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Using DNA to solve a Griffing mystery

Several Griffing families settled in Table Rock, Nebraska Territory. Rev. James S. Griffing's older sister, Clarissa Griffing Giddings, and his younger brother Osee Griffing were two of the settlers. But there were three other Griffings -- the children of William Martin Griffing -- who also settled in Table Rock. These three siblings were Rev. George Lane Griffing, his brother Joseph Griffing, and sister Ruth Griffing Parrish. Is it possible that these two branches of the Griffing family could have settled in the tiny little territorial village of Table Rock and not have been related?

It is known that William Martin Griffing was born in Guilford, Connecticut -- the same town that James Griffing's father (John Griffing) and grandfather (Capt. Jasper Griffing) had been born. It is also known that William's mother was Ruth Pierson but the identity of his father is not revealed in town records. Family tradition of William's descendants is that he was raised in the household of either Jasper Griffing -- the Commodore -- or his son, Capt. Jasper Griffing. Was William the illegitimate son of either of these men or did he simply take the Griffing name when he came of age? Family genealogists have only been able to speculate until now.

In November 2003, descendants of William Martin Griffing and of Capt. Jasper Griffing (see below) decided to have their DNA tested to see if their "Y" chromosomes matched. Results received in January 2004 indicated a virtual match, confirming that William Martin Griffing was fathered by Capt. Jasper Griffing, by one of his three younger brothers, or by the Commodore himself. It is conjectured that William Martin Griffing was fathered by Capt. Jasper Griffing, who was approximately the same age as Ruth Pierson. It is further conjectured that William was taken in by the Commodore who raised this illegitimate grandson as his own. The 1790 census shows four individuals living in the Commodore's household -- the Commodore, his wife Rachel, his slave John (soon to be manumitted according to Connecticut Law), and an unidentified white male under 16 years of age, possibly William.

The following diagram should help to visualize the genealogical relationship between William Griffing and Bruce Griffing who had their DNA tested to prove their genetic connection.

The following chart reveals the probable relationship between the five Griffing families that settled in Table Rock, Nebraska between the years 1856-1860.