The Griggs family is descended from James Griggs of Missouri (March 20, 1822(3) - 1888) and Lucy Jones of Tennessee (1831 - 1885). At the time of the births of their children they lived in St. Francis County, Arkansas. They were believed to have been slaves on the plantation of Judge John M. Griggs, Sr. and John M. Griggs, Jr. of Forrest City, Arkansas.
It is believed that the Griggs Family came to Arkansas by way of Virginia, Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee where they lived on various plantations and were owned by various owners. Records indicate that James Griggs was mulatto; perhaps he had a slave owner/father. Records indicate that Lucy Jones Griggs was part Native American. We are unsure of the tribe, perhaps Chickasaw, Choctaw or Quapah; maybe Cherokee as these tribes lived in the areas of Lucy’s birth.
Griggs is a Scotch-Irish name. It is a derivative of MacGregor, whose motto is “Royal Is My Race, Royal Is My Blood.”
James & Lucy Griggs had ten sons as follows: Lev(co), Albert (Ab), Harrison, Joel Porter, John Dallas, Andrew, Otis, Everit, Patrick and Samuel.
Samuel died at the age of eighteen leaving no spouse or children.
We are seeking the whereabouts of descendants of Everitt, Patrick, Otis. Harrison and Albert (ab) Griggs.
We, the descendants, branches and offshoots of Lev(co), Joel Porter and John Dallas Griggs gather to pay homage to our ancestors and to establish deep and abiding connections as we diligently search for our common roots.