Griffin Genealogy Notes

The main Griffin Family tree was researched by Michael’s sister, Maureen Owen.

Our daughter Gaile assisted with the early tree and prepared the charts for this site.

We owe, to their diligence, the great detail and extent of the information. Included are a few of the charts they compiled. They both spent hours following leads and travelling to view documents privately held, as well as making frequent trips to London to confirm their findings. However they concede that they had a lot of luck in bridging gaps.

One of their most important discoveries was that the respected genealogist, Reverend Harvey Bloom (father of author Ursula), was commissioned by the Griffin family in 1921 to trace their roots and compile a history.

Many other historically famous (and infamous) names crop up because the charts are extensive – spreading sideways from the main stem. Having discovered them they cannot be ignored, so we hope you will explore them.

PLEASE NOTE: Maureen has continued to refine the information, eliminatiing the whimsical and confirming the details. So, some of the information, here, will have been updated / corrected within her version of the tree, but this is the chart as it was when Michael was alive. His own comment was “Hooking into a well researched family tree, invariably leads to outrageous claims – in theory, the family line extends back well over a thousand years, but earlier charts are not included here, as that information is “somewhat” dubious”

Gaile’s Note: Much of the earlier information is based on the research of 19th Century and early 20th Century genealogy enthusiasts. They, in turn, relied heavily not only on Parish and County records but also Heralds’ Visitations. Whilst the Visitation Charts were compiled based on the historical information available in the mid-1600s, much was word of mouth, so they were reliant on biased sources.

Wales

Leicestershire, England

Braybrooke Church

Latimers

Griffins across Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Oxfordshire and beyond

Bartholomew Griffin d. c1602

The author of “Fidessa, more chaste than kinde” 1596. The third sonnet was reproduced in “The Passionate Pilgrime”, 1599. The sonnets were dedicated to William Essex, Inns of Court. They are preserved in the Bodleian Library Oxford. He was known as The Poet of Coventry and described as “An author of sonnets of singular beauty and sweetness”.

 

Some of his work was published, in error, under the name of his cousin W. Shakespeare, London 1596. Bartholomew had one son, Rice

6. Faire is my love

Faire is my love that feedes among the Lillies,
The Lillies growing in that pleasant garden,
WhereCupids mount that welbeloved hill is,
And where that little god himselfe is warden.
See where my Love fits in the beds of spices,
Beset all round with Camphere, Myrrhe and Roses,
And interlac’d with curious devices,
Which her from all the world apart incloses.
There doth she tune her Lute for her delight,
And with sweet musick makes the ground to move,
Whilest I (poore I) doe sit alone in heavie plight,
…Wayling alone my unrespected love,
Not daring rush into so rare a place,
That gives to her and she to it a grace.

MORE LINES by BARTHOLOMEW Published in English Madrigal Verse 1588 – 1632. Edited from the original Song Books by E. H. Fellowes “In Solitary Range of Pathless Mountains” Published in Oxford by The Clarendon Press. 2nd.Edition (First pub.1920) Extracts JohnFarmer’s First set of English Madrigals

vi

Soon as the hungry lion seeks his prey
In solitary range of pathless mountains;
Soon as the passenger sets on his way;
Soon as beasts resort unto the fountains;
So soon mine eyes their office are discharging,
And I my griefs with greater griefs enlarging.

ix

Compare me to the child that plays with fire,
Or to the fly that dieth in the flame,
Or to the foolish boy that did aspire
To touch the glory of high heaven’s frame.
No man to these me fitly can compare;
These live to die, I die to live in care