Samuel Griffin
Samuel Griffin | |
---|---|
![]() Portrait by Gilbert Stuart, c. 1800 | |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 13th district | |
In office March 4, 1793 – March 3, 1795 | |
Preceded by | None (district created) |
Succeeded by | John Clopton |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 10th district | |
In office March 4, 1789 – March 3, 1793 | |
Preceded by | None (district created) |
Succeeded by | Carter B. Harrison |
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from Williamsburg | |
In office December 16, 1786 – November 14, 1788 | |
Preceded by | James Innes |
Succeeded by | Edmund Randolph |
Personal details | |
Born | Richmond County, Colony of Virginia, British America | April 20, 1746
Died | November 23, 1810 Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S. | (aged 64)
Spouse | Elizabeth Corbin Braxton |
Military service | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch/service | Continental Army |
Rank | Colonel |
Battles/wars | |
Samuel Griffin (April 20, 1746 – November 23, 1810) was a lawyer, soldier and politician from Virginia. Following his service during the American Revolutionary War as a Continental Army officer, Griffin served as mayor of Williamsburg, Virginia, as well as represented the former state capitol in the Virginia House of Delegates, then (with surrounding areas) in the U.S. House of Representatives.[1]
Early and family life
Born in
Samuel Griffin married Elizabeth Corbin Braxton, daughter of prominent Virginia planter and patriot Carter Braxton, likewise of the First Families of Virginia. They had only one child, Elizabeth Corbin Griffin Stewart (1779-1853), who survived two husbands (including a Williamsburg physician) and ultimately died in Philadelphia.
Continental Army officer
During the Revolutionary War Griffin accepted a commission as a colonel in the Continental Army. An aide-de-camp to English-born General Charles Lee, he was wounded at the Battle of Harlem Heights on September 16, 1776.
Colonel Griffin recuperated from his wounds near Philadelphia. When the American army retreated behind the Delaware River in December 1776, the commanding general of the Philadelphia Department, Israel Putnam, followed General Washington's instruction and ordered Col. Griffin to "create a distraction" for the British forces then present near Trenton, New Jersey. Thus, Griffin led about 900 militia and Virginia regulars into Mount Holly, from which he harassed the pickets of Colonel Carl von Donop at Bordentown. Colonel Von Donop brought all of his 2,000 or so troops to Mount Holly to punish Griffin in the Battle of Iron Works Hill.[1] However, the action put Von Donop's troops out of position to assist Colonel Rall in Trenton. Thus, on the morning of December 26, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware and defeated Rall at Trenton. Local lore says a "certain young widow of a doctor" assisted Griffin by detaining von Donop in Mount Holly.[3][4]
Lawyer and politician
Admitted to the Virginia bar, Griffin practiced law. Following the New Jersey battles, Griffin returned to Virginia and as a citizen soldier served on the State's board of war (1779-1781). During this period,
Voters from Williamsburg and surrounding areas elected Griffin to the
Death and legacy
Griffin died in New York City on November 23, 1810. His grave site is unknown.
References
- ^
- United States Congress. "Samuel Griffin (id: G000466)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/American_Medical_Biographies/Griffin,_Corbin
- ISBN 9781463419318.
- ^ "Education in Colonial Williamsburg". The William and Mary Quarterly. 7. Richmond: Whittet & Shepperson: 61. 1899.
- ^ Cynthia Miller Leonard, Virginia General Assembly 1619-1978 (Richmond: Virginia State Library 1978) pp. 162, 166, 170
See also
Retrieved on 2010-01-05
- ISBN 0-19-518159-X.