William Griggs was mentioned in the 1759 will of his father John Griggs. The will was proved 16 January 1759. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery 15, item 15-A-11; Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 11, pages 157–159.]

On 18 January 1774, William Griggs witnessed the will of Richard Brown of the County of Essex and Parish of Southfarnham. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 14, pages 71–72.]

In an undated petition for debt, orators William Burke and Thomas Burke complained that in 1759 John Griggs died leaving children John, William, Francis, Rachel, Leonard and Cary, and that Wm [originally said Henry but was crossed out] Purkins was executor, that the said Henry Purkins died leaving Henry Purkins junior his son and executor. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery item 5-I-71.]

On 11 September 1804, James Croxton provided an affidavit: The affidavit of James Croxton of lawful age taken at Capt. Lewis Bookers Store in a suit in Chancery now depending in Essex County Court between John Turner & Cary his wife and William Howard Senr & Elizabeth his wife Pltffs and Major Boughan Executor of John Boughan Decd Defendt this deponant being duly Sworn deposeth and Saith—First, Question by Major Boughan the Defendt Do you recollect the Mare that my Mother gave to Cary Boughan (now Cary Turner) and what do you Suppose She was worth? Answer Yes I remember her & suppose her to have been worth twenty two pounds Specie at that time—Second Questn by the defendant, Do you recollect, the horse that my Mother gave to Wm Howard Senr and what do you suppose he was worth?—Answer yes I remember the horse and Suppose him to have been worth twentytwo pounds Specie at that time,—Third Question by the defendant, Do you remember the Mare that my Mother sold to Richard Jeffries junr, and what do you suppose She was worth? Answer yes I remember the Mare and suppose her to have been worth one Hundred dollars Specie at that time—Fourth Question, by the defendant, Do you remember the horse my Mother Sold to William Tigner, and what do you suppose he was worth?—Answer yes I remember the horse & suppose him to have been worth Fifty Shillings Specie at that time—Fifth Question by the defendant—Do you recollect that my father hired a Negro fellow of me (by name of General)?—Answer yes I remember he did—Sixth Question by the deft Do you remember William Griggs living on the plantation as Overseer for my Father the year he hired the sd Negro General?—Answer yes—Seventh Question by the defendt Do you know who lived on the plantation after my Mothers death untill the day of Sale? Answer yes, Cary Boughan, (now Cary Turner) Eighth Question by the defendt, Did you know the Negroes belonging to my Fathers Estate on the day of Sale?—Answer yes, Peter, Esther, and Ell,— Ninth Question by the deft, Do you remember that there was Horses, Cattle, & Hogs, sold on the day of Sale?—
Answer, yes, I remember there was—
First Question by John Turner, one of the pltffs, What time was it, When Mrs Cary Boughan gave a mare to Miss Cary Boughan, (now Cary Turner)—
Answer I do not recollect,—
Tenth Question by the deft Do you know whether the pltffs intends to hold me to the apprasment [sic] of my Father Estate or not?—
Answer, I heard Mr John Turner Say he Should—
Essex County to wit,
James Croxton appeared before me a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid and made oath that the within affidavit contained the truth
Given under my hand this Eleventh day of Septr 1804.
LBooker [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 15, item 15-B-12.]

On 11 September 1804, Gabriel Purkins provided an affidavit: The affidavit of Gabriel Purkins of lawful age taken at Capt Lewis Booker’s Store in a suit in Chancery now depending in Essex County Court, between John Turner and Cary his wife and William Howard senr and Elizabeth his wife Pltffs, and Major Boughan Executor of John Boughan deceased defendant this deponant being duly sworn deposeth and saith—
First Question by Major Boughan the defendant, do you recollect the Mare my Mother gave to Cary Boughan now Cary Turner and what She was worth?—
Answer yes I remember her and suppose her to have been worth twenty two pounds specie at that time—
Second Question by the defendant, do you recollect the horse that my Mother gave to Wm Howard Senr and what do you suppose he was worth?—Answr I rememember [sic] the Horse and suppose him to have been worth twentytwo pound Specie at that time,—Third Question by the defendant, do you remember the Mare that my Mother sold to Richard Jeffries junr, and what do you suppose She was worth?—Answer yes, I remember the Mare and suppose her to have been worth one Hundred dollars specie at that time.—Fourth Question by the defendant, do you remember the horse my Mother sold to William Tigner and what do you suppose he was worth?—Answer yes, I remember the horse and suppose him to have been worth fifty Shillings Specie at that time—Fifth Question by the defendant, do you recollect that my Father hired a negro fellow of me by name of General?—Answer yes, I remember he did Sixth Question by the defendant, do you remember Wm Griggs living on the plantation as Overseer for my Father the year he hired Said Negro Genrl Answer yes—Seventh Question by the defendant, do you remember the Cattle Wm Purkins bought of my Mother and what he gave for them?
Answer yes I rember [sic] he bought a Cow and calf and the price was three pounds or three pounds ten Shillings Eighth Question by the defendant, do you know who lived on the plantation after my Mothers death untill the day of Sale? Answer yes, Cary Boughan (now Cary Turner)—Ninth Question by the defendant, did you know the Negroes belonging to my Fathers Estate on the day of Sale?—Answer yes, Peter Esther and Ell—Tenth Question by the defendant, do you remember that there was Cattle Horses & Hogs sold at the sale? Answer I remember there was—
Eleventh Question by the defendant, do you know whether the pltffs, means to hold me to the appraisment of my Fathers Estate?—Answer I heard John Turner say he should—
Essex County to wit
Gabriel Purkins personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid and made oath that the above affidavit contained the truth
Given under my hand this Eleventh day of Septer 1804.
LBooker [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 15, item 15-B-13.]

On 11 September 1804, John Boughan provided an affidavit: The affidavit of John Boughan of lawfull age taken at Capt Lewis Booker’s store house in Essex County between John Turner and Cary his wife and William Howard Senr and Elizabeth his wife pltfs and Major Boughan Executor of John Boughan decd Deft, this deponant being duly sworn deposeth and saith
Qust 1st by deft. Major Boughan do you remember that a Negro man by name General belonging to me leving [living] with my Farther in the year seventeen hundred and seventy five? Ansr I do and that he was to give seven pounds ten shilling for his hire that year further Question by the deft do you know if William Griggs livid with my Farther the same year that my Negro man General lived with him. ansr I do, and that the said Boughan let the said Griggs have cloth and trimings for a Coat but the price I do not know further Question by deft do you recollect what number of Negroes belongd to the Estate of John Boughan decd Ansr there was three Peter, Esther, & Ell, which was apprais’d to one hundred & fifty pounds and was devided by consent of parties between William Howard & Cary Boughan the wife of John Turner pltfs
further Quest by deft. was there any sheep belonging to the Estate of John Boughan decd at the time of the sale — Ansr I do not know that there was.
Question by deft was there a side saddle bottle and Jugs belonging to the Estate Ansr there was, and I know that Cary Boughan had the side saddle and since she has been maried I have seen it at John Turners a [sic] noted Jugs and bottle at his house that did belong to the Estate and one Jugs at Williams Howards further Question by deft do you recollect what became of the beds belonging to the Estate of John Boughan decd? Ansr I do there was three devided between Cary Boughan the wife of John Turner & William Howard and one was sold by Major Boughan.
Further Question by Deft do you recollect what became of a young mare belonging to the Estate of John Boughan decd — Ansr I do she was sold by my mother the Widow of the said John Boughan decd and to Richard Jeffries Junior and she also Sold an old Horses [sic] to William Tignor and gave a mare to Cary Boughan the wife of John Turner and a young Horse to William Howard senr further Question by deft do you know wheather there was any thing belonging to the Estate of John Boughan decd Secreted by me or my order? Ansr I do not further Questioned by deft do you know whether the mare and horse that was Sold by my mother as mentioned by you above was apprais’d when my Fathers Estate was apprais’d? Ansr I beleive they was. further Questioned by Deft who liv’d on the plantation from the time of my mothers death untill the day of sale? ansr Cary Boughan, and Cary Griggs was there the greater part of her time, and all the Negroes that belong’d to the Estate.—
Question by John Turner one of the Pltffs — Do you know that the Negroe General which Major Boughan hired to John Boughan decd was the sold property of the s’d Majr Boughan, — Answer I do know one half of the s’d Negroe General was the property of Elizabeth Munday.—
Further question by John Turner, — do you suppose your Father, or the estate was not able to have paid the hire due for General before this. — To be sure they were able—
Question by Majr Boughan the Defendt how long did John Boughn dec’d live after the money became due for the hire of General — Answer he died the may following.—
Essex County to wit,
John Boughan personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace for the aforesaid County and made oath that the above affidavit concained [sic] the truth,
Given under my hand this Eleventh day of Septemr 1804.
LBooker. [Essex County, Virginia, Box Chancery No. 15, item 15-B-4.]