Griffing Boughan was listed in the 1750 will of his father Augustine Boughan as his “only son”. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 9, pages 71–72.]

On 2 April 1751, John Boughan petitioned the General Court in Williamsburg, instigating a years-long case known as Boughan v. Boughan:
To the Honble Lewis Burwell Esquire President of his Majestys Council and Commander in Chief of the Colony and dominion of Virginia and to the other Judges of the General Court of the said Colony and dominion In Chancery
Humbly Complaining Shewith unto your Honors your Oror John Boughan of the County of Essex that one James Boughan late of the County of Essex aofresaid Gent. deceased your oros Grandfather being in his Lifetime and at the Time of his death seized and possessed of and interested in a consble Estate real and personal and as your orator believes and hopes to prove intending to settle and dispose of the same did on or about the Fourteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred and Eleven being then of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding duly make and publish his last will and Testament in writing in the words or to the purport following (that is to say) First I Give and Bequeath unto my loving daur Frances Starke the wife of John Stark and unto her Heirs forever all that Tract or parcel of Land lying in King William County containing about Two Hundred Acres purchased by me of Henry Kirby and all the Houses and Appruts thereunto belonging and my Bay Mare Secondly I Give unto my Grandson Thomas Starke the Colt that now belongs to my said Bay Mare Thirdly I Give unto my loving daughter Elizabeth Fisher on Gold Ring of Twenty Shillings Fourthly I Give unto Susannah Jones one Cow and Calf and one Gold Ring of Twenty Shillings Fifthly I Give and Bequeath unto my loving Son John Boughan one Gold Ring of Twenty Shillings price Sixthly I Lend unto my Bro’ Henry Boughan one third part of my water mill during his Natural Life and to receive one third part of the profits thereof provided he is at one third part of the Charge in repairing the mill and keeps a good and sufficient Miller thereto do all such things as a Miller ought to do and I Give unto my Bro’ Henry all my wearing Cloaths — Seventhly I Give and Bequeath unto my beloved Grandson James Boughan the son of my Son James Boughan all my Land and plantation whereon I now live together with my water mill and all that Tract of Land that I bought of the Holts together with my old plantation and Land and a small Island of Land and marsh lying before my door all the above said Lands Mill and plantons with the Appurts thereunto belonging I Give and Bequeath unto my said loving Grandson and the Issue of his Body lawfully begotten and for want of such Issue to my Grandson John Boughan the Son of my Son James Boughan and the Issue of his Body lawfully begotten and for want of such Issue to the Heirs of my loving Bro’ Henry Boughan and their Heirs forever and for want of such Heirs to the next Heirs in Blood my will and desire is that none of the before mentioned Lands or Mill be leased or let out by or to any person for above two years at one time all the rest of my Estate of what nature or quality soever I Give unto my loving Son James Boughan and his Heirs forever who I do appoint my whole and Sole Executor of this my last will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Affixed my Seal this 14th day of Jany 1711 which said will was duly Signed Sealed published and declared by the said James Boughan the Grandfather as your oror believes as and for his last will and Testament in the presence of one Robert Coleman Gent. John Chamberlane and Ann Atkins who as your oror is informed subscribed their names as witnesses thereto and your oror further Sheweth unto your Honors that shortly after making the said will your oros said Grandfather departed this Life without having Alter’d or revok’d the same seized possed and interested as afsd. leaving James Boughan the Son in the said will named his Heir at Law that James Boughan the Grandson in the said will named after the death of his Grandfather departed this Life without leaving any Heir of his Body whereby and by virtue of the said will your oror who is the Grandson of the said Testor and Son of the said James Boughan the Son in the said will named was seized of and entitled to the Lands Mill and plantations by the sd will given and devised to the said Jams. Boughan the Grandson in Tail and your oro futr. Shewith unto your Honors that his Father the said James Boughan the Son and the said John Boughan the Son of the Testor in the said will named or one of them having gotten the said original will into their or one of their Hands and custody as your oro verily believes did suppress secrete or destroy ye same finding themselves to be passed by in the devise of the Lands and Tents aforesaid your oro being then an Infant of very tender years and as your oror has been informed the sd. James Boughan your oros Father aftwds pretending that the said Lands descended to him as heir at Law to the said Testor and that he died without making a will did enter into the said Lands and convey part thereof being about four or five hundred acres and deliver possession thereof to the said John Boughan the Son Altho’ the said James and John Boughan the Sons well knew as your orator believes that such will as is herein before recited was made by the said James Boughan the Grandfather and had been see by several persons and that the same had been proved by the abovenamed Robt. Coleman John Chamberline and Ann Atkins as by their depositions sworn to by them respectively in the Court of the County of Essex aforesaid and now remaining among the Records thereof to which for more certainty your orator craves leave to refer may appear which depositions were ordered by the said County Court to be taken in a Suit in Chancery brought by James Boughan Son of Henry Boughan in the said Bill named against the said James and John Boughan the Sons in order to establish the said will which Bill the said James and John never would Answer And your orator further shew Shewth unto your Honors that he having arrived to the age of Twenty one years and finding by the the depositions aforesaid that his Grandfather had made such will as is herein before recited commenced and prosecuted in the County Court of Essex aforesaid a certain Action of Tresspass and Ejectment in the name of William Thrustout his Lessee against one Augustine Boughan only Son and Heir of the said John Boughan to recover the posson of the Lands before mentioned to be Sold by your oros Father in which Action aftwds at a Court held for the said County by special verdict among other things it was found that the said James Boughan the Grandfather made such will and in which words as hereinbefore are mentioned and repeated and thereupon aftwds at a Court held of the said County the 21st day of Novr. in the in the year of our Lord 1753 it was considered by the said Court that the said William Trustout [sic] should recover against the said Augustine the possession of the said Lands Sold by your orators Father as aforesaid as by the record and proceedings in the said Action remaining in the County Court aforesaid to which your orator craves leave to refer may move fully and at large appear after which the said Augustine Boughan delivered up the posson of the said Lands to your orator and your orator well hoped that he might have continued in possession thereof But now so it is may it please your Honors that the said Augustine Boughan in the name of one Soloman Saveall his Lessee did commence and prosecute an Action of Tresspass and Ejectment against your orator in the County Court aforesaid to recovered the possession of the said Lands in which Action a Special Verdict was found and a Judgment give by the said Court against your orator from which your orator did appeal to your Honors and the said Augustine Boughan having since departed this Life and one Griffin Boughan his Eldest Son and Heir and Francis Warren and Hannah Boughan his widow Exors of his will who pretend that they are directed by the said will to sell the said Land threaten to turn your orator out of possession thereof if the said Judgmt last mentioned should be affirmed pretending at some time at that your orators said Grandfather never made any such will as hereinbefore is set forth or if he did that at the time of making the same he was not of sound mind and at other time the depositions aforesaid are not sufficient legal Evidence of such will there not appearing at that time to have been any Solemn Contestation of the proof of the said will and that the recovery aforesaid by your orators Lessee against the said Augustine Boughan was during the Infancy of the said Augustine whereas your orator is advised that the said depositions are good evidence of the said will there being at the time of making the said depositions a Suit in Chancery depending in the said County Court Between the said Jams. Boughan Son of Henry Boughan and the said James and John Boughan the Sons in order to establish the said will in which Suit the said defendants would not answer notwithstanding a process of Contempt was frequently awarded against them and your orator is advised that if the said Augustine Boughan had been an Infant at the time of the recovery aforesaid against him the truth of the Facts found in the said verdict cannot now be questioned unless the said Judgmt given therepon had been reversed for the nonage of the said Augustine during his Life In tender Consideration whereof and for that your orator cannot establish the will of his Grandfather aforsd without the aid and assistance of this Honble Court and is only and properly relievable here To the end therefore that the said Griffin Boughan who is the Son and Heir of the said Augustine Boughan and who is an Infant under the age of Twenty one years by his Guardian to be appointed by this Court on or without Oath and the said [blank] Executors of the will of the said Augustine on their several Corporal Oaths may true and perfect answer make to all and singular the premes as fully and distinctly as if the same were here against particularly repeated and interrogated That they may declare whether your orator his Said Grandfather did make such will as is herein before recited whether the persons hereintofore named for that purpose subscribed their names as witnesses thereto whether the said James Boughan the Grandfather is dead whether the said James Boughan the Grandson died without leaving Issue of his Body and whether is the person in the said will described by the Name the Testors Grandson John Boughan whether the said will came into the Hands of the said James and John Boughan the Sons or either and which of them whether the said will of the said defendants or any of them whether the Suit was commenced by the said James the son of Henry Boughan as before is set forth and what was done therein that the Testimony of your oros witnesses and other Evidence so prove the said will of his Grandfather may be recorded in this Honble Court and that your orator may be at liberty to examine other wintesses for [illegible] their Testimony that all further proceedings in the said Ejectment brought by the said Augustine Boughan in his Life time agt. your orator and now dependingly appeal before your Honors may be staying until your orator be heard in Equity and that he may have such relief in the premes as to your Honors shall seem meet and Agreeable to Equity and good Conscience may it pleased your Honors to grant to your orator his Majestys most gracious writ or writs of Supbœna &c.
John Boughan
Williamsburgh Ap. 2d. 1751
Sworn to by the Complaint.
John Boughan before me
Peyton Randolph
[Essex County, Virginia, Chancery Court Papers, Box 8, Item 8-F.]

In June 1753, in the case of Boughan v. Boughan in the General Court in Williamsburg, Griffin Boughan filed a demurrer in response to the 2 April 1751 complaint of John Boughan:
The demurrer of Griffin Boughan an Infant by Francis Waring his Guardian to the Bill of Complt. of John Boughan Complainant —
This defendant by protestation not confessing or acknowledging all or any of the matters or things contained in the said Complainants Bill of Complaint to be true in such manner and sort as the same and therein and thereby set forth and alledged the scope and end of the said Bill being to establish sundry Depositions as and for the last will and testament of James Boughan Gent deced in order to inpeach the legal Title of this defendt. in and to certain Lands in the said Bill mentioned which were purchased of James Boughan Son and Heir of the said James Boughan the Elder by John Boughan the GrandFather to this defendant and from him descnded to Augustine Boughan his Son and Heir on whose death the same descended to this Deft. to wch said Bill of Complaint this defendant is advised he is under no necessity nor is bound to answer but that there is good Cause of demurrer thereunto wherefore this deft. doth demur thereto and for Causes of demurrer Sheweth to the court there following First for that it appears of the Complaints. own Shewing that after the death of the said James Boughan the Elder the said James Boughan his Son and Heir entered into the Lands in the Bill mentd. and Sold the same for a valuable conson to John Boughan this defendants Grandfather and the said pretended will was never legaly established in the Lifetime of either the said John Boughan or John Boughan and therefore this defendant conceives by the Rules of Equity that such pretended will ought not now to be set up in this Honble Court agt. this defend. who claims under this said Granfathers purchased for a valuable conson Secondly for that it appears by the Record to which the said Bill of Complaint referd for that purpose that the said depositions pretended to contain the last will and Testament of the said James Boughan the Elder were taken ex parte and extrajudicially there being at that Time no legal contestation of the said pretended will to which the said James Boughan and Son and Heir was a party or privy Thirdly for that it appears by the Record and proceedings of a certain Action of Tresspass and Ejectment brot. by Solomon Saveall Lessee of the said Augustine Boughan Father of this defendant against the said Complainant mentioned and referred to in and by the said Bill of Complaint that the said Augustine Boughan did in his Life time obtain a verdict and Judgment in the County Court of Essex which was affirmed in this Honble Court at Common Law against the said pretended will which this defendant is advised was the first legal Contestation of the said pretended will for that it appears of the Complaints own Shewing that at the time of the verdict and recovery by the said Complainant against the said Augustine Boughan in the Bill mentioned he the said Augustine Boughan was an Infant who then representing the Heir as to this Land could not by the Equity and intention of the Act of Assembly in that Case made and provided be bound or concluded by any thing then done in order to the extablishing the said will but was at liberty to contest such pretended will within ten years after his coming of Age which he did by his Ejectment aforesaid for which Causes and for divers others contained in the said Bill of Complt. this defendant doth demurr thereunto and humbly pray the Judjment of this Honble Court whether he shall be compell’d to make any other or further Answer thereto and prays to be hence dismissied with his reasonable Costs
E: Pendleton
June 1753 demurrer to be argued
Octr. 1753 Continued —
[Essex County, Virginia, Chancery Court Papers, Box 8, Item 8-F.]

On 13 April 1754, in the case of Boughan v. Boughan in the General Court in Williamsburg, “Francis Waring Gent: is appointed Guardian to the defendant Griffin who is an Infant to defend him in this Suit—“
[Essex County, Virginia, Chancery Court Papers, Box 8, Item 8-F.]

On 14 October 1754, in the case of Boughan v. Boughan in the General Court in Williamsburg, the court ordered that the defendant answer the allegations in the complaint:
This Cause was this day heard upon the plts Bill and the demurrer of the defendant Griffin and the Arguments of the Council on both sides on Consideration whereof it is decreed and ordered that the said Demur be overld that the said defendant do answer the Allegations of the said Bill and pay unto the plt his Costs occasioned by the said demurrer that the Cause be sent back to the Office for further proceedings to be had therein and that a Commcon be Issued to examine and take the deposition of John Harper an aged witness for the plt de bene esse the plt giving the defendants legal Not. of the time and place of executing the same—
[Essex County, Virginia, Chancery Court Papers, Box 8, Item 8-F.]

On 28 March 1756, in the case of Boughan v. Boughan in the General Court in Williamsburg, the defendants filed their answer:
The Joint and several Answers of Francis Waring and Hannah Boughan Exors of the last will and Testament of Augustine Boughan deceased and of Griffin Boughan an Infant under the Age of Twenty one years by the said Hannah Boughan his Guardian to the Bill of Complt. of John Boughan
These defendants saving and reserving to themselves all and all manner of Benefit and Advantage of exception to them any incertainties insufficiences and untruths in the said Complts Bill contained for Answer thereto or to so much thereof as these defendants are advised is material or Effectual to be answered unto they answer and say as follows — First the said Francis and Hannah that they know nothing of the several matters and things in the Bill charged or whether the said James Boughan the plts Grandfather in the Bill named ever made any or what last will or Testament or who were subscribing witness or witnesses thereto or if there was any such or any or. will of the said James Boughan whether the same was suppressed or destroyed or what became of the [illegible, damage] Suit was commenced by James the Son of Henry Boughan in the said Bill is charged or what was done therein any further than as these defendants have heard and believe to be true that the said Augustine Boughan their Testor in his Life time did commence and prosecute an Action of Tresspass and Ejectment in the County Court of Essex to recover the posson of the Land in the said Bill mentioned in which Action a special verdict was found and a Judgment given by the said Court against the said plaintiff John from which Judgment the said plt did appeal to the genl. Court and the sd defendants have heard and believe it to be true that the said appeale came to be tried in the said General Court and on the Trial thereof it was adjudged that there was no Error in the record of proceedings of the County Court whereupon the said Judgment was affirmed and the said Augustine had Judgment to recover his Costs and damages as well in the County Court as in the Genl Court according to the Act of Assembly in that Case made and provided of which the said Augustine had notice from one of his Lawyers in his Lifetime and thereupon the said Augustine dying very shortly after in his last Sickness made his last will and Testament in writing and thereby directed the said Land should be sold by his Executors for the payment of his debts which were in a great measure contracted by means of the said Law Suit and of his will constituted and Appointed the defendants Exors who in due form of Law proved the same and undertook the burthen of the Execution thereof and would have discharged the trust in them thereby reported But these defendants were soon after informed and believe it to be true that on the last day of the Genl. Court herein the said Judgment was affirmed and in the absence of the said Augustines Lawyers the said now plt being at Williamsburg and having cause a motion to be made for that purpose obtained an order to set aside the said Judgment and that a new Trial shod be had in the said Appeal and these defendants have heard and believe it to be true that instead of any new Trial of the said Appeal on the Matter in Law the said plt filed his Bill against these defendants who are entire Strangers to the whole matter any furt. than they have herein before set forth and for the greater certainty beg leave to refer to the Records and proceedings had in the said Cause and these defendants must submit to this Honble Court to make such decree in the premes as it agreeable to the rules of Equity and good Conscience as the Cause has been so long depending that their Testors Estate is not only greatly involved in debt thereby but is otherwise greatly hurt and injured and these defendants are prevented from discharging the debts and executing their Trust altho’ the plt hath during the said time by cutting the Timber of the Land in dispute and by other means rendering the same of much less value than it was at the time of their Testators recovery of the same And for which these defendants verily believe the said plaintiff is not able to make their Testors Estate little if any Satisfaction And the said Griffin by the said Hannah his Guardian Saith that he is of so tender years that he knows nothing of or concerning all or any of the matters in and by the said Bill charged but makes no doubt that this Honble Court will take care of his Int. so far as the same may be affected by the decree and these defendants deny all and all manner of Combination and Confederacy whatsr. as in the said Bill is very untruly charged without that that any other matter or thing in the said plts Bill material or Effectual to be answered unto and not herein answered [illegible] or denied is true all which these defendants are ready to aver and and prove as this Honble Court shall award and therefore these defendants pray to be hence dismissed with their reasonable Costs in that Behalf wrongfully sustained—
Francis Waring and Hannah Boughan Exors of the last will and Testament of Augustine Boughan deceased made oath before me Mungo Roy one of his Majesty’s Justices for the County of Essex that this their Answer is true so far as they know or beleive Given under my Hand March 29 1756
Mungo Roy
[Essex County, Virginia, Chancery Court Papers, Box 8, Item 8-F.]

On 19 October 1756, Francis Waring and Isaac Scandrett bound £1,000 for Francis Waring’s guardianship of Griffing Boughan, orphan of Augustine Boughan. [Essex County, Virginia, Guardian Book 1, page 205.]

In 1758 and 1759, in the case of Boughan v. Boughan in the General Court in Williamsburg, the cast was continued:
March 1758 Set for hearing
April 1758 Continued—
October 1758 Continued—
April 1759 Continued—
[Essex County, Virginia, Chancery Court Papers, Box 8, Item 8-F.]

On 15 October 1759, in the case of Boughan v. Boughan in the General Court in Williamsburg, a decree was issued:
This Cause was this day heard upon the Bill and Answer sundry depositions and exhibits provided and read as Evidence and the Arguments of the Council on both Sides on Conson whereof it is decreed and ordered that a Trial at Law be had in this Court upon an Issue to be made up between the parties to try whether James Boughan the plts Grandfather made such will as in the Bill is set forth or not and wht. the same was his last will and Testament And it is further ordered that the depositions and exhibits read as Evidence in this Cause be admitted to go as Evidence to the Jury at such Tryal—
[Essex County, Virginia, Chancery Court Papers, Box 8, Item 8-F.]

On 20 October 1759, in the case of Boughan v. Boughan in the General Court in Williamsburg, the parties reached an agreement in favor of the plaintiff, John Boughan:
By Consent of the parties the decretal order made in this Cause this Court is set aside And it is decreed and ordered that the will of James Boughan the plts Grandfather as the same is set forth in the Bill be established as and for his last will and Testament that the Injunction obtained by the plaintiff to stay the proceedings in the Ejectment in the Bill mentioned stand and be made perpetual and that the parties bear their own Costs—
[Essex County, Virginia, Chancery Court Papers, Box 8, Item 8-F.]

On 18 May 1773, Griffin Boughan and Mary his wife, along with Sarah Scandrett and John Chamberlayne and Caty his wife, sold 4 lots in Tappahannock for £182 to Richard Banks. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 31, pages 96–97.]

On 15 April 1782 he posted in Essex County, Virginia, the following public service claim for Revolutionary War support: Griffing Boughan 3 beefs 875# £10-18-9; 3 beefs 955# £11-18-9. He is listed on “Acct. of Grass Beeves collected by Thos. Wood Commissioner of Essex County from Sept. 9, 1781” as “Boughan, Griffin 3 £7-19-2”.

On 14 July 1786, Griffing Boughan and Mary his wife of the parish of St Anne and county of Essex sold to William Waring. For £200, a tract purchased of William Bates and Elizabeth his wife amounting to 74 acres in the Parish of St Annes. Signed Griffing Boughan. Witnesses: Hancock Lee, Thos Bridgforth, M Livingston. Ordered recorded 20 June 1791. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 33, pages 35 and 304.]

On 21 October 1794, Griffing Boughan of the parish of St. Anne in the County of Essex sold to Thomas Boulware and Susanna his wife of the same. For and in consideration of the natural love & affection he hath for the said Thomas Boulware & Susanna his wife, who is the daughter of the said Griffing & for & in consideration of the sum of ten shillings, gives slaves Quander, a man, Sarah, a woman, Nanny, a girl, and Isabel, a girl. Signed GBoughan. Witnesses: James Hunter, Bernard Lambeth, John Boughan. [Essex County, Virginia, Deed Book 34, pages 148–149.]

“In obedience to an order of Court made the 21st day of April 1795 for me Jno Upshaw Junior Sheriff of Essex County, to take in my posssession the Estate of Griffing Boughan decd and proceed therewith according to Law and Sell as much of the Property as the payment of debts at twelve months credit the Inventory and and account of Sales are as follows”. Inventory and account of the sales of the estate ordered to be recorded on 20 Feby 1797. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 15, page 294.]