History of the Griggs family:
It is believed that Stephen Lemuel Griggs Sr and his brother Samuel Griggs were the original Griggs family to arrive in Marion County Florida. They were forn in Anson County North Carolina. Their Father came from Antrim County, Ireland and was the first Griggs to settle in North Carolina.
The Cemetery we visited is of the family of Stephen Lemuel Griggs. Stephen is listed in the 1850 thru 1880 Marion County censuses. FL Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, Tallahassee, FL, Tract Book No. 20, list s the following Deed/s. Property was obtained directly from the US Government either by purchase or homestead: SE 1/4 of SE 1/4 19-15-24, no Receipt Number, and NE 1/4 of NE 1/4 30-15-24 , Receipt No. 2613, both dated 1 Jul 1875 and deeded to Lemuel Griggs. The old abandoned cemetery on the Griggs property off River Road which runs West off of 314-A in Marion County, FL. It contains headstones for Lemuel Griggs, his wife Nancy Griggs, and for William Edgar Martin, Henry Walter Martin, H. Walter Martin, Mary A . Griggs and Louis Griggs. In 1999, Researcher Rose Marie Barker Nations learned that any cemetery surrounded by the Ocala National Forest would be fenced free of charge by the Forestry Service. She gave this information to Susan Elizabeth Weiss McCue, who contacted the Forestry Service and they did, indeed, fence the cemetery.
Stephen Lemuel Griggs' head stone reads: "In Memory Of Lemuel Griggs Born March 30, 1804 Died December 22, 1892 Aged 88 y 8 m & 23 d, For charity covers a multitude of sins. 1P.4 C.8V."
Stephen was married on 4 February, 1840 in Lowndes County, AL to Nancy Bryant Born Sept. 3 1819 in Georgia. They had 10 children
Phillip T. GRIGGS b: 24 November, 1840 in AL d:11 April, 1910 in Marion County, FL
Frances Elizabeth GRIGGS b: 1842 in Loundes County, AL d: 1918 in Marion County, FL
Mary Catherine GRIGGS b: 14 August, 1846 in AL d: 31 May, 1916 in Moss Bluff, Marion County, FL
Stephen Lemuel GRIGGS b: 1849 in FL d: 1917
Nancy Naomi "Botchy" GRIGGS b: April, 1852 in Marion County, FL
Sarah E. GRIGGS b: 1856 in FL
Joannah H. GRIGGS b: 5 January, 1860 in Marion County, FL d: 16 August, 1939 in Lake County, FL
James H. GRIGGS b: 1860 in FL
Thomas Bryant GRIGGS b: 28 December, 1861 in FL d: 4 February, 1926 in Marion County, FL
John Bryant GRIGGS b: 17 March, 1848 in FL d: 16 November, 1919 in Marion County, FL Note: also listed as John Brinson Griggs
The headstone of Nancy Griggs reads, "In Memory Of Nancy Griggs, Born September 3, 1819, Died July 22, 1894, Aged 74 y 10 m & 19 d. Asleep in Jesus."
As you first walk into the gate of the cemetery there is one small grave that has collapsed over the years, This is the final resting place of William Edgar Martin. He is the Grandson of Stephen and Nancy Griggs. His parents were Mary Catherine Griggs and William Eli Martin. He was born 12 March 1883 and died 3 November 1888.
In front of Williams grave and slightly to the left is the grave of Henry Walter Martin Brother of William, He was born 15 January 1873 and died 31 May 1877.
Beside Henry's grave is the grave of Mary A. Griggs granddaughter of Stephen and Nancy, and daughter of John Bryant Griggs and Mary Caldwell. She was born 10 April, 1880 and died 10 February, 1881.
Right beside Mary is the grave of Louis Griggs, also the child of John Bryant Griggs and Mary Caldwell. He was born and 8 Aug 1873 died 13 August 1878.
There may be more graves but during the night it was really hard to make it through all the low hanging trees. There seems to be 2 spots that may of been graves but we did not see a headstone laying around.
While at the cemetery we used digital cameras, digital voice recorders, emf meters, digital video cameras, and dowsing rods. With the rods we started with William's grave and was given a yes sign as to he was there. He also told us via yes answers with the rods he was alone there and he liked being there, and was killed in an accident. When asked to give us a sign of his presence we heard things dropping from trees as was asked by Kathy as our sign, we asked using the rods if this was him and they crossed in the yes position. A one point as we were fixing to leave the rods stopped responding to us at all, guess little William was done talking to us. There is a very creepy feeling getting to the cemetery as it is down a narrow dirt road surrounded by trees. The cemetery really needs to be cleaned up and taken care of.
There are reports of a shadow lady running at the back of the cemetery and people hearing voices and laughter. There are no homes around the cemetery. Members of the team have been out to the cemetery several times but as of yet have been able to get anything on film. The team has gotten evps there are a couple on EVP PAGE 1. There has not been much in any of the teams pictures.
Possible Orbs. I do see energy around them. We really don't get much out of this graveyard. Great pic Joy. I also see something between the orbs. Or could it be a reflection? |
