 30 John McGriff

onlist of 34 able bodied men, 11 selected.

29) Letter Thos. Burk to Wm. Preston. (Preston

Papers) Reuben Gold Thwaites and Louise Phelps

Kellogg, Documentary History of Dunmore's War,

1774 (Wisconsin Historical Society, 1905), p. 398.

30) 1777 Sept. 30 Oath of Allegiance: John McGriff,

Thomas McGriff. Kegley, Early Adventurers, I:149.

1777 John McGriff in James Robertson's Co. Mary

B. Kegley, Militia of Montgomery County, Virginia

1777-1790 (1975) 1777? Jos. Gray by John McGriff

assignment, 60 bu. corn. 11 diets, SPA. Mary B.

Kegley, Soldiers of Fincastle County, Virginia

Botetourt Co. Va. It's Men 1780-86 by Charles T.

Burton McGriff, Catherine 1782 Tax List, Military

District #48 McGriff, John 1783 Tax List, Military

District #48 Cashaday, Thomas 1783 & 1784 Tax

List, Military District #23

31) 1782 Sep 14 John McGriff, Commissioner's

certificate, 400 acres on both sides of Sinking

Creek. Montgomery County Land Entries.

Kegley, Early Adventurers, II:56.

32) 1782 John Pain, heir-at-law of David Pain

deceased, assignee of John McGriff, assignee of

James Johnson, assignee of Alles [Ellis] Baily,

assignee of Joseph Fletcher, Commissioner's

certificate, 48½ acres on south side of Wolf

Creek part of 90 acres surveyed for James

Johnson 24 March 1775.

33) Kegley, Early Adventurers, II:84. 1782

Commissioner's Certificates, p.155. Edward Hale

assignee of John McGriff assignee of James

Johnson assignee of Alles Bily assignee of

Joseph Fletcher, 150 acres on Wolf Creek, part

of which 99 acres was surveyed for Johnson 1775,

settled 1772. p. 190. John McGriff, 400 acres on

both sides of Sinking Creek surveyed in two

surveys, one 380 acres, 1775, the other 40 acres

surveyed 1775, settled 1769.

34) Kegley, Early Adventurers, II:113, 115. 1782

Montgomery Co, John McGriff 4 horses 10 cattle 1

tythe and land. Mary B. Kegley, Tax List of

Montgomery County, Virginia 1782 (1974) 1783

Botetourt Co, Capt. Taylor's Co. Craig's Creek tax

list: John McGriff 6 horses 4 cattle 1 tythe. Frederick

Bittle Kegley, Kegley's Virginia Frontier, (Roanoke,

VA: Southwest Virginia Historical Society, 1938) p. 464.

35) 1783 Botetourt Co. Deed Book 3:177 John Meguff

promised Catharana Barfield, widow of Isaac Barfield,

that she may dispose of all her estate at his death or

hers, it being agreement betwixt them before she was

married that all her estate that she brought to him she

may give to any of her children that she pleased at or

before her death. Witnesses: Jonathan Loony and Wm.

Merchant. 2 Jan 178-, recorded Sept. 1783 by

John MeGrif (his mark)

36) 1787 John McGriff not there. Netti Schreiner- Yantis

and Florene Speakman Love, The 1787 Census of Virginia

I, II (Springfield, Va., Genealogical Books in Print, 1987)

1790 John McGriff, grants to Parker Lucas both tracts of

380A and 24A. Surveys of the Loyal Land Co. showing to

whom transferred and date, found in Augusta Co. Chancery

Suit file N.S. 183 (1834) and Loyal Co. papers at the

Virginia State Archives.

37) Mary B. Kegley and F. B. Kegley, Early Adventurers

on the Western Waters, I, p. 32. 1795. J. E. Hill says

that John McGriff made tax returns both real and

personal in 1782 and continued making real estate

returns in Montgomery Co. until 1795. He is not in

Netti Schreiner-Yantis, Montgomery County,

Virginia--circa 1790 (Springfield, VA, Yantis, 1972)

He is not in Montgomery Co Personal Property

Taxlists 1787 to 1812

38) Film #1870165 1777 Sept. 30 Oath of Allegiance:

John McGriff, Thomas McGriff. Kegley, Early

Adventurers, I:149. Also from Montgomery Co.,

"A list of Capt. John Lucas Compy. of Militia"

includes Christian Snidow, (Snethen) Philip

Snidow, (Snethen) John McGriff, and Thomas

McGriff (p. 234; no date on that one). They

were part of Col. William Preston's regiment.

On another, apparently later list of Capt. John

Lucas' company, we find Jacob Snidow,

(Snethen) Christian Snidow, Thomas McGriff,

and Theophly Snido, (Snethen) but not John

McGriff. "The captain was excused --

living in Botetourt." (p. 236)

39) 1782 Montgomery Co, VA Tax list Thomas

McGriff 1 poll John McGriff 1 poll 4 horses, 10

cattle and Land Mary B. Kegley, Tax List of

Montgomery County, Virginia 1782 (1974).

1790 census Chester County, SC Camden District

John McGriff (#19) 1-0-1, James McGriff (#20)

1-0-1, Thomas McGriff (#58) 1-2-4, 1790 census,

York Co., Wheatfield Twsp. Richard McGreat, 2

White males age 16 or over Incl. head of Household,

3 WM under 16, 5 Wh. fem. Inc. HOH. John

McGreat, 1 WM 16 or over Incl. HOH, 2 WM

under 16, 4 WF Incl. HOH. PA.

40) Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. 3, Pg. 411. John

McGriff in "A return of the Company, late of -------

Nichols, now under the command of Lt. William

Vanlear of the Ninth Pennsylvania Reg.

commanded by Col. Richard Butler. The whole

enlisted during the war, September 10, 1778.

41) Continental Line, Ninth Pennsylvania,

October 25, 1776-January 17, 1781.' PA.

Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. 3, Pg. 457. John

McGriff was a Sergeant in Captain Bowens

company, Ninth PA, Continental Line.

42) PA Archives, Fifth Series, Vol. 4, Pg. 218, and

Sixth Series, Vol. 2, Pg. 556 and Pg. 693 gives

Richard McGriff's service. See sheet on Richard.

PA. Archives, Sixth Series, Vol. 2, Pg. 659. Capt.

Thomas Clingan's pay roll from August 24, 1782

to October 24, 1782. John McGriff, Sergeant. PA.

Archives, Sixth Series, Vol. 5, Pg. 678. John

McGriff on payroll of PA. for militia services,

August 5, 1792 to September 29, 1792 under

Capt. Henry Felger, paid by Charles Campbell,

Lt. of Westmoreland Co., PA.

43)In the Westmoreland Co. Surveys in Land

Office at Harrisburg, PA. No. 561. Order of

Commonwealth of PA. to Surveyor General

Daniel Brodhead. "Whereas William McGriff

of the County of --------hath requested to take up

four hundred acres of land adjoining land this

day granted to John McGriff, in the County of

Westmoreland (provided the land is not within

the last purchase made of the Indians) for

which he agrees to pay immediately into the

office of the Receiver General, for the use of

this state, at a rate of Shillings per hundred

acres in gold silver, paper money or certificates;

agreeable to an Act of Assembly, passed this

first day of April 1784, and to an Act passed

(and it goes on and on and is signed by

Thomas Mifflin, Gov. of PA., May 9, 1794). .

44) This from PA Archives, Series 3, Vol. 1, Page

155. There is a brief record of a dispute over a

boundary line between the land of Eleanor Lynn

and that of Patrick McSherry, brought before the

Pennsylvania Board of Property. Eleanor was the

widow of Adam Lynn. Patrick was the assignee

of the rights of a string of claimants.

45) According to J. E. Hill we have John McGriff

the eldest son of Patrick McGriff b. 1768, grant of

land obtained for him by his father in 1784, m.

Nancy Hall 1796; J.P. in Montgomery Co, GA 1805,

living in Laurens Co, GA 1813, Henry Co, AL 1820,

died there 1830-35. Even though John had the land

grant early on, I don't see any evidence that he

moved down to SC until after the war. The plat for

his land grant was not recorded until 5 April 1787,

twenty years after he got the grant. It was not

unusual to obtain a grant but not move onto the

land until much later. And even though

46) Patrick also had an early land grant, I don't see

any evidence that he [Patrick] actually moved to SC

until probably early 1775 Here is what the deed says,

verbatim: No. 134 State of South Carolina Know all

men by these presents that I John McGriff of the

State of Georgia and Laurence County Consideration

the Sum of one Hundred Dollars to me paid by

Alexander Donald of the State of South Carolina and

District of Chester Have granted bargained sold

and released by these presents do grant Bargain Sell

release Unto the Said Alexander Donald all that

plantation Situated on Sandy River Bounded by line

running S13 E25 to a post oak S40 W15..50 to a

Hickory S27 E45..80 links to a Stake N50 W65..60 to

a black oak Sapling N10 W24 to a post oak N7 E39

to a Black oak it being the beginning Containing one

Hundred and Seventy four Acres be the same more

or less Granted to John McGriff the third day of

Ocr. 1767 [sic] by his Excellency Thomas Pinckney

Together with all and Singular the Rights members

Hereditaments and appurtainences to the Said

premises Belonging or in any wise incident or

appurtaining To have and to hold all + Singular the

premises before mentioned unto the Said Alexander

Donald his heirs and assigns forever and I do hereby

bind myself my heirs Executors administrators to

Warrant and forever defend all and Singular the Said

premises unto the Said Alexander Donald his heirs +

assigns against myself my heirs and assigns forever

Witness my hand and Seal this 9 day of Sept 1813

Sign sealed and Delivered in presence of us William

Hollinger John McGriff {LS} Wm. McGriff Hezh.

Donald South Carolina Chester District Personally

came Hezh. Donald and made oath that he saw

John McGriff of the State of Georgia Sign Seal and

Deliver the Within Instrument of righting [sic] to

Alexander Donald of Chester District for the use and

purposes therein contained and that Willi Hollinger

and William McGriff was present and Witness the

Same With this Deponent. Sworn to this 20th day of

Novr. 1813 Henry Head J. P. Hezh. Donald The deed

immediately following this one in Conveyance Book

Q (Deed No. 135), which I had not read until today,

is from Alexander Donald to Hezekiah Donald for

the same tract of land. It seems that Alexander sold

the land to Hezekiah on Dec. 31, 1813. This time the

clerk got it right: he states that the land was granted

to John McGriff in 1787, not 1767, and that the same

John McGriff sold the land to Alexander Donald in

1813: "...one hundred and seventy four acres be the

same more or less granted to John McGriff the

third day of December 1787 by his Excellency

Thomas Pinckney Esquire Governor of the said state

and conveyed by a deed bearing date the ninth

day of September 1813 from John McGriff of the

State of Georgia and Laurence County to Alexander

Donald..." Neither deed makes any differentiation

between the John McGriff who received the land

grant in 1787 and the John McGriff who sold the

land in 1813. It seems to me that they have to be

the same person. Mike Fiche #6015637 & 6015638

Charles T. Burton, Botetourt Co. VA, Early Settlers

(Troutville, VA 1979?) The McGriffs have records in

Knox Co, TN and then Anderson Co, TN when it

was formed in 1801