Griffin Long

Narrative:

     Griffin appeared on the 1800 tax list of in Nelson Co., Kentucky, reporting that he owned one horse. He does not appear in earlier or later tax lists, so apparently he lived there only briefly as an adult.⁷
     Griffin married Sarah Graham on 27 Aug 1801 in Nelson Co., Kentucky.^1,4,5
     Griffin and Sarah moved to Livingston Co. shortly after their marriage.

Establishing His Homestead --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     On 6 Dec 1802 Griffin was issued a certificate by the county commissioners for 400 acres on Spring Creek in Livingston Co. The certificate was issued under the 1795 Act of the General Assembly of Kentucky, and indicated that he had established that he was over age 18 and had lived on the land for at least a year. It entitled the holder to pay the required fees, have a survey made to establish the actual boundaries, and finally a patent issued by the state to confer title.^8,9
     Griffin appeared on the 1803 tax list of in Livingston Co., reporting 600 acres of land, apparently in error, and four horses. He did not appear for some reason on the 1804 list, and the 1805 list for that part of the county is lost. He appeared on the 1806, 1807, and 1808 lists reporting 400 acres and 3, 7, and 7 horses respectively. On the 1809 list he reported the 400-acre parcel and 5 horses, and also a 200-acre parcel on Crab Creek.¹⁰
     The part of Livingston Co. where Griffin lived became part of Caldwell Co., effective 1 May 1809. He appears on the Caldwell Co. tax lists for 1809 through 1817, reporting each year the 400-acre property on Spring Creek and from three to eight horses. In 1814, 1815, and 1816 he also reported land in Livingston Co. on behalf of the M. White estate.¹¹
     Griffin appeared on the 1810 Federal Census of Eddyville, Caldwell Co., Kentucky, His household was recorded as consisting of one male under age 10 (son Philip), one age 16 to 26 (himself), three females under 10 (daughters Matilda, Maria and Eliza), one age 26 to 45 (wife, Sarah Graham), and three slaves.¹²
     Jacob Miller was issued a certificate by the county commissioners for 400 acres on Spring Creek, adjacent to Griffin's tract, on 7 May 1804. On 2 Dec 1810 he assigned that certificate to Griffin, presumably in exchange for a payment, but available records do not show what the consideration was.¹³

A Very Long Probate --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     Griffin made payment of $80 for his original 400-acre grant in two installments. A survey was completed for the parcel 16 Nov 1815, and the patent was issued by the state 3 Feb 1817.^14,15
     Griffin left a will dated 9 Mar 1817 in which he left possession of his plantation to his wife so long as she remained single and raised and educated the children there; specified that his son Philip was to be raised, educated, and trained in the trade of tannery by his friend Benny Doom who was to receive $75 in exchange; stated that the children were to each receive an equal share of his estate as they come of age; and, in apparent contradiction to the first term, said his wife was to keep possession if she pleased as long as she, or she and her husband if she married, made good use of the property, otherwise the executor was to do as he thought best. He named Col. Samuel Glenn as his executor.²
     Griffin died, in Mar or Apr 1817, probably in Caldwell Co., Kentucky.⁶
     His will was proved at the Apr 1817 term of the Caldwell Co. county court.² Col. Samuel Glenn, as his executor, reported Griffin's property on the Caldwell Co. tax lists from 1817 until 1838. He reported three horses the first two years, but after that only the 400 acres of land.¹⁶
     A survey for a 131-acre grant on Spring Creek in Caldwell Co. was made in Griffin's name on 15 Dec 1818, based on the certificate he had obtained from Jacob Miller in 1810. The property was bounded by Griffin's 400-acre tract and properties of other owners, and it appears that 131 acres of the authorized 400 acres was available as unclaimed land. There is no record of who arraigned for the survey to be made.¹⁷
     The settlement of the estate was filed on 10 Feb 1830. No reason for the long delay was given. The executor reported that he had collected $210 from the sale of property and notes payable to the deseased, and $42.50 in rent from his land. He had paid debts and taxes totaling $230.50, leaving a balance of $22. The settlement was examined and approved by the county court at its Feb 1830 term.¹⁸

Caleb Cobb Tries to Consolidate the Property --- Text Stolen from ReigelRidge.com !! ---

     In 1836 Caleb Clark Cobb, who would later marry Griffin's daughter Louisa, set about acquiring the rights to the property left by Griffin to his widow and children, apparently expending some effort to do so. On 15 Jul 1836 he purchased from Griffin's daughter Maria and her husband their right as "one of the legatees of Griffin Long desc'd." to 400 ac. on Spring Creek and the waters of Livingston Creek for $50. On 26 Oct 1836 he purchased from Griffin's widow Sarah her right of dower on the same property, for $100, noting that she then lived there. On 26 Oct 1836 he purchased the rights of Griffin's daughter Louisa for $70.¹⁹ Then, on 8 Dec 1843, after he had already sold half the parcel back to Louisa, Caleb purchased the rights of Griffin's brother Thomas, of Sangamon Co, Illinois, in a tract on the head of Spring Creek "belonging to heirs of Griffing Long desc'd," for $80. Thomas had obtained those rights from Griffin's daughter Eliza and her husband and from Griffin's daughter Melvilla and her husband.²⁰
     A patent was issued in Griffin's name 28 Dec 1846 for the 131 acres surveyed in 1818. Who paid the fees, who arraigned for the patent, and the reason for the long delay are unknown. No record has been found of how the property was disposed of by his heirs.²¹