The Griswold family () is an American political family from Connecticut and

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

of English descent. The family's fortune originates from the 19th Century industrial and merchant pursuits.

Family origins

John Constable - Malvern Hall, Warwickshire - Google Art Project

The Griswold family originates from Solihull, England, where they lived for centuries as greyhound breeders, which were a favorite of King Edward I of England. The first members of the family to arrive in America were the Puritans half-brothers Edward and Matthew Griswold, landing initially at Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1639 and continuing on as part of the group of colonists settling Windsor, Connecticut. In 1646, Matthew married Anna Wolcott and moved to Old Saybrook, Connecticut and was later Deputy and Commissioner of Lyme, Connecticut, quickly amassing thousands of acres of land and become one of the richest men in the colony. Edward Griswold remained in Windsor and played pivotal roles in the early politics of the colony. Many of his descendants moved west to

following the American Revolution and founded the New York branch of the family, from whom Congressman John Augustus Griswold is descended.

Legacy and accumulation of wealth

Politics

Many members of the family were influential in state and national politics. During the colonial era, the Griswolds were one of a roughly half-dozen families which governed Connecticut state politics. In 1801, the Hartford Courant called "Griswold" one of the most "revered and ancient families" of Connecticut.

Industry

John Augustus Griswold of the New York branch of the family made a considerable fortune in the iron and steel industry, forming the Albany and Rensselaer Iron and Steel Works of Troy, New York. During the American Civil War, Griswold financed at his personal expense the

USS Monitor USS ''Monitor'' was an ironclad warship built for the Union Navy during the American Civil War and completed in early 1862, the first such ship commissioned by the Navy. ''Monitor'' played a central role in the Battle of Hampton Roads on 9 Mar ...

and later engaged his iron business in the production of other Monitor class ironclad ships. Griswold later become president of the Troy and Lansingburgh Railroad, of the Troy and Cohoes Railroad and of the New Orleans, Mobile and Texas Railroad. Matthew Griswold VII, grandson of governor Roger Griswold, founded the

Griswold Manufacturing Griswold Manufacturing () was an American manufacturer of cast iron kitchen products founded in Erie, Pennsylvania, in business from 1865 through 1957. For many years the company had a world-wide reputation for high-quality cast-iron cookware. To ...

Company of Erie, Pennsylvania, manufacturers of the Griswold cast-iron products.

Samuel Griswold Samuel Griswold (December 27, 1790 in Burlington, Connecticut – September 14, 1867 in Clinton, Georgia) was an American industrial pioneer in the 1820s based in central Georgia. He was the founder of Griswoldville village, an industrial site. H ...

, a descendant of settler Edward Griswold, moved to Georgia and was notable for producing weapons for the

Confederate Army The Confederate States Army, also called the Confederate Army or the Southern Army, was the military land force of the Confederate States of America (commonly referred to as the Confederacy) during the American Civil War (1861–1865), fighting ...

China trade and shipping

Members of the Connecticut branch of the family moved to New York City in 1796 and engaged in trade. Brothers Nathaniel Lynde Griswold and George Griswold founded the N.L & G. Griswold Company to import sugar and rum from the

Caribbean The Caribbean (, ) ( es, El Caribe; french: la Caraïbe; ht, Karayib; nl, De Caraïben) is a region of the Americas that consists of the Caribbean Sea, its islands (some surrounded by the Caribbean Sea and some bordering both the Caribbean Se ...

on clipper ships. They expanded to the

China Trade The Old China Trade () refers to the early commerce between the Qing Empire and the United States under the Canton System, spanning from shortly after the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783 to the Treaty of Wanghia in 1844. The Old ...

, capturing a large share of the 19th century tea market. It was noted that "I do not suppose that there is a country store, however insignificant, in the entire United States that has not seen a large or small package of tea marked 'N.L & G.G.' George Griswold Jr operated clipper ships to China and amassed a great fortune; setting up residence on Fifth Avenue. John Griswold, brother of George Jr., was responsible for building the

John N. A. Griswold House The John N. A. Griswold House is a historic house located at 76 Bellevue Avenue in Newport, Rhode Island. It was built in 1864 for John Noble Alsop Griswold, an Old China Trade merchant and member of the Griswold Family, and was designed by Ri ...

in Newport, Rhode Island. Another member of the family, John Griswold, founded the Black X Line of packet clippers that shipped supplies between the United States and Great Britain. Robert Harper Griswold, a man whom Herman Melville called "a man of much reading .. elegant manner and great personal beauty," greatly expanded the line and amassed his own wealth. His wealth enabled him to buy what is now the home that now houses the

Florence Griswold Museum The Florence Griswold Museum is an Art Museum at 96 Lyme Street in Old Lyme, Connecticut centered on the home of Florence Griswold (1850–1937), which was the center of the Old Lyme Art Colony, a main nexus of American Impressionism. The Museum is ...

, named after his daughter.

Notable family members

Noted as business-people

(1790–1867): American industrialist. * John Augustus Griswold (1818–1873): U.S. Representative from New York, Industrialist, and builder of the ironclad

. *

John N. A. Griswold John Noble Alsop Griswold (May 29, 1822 – September 18, 1909) was an American China trade merchant, industrialist, and diplomat. Early life Griswold was born in New York City on May 29, 1822. He was the son of George Griswold (1777–1859), wh ...

(1822–1909): China trade merchant and industrialist. Commissioned the

in Newport, Rhode Island. * William E. S. Griswold (1877–1964): CEO of W. & J. Sloane * John Sloane Griswold Sr. (1914–2005): Noted industrial design executive * Anita Griswold (1903–1976); real estate broker, wife of John C. Griswold

Noted as politicians and activists

Many Griswold family members were influential in politics in the states of Connecticut and

. *Edward Griswold: (1607–1690): Founding father of Connecticut, early colonial politician. * Matthew Griswold (1714–1799): 17th Governor of Connecticut. * Roger Griswold (1762–1812): 22nd Governor of Connecticut, 6th Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut, and U.S. Representative. *

Gaylord Griswold Gaylord Griswold (December 18, 1767 – March 1, 1809) was a United States representative from New York. Born in Windsor, Connecticut, he pursued classical studies and graduated from Yale College in 1787. He studied law and was admitted to t ...

: U.S. Representative from New York and drafter of the 12th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. * John Augustus Griswold (1818–1873): U.S. Representative from New York, Industrialist, and builder of the ironclad

. *

John Ashley Griswold John Ashley Griswold (November 18, 1822 – February 22, 1902) was an attorney, judge and politician from Catskill, New York. He was most notable for his service as a U.S. Representative from 1869 to 1871. Early life Griswold was born in Cair ...

(1822–1902): U.S. Representative from New York. * George Griswold (1794–1857): Lieutenant Governor of Michigan. *

Simeon Griswold Simeon Griswold (May 16, 1752 – December 7, 1843) was a Massachusetts Representative from Pittsfield, Massachusetts and a member of the political Griswold Family. Early life Griswold was born in Bolton, Connecticut on May 16, 1752. He was one ...

(1752–1843): Five time member of the Massachusetts State Legislature. *

Chester Griswold Chester Griswold (January 14, 1781 – September 7, 1860) was a New York Assemblyman from Nassau, New York, and a member of the political Griswold Family. Biography Griswold was born in Bolton, Connecticut, to Simeon Griswold and Ann Hutchi ...

: Member of the New York State Assembly, Supervisor of Nassau, New York. *

William M. Griswold William M. Griswold (February 7, 1823October 10, 1889) was an American lawyer, Republican politician, and Wisconsin pioneer. He served four years in the Wisconsin State Senate and three years in the State Assembly, representing Columbia County. ...

(1823–1889): Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and Wisconsin State Senate. * William A. Griswold (1775–1846): Speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives. *William N. Griswold (1834–1921): Supervisor of Welfare for New York. * Matthew Griswold (1833–1919): U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania.

Art and culture

* Florence Griswold (1850–1937): American artist and founder of the Old Lyme art colony. *

Frank Gray Griswold Frank Gray Griswold (December 21, 1854 – March 30, 1937) was an American financier and writer who was a prominent member of New York society during the Gilded Age. Early life Griswold was born on December 21, 1854 at the family home, 91 Fifth A ...

(1854–1937): American sportsman and society leader of the Gilded Age. *

Mariana Griswold Van Rensselaer Mariana Alley Griswold Van Rensselaer (February 21, 1851 – January 20, 1934), usually known as Mrs. Schuyler Van Rensselaer or M. G. Van Rensselaer, was an American author focusing on architectural criticism. Early life Mariana Alley Griswo ...

(1851–1934): American author and leader in the

aesthetic movement Aestheticism (also the Aesthetic movement) was an art movement in the late 19th century which privileged the aesthetic value of literature, music and the arts over their socio-political functions. According to Aestheticism, art should be prod ...

. *

: American art historian and noted director of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Science and Academia

*John Augustus Griswold, Jr. (1912–1991): American ornithologist, Curator of Birds, Philadelphia Zoological Gardens. * Alfred Whitney Griswold (1906–1963): American historian and President of Yale University * Erwin Griswold (1904–1994): Solicitor General of the United States and Dean of

Harvard Law School Harvard Law School (Harvard Law or HLS) is the law school of Harvard University, a private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest continuously operating law school in the United States. Each class ...

Griswold family tree

* Daniel Griswold (1656–1728) m. Mindwell Bissell (1663–1728) ** Daniel Griswold (1684–1772) m. Sarah White (1694–1738) *** Seth Griswold (1723–1810) m. Susanna Shurtleff (1732–1757) ****

(1752–1843) m. Ann Hutchinson (1755–1836) ***** Justin Griswold (1779–1841) ***** Chester Griswold (1781–1860) m. Abby Moulton ****** John Augustus Griswold (1818–1872) m. Elizabeth Hart * Matthew Griswold (1652–) m. (1) 1683: Phebe Hyde (1663–1704); m. (2) 1705: Mary DeWolf (–1724) ** John Griswold (1690–1764) m. 1713: Hannah Lee (1694–1773) *** Matthew Griswold (1714–1799) m. 1743: Ursula Wolcott (1724–1788) **** Marian Griswold (1750–1829) m. (1) 1769: Charles Church Chandler (1747–1787); m. (2) 1793: Ebenezer Lane (1747–1808); m. (3) 1809: Justin Ely (1739–1817) ***** Dorothy Church Chandler (1770–1847) m. James Backus (1764–1816) ****** William Wolcott Backus (1803–1892) ****** Henry Titus Backus (1809–1877) m. Juliana Trumball

Woodbridge Woodbridge may refer to: Places Australia *Woodbridge, Western Australia formerly called ''West Midland'' *Woodbridge, Tasmania Canada *Woodbridge, Ontario England *Woodbridge, Suffolk, the location of ** Woodbridge (UK Parliament constituency ...

***** Marian Griswold Chandler (1774–1817) m.

James Lanman James Lanman (June 14, 1767August 7, 1841) was an American lawyer and politician from Connecticut who served in the United States Senate from 1819 to 1825. He was a cousin of Presidents John Adams and John Quincy Adams. Early life James Lanman ...

(1769–1841) ****** Charles James Lanman (1819–1895) m. Adeline Dodge *******

Charles Lanman Charles Lanman (June 14, 1819 - March 4, 1895) was an American author, government official, artist, librarian, and explorer. Biography Charles Lanman was born in Monroe, Michigan, on June 14, 1819, the son of Charles James Lanman, and the gr ...

(1819–1895) m. Adeline Dodge *****

Ebenezer Lane Ebenezer Lane was a lawyer from the U.S. State of Ohio who served on the Ohio Supreme Court 1830 to 1845. From 1840 until his retirement, he was Chief Justice. Youth Ebenezer Lane was born September 17, 1793 at Northampton, Massachusetts. His ...

(1793–1866) **** Roger Griswold (1762–1812) m. 1798: Fanny Rogers ***** Frances Ann Griswold m. 1818:

(1793–1866) *** Phebe Griswold (1716–1770) m. 1731:

Jonathan Parsons Jonathan Parsons (November 30, 1705 – July 19, 1776) was a Christian New England clergyman during the late colonial period and a supporter of the American Revolution. Born in West Springfield, Massachusetts, he was the youngest son of Ebenezer ( ...

(1705–1776) **** Samuel Holden Parsons (1737–1789) m. 1761: Mehitabel Mather (1743–1802) *** Thomas Griswold (1718–1770) m. 1741: Susannah Lynde (1721–1768) *** Hannah Griswold (1723–1772) m. Benajah Bushnell *** Lucy Griswold (1726–1795) m. 1753: Elijah Backus (1726–1798) *** Sarah Griswold (1729–1777) m.

William Hillhouse William Hillhouse (17 December 1850 – 27 January 1910) was the first Professor of Botany at the University of Birmingham (1882–1909).''Cambridge University Alumni, 1261–1900'' He was one of the first professors appointed to the Mason Scien ...

(1728–1816) **** John Griswold Hillhouse (1751–1806) m. Elizabeth Mason ***** Harriet Hillhouse (1792–1866) m. David Buel (1784–1860) ****** Samuel Buel (1815–1892) m. Jane Eliza Wilmer (1820–1908) ******* David Hillhouse Buel (1839–1870) m. Josephine Maria McDougall ******** David Hillhouse Buel (1862–1923) m. 1912: Katherine Frances Powers ******

Oliver Prince Buel Oliver Prince Buel (January 22, 1838 – April 7, 1899) was an American lawyer and banker. Early life Buel was born on January 22, 1838, in Troy in Rensselaer County, New York. He was the youngest of eight children of Judge David Buel (1784–1 ...

(1838–1899) m. Josephine Maria (née McDougall) Buel **** James Hillhouse (1754–1832) **** Thomas Griswold Hillhouse (1766–1835) ***** Thomas Hillhouse (adjutant general), Thomas Hillhouse (1817–1897) m. Harriet Prouty (1823–1903) ****** Thomas Griswold Hillhouse (1848–1910) *** Clarissa Griswold (1735–1811) m. Nathan Elliott (1725–1798) *** Deborah Griswold (1735–1811) m. 1756 Nathan Jewett Jr. (1734–1802) ** George Griswold (1692–1761) m. Hannah Lynde (1698–1734) *** George Griswold (1726–1816) m. Elizabeth Lee (1735–1797) **** George Griswold (1777–1859) m. (1) Eliza Woodhull (1784–1810); m. (2) Maria Matilda Cumming (1792–1880) ***** Maria Griswold (1804–1866) m. George Winthrop Gray (1799–1863) ****** George Griswold Gray (1830–1875) m. Susan Irvin (1842–1924) ****** Henry Winthrop Gray (1839–1906) m. Mary Mackall Travers (1847–1900) (daughter of William R. Travers) ******* Maria Griswold Gray Coster, Maria Griswold Gray (1868–1947) m. William Bay Coster (1868–1918) ***** Cornelia Woodhull Griswold (1807–1888) m. Joseph Woodward Haven (1803–1872) ****** George Griswold Haven Sr. (1837–1908) m. Emma Walton Martin (1840–1873) ******* George Griswold Haven Jr. (1866–1925) m. (1) Elizabeth Shaw Ingersoll (1860–1923); m. (2) Dorothy James ******** Leila Ingersoll Haven (1890–1974) m. Gilbert Edward Jones Jr. (1888–1925) ******** George Griswold Haven III (1892–1944) m. Elizabeth George (1896–1990) ******** Alice Haven (1895–1946) m. (1) George Schieffelin Trevor (1892–1951); (2) William Otis Waters (1889–1940) ******* Cornelia Haven (1860–1926) m. Stephen Peabody ******* Alice Griswold Haven (1863–1959) m. John Nelson Borland (1859–1929) ******** Alice "Ella" Borland (1887–1987) m. Orme Wilson Jr. (1885–1966) ********* Orme Wilson III (1920–1991) m. Julie Brown Colt ******* Joseph Woodward Haven (1864–1945) m. Henrietta Katherine Cram (1863–1934) ******** Katherine Sergeant Haven (1898–1974) m. (1) Johnston Livingston Redmond (1888–1933) (brother of Roland L. Redmond); m. (2) William Henry Osborn II (1895–1971) (grandson of William H. Osborn) ***** Sarah Helen Griswold (1815–1893) m. John Cleve Green (1800–1875) ***** Matilda Elizabeth Griswold (1817–1889) m. Frederick Theodore Frelinghuysen (1817–1885) ****** Matilda Griswold Frelinghuysen (1846–1926) m. Henry Winthrop Gray (1839–1906) ****** Charlotte Louisa "Lucy" Frelinghuysen (1847–1930) ****** Frederick Frelinghuysen (businessman), Frederick Frelinghuysen (1848–1924), m. Estelle Burnet Kinney (1868–1931) ******* Frederick Frelinghuysen (1903–1966) ******* Thomas Frelinghuysen (b. 1905) m. Roselyne de Viry (1920–2014) (daughter of Baron Humbert and Baroness Delphine Marie de Viry) ******* Theodore Frelinghuysen (b. 1907) ******* George Griswold Frelinghuysen II (1908–2002) m. Anne de Smolianinof ******* Suzy Frelinghuysen, Estelle Condit Frelinghuysen (1911–1988) m. George Lovett Kingsland Morris (1905–1975) ****** George Griswold Frelinghuysen (1851–1936), George Griswold Frelinghuysen (1851–1936), m. Sara Linen Ballantine (granddaughter of Peter Ballantine) ****** Sarah Helen Frelinghuysen (1856–1939) m. (1) John Davis (United States Court of Claims judge), John J. Davis (1851–1902); m. (2) Charles L. McCawley, Charles Laurie McCawley (1865–1935) ******* Mathilda Elizabeth Frelinghuysen Davis (1876–1960), m. George Cabot Lodge (1873–1909) ******** Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. (1902–1985) m. Emily Esther Sears ********* George C. Lodge, George Cabot Lodge II (b. 1927) m. (1) Nancy Kunhardt (daughter of Dorothy Kunhardt); m. (2) Susan Alexander Powers ********* Henry Sears Lodge (1930–2017) ******** John Davis Lodge (1903–1985) m. Francesca Braggiotti (1902–1998) ********* Lily Lodge (b. 1930) ********* Beatrice Anna Cabot Lodge m. Antonio de Oyarzabal (b. 1935) ******* Helena Constance Lodge (1905–1998) m. Baron Edouard de Streel (1896–1981) ****** Theodore Frelinghuysen (New York socialite), Theodore Frelinghuysen (1860–1928) m. Alice Dudley Coats (1861–1889) (daughter of Sir James Coats, 1st Baronet) ***** George Griswold Jr. (1820–1884) m. Lydia Alley (1826–1908) ****** Mariana Griswold Van Rensselaer, Mariana Griswold (1851–1934) m. Schuyler Van Rensselaer (family), Van Rensselaer (1845–1884) ******* George Griswold Van Rensselaer (1875–1894) ******

(1854–1937) m. Josephine Houghteling Canfield (1864–1937) (mother of Cass Canfield) ****** George Griswold III (1857–1917) m. Emily Oliver Post (1860–1905) ******* George Griswold IV (1896–1964) m. Isabelle Batelle Bridgman (1896–1977) ***** John Noble Alsop Griswold (1822–1909) m. Jane Louisa Emmet (1832–1909) ****** Minnie Griswold (1861–1954) m. John Murray Forbes Jr. (1844–1921) ****** Richard Alsop Griswold (1863–1864) ****** John Noble "Jack" Griswold (1865–1895) ****** Florence Temple Griswold (1867–1937) m. Horatio Robert Odo Cross (1846–1915) ******* Graham Griswold Odo Cross (1898–1963) ****** George Griswold II (1870–1902)

Places

*Griswold, Connecticut: named for Governor Roger Griswold. *Fort Griswold, Groton, Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut: Named for Governor Matthew Griswold. *Griswoldville, Georgia *The Griswold Inn, one of the oldest continuously run taverns in the United States.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Griswold Family Griswold family, History of Connecticut American families of English ancestry Families from Connecticut Families from New York (state) English-American culture in Connecticut