Could genealogy posts, scattered across the digital landscape, unveil the intricate tapestry of a family's past? Indeed, the digital echoes of names and dates, shared across forums and websites, often serve as the bedrock upon which families reconstruct their histories, connecting disparate pieces of a puzzle that spans generations.
A lady named Black, on July 19, 2002, at 10:23:30, initiated a thread. Her message, a digital breadcrumb, was addressed to Carol Summers (id 5828), referencing a previous posting in May 2002. The context hinted at a familial connection, a shared ancestry waiting to be illuminated. The core of this pursuit involved tracing the lineage of a certain "Francis," and many others whose lives intersected with the name.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name: | Francis Dennis Griffin |
| Birth Date: | August 29, 1897 |
| Birth Place: | Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States |
| Father: | Dennis F. Griffin (age 38 at Francis's birth) |
| Mother: | Anna M. (Griffin's mother's name is not consistently provided in the source) |
| Marital Status: | Married |
| Spouse: | Irene Dunne (Actress) |
| Occupation: | Dentist |
| Children: | Mary Frances (Adopted daughter, ne Anna Mary Bush) |
| Death Date: | April 30, 1948 |
| Death Place: | Springfield, Hampden, Massachusetts, United States |
| Known for: | Being married to the actress Irene Dunne, Professional life as a dentist. |
| Additional Notes: | Married Irene Dunne in 1928, adopted Mary Frances in 1938. |
| Reference: | Getty Images - Photo Archives |
The threads of the past often weave intricate connections, and this search led to the marriage of Matilda Dollarhide Adair to Francis J. Griffin on July 27, 1881, in Sevier Co., Arkansas. This particular Francis, a possible relative, was the husband. The lineage continued with Dennis Bradley of Ireland, North Carolina, and his sons: James Darling Bradley, Major Marmaduke Bradley, and Dennis Sampson Bradley, Jr. The searchers sought more clues.
The focus expanded. A user on genealogy.com sought information on Dennis Sullivan, who married Francis "Fanny" Brummel around 1890 in Connecticut. "Fanny" was born in 1876 in New York City. The couple settled in Middletown, CT, with children Eldon, Edwin, Madeline, and Marguerite Sullivan. Madeline married Joseph Brown. Family historians work through connections.
Further, Elizabeth, the widow of James Paquinet, was linked to Reuben Dennis. Abigail Hatsell was connected to Sarah Dennis, whose relationships included Jerome Pelletier and Abner Bell. The Wake County, family members of Major Bradley, were important in the family tree.
Sally Marr married John Marr in 1822, also in Wake County. The searchers found that their great-grandparents were George W. Dennis, whose connection was to Martha Smart. The 1850 census of Mont. revealed that Francis was listed as his mother, along with siblings Andrew J. or I., Henry N., and William C. Griffin. Washington Griffin was the son of John Griffin and Francis (Fanny) Smith Griffin. John, in turn, was the son of Thomas Griffin Jr. and Mary Jane Phillips Griffin of Henry County, Alabama. The trail, though convoluted, followed the family's progression.
Digging further, a "Will of Ira Griffin," of Abbeville District, South Carolina, detailed the lives of brothers, Richard, Joseph & Larkin Griffin, all sons of Richard Griffin and his wife Nancy Ann 'Annie' Clark / Clarke. The search also revealed that Richard Griffin was believed to be the son of John Griffin, a Welshman, of Orange County, VA. Family history has to weave the past together.
The name "Griffin" was again traced to Farmers Bridge, Tralee, Ireland, where Jan Hill, on June 20, 1999, at 03:29:31, chronicled his great-great-grandfather, Dennis Griffin, a bricklayer. Dennis's daughter, Margaret Griffin, married Michael Prendergast in Deptford, England, in 1867. Across the sea, the threads extended.
Another line was traced to Francis Dennis of County Tyrone, Ireland, as Fred Grant shared on November 15, 2001, at 09:26:46. The search for Francis Dennis was on. The search continues, with each piece of information providing a fuller picture.
Among these discoveries, a Francis Dennis Griffin emerged, marrying a dentist from New York in 1928. This individual adopted a daughter, Mary Frances (ne Anna Mary Bush), in 1938. Francis Dennis Griffin's birth on August 29, 1897, in Springfield, Massachusetts, further illuminated the family's story. His parents were Dennis F. Griffin, aged 38 at the time, and Anna M. Griffin. The lineage of Francis Dennis Griffin included at least one son and one daughter with Mary Walsh. He passed away on April 30, 1948, in Springfield, Massachusetts, at the age of 50. The family tree shows the story of lives and relationships.
Beyond the records, the life of Francis Dennis Griffin is further documented in the public eye. Irene Dunne, a famous actress, married Francis Dennis Griffin. Photographs from events in Los Angeles, California, capture the couple. Leo McCarey's 1937 comedy, "The Awful Truth," starring Irene Dunne, further links them. Other documentation include publicity portraits of Dunne.
Francis Dennis Griffin's name continues to resonate. He is seen as a leader in innovation and community development. He has left a mark on his respective fields. Images show Dunne with her husband, and the shared moments of their lives, even Elton John's concert in Los Angeles in 1974, as they continued their life.
The threads of these individuals, the Griffins and Dennises, intertwine, revealing the intricate nature of family history. It is through the dedication of those seeking information that these stories are told. The past is pieced together. The importance lies in the gathering and sharing of details.
