Samuel Griffin
Encyclopedia
Samuel Griffin was a lawyer and politician from Virginia
. He represented Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives
.
. He studied classical studies and law. He was admitted to the bar and practiced. During the Revolutionary War
he served as a colonel in the Continental Army
, was an aide-de-camp
to General Charles Lee
, and was wounded at the Battle of Harlem Heights
on Sept. 16, 1776.
Colonel Griffin was assigned to the Department of Philadelphia to recuperate from his wounds. Following the retreat of the American army behind the Delaware River in December 1776, Griffin was instructed by commanding general of Philadelphia, Israel Putnam
, following directions from General Washington, to "create a distraction" for the British forces then present near Trenton, New Jersey
.
Griffin led about 900 militia and Virginia regulars into Mount Holly, from which he harassed the pickets of Colonel Carl von Donop
at Bordentown. Colonel Von Donop brought all of his 2,000 or so troops to Mount Holly to punish Griffin in the Battle of Iron Works Hill
.http://www.ironworkshill.org Von Donop was now out of position to assist colonel Rall in Trenton, and on the morning after Christmas, December 26, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware and defeated Rall at Trenton. Griffin's role was complete, but local lore says he was aided by a "certain young widow of a doctor" in detaining von Donop in Mount Holly. That widow remains anonymous.
Griffin also served on the State's board of war. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates 1786-1788.
Griffin served as mayor of Williamsburg, Virginia
from 1779 to 1780.
He was elected to the First, Second, and Third Congresses, serving from March 4, 1789 until March 3, 1795.
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He represented Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Biography
He was born in Richmond County, VirginiaRichmond County, Virginia
Richmond County is a county located on the Northern Neck in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state in the United States. As of 2010, the population was 9,254. Its county seat is Warsaw. The rural county should not be confused with the large city and state capital Richmond, Virginia, which is over...
. He studied classical studies and law. He was admitted to the bar and practiced. During the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
he served as a colonel in the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
, was an aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to General Charles Lee
Charles Lee (general)
Charles Lee was a British soldier who later served as a General of the Continental Army during the American War of Independence. Lee served in the British army during the Seven Years War. After the war he sold his commission and served for a time in the Polish army of King Stanislaus II...
, and was wounded at the Battle of Harlem Heights
Battle of Harlem Heights
The Battle of Harlem Heights was fought during the New York and New Jersey campaign of the American Revolutionary War. The action took place in what is now the Morningside Heights and west Harlem neighborhoods of Manhattan in New York City on September 16, 1776....
on Sept. 16, 1776.
Colonel Griffin was assigned to the Department of Philadelphia to recuperate from his wounds. Following the retreat of the American army behind the Delaware River in December 1776, Griffin was instructed by commanding general of Philadelphia, Israel Putnam
Israel Putnam
Israel Putnam was an American army general and Freemason who fought with distinction at the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War...
, following directions from General Washington, to "create a distraction" for the British forces then present near Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
.
Griffin led about 900 militia and Virginia regulars into Mount Holly, from which he harassed the pickets of Colonel Carl von Donop
Carl von Donop
Count Carl Emilius von Donop was a Hessian colonel who fought in the American Revolutionary War.-Origins and ambitions:...
at Bordentown. Colonel Von Donop brought all of his 2,000 or so troops to Mount Holly to punish Griffin in the Battle of Iron Works Hill
Battle of Iron Works Hill
The Battle of Iron Works Hill, also known as the Battle of Mount Holly, was a series of minor skirmishes that took place on December 22 and 23, 1776, during the American War of Independence...
.http://www.ironworkshill.org Von Donop was now out of position to assist colonel Rall in Trenton, and on the morning after Christmas, December 26, 1776, Washington crossed the Delaware and defeated Rall at Trenton. Griffin's role was complete, but local lore says he was aided by a "certain young widow of a doctor" in detaining von Donop in Mount Holly. That widow remains anonymous.
Griffin also served on the State's board of war. He was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates 1786-1788.
Griffin served as mayor of Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
from 1779 to 1780.
He was elected to the First, Second, and Third Congresses, serving from March 4, 1789 until March 3, 1795.