Family-histories and genealogies : containing a series of ...

1 66 JWatCtttJfff) ; had two sons and one daughter, Ursula;'' and died
November 27, 1781. The daughter Ursula, a beautiful woman, married
Hon. John Allen of Litchfield, Conn., one of the great lawyers of the
State, and Member of Congress, and was the mother of Hon. John
167 William^ Allen of Cleveland, Ohio, formerly State Senator and Member
168 of Congress; and of Ursula M'Curdy^ Allen now the widow of the late
Judge Sherlock James Andrews of Cleveland (see IWacCttttrtrg)*
JOHN (iio-ii), the eldest child of Governor Matthew and Ursula
(Wolcott) Griswold, was born April 20, 1752 ; was
Deacon of the First
Church of Lyme from 1797; married, November 5, 1772, Sarah daughter
of Rev. Stephen Johnson of Lyme, by Elizabeth daughter of William
Diodate of New Haven, Conn., of the ancient and highly disdnguished
Diodati family of Lucca in Italy (see (!^6tr(n=^0t)n!$0n and 19fOTra(ti)«
A portrait of him taken in his old age shows a very large man with a fine
head, handsome features and the large black eyes of the family. He was
offered public offices of distinction, but preferred to remain in private
life; and died November 22, 1812. The epitaphs of him and his wife in
the Duck River Burying-Ground at Lyme are as follows :
"Deacon John Griswold was born at Lyme the 20th day of April 1752, and died
on the 22d day of November 181 2. He was the eldest son of the first Governor
Griswold, and Brother of the second. As a friend and neighbor he was hospitable
and generous, honest and honorable as a man, and in his faith and life exemplary as
a Christian. To tell those who knew him the place where he was buried, and to offer
his character for imitation to those who knew him not, this stone to his memory is
erected."
" Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Sarah Griswold, the amiable consort of Deacon
John Griswold, who died Jan>' 4th, 1802, aged 53 years, 10 mos. and 26 days."
" Sleep on dear friend till the last morn shall come.
When Christ shall summon all his children home.
Then may we meet in realms of joy above,
And join in bonds of everlasting love."
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