The following information was assembled from numerous sources and cannot be used directly as proof of Qualifying Service or Lineage.
It is considered a research aid and is intended to assist in locating sources that can be used as proof.
Author: Casey Kyle Low
David Griswold P-171037 (DAR #A048661) was born on 12 March 1761 in Tyringham, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts to Elijah and Abigail (Thomas) Griswold. The Griswold family moved to Nobletown, Mass., which then became Hillsdale, New York. At the age of 15, he enlisted as a Volunteer Ranger in the New York Militia. David Griswold served as a private under Captain Baldwin, Captain Whitney, Colonel Van Ness, Captain Miller and Colonel Livingston. Elijah’s sons took turns serving in the army while the remaining sons ran the family farm.
David was first married to Sarah/Sally Beckwith at Tyringham, Mass. (circa 1781) and had the following children born in Orange County, N.Y.: Mary, David, and Thomas. David and Sarah Griswold, along with Elijah and Abigail, several siblings and their spouses, were early settlers of the Chemung River valley near Elmira, N. Y. In 1799, David married Jane Durham Stull in Newton, Tioga Co., N. Y. (later becoming Southport, Chemung Co.). They had four children born in Southport: Nancy, John, Sally/Sarah, and Jonas. In addition to farming, David built and operated a gristmill and a sawmill in Chemung County. David and Jane were charter members of the Southport Presbyterian Church organized in 1821.
David received a Revolutionary War pension and 160 acres from the Bounty Land Warrant program. David’s Revolutionary War file contains several pages of David’s recollection of his activities during the War. David died 27 March 1847 and Jane died 18 August 1859. Both are buried in the Fitzsimmons Cemetery in Southport, New York where the grave marker states “Rev Soldier” under David’s name and a Sons of the American Revolution insignia has been placed in front.
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