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

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A funeral-sermon preached on the death of Mrs. Sarah (Johnson)
Griswold, by Rev. William Lyman of East Haddam, Conn., says: "She
was a pattern of humility, gentleness, patience, tenderness and affection."
Their children were :
169 (i.) Diodate Johnson^ born December 16, 1773; graduated at Yale
College in 1793; who married Sarah Colt of Lyme, Conn.; and died
March 17, 1850, s. p.
It was natural that Mrs. Griswold should call her eldest son Diodate,
and give him every privilege to which his birth and other circumstances
entitled him. The traditions and interests of her family were associated
with Yale College, of which her father had been a graduate and Fellow.
Diodate Johnson entered Yale in 1 789. Not only his name (Deoda-
tus) but all his surroundings expressed God's bounty. When he was born,
and afterwards for eleven years, his grandfather Griswold was Deputy-
Governor and Chief Justice, and the last year of his office as Governor
was when Diodate was thirteen years of age. Eight years later, his uncle
Roger Griswold became a Member of Congress, and his distinguished
career did not end till nineteen years after the nephew had been graduated.
His near relatives the Wolcotts were in the midst of their eminent careers.
His family on all sides, before him, and his brothers and sisters were staid,
sensible and thoroughly correct in all their conduct. Into such a circle
was Diodate born— gay, debonair, pleasure-loving, pleasure-seeking—like a
bright bubble rising on a deep and solemn sea. From what strain there
came that erratic, irresponsible nature which was his destruction, we cannot
learn. Perhaps it was some current of his Italian blood which gave him
his gay and thoughtless temperament. At the close of the Revolution,
owing, perhaps, somewhat to the examples of French officers, there was
a low state of public morals in many high places. New Haven was
affected by the taint.
His personal attractions were remarkable ; old New Haven ladies
have described his beauty to the writer, and have spoken of his superb
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