Smithville in West Lincoln in Niagara Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Edward Griffin

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 24, 2022

1. Edward Griffin Marker

Inscription. In grateful memory of
Edward Griffin and his descendants
Born … 1764 Died April 13, 1863
second son of
Richard Griffin and Mary Smith

He came to Canada in 1786
and settled on the site of
the present Village of Smithville

Erected by Members of the Griffin Clan.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1786.

Location. 43° 5.982′ N, 79° 32.803′ W. Marker is in West Lincoln, Ontario, in Niagara Region. It is in Smithville. It is at the intersection of Griffin Street North (Provincial Highway 20) and West Street (Provincial Highway 20), on the left when traveling north on Griffin Street North. The marker is located beside the walkway, near the southwest corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 197 Griffin Street North, West Lincoln ON L0R 2A0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Ontario’s Golden Horseshoe

and in Niagara Canada.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western

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World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Smoke Box Cover (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Smithville Train Station (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Early Education In Beamsville (approx. 9.2 kilometers away); The Howard House 1847 (approx. 9.2 kilometers away); George Herbert Locke (approx. 9.2 kilometers away); Clinton Township Hall 1851 (approx. 9.2 kilometers away); Jacob Beam Mill Stone (approx. 9.2 kilometers away); Hamilton, Grimsby & Beamsville Electric Railway Company (approx. 9.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Lincoln.

Also see . . .
1. Smithville, Ontario. Wikipedia entry:
Excerpt:

Smithville was first settled by Richard Griffin and his family, including his sons Abraham, Edward, Nathaniel, Isaiah, Smith, Jonathan, and Richard Jr., United Empire Loyalists who came from Nine Partners, New York in 1787.
Edward "Ned"
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 24, 2022

2. Edward Griffin Marker
Looking west from Griffin Street North.
Griffin is sometimes claimed to be the real founder of the village. He was the one who felled the first tree, chose the village site, cleared the first acre of land, built the first house, and lived his entire life in the village.

(Submitted on November 7, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Annotated Bibliography of the Griffin/Griffen Family. RootsWeb website entry:
Excerpt:

In the literature there are numerous references of a Richard Griffin born 1732 in Dutchess County going to Upper Canada. He was a United Empire Loyalist as were his brothers William and Edward. In 1787 Richard, his wife Mary Smith and 10 of their children left Nine Partners, Dutchess County, New York for Canada. With a year's worth of provisions in ox carts they must have traveled north along the Hudson River to Albany, then west along the Mohawk trail toward Western New York and the Niagara River. It was reported that they traveled 4 miles per day. When they reached the Genesee River a raft was built and the women and children floated down to Lake Ontario, there they followed the shore line west to the mouth of the Niagara and
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into Canada. The men rejoined them at the Niagara River and they continued about 40 more miles west. These early Griffins developed commerce where none existed before.

(Submitted on November 7, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Edward Nathaniel Griffin. Find a Grave website entry:

(Smithville United Church Cemetery, Smithville, Niagara Regional Municipality, Ontario)

(Submitted on November 7, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 232 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 7, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.