Set amongst stately old oaks and pines, this monument was placed by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1976 to honor the memory of two of Irwin County’s pioneer settlers and veterans of the American Revolution. Corporal James Griffin and Lieutenant Thomas Bradford lived and were buried near this site. Both families are still well-represented in the county today.
James Griffin was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina in 1753. He enlisted in the Continental Army in 1776 and made the rank of corporal in 1777, seeing action at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, and Guilford Courthouse. After migrating first to Burke and then Montgomery counties with his wife Sarah Lodge (b. October 23, 1766, d. between August 22, 1853 and March 4, 1854) they finally settled in Irwin County in 1827.
His close friend for many years, Thomas Bradford, and Thomas’s wife are also buried here. I’ve been unable to locate further information on Lieutenant Bradford, but some of his children married into the family of Corporal Griffin.
The historical marker reads: This Historic Marker Erected by Descendants of Corporal James Griffin 1753-1836 and Lieutenant Thomas Bradford 1756-1840. These Revolutionary War Heroes were both Born in Edgecombe County, N. C. and their remains are near this site where they settled these lands in the early 1800’s.
There is more information on the genealogy here:
www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=15007997
