William McGRIFF

Submitted by Descendants:  Jason Lewis, Keri Lee, and Lee McCormick CORNMAN; Carolyn Marie, Jean McCormick, Kevin Conner, and Susan Leslie IMES; Brian James, Dean Griffin, Ethel Griffin, and Scott Wallace MCCORMICK; William Henry WILLIAMS, Jr.

William McGriff was born in South Carolina, circa 1771, the son of Revolutionary Soldier Colonel Patrick McGriff.  In circa 1798 the family moved to Montgomery County, Georgia where William married Sarah Speight, circa 1804.

In 1824 William moved his family to Florida and in 1827 he was granted Federal Land Certificates in Gadsden County near the community of Havana.  On this property he grew cotton, corn and other crops and operated a cotton gin and a grist mill.  William was a slave owner.

William served as a poll inspector for the 1835 election for the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, County of Gadsden.  He is also shown on voting records for the election of May 1834 for the 13th Session of the Legislative Council of Florida.

William and Sarah became parents of thirteen children, the three youngest born in Florida.  William died on 27 May, 1839, and Sarah became the executrix of the family estate.

William McGriff was first established as a Florida Pioneer in 2006