Note: This section is based on a proof argument presented in: A. Ray Griffin, Jr., "The Jerom Griffith Family of Northampton County, Virginia, 1644 - 1727: Supplement Number One to Along The Neuse, The Craven Bryan Griffin Family, 1728 - 1992" (pamphlet; 1995), page 10. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/702008/?offset=0#page=11&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=>, accessed 4 July 2025.

In 1818 North Carolina's Supreme Court heard a case titled Bryan v. Griffin, which centered around an inheritance dispute. The court gathered facts about the family relationships involved in the dispute.* The case file is lengthy and at times confusing, so the notes by Brent and Martha Brian are helpful. The informants (or "orators" as they're called in the case file) introduced on page 4 include several grandchildren of 1446Jonas' siblings. As such, they would likely be familiar enough with the families discussed below that their first-hand knowledge and testimony can be considered trustworthy. Now consider the following excerpts from the case file:1

1446Jonas Griffin, his wife 1447Alice Bryan, and their children Major, 723Jennett (widow of 722John Bruton), and Jonas are mentioned in the 1818 Bryan v. Griffin case file. Full page.1

Although not mentioned in the case file, 1446Jonas also had a son Benjamin, as proven by his will. The will also mentions his other children Major, 723Jennett, and Jonas, whom we know from the aboveshown lawsuit excerpt. 1446Jonas' will is copied and transcribed in full near the bottom of this webpage.2

The case file also identifies 1446Jonas' siblings:3

1446Jonas and his siblings Solomon, Benjamin, and Ann (wife of William Coward) are mentioned in the 1818 Bryan v. Griffin case file. Full page.3

Using the evidence above, we can construct a family tree:

In February 1757, "Ann Griffin[,] spinster" gifted all of her possessions to her "grandsons Benjamin Griffin and Major Griffin son of Jonas Griffin." 4 Thus, 1446Jonas' mother must be 2893Ann ___.

2893Ann is the grandmother of Benjamin and Major Griffin, and thus must be the mother of 1446Jonas Griffin. Full page.4

Let's update our family tree accordingly:

In October 1727, 2893Ann "Griffith widdow & relict of Jonas Griffeth late of the the sd county[,] cooper" and (her son) Benjamin sold land that on 25 July [1707] had been gifted "by Jerom Griffith Senr of Northampton County aforesd cooper unto the sd Jonas Griffith." 5 Thus, we know that 2893Ann's husband and 1446Jonas' father must be 2892Jonas Griffith, whose father is strongly implied to be 5784Jerome Griffith. Note that the surnames Griffin and Griffeth were used interchangeably around this time; both are English adaptations of an original Welsh and Irish surname.

2893Ann's late husband was 2892Jonas Griffith, who therefore must be 1446Jonas' father. Full page.5

We can update our family tree again: