GRIGGS/MERSHON Family Connections

Introduction

The purpose of this webpage is to set forth what is known about the connections between the GRIGGS and MERSHON families and hopefully determine if one of the remaining unidentified daughters of Thomas MERSHON and Susannah STOCKTON was the wife of Matthew GRIGGS (b: ca 1761) of South Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey.

Thomas MERSHON and Susannah STOCKTON had five known sons and several unidentified daughters. Two of the daughters have been identified, they are Sarah MERSHON (b: 10 Mar 1745) who married David COVENHOVEN and Ann MERSHON (b: 16 Jul 1752) who married Dominicus COVENHOVEN. In trying to identify another daughter of Thomas and Susannah, other than Sarah and Ann, we find that there was a Matthew GRIGGS (b: est. 1761), whose wife’s name has not been determined, that had the following children:

Thomas GRIGGS (b: 1786, Somerset County, New Jersey)
William Mershon GRIGGS (b: 1789, New Jersey)
Matthew GRIGGS (b: 1790, New Jersey)
Sarah GRIGGS (b: est., 1792, New Jersey)
Susannah GRIGGS (b: 1795, Mercer County, New Jersey)
Julia Ann GRIGGS (b: est. 1797, New Jersey)
David GRIGGS (b: 1799/1800, New Jersey)

The fact that Matthew and his wife named a son William “Mershon” GRIGGS could possibly indicate that his wife’s maiden name was MERSHON. When looking at the names of their other children: their first born son was named Thomas perhaps after his maternal grandfather Thomas MERSHON, their second born daughter was named Susannah perhaps after her maternal grandmother Susannah (STOCKTON) MERSHON and of course the son named William Mershon GRIGGS who could have been named after his maternal uncle, William MERSHON son of Thomas and Susannah. In addition, the above daughter Susannah GRIGGS married Jacob STRYKER and they named a son William Mershon STRYKER.

In subsequent generations this GRIGGS line had additional connections to the MERSHON family as presented in the following "Abbreviated Register for Thomas MERSHON". However, weather Matthew’s wife was a daughter of Thomas MERSHON and Susannah STOCKTON and sister to William MERSHON, remains the subject of further research. Any information anyone might have that might support or refute any of the above would be greatly appreciated.

Please send e-mail to: frankgriggs@juno.com

Abbreviated Register for Thomas MERSHON

First Generation

1. Thomas MERSHON was born in 1710/1718. He died on 3 Mar 1791.

Thomas married Susannah STOCKTON daughter of Robert STOCKTON in 1743.

They had the following children:

+ 2 F i Sarah MERSHON was born on 10 Mar 1745. She died on 30 May 1796.

3 M ii Robert MERSHON was born on 2 Feb 1746 in Mercer County, NJ. He died on 17 Oct 1814 in Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ.

Robert married (1) Mary.

Robert married (2) Hannah PERRINE daughter of James PERRINE and Rebecca RANDOLPH on 8 Mar 1795. Hannah was born on 21 Jul 1773 in South Brunswick, Middlesex County, NJ.
4 M iii Samuel MERSHON was born on 23 Jun 1749. He died on 7 Apr 1813.

Samuel married (1) Mary SCHENCK daughter of John Garretse SCHENCK and Mary JOHNSON in 1770 in Near Princeton, Mercer County, NJ. Mary was born on 31 Dec 1749.

Samuel married (2) Susan HIGHT on 5 Jun 1809 in Somerset County, NJ.
+ 5 F iv Ann MERSHON was born on 16 Jul 1752. She died on 20 Aug 1791/1805.

6 M v Job MERSHON was born about 1750/1760.
+ 7 M vi William MERSHON was born on 20 Mar 1761. He died on 22 May 1834.

8 M vii James MERSHON was born on 28 Aug 1765 in New Jersey.

James married Elsie Alice VAN PELT daughter of John VAN PELT and Jacomyntie (Jemima) GULICK.

Second Generation

2. Sarah MERSHON (Thomas ) was born on 10 Mar 1745. She died on 30 May 1796. She was buried in the Blaw-Nevius Burying Grounds, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.

Sarah was first identified as a possible daughter of Thomas and Susannah when a Sarah and a Robert witnessed a deed given by Thomas and Susannah. It is believed that Sarah and Robert were the two oldest children of Thomas and Susannah. Sarah would have been 20 and Robert would have 19 at the time. Further supporting the position that Thomas and Susannah had a daughter named Sarah is a Covenhoven/ Griggs family bible which lists a Sarah Mershon as the wife of David Covenhoven and identifies her father as Thomas Mershon who died on 3 Mar 1791.

Sarah married David COVENHOVEN son of John COVENHOVEN and Catherine VOORHEES on 19 Aug 1773. David was born on 27 Jan 1753. He died on 10 Mar 1817. He was buried in the Blaw-Nevius Burying Grounds, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.

They had the following children:

9 M i John COVENHOVEN was born on 24 Mar 1774. He died on 5 Nov 1777. He was buried in the Blaw-Nevius Burying Grounds, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.
+ 10 F ii Susannah COVENHOVEN was born on 13 Dec 1775. She died on 27 Jan 1852.

5. Ann MERSHON (Thomas ) was born on 16 Jul 1752. She died on 20 Aug 1791/1805.

Ann is identified as a daughter of Thomas and Susannah based on the will of her husband, Dominicus Covenhoven. In his will Dominicus leaves the majority of his estate to the children of William Mershon who Dominicus identifies as his brother-in-law. Thomas and Susannah did have a son named William Mershon with children matching the names of the Mershon children in the will. Thus, in order for William Mershon to be the brother-in-law of Dominicus, Dominicus would have had to married William’s sister who would have also been the child of Thomas and Susannah. Ann’s given name comes from a Covenhoven family bible, but she was no doubt named after her paternal grandmother, Ann Houghton.

Ann married Dominicus COVENHOVEN son of William COVENHOVEN and Catryntje LANE before 1773. Dominicus was born on 5 Dec 1752. He died on 26 Nov 1806.

The following is the will of Dominicus Covenhoven:
1805, Oct. 20. Covenhoven, Dominicus, ot South Brunswick, Middlesex Co., will of. To brother-in-law William Mershon's son, Dominnicus Mershon, all real estate, when 21; should he die before of age real estate to be divided amongst all the children of brother-in-law, William Mershon, the sons, each 2 shares and daughters each one share. Said Dominicus Mershon. also my silver watch and gun. Perrsonal estate to be sold. Sister, Mary Slayback, £25. Residue to be divided amongst brother-In-law William Mershon's 4 daughters, Elizabeth, Susannah, Mary Ann and Sarah (Elizabeth to have £25 before said division). Executors-brother-in-law, William Mershon, and Samuel Gronondyck. Witnesses-Matthew Rue, James Hull, John Wetherill. Proved Dec. 6, 1806.
1806, Dec. 2. Inventory, $673.44; made by James Hull and James Worts. File 10096 L.
(Calendar of New Jersey Wills, Administrations, Etc., Vol. XI-1806-1809, page 82.)

Dominicus and Ann had the following children:

11 M i Jacob COVENHOVEN was born on 29 Apr 1773. He died on 13 Oct 1783.
12 M ii Thomas COVENHOVEN was born on 19 Feb 1783. He died on 18 Mar 1784.
13 M iii Thomas COVENHOVEN was born on 22 Dec 1784. He died on 17 Oct 1790.

7. William MERSHON (Thomas ) was born on 20 Mar 1761 in New Jersey. He died on 22 May 1834.

William married Eleanor BROSS in 1785. Eleanor was born on 5 Nov 1766 in Princeton, Mercer County, NJ. She died on 29 Apr 1836 in New Jersey.

They had the following children:

14 F i Elizabeth MERSHON was born on 17 Jan 1787 in Princeton, Mercer County, NJ. She died on 2 Aug 1869.
15 ii Unidentified Child MERSHON was born in 1788 in Princeton, Mercer County, NJ.
16 F iii Susannah MERSHON was born on 8 Dec 1789 in Princeton, Mercer County, NJ. She died on 19 Aug 1862.
17 M iv Thomas MERSHON was born on 29 Apr 1792 in Princeton, Mercer County, NJ. He died on 17 May 1864.
18 F v Sarah MERSHON was born on 7 Jul 1794 in Princeton, Mercer County, NJ. She died on 28 Sep 1870.
+ 19 M vi Dominicus Covenhoven MERSHON was born on 15 Aug 1796. He died on 26 Feb 1873.

20 M vii William MERSHON was born on 9 Jul 1802 in Princeton, Mercer County, NJ. He died on 5 Apr 1890.
21 F viii Mary Ann MERSHON was born on 27 Sep 1805 in Princeton, Mercer County, NJ. She died on 9 Jun 1845.
22 M ix Aaron James MERSHON was born on 26 Nov 1811 in Princeton, Mercer County, NJ. He died on 24 Nov 1892.

Third Generation

10. Susannah COVENHOVEN (Sarah MERSHON , Thomas ) was born on 13 Dec 1775 in New Jersey. She died on 27 Jan 1852. She was buried in the Blaw-Nevius Burying Grounds, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.

Susannah married (1) James LAKE son of Jacobus LAKE and Ariantje HUBBARD on 21 Apr 1794 in Kingston, Somerset County, NJ. James was born on 9 Nov 1768. He was christened on 25 Dec 1768 in the Harlingen Reformed Church, Harlingen, Somerset County, NJ. He died on 6 Oct 1809.

They had the following children:

23 F i Sarah LAKE was born on 25 Jan 1795. She died on 2 Jul 1820.
+ 24 F ii Catherine LAKE was born on 5 Apr 1796. She died on 5 Dec 1861.

25 M iii David Covenhoven LAKE was born on 31 Dec 1801. He was christened on 26 Feb 1801 in the Harlingen Reformed Church, Harlingen, Somerset County, NJ. He died on 1 Oct 1802.

There is a discrepancy between the birth date of 31 Dec 1801 that is recorded for David in a Covenhoven family bible and his christening date of 26 Feb 1801 that is recorded in the records of the Harlingen Reformed Church. One obviously is in error.

Susannah married (2) John STOUT Esq. son of Richard STOUT and Penelope PARKE in 1817/1830. John was born on 12 Jun 1760 in Somerset County, NJ. He died on 7 Mar 1833. He was buried in the Stout-Shepherd Burial Ground, Somerset County, NJ.

19. Dominicus Covenhoven MERSHON (William , Thomas ) was born on 15 Aug 1796 in Princeton, Mercer County, NJ. He died on 26 Feb 1873.

Dominicus married Gertrude SNEDEKER on 5 Jan 1825 in Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ. Gertrude was born on 9 Sep 1805 in Princeton, Mercer County, NJ. She died on 10 Aug 1878.

They had the following children:

+ 26 F i Eleanor MERSHON was born on 9 Mar 1826. She died on 24 Aug 1899.

+ 27 F ii Sarah Elizabeth MERSHON was born on 3 Apr 1839. She died on 1 Apr 1917.

Fourth Generation

24. Catherine LAKE (Susannah COVENHOVEN , Sarah MERSHON , Thomas ) was born on 5 Apr 1796 in New Jersey. She was christened on 24 Jul 1796 in the Harlingen Reformed Church, Harlingen, Somerset County, NJ. She died on 5 Dec 1861. She was buried in the Blawenburg Cemetery, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.

Catherine married William Mershon GRIGGS son of Matthew GRIGGS. William was born on 2 Jul 1789. He died on 21 Dec 1848. He was buried in the Blawenburg Cemetery, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.

Wilson V. Ledley's only comment on William in his manuscript "New Netherland Families" was that he "Moved Away". No further record. However this appears to be in error because census records indicate that William remained in New Jersey until his death.

William and Catherine had the following children:

28 F i Susan GRIGGS was born on 16 Dec 1812 in New Jersey. She died on 19 Nov 1874. She was buried in the Blawenburg Cemetery, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.
29 F ii Harriet GRIGGS was born on 7 Aug 1814. She died on 23 May 1886. She was buried in the Rocky Hill Cemetery, Rocky Hill, Somerset County, NJ.

Harriet married Peter V.D. VANDERVEER son of Garret VANDERVEER and Mary MERLETT. Peter died in Jul 1854. He was buried in the Rocky Hill Cemetery, Rocky Hill, Somerset County, NJ.
30 M iii David Covenhoven GRIGGS was born on 9 Apr 1816. He died on 19 Aug 1818. He was buried in the Blawenburg Cemetery, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.
31 F iv Martha Ann GRIGGS was born on 10 Jun 1818. She died on 30 Oct 1836. She was buried in the Blawenburg Cemetery, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.
32 F v Sarah Lake GRIGGS was born on 11 Feb 1821 in New Jersey. She died on 22 Jan 1887. She was buried in the Blawenburg Cemetery, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.
33 M vi John S. GRIGGS was born on 9 Dec 1824 in New Jersey. He died on 27 Sep 1884. He was buried in the Blawenburg Cemetery, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.

John married Sarah J. VAN ZANDT daughter of John VAN ZANDT and Ann VOORHEES on 4 Dec 1850. Sarah was born on 17 Nov 1825. She died on 8 Jul 1888. She was buried in the Blawenburg Cemetery, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.
34 F vii Catherine GRIGGS was born on 22 Nov 1828. She died on 23 Apr 1897. She was buried in the Blawenburg Cemetery, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.

Catherine married William Alfred WEART son of Spencer Stout WEART and Sarah GARRISON on 4 Dec 1850. William was born on 2 Jul 1827 in Middletown, Monmouth County, NJ. He died on 7 Jan 1917 in Blawenberg, Somerset County, NJ. He was buried in the Blawenburg Cemetery, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.
35 M viii James Edgar GRIGGS was born on 16 Aug 1836 in New Jersey. He died on 28 Oct 1877. He was buried in the Blawenburg Cemetery, Blawenburg, Somerset County, NJ.

26. Eleanor MERSHON (Dominicus Covenhoven , William , Thomas ) was born on 9 Mar 1826 in Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ. She died on 24 Aug 1899.

Eleanor married John W. DEY on 31 Dec 1846.

They had the following children:

+ 36 F i Isabelle Mershon DEY was born on 11 Apr 1867.

27. Sarah Elizabeth MERSHON (Dominicus Covenhoven , William , Thomas ) was born on 3 Apr 1839 in Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ. She was christened on 1 Jul 1839 in Second Presbyterian Church, Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ. She died on 1 Apr 1917. She was buried in the Dayton Cemetery, Dayton, Middlesex County, NJ.

Sarah married David G. GRIGGS Jr son of David GRIGGS and Ann MCDANIEL. David was born on 4 Mar 1836 in New Jersey. He died on 19 Nov 1903. He was buried in the Dayton Cemetery, Dayton, Middlesex County, NJ.

They had the following children:

37 F i Anna G. GRIGGS was born on 30 Jan 1859. She died on 10 Aug 1859. She was buried in the Dayton Cemetery, Dayton, Middlesex County, NJ.
38 F ii Marietta GRIGGS was born on 1 Jul 1860. She died on 27 Sep 1860. She was buried in the Dayton Cemetery, Dayton, Middlesex County, NJ.
39 M iii Cornelia GRIGGS was born on 30 May 1862 in Middlesex County, NJ. He was christened on 17 Aug 1862 in Cranbury First Presbyterian Church, Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ. He died on 22 Aug 1921. He was buried in the Dayton Cemetery, Dayton, Middlesex County, NJ.
40 F iv Ellen D GRIGGS was born on 17 Aug 1864 in Middlesex County, NJ. She was christened on 4 Jun 1865 in Cranbury First Presbyterian Church, Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ.
41 F v Lizzie M GRIGGS was born on 12 Nov 1866 in Middlesex County, NJ. She was christened on 15 Sep 1867 in Cranbury First Presbyterian Church, Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ.
42 M vi Mathew D GRIGGS was born on 26 Jan 1869 in Middlesex County, NJ. He was christened in Aug 1869 in Cranbury First Presbyterian Church, Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ.
43 M vii William M. GRIGGS was born in May 1872 in New Jersey.
44 M viii James Elmer GRIGGS was born in Jan 1874 in New Jersey.
45 M ix David GRIGGS Jr. was born in Dec 1876 in New Jersey.
46 M x Clarence S. GRIGGS was born in Jan 1881 in New Jersey.

Fifth Generation

36. Isabelle Mershon DEY (Eleanor MERSHON , Dominicus Covenhoven , William , Thomas ) was born on 11 Apr 1867. She was christened on 24 Nov 1867 in Second Presbyterian Church, Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ.

Isabelle married Charles M. GRIGGS son of Matthew GRIGGS and Henrietta (Gitty) MESEROLL on 30 Jan 1884 in First Presbyterian Church, Cranbury, Middlesex County, NJ. Charles was born in 1857/1858.

They had the following children:

47 M i Leroy GRIGGS was born on 8 Jun 1886. He died in Oct 1972 in Bound Brook, Somerset County, NJ.

Leroy married Margaret C. MARTIN.
48 F ii Mable B. GRIGGS was born in Aug 1891 in New Jersey.
49 M iii John W. GRIGGS was born in Dec 1896 in New Jersey.

Please send e-mail to: frankgriggs@juno.com