Individual Details

Marriage

the following explanation of Isaac in Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy, Volume 6: "ISAAC, a widower, of Gunpowder monthly meeting, Maryland and ANN BURSON, a widow, of Goose Greek particular or preparative meeting and Fairfax monthly meting, proposed their marriage intentions to Fairfax monthly meeting, which this Meeting refused to approve on account that they were brother and sister by Affinity, she being his former wife's brother's widow; the Meeting advised them to drop their intentions; but they were reported to have married November 27, 1773 (in another way) and were disowned May 28, 1774.

Event

ISAAC and ANN continued to reside in Richland and Rockhill Townships until 1769, probably on two or three tracts acquired at different dates by his father. The will of ABRAHAM GRIFFITH, Sr., proved in 1760, indicates clearly that ISAAC, a younger son, was the mainstay of the family at that time, as to him is delegated the care of his mother, the sale of the estate, and the payment of minor legacies. He acquired the homestead in Rockhill by deed from his brother ABRAHAM immediately following the death of their father and apparently lived thereon until 1769, when he took a certificate for himself, his wife, his minor children, and his mother, to Gunpowder Monthly Meeting in Baltimore County, Maryland.* This certificate is dated 2 mo. 16, 1769. His son-in-law, JOSEPH SHAW, and family, followed them to Maryland in 1770, but returned to Richland ten years later. ISAAC GRIFFITH and his family seem to have remained in Maryland.

Marriage

When MARY ANN died, ISAAC eventually married ANN ROBERTS BURSON which set off a controversy as the marriage was considered inappropriate.
In the "Friends' Intelligencer" of 12 mo. 15, 1823, the following extract from Gunpowder Monthly Meeting records is given: "Twenty-second of Ninth month, 1781, ISAAC GRIFFITH's paper condemning his misconduct in marrying his former wife's brother's widow was read and was satisfactory. The case was on hand for two years." (Perhaps it took the Meeting that long to trace the relationship.) [Source: Early Friends Families of Upper Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Clarence Roberts, page 214, 215]