The Griggs family of Virginia is of English origin intermingled with a strain of Scotch-Irish blood. “The will of Michael Griggs, county Lancaster, colony of Virginia, ”Gentleman,” was proved in London September 10, 1688, and a few years later, the will of Robert Griggs, of Gloucester county, left a “Thousand pounds of tobacco: to the poore”.
Among the earliest emigrants to this country were four Griggs brothers; one came to Boston Mass., and one to New York, and later to New Jersey, and there formed the nucleus of the large Griggs family of that section. The other two, Michael and Robert, came to Virginia and settled in Lancaster County. The Virginia branch, as well as the northern, was well represented in the Revolutionary war. From Virginia appeared the names of, George, Peter, Philip, William, Lewis and Lee Griggs. The Henry county branch of the family descended from Michael Griggs. Three brothers, Jeremiah Michael, Peter, and John, came from the eastern counties of the State to Henry County just after the Revolutionary period. Peter Griggs never married. John Griggs married Phoebe Ackelas and was the progenitor of Peter Griggs, owner of the celebrated “Snow Bird” mill, of Henry County. Here he spent his days as a bachelor, practically a recluse, and died in 1921.
Jeremiah Michael Griggs first married a Miss Minter, from which Union there were two children, Jeremiah, and a sister, Mariah, who married a Pace and died in young womanhood. His second wife was a Miss Stultz and she bore him five children; viz, Wesley, Peter Franklin, George, Ira, and Susan. His last marriage was to Miss Pedigo, and from this union there were three children Brice, Lewis, and John.
Jeremiah Griggs, son of Jeremiah Michael, and his first wife was one of the county’s leading citizens. (See Biography Chapter).
As in the Revolutionary, so in the Civil war, the family: of Griggs did not fail to answer the call of their country to arms. Jere W. Griggs served faithfully, and was at the battle of Gettysburg. So was another son of George Griggs, William, in the thickest of that great battle and scores of others during the four years of service, losing a leg at the famous charge at the latter field of carnage.
George King Griggs, son of Wesley Griggs, and Susan, his wife, the daughter of William King, enlisted in June 1861 and participated in nearly all of the battles fought by the army of northern Virginia. He was several times wounded, severely at Gettysburg. He rose rapidly from captain to Colonel of the 38th, Regiment of Infantry, and surrendered at Appomattox in charge of the Brigade.
Greenbury Thornton Griggs, son of Franklin Griggs, only 16 years old when war was declared, served as Captain of Company H. 47th, Va. Regiment in Kemper’s Brigade, Longstreet’s Corps. He was captured before Appomattox and held a prisoner on Johnson’s Island, from which place he was paroled.
In civil life, the Griggs family has responded to every call of their country for uplift or advancement, not only commercially, but also in an educational or political field. Samuel J. Griggs, son of Franklin Griggs, was elected to the legislature from Henry County for the years 1881-82.
Col. George King Griggs, war record above noted late of Pittsylvania County, was distinctly a man of great executive force and rare judgment. He was for several years connected with the Danville and Western railroad, gradually being promoted till he became General Superintendent and Treasurer. Besides his distinguished career for the public Col. Griggs was a member of the Baptist church and active in church work. He was a Mason, being a Past High Priest of Euclid Chapter, and Past Eminent Commander of Dove Commandery, Knights Templars. He left two sons, Archie, and George.
Perhaps no greater service was ever done the county than that of Greenbury Thornton Griggs in his untiring and persistent efforts in behalf of public school education. In collaboration with Dr. Ruffner, when the system was adopted in 1871, he canvassed the state. Soon thereafter he was appointed the first school superintendent of Henry. As the result of his efforts Martinsville had one of the first High Schools in the State. It was named in honor of Dr. Ruffner, and called “Ruffner Institute” until 1904, when it was changed to the Martinsville High School.
Every son of Michael Griggs lived and died in Henry County. They all married and reared large families’ except Brice, who went to Texas. All were farmers and bore by inheritance and by deed in truth the title of gentleman. Every one lived up to the motto inscribed on the family Coat of Arms: Gules-8 ostrich feathers argent. Crest-A sword in pale enfiled with a leopard’s face, all ppr. (See old pen-ink copy in possession of Miss Lila Griggs now in Roanoke).
George Griggs, brother of Jeremiah, and a son of Jeremiah, Sr’s 2nd, wife, settled near Ridgeway. He was born in 1816, and married Francis Wills. He died Dec. 23rd, 1882, and his wife in 1864. Issue: William, Jerry W., Frances, Susan, and Geo. Ira.
William Griggs, a cripple for life from the loss of leg at Gettysburg, reared a large family as follows, Tom William, Kate, Ida, and Sam.
Jerry W. Griggs was born in 1844, married Emeline King. Issue: George K., and an adopted daughter, Lina. He was a successful farmer and a good citizen. He died in 1920.
Frances Griggs married Judge Moir No issue. Susan Griggs was born in 1842, married Sol Franklin, of Irisburg, who died young, leaving her with the following children; viz, Joe, Sol, George, Ben, John, Clay, Rosa and Kate. The climate being destructive to the children after Rosa, Kate, and Clay died, Mrs. Franklin moved to New Mexico (the family moved to El Paso, Texas) where they had good health except Ben, who died soon, and the greatest of the world’s blessings, good health and great wealth, at last came to nearly every one of the name.
George I. Griggs was born in 1846. He married Susan Churchill Nov. 10, 1878, and conducted a general merchandise business at Ridgeway for a long period of years. The firm of Jones and Griggs was the oldest business house in the county when he died on Jan. 11, 1912.
His children were as follows: Katy, Susie, Margie who died in early childhood, May Bud, and George named for her father, George Ira.