GRISWOLD
(1)
Edward Griswold, born in England, 1607; married there about 1630,
Margaret, whose parentage is unknown. Actual records of his birth
and marriage have not been found.
About 17 August 1639, Rev. Ephraim Huit arrived in Windsor, Connecticut with his company and immediately entered upon his labors assisting Rev. John Warham. Rev. Huit had been pastor at Knowle and Wroxall, Warwickshire, england, Wroxall being a part of Kenilworth parish. He was a religious writer and he was censured by the Bishop of Worcester, which, no doubt, was the moving cause of his organizing his company and for his removal to England. edward and his brother Matthew Griswold were members of this company, and for this reason it had been thought that the records of Knowle and Wroxall would disclose some clue as to the parentage of our ancestors, but thus far they are silent.
Edward seems to have been an intellectual type and he speedily became prominent in the affairs of the new community at Windsor, exceedingly active, and was frequently mentioned in colonial records. He served as deputy to the General Court 18 August 1658 through 14 March 1660 and 15 May 1662 through11 March 1663. In 1659 he built the Old Fort at Springfield for Mr. Pynchon. He was granted land at Poquonoc Plain but did not remove there until the title of the Indians living there had expired in 1642. He was resident there with two other familes of John Bartlett and Thomas Holcomb, in 1649. His home stood near the highway at the top of the hill and had 29 1/2 acres bounded mostly south and west by Stony Brook and east by the Connecticut River. His sons George and Joseph inherited the homestead.
In 1663, with his son John, Edward removed to Hammonassett, later called Killingworth. The present Clinton, Connecticut, is the original Killingworth; Main Street is the identical ground where the first settlers took their home lots. These were surveyed in 1663 by Byron Rossiter of Guilford. Edward was one of the first settlers and doubtless suggested the name from Kenilworth Parish in England, and was the most prominent man in the new settlement, given much credit for first organizing this community. He was its first deputy to the General Court.
Among the names entered as planters by the committe we find Edward Griswold, Samuel Beull, and Jonas Westover, and in 1669 these were recorded as freemen.
Edward was largely instrumental in organizing the first church and was its first deacon. He frequently served on important civil matters, his services, counsel and guidance evidently much sought after. He served on the committee to establish a Latin school at New London.
Ancient land records on file at the Office of the Secretary of State, Hartford, Connecticut, show land grants in favor of Edward; one of 200 acres; another of 100 acres given by the town of Killingworth; he was a large landholder showing the spirit of those English settlers to accumulate large land holdings.
Margaret died 23 August 1670 and is buried in the Congregational Cemetery
at Clinton, CT -- her gravestone marked "M.G. 1670" is the oldest monument.
However it does not show or indicate the patient devotion nor the hardship
endured in that vast wilderness in rearing her family. For many years,
it has been debated as to whether her mother was a descendant of edward
Winslow, but there seems to be no sure proof yet.
Edward married second, 1673,
Sarah Bemis, widow of James Bemis, constable of New London, who died in
1665. She was the daughter of John Dimond and Rebecca Bemis.
Edward died in his 84th year,
his burial place being unknown, except it may be the vacant space next
to that of Margaret.
The following children were
born to Edward and Margaret; the first five were baptized in Kenilworth
Parish, England; others are recorded in Windsor, Connecticut:
- Sarah, born 1631, died young
- George, born 1633
- Francis, born 1635
- Lydia, born 1637
- Sarah, born 1638
- John, born 1642, died young
- Ann, baptized 19 June/August 1642; married Jonas Westover
- Mary, born 5 October, baptized 13 October, 1644
- Deborah, baptized 28 June 1646
- Joseph, baptized 12 March 1647