Descendants of Benjamin GRIGGS

Second Generation

2. John GRIGGS (Benjamin ) was born estimated 1715 in Gravesend, Kings County, NY. He died in 1758 in Toms River, Monmouth County, NJ. John resided ¹ in Toms River, Ocean County, NJ.

1758, Jan 20, GRIGGS, JOHN of Toms River, Monmouth County., farmer.Int. Bond of Nicholas Veghte, of Somerset County., principal creditor,as Admlr Barnt (Barrent,) Griggs, of Middlesex Co., fellowbondsman. (New Jersey Colonial Documents; New Jersey Archive; Abstracts of Will; Vol XXXII, pg 13)

He had the following children:

+	11	M	i	Benjamin GRIGGS was born on 22 Mar 1749. He died on 7 Mar 1825.
	12	M	ii	James GRIGGS was born estimated 1750.
	13	M	iii	Daniel GRIGGS was born estimated 1751.
	14	M	iv	John GRIGGS was born estimated 1753.
+	15	M	v	William GRIGGS was born estimated 1755.

3. Samuel GRIGGS (Benjamin ) was born ¹ in Gravesend, Kings County, NY. He was christened ² on 20 Sep 1717 in the Reformed Dutch Church of J. Christ, Gravesend, Kings County, NY. He died ³ in 1770/1772 in South Ward, New Brunswick, Middlesex County, NJ. Samuel resided ⁴ in South Brunswick Township, Middlesex County, NJ.

The following is the will of Samuel Griggs with the following children: Altia, Margaret, Samuel, Elbert and Benjamin. Because of Dutch naming patterns, it appears that the name Elbert is in error and should be listed as Albert. Altia, the first born daughter was named after her maternal grandmother, Margaret, the second born daughter was named after her paternal grandmother, Samuel, the first born son was named after his father, Benjamin, the third born son was named after his paternal grandfather, and finally Elbert the second born son would have been named Albert after his maternal grandfather Albert Terhune.

SAMUEL GRIGGS, of South Brunswick (South Ward, New Brunswick), yeoman, Will of, dd. 13 Feb 1770. Wife WILLIAMTIE, children ALTIA, MARGARET, SAMUEL, ELBERT and BENJAMIN. Ex: wife, Gerardus Beechman, Jr., John Sherman, John Sutfin & Abraham Terhune. Wit: Abraham & Albert Terhune & Nicholas Johnson. Pr: 30 Mar 1772. Inv: £150.15.6. (Wilson V. Ledley, "New Netherland Families"[1958])

Samuel married Willemptje TERHUNE daughter of Albert TERHUNE and Altje VOORHEES about 1742 in New Jersey. Willemptje was born ¹ about 1718 in Flatbush, Kings County, New York. She died ² on 17 Mar 1777 in Middlesex County, NJ.

They had the following children:

	16	F	i	Altje GRIGGS was born 1, 2 about 1743 in South Ward, New Brunswick, Middlesex County, NJ.
				Altje married Gerardus BEEKMAN son of Gerardus Christopher BEEKMAN and Catharine VAN DYKE. Gerardus was born 1, 2 on 20 Feb 1735/1736. He died 3 on 19 Mar 1822. He was buried 4 in the Skillman-Beekman Cemetery, Griggstown, Somerset County, NJ. A Gerardus Beechman, Jr. is listed as an executor in the will of Samuel Griggs, father of Altje Griggs. Will dated 13 Feb 1770.
	17	F	ii	Margaret GRIGGS was born 1, 2 about 1746 in South Ward, New Brunswick, Middlesex County, NJ. In the will of Samuel Griggs, he lists the following as his executors: his wife, Gerardus Beechman, Jr., John Sherman, John Sutfin & Abraham Terhune. Samuel’s wife of course was Willementje Terhune, Gerardus Beechman, Jr. (Beekman) was his son-in-law, husband of his oldest daughter Altia, John Sutfin (Sutphen) was his brother-in-law, second husband of his sister Eleanor Griggs, and Abraham Terhune was his brother-in-law, younger brother of his wife. The only executor not accounted for is John Sherman. Although there is no supporting documentation at this time, it would appear likely that John Sherman was also his son-in-law, husband of his youngest daughter Margaret. A Thomas and Mary Sherman did baptize a son John Sherman on 5 Oct 1739 at Bridgewater in Somerset County, however nothing has been found to date that would indicate that this is the same John Sherman.
+	18	M	iii	Samuel GRIGGS was born about 1749.
+	19	M	iv	Albert GRIGGS was born on 12 Mar 1752. He died on 30 Apr 1830.
+	20	M	v	Benjamin GRIGGS was born in 1755/1756. He died on 8 Jan 1842.

4. Barrent GRIGGS (Benjamin ) was born in Gravesend, Kings County, NY. He was christened ¹ on 13 Feb 1718 in the Reformed Dutch Church of J. Christ, Gravesend, Kings County, NY.

Barrent Griggs and his wife Jacomentje Gulick lived in Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ and owned 128 and 1/3 acres in Sowerland in Somerset County, NJ along with an interest in the Rocky Hills copper mine also in Somerset County, NJ, which Jacomentje inherited from her father’s estate. They attended the First Presbyterian Church in Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ where at least one of their children, John, was baptized on 24 Dec 1749. Apparently the marriage and baptismal records of the First Presbyterian Church have been either lost or destroyed for the period 1750 through 1792 and thus it is difficult to determine a complete and accurate list of Barrent and Jacomentje’s children. There appear to be children missing between the time when John was baptized on 24 Dec 1749 and when Ferdinandus was baptized on 14 Dec 1757.

At some point they must have moved to their land at Sowerland in Somerset County because in Barrent’s brother Reuben’s will the following is stated: “Brother, Barrent Griggs £150 to be deducted from the bonds he gave me for the place he now lives on in Sower Land.” This would seem to indicate that at sometime prior to the writing of Reuben’s will on 31 Jan 1765 that Barrent and Jacomentje had moved from Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ to their land at Sourland in Somerset County. In addition, Barrent and Jacomentje baptized two children at the Six Mile Run, Dutch Reform Church in Somerset County, NJ on 14 Dec 1757 and on 1 May 1760 and another at the Harlingen Reformed Church in Harlington, Somerset County, NJ on 14 Aug 1763.

Abstract of deed dated 24 June 1766. Barrent Griggs and Jacamintye his wife of Sowerland to Peter Schenck of Millstone, merchant, land in Sowerland containing 128 and 1/3 acres of land bounded easterly by land of John Van Dyke, northerly by land of Cornelius TenBrook, southerly and westerly by land of Lambert Dorland... Signed: Barnt Griggs, Jacamintye X Griggs (her mark). The witnesses were Johannis Vanpelt, Peter Stryker. The deed was recorded on 17 Oct 1766." ("Somerset County Genealogical Quarterly", pages 177-178 of Volume 3, Number 1, March 1985).

1758, Jan 20, GRIGGS, JOHN of Toms River, Monmouth County., farmer.Int. Bond of Nicholas Veghte, of Somerset County., principal creditor,as Admlr Barnt (Barrent,) Griggs, of Middlesex Co., fellowbondsman. (New Jersey Colonial Documents; New Jersey Archive; Abstracts of Will; Vol XXXII, pg 13).

Barrent married Jacomentje (Jemima) GULICK daughter of Johanes GULICK and Renje VAN SICKELEN. Jacomentje was born ¹ in 1726.

Will of Johannes Gulick, father of Jacomentje (Gulick) Griggs:
1731, Mar. 24. Gulick, Johannes, of "Rockehill", Somerset Co., farmer, will of. Wife, Rantsha "all my estate while my widow". "Legacies in hands of my sisters, according to my father's Will, to be paid." Children -- Jocham (eldest son), Jochamyntia, Fernandus, John and Minnah, all under age. "My five children to have estate after my wife dies, or when 21." Executors -- his brothers, Hendrick, Jocham and Peter Gulick. Witnesses -- Daniel Griggs, Thos. Stillwell, and Lodewijch Metseler. Proved 23 Jul 1755 in Hunterdon County (estate was not settled until youngest child was of age).
"Received 1 May 1749 of Jochem Gulick the sum of 78 pounds and 3 shillings of my wife's part of Estate of Johannes Gulick," signed Samuel Gulick (by mark) per Bayles. (Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Vol III:136. 1751-1760. Hunt. Wills, 365 J.)

Johanes Gulick owned a share (apparently 50%) of the Rocky Hill copper mine located between Rocky Hill and Griggstown in Somerset County. (“Franklin Township, Somerset County, NJ a History” by William B. Brahms).

Barrent Griggs and his wife, Jacomentje, sold their share in the Rocky Hills copper mine on 16 Jul 1755 to Nicholas Veghte as follows “All that fifth part of the one half of all the mines minerals ores found … from the time that William Oppie first discovered the same on the plantation which formerly belonged to Johanes Gulick deceased and now in the possession of John Stevens.” (“Franklin Township, Somerset County, NJ a History” by William B. Brahms, page 247).

They had the following children:

	21	M	i	John GRIGGS was christened 1 on 24 Dec 1749 in Cranbury First Presbyterian Church, Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ.
	22	M	ii	Ferdinandus GRIGGS was christened 1 on 14 Dec 1757 in the Six Mile Run, Dutch Reform Church, Somerset County, NJ.
	23	M	iii	Samuel GRIGGS was christened 1 on 1 May 1760 in the Six Mile Run, Dutch Reform Church, Somerset County, NJ.
+	24	M	iv	Daniel GRIGGS was born on 17 Jul 1762.

5. Benjamin GRIGGS (Benjamin ) was born estimated 1719/1736.

Benjamin Griggs, son of Benjamin Griggs and Margrietje Janse, married and had children because his children are mentioned in the will of his brother Dr. Reuben Griggs dated 31 Jan 1765. Who Benjamin married and when he died is still in question, but the following is the marriage license for a Benjamin Griggs (Greggs) and a Yocamincha Sutfin dated 11 June 1763:

#126; Benjamin GRIGGS (GREGGS) of Freehold in the County of Monmouth, and Derrick Sutfin (ZUTPHEN - umlaut over the ‘e’) of Freehold into Monmouth, yeomans… [bound to]… William FRANKLIN, Governor… 500 pounds… 11 June 1763. … Benjamin GRIGGS… obtained license of marriage for himself and for Yocamincha SUTFIN of Frehold* in the County of Monmouth… [w] Sam’l LEONARD

In researching the Griggs lines in New York and New Jersey, there is very little use of the given name “Benjamin” in any other Griggs line other than in the descendants of Benjamin Griggs and Margrietje Janse. When considering the date of the above marriage license of 11 June 1763, Benjamin, son of Benjamin Griggs and Margrietje Janse, was the only Benjamin that would have been of the right age to have married at that time. Although we do not know the exact birth date of Benjamin, we can estimate that based on the age of his mother Margrietje, the known baptismal dates of two of his brothers (Samuel and Barrent), and the order that the children were listed in their father’s will, that he could have been born anywhere from 1719 to 1736, which would have made him somewhere between 27 and 44 years of age at the time of the wedding.

The Sutphen family also has other ties to this Griggs line because Benjamin’s sister, Eleanor Griggs, married a John Sutphen. The Jacomyntje Sutphen who married Benjamin did have a brother named Jan/John Sutphen who was baptized on 20 Jan 1720/21 in the Freehold and Middletown DRC, however no connection has been found to date between this Jan/John Sutphen and the John Sutphen who married Eleanor Griggs.

One problem area for this family is that we must be missing some children for Benjamin and Jacomyntje. In Benjamin’s brother Reuben’s will, dated 31 Jan 1765, he mentions the children of his brother Benjamin, however neither of the two known children of Benjamin and Jacomyntje had been born as of that date, therefore there must have been at least one child born to this couple before 31 Jan 1765.

Benjamin married ¹ Jacomyntje SUTPHEN daughter of Dirck SUTPHEN and Grietje VAN PELT on 23 Jun 1763 in Freehold, Monmouth County, NJ. Jacomyntje was born estimated 1727/1733.

We know that Jacomyntje/Jemima Griggs was still alive on 18 Jan 1802 because she is mentioned in her sister Elizabeth (Sutphen) Johnson’s will on that date. Although we can not be certain that this is the same Jemima, per the records of the Cranbury First Presbyterian Church in Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ, there was a Jemima Griggs who was a member of this church and who died on 29 Apr 1817.

They had the following children:

+	25	M	i	Derrick GRIGGS was born on 17 Feb 1766. He died on 2 Jun 1841.
	26	F	ii	Margaret GRIGGS was born 1 on 15 Jun 1772.

6. Daniel GRIGGS (Benjamin ) was born estimated 1721/1738.

The following are excerpts from the wills of the parents of Anne (Moone) Griggs, wife of Daniel Griggs:

ANNE GRIGGS, dau in Will of Jacob MOONE, of Rocky Hill, Somerset, Dr. of Phys., 11 Sep 1760. Also son-in-law DANIEL GRIGGS, an executor.

ANNE GRIGGS, dau in Will of ANNE MOONE, of Somerset, widow of Dr. Jacob Moone. £150 in hands of DANIEL GRIGGS to remain until death of wife, then £25 each to his two children. Dd. 3 May 1764, pr. 6 Aug 1764.

From the wording of the second will it appears that Daniel and Anne had two children, however no baptismal records have been found on either child.

Daniel married Anne MOONE daughter of Jacob MOONE and Anne.

They had the following children:

	27		i	Unknown GRIGGS.
	28		ii	Unknown GRIGGS.

8. Martha GRIGGS (Benjamin ) was born estimated 1719/1736.

Martha married Rem VAN DER BEEK son of Rem VAN DER BEEK and Dorothea CORTELYOU before 1759. Rem was christened ¹ on 28 May 1721 in the Reformed Dutch Church of Port Richmond, Staten Island, Richmond County, NY.

They had the following children:

	29	M	i	Rem VAN DER BEEK was christened 1 on 1 Feb 1745 in Reformed Church of Harlingen, Harlingen, Somerset County, NJ. Named after his paternal grandfather Rem Van Der Beek.
	30	M	ii	Benjamin VAN DER BEEK was christened 1 on 19 Feb 1749 in Reformed Church of Harlingen, Harlingen, Somerset County, NJ. Named after his maternal grandfather Benjamin Griggs.
	31	F	iii	Dortje VAN DER BEEK was christened 1 on 8 Sep 1751 in Reformed Church of Harlingen, Harlingen, Somerset County, NJ. Named after her paternal grandmother Dorothea Cortelyou.
	32	M	iv	Pieter VAN DER BEEK was christened 1 on 8 Oct 1753 in the Harlingen Reformed Church, Harlington, Somerset County, NJ. Perhaps named after his paternal great grandfather Pieter Cortelyou.
	33	M	v	Reuben VAN DER BEEK was christened 1 on 14 Oct 1759 in the Six Mile Run, Dutch Reform Church, Somerset County, NJ. Named after his maternal uncle Dr. Reuben Griggs.

9. Jannetje (Jane) GRIGGS (Benjamin ) was born estimated 1721/1738.

In Wilson V. Ledley’s article entitled "Willem Adriaense Bennet of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Some of His Descendants," which was originally published in the “NYG&B Record” and reprinted in “Genealogies of Long Island Families, 1600’s-1800’s, Vol I,” by Henry B Hoff, Ledley states on page 115 that the Adriaen Bennet who married Jane Griggs was baptized on 7 Aug 1698. Although we do not know the exact birth date of Jane, we can estimate that based on the age of her mother Margrietje, the known baptismal dates of two of her brothers (Samuel and Barrent), and the order that the children were listed in their father’s will, that she could have been born anywhere from 1721 to 1738. If these estimated dates are correct then this Adriaen would have been anywhere from 23 to 40 years older than Jane. In addition, on page 116 of Ledley’s article he states that this Adriaen Bennet’s daughter, Margrietje (from his first marriage), was baptized on 21 Apr 1723, which would have made her approximately the same age, if not older, than her step-mother, Jane. Furthermore, in Jane’s brother Reuben’s will he states: “Before signing I give to Adriaen Bennet's two daughters -- Margaret and Barbary -- 8 Pounds each, above what I have already given them.” If this is the same Margrietje (Margaret), she would have been 42 years old and married at the writing of Reuben’s will on 31 Jan 1765 and one would think that she would have been mentioned in her own right rather than as one of the daughters of Adriaen Bennet. Therefore, I believe that Ledley has connected Jane Griggs to the wrong Adriaen Bennet.

Then on pages 85 and 86 Ledley lists another Adrian Bennet who was baptized on 18 June 1721 at the New Brunswick Dutch Reform Church in New Brunswick, NJ and who was the son of Adriaen Bennet and Barbara Vonk (Vonck). This Adrian Bennet appears to be a much stronger candidate to be the husband of Jane Griggs for two reasons. First, this Adriaen was of the right age to have been her husband and, second, the presents of the name Barbara in this line supports the use of the traditional Dutch naming pattern. Adriaen and Jane’s first daughter, Margaret, would have been named after her maternal grandmother Margrietje (Margaret) Janse and their second daughter, Barbary, would have been named after her paternal grandmother Barbara Vonk (Vonck). Contrary to Ledley’s article, there is no evidence that supports the position that the Adriaen Bennet that married Jane Griggs had ever been married before.

There are two other possible children, which could belong to Adriaen Bennet and Jane Griggs, although no primary evidence has been found to connect them. An Adrian and Jannetje Bennet baptized two children, Johannes and Jannetje, at the Dutch Church at Six Mile Run in NJ on 4 Nov 1763 and 24 Nov 1765, respectively. This is the church where many of the grandchildren of Benjamin and Margrietje Griggs are know to have been baptized, but as mentioned above, nothing has been found to connect them.

Jannetje married Adriaen (Aaron) BENNET son of Adriaen BENNET and Barbara VONCK before 23 Mar 1762. Adriaen was christened ¹ on 18 Jun 1721 in New Brunswick Dutch Reform Church in New Brunswick, Middlesex County, NJ.

They had the following children:

	34	F	i	Margaret BENNET. Named after her maternal grandmother Margrietje (Margaret) Janse.
	35	F	ii	Barbara (Barbary) BENNET. Named after her paternal grandmother Barbara Vonck.

10. Eleanor (Nell) GRIGGS (Benjamin ) was born estimated 1723/1740.

Theodorus Monfoort, son of Elbert Pieterse Monfoort and Susanna Van Wyck, is included as the first husband of Eleanor (Nell) Griggs based on two facts. The first is that in the will of Eleanor's brother, Dr. Reuben Griggs, he identifies a Theodorus Montfort as the first husband of his sister Eleanor. The second is the baptism that took place at the Harlingen DRC in Somerset County, NJ on 27 Oct 1751, which is as follows: “CHILD-Susanna, PARENTS-Doris Mefoor, dec'd, Nelli, his widow, WITNESSES-Yan Vanleu, Grite, his wife.” It is believed that the above parent “Doris Mefoor” is “Theodorus Monfoort”, the widow “Nelli” is “Eleanor Griggs”, and that the two witnesses are Johannes Van Lewen and his wife Giertje (Margaret) Monfoort. The presents of Giertje (Margaret) Monfoort as a witness, identifies this Theodorus Monfoort as the son of Elbert Pieterse Monfoort and Susanna Van Wyck because both Theodorus (with a daughter named Susanna) and Margaret Van Lew (Van Lewen) are identified as brother and sister in the will of their sister, Antie Monfoort daughter of Elbert Pieterse Monfoort and Susanna Van Wyck.

Eleanor married (1) Theodorus MONFOORT son of Elbert MONFOORT and Susanna VAN WYCK. Theodorus was christened on 11 Apr 1723 in Jamaica, Queens County, NY. He died ¹ in 1751.

The two children of Theodorus Monfoort and Eleanor Griggs (Margaret and Susanne) were determined by the will of Antie Monfoort, the sister of Theodorus. There are several Family Trees on RootsWeb WorldConnect Project, which lists additional children for Theodorus Monfoort, over and above Margaret and Susanne. These additional children are as follows: Elbert, Corneluis, Daniel and in some cases Peter. This is somewhat troubling because if Theodorus and Eleanor had more than one son, one of them should have been named Benjamin after his maternal grandfather, Benjamin Griggs. Further complications are that on one of the web sites it gives the estimated birth dates of the about children as being born between 1749 and 1759, which would be in conflict with the 1751 death date of Theodorus. Therefore, because these additional children were not included in the will of Theodorus’s sister Antie Monfoort, and because no primary source documentation has been found to date that supports their inclusion; only Margaret and Susanne have been included.

The following is the will of Antie Monfoort:
Page 264.-In the name of God, Amen. June 5, 1769. I, ANTIE MONFOORT, of Hempsted, Queens County, being in health. I leave to my brother, Rem Monfoort, a bond I have against him, and in case he shall come to want or not be able to help himself, he is to have the use of £200, at the discretion of my executors. “The money which I got by my mother, Susana Smith, being £45, I leave to the children of my brother, Theodorus Monfoort, Margaret and Susanne, and to the children of Daniel Polhemus, Cornelius and Polly, and to the children of Margaret Van Lew, John, Catrina, Susanne, Antie, and Margaret, and to Nellie Hegeman.” I leave to Peter Monfoort £11 5s.; To the children of my sister, Maritie Schenck, Elizabeth, Antie, Janettie, Maria, and Marten, £11 5s.; To my niece, Elizabeth Onderdonk, £6; To my niece, Antie Rapelye, £6; To my niece, Antie Van Lew, £6. All the rest of my estate I leave to my brother, Peter Monfoort, Nellie Hegeman, the children of my sister, Margaret Van Lew, and to the children of my brother, Daniel Polhemus. I make my brother, Benjamin Hegeman, and my nephews, Petrus Onderdonk and Marten Schenck, executors. Witnesses, Elbert Hegeman, Andries Hegeman, Elbert Hegeman, Jr. Proved, February 5, 1770. (Abstracts of Wills Vol. VII 1766-1771, page 316.)

They had the following children:

	36	F	i	Margaret MONFOORT. Named after her maternal grandmother Margrietje (Margaret) Janse. Although no baptismal records have been found on Margaret daughter of Theodorus Monfoort and Eleanor Griggs, there was a baptism at the Dutch Church at Six Mile Run of an unnamed child on 13 Jul 1743 to a Monfoo (Monfoort?), --odoris and Altie (SCHQ 8:124). However, there is no further information currently available that would tie this baptism to Theodorus and Eleanor.
	37	F	ii	Susanne MONFOORT was christened 1 on 27 Oct 1751 in the Harlingen Reformed Church, Harlington, Somerset County, NJ. Named after her paternal grandmother Susanna Van Wyck.

Eleanor married ¹ (2) John SUTPHEN after 1751.

Based on the will of Dr. Reuben Griggs, brother of Eleanor Griggs, we know that John Sutphen and Eleanor had children because they are mentioned in Reuben’s will. However no baptismal records have been found on these children.

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