The Northeastern Pennsylvania Griswold Reunion

Read Minna Blair's Tribute to family reunions

Just what is the Northeastern Pennsylvania Griswold Reunion?  

Founded in 1906, the group known today as the Northeastern Pennsylvania Griswold Reunion predates the GFA by 24 years. They have held annual meetings for 95 years, with the exception of 1943, when the meeting was cancelled due to wartime gas rationing. Minutes of early meetings call it the "annual reunion of the descendants of John and Elizabeth Griswold." In the 1930’s, the wording changed to "annual reunion of the John and Elizabeth Griswold family."

This is a true family reunion, where all members are the descendants of one pioneer couple, John Griswold (1754-1843) and his wife, Elizabeth Crittenden (1761-1851), who settled in Clinton Township, Wayne County, Pennsylvania in 1813. Their six sons, all born in Massachusetts before the move, found wives among the other early settlers in the region. Today, their descendants are spread out across the United States (and one in Norway!).

John Griswold was the great great grandson of Michael Griswold of Wethersfield, Connecticut, who emigrated from England. Born October 15, 1754 in Norwich, Massachusetts, John served in the Revolutionary War in a local militia unit. In 1790, he married Elizabeth Crittenden in Sandisfield, Massachusetts. Some years later, the family moved to Schoharie County, New York, and after about five years there, went on to Wayne County, Pennsylvania in 1813. Arriving with all their possessions in a two-wheeled cart drawn by four steers, they cleared land at the foot of a mountain, built a log cabin, and planted an orchard.

The oldest son, John, (b. 1792) married Louisa Johnson and had two sons. The second son, Francis (1793-1869) married Jane Loomis (1792-1881), and had four sons and two daughters. Many of today’s Northeastern Pennsylvania Griswold Reunion family members trace their descent back through three of Francis’ children: Laura Griswold (1826-1924), who married Hiram Loomis; Louisa Griswold (1828-1912), who married Henry Banning Curtis; and Homer Griswold (1835-1874), who married Alice Van Meter.

John and Elizabeth’s third son, Orrin (1796-1878) married Lois Deming (? -1875) and had three sons and one daughter. The fourth son, Sumner (1798-1864) married Clarissa Gelatte. Numerous members of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Griswold Reunion descend from Sumner’s daughter Electa Marie Griswold (1846-1929) and her husband Henry Arnold.

Son number five, Horace (1800-1880) married Louisa McKnight (1809-1866), and some of today’s members trace their descent to Horace’s fifth child, another John Griswold (1842-1913), who married Ernestine Bucklish. John and Elizabeth’s sixth son, Sedate (1802-1862) was married twice, first to Julia Burns, and then to Nancy, whose surname is still unknown.

Seventy-seven of John and Elizabeth Griswold’s descendants met in March 1906 to organize the group we know as the Northeastern Pennsylvania Griswold Reunion. Elected as the first Officers were: John Griswold, President; Fred Griswold, Vice-President; Theron Loomis, Secretary; and Nathan Griswold, Treasurer. A collection of $2.25 was taken "to defray expenses." Entertainment, Table and Reception Committees were formed, with members of the Corey, Curtis, Cowperwaite, Loomis, Borchers, Treat and Gaylord families participating.

Over the years, attendance has fluctuated, as with every family association. Recent years have seen approximately fifty family members gathering on the third Saturday in August at the lovely Homestead Golf Course in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. The afternoon begins with socializing and a delicious covered dish meal, followed by a brief business meeting. A number of Northeastern Pennsylvania Griswold Reunion members are also members of the Griswold Family Association, and a report of the GFA activities is always included in the business meeting. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Griswold Reunion made a generous contribution to the Michael Griswold Memorial Stone erected by the GFA, since their entire group consists of Michael descendants.   (Janet M. Mann)