GRIFFITH, Thomas (d.1638), of Caerwys, Flints.

Griffith held the lease of Caerwys, one of the contributory towns of the Flint Boroughs group. An Exchequer case of 34 Eliz. suggests that he had some connexion with the Stanleys, earls of Derby.1Augmentations, ed. Lewis and Davies (Univ. Wales Bd. of Celtic Studies, Hist. and Law ser. xiii), 407; Exchequer, ed. E. G. Jones (same ser. iv), 197. He was either a son of Piers Griffith (d.c.1601) of Caerwys by his wife Margaret, daughter of John Conway of Bodrhyddan, or else an illegitimate son of the same Piers Griffith by Elizabeth, daughter of Foulk Grimsditch, granddaughter of Robert Grimsditch of Rhuddlan. Piers Griffith, himself formerly of Rhuddlan, inherited his Caerwys property from his brother John Griffith I in 1580, and made his ‘base son’ Thomas his heir and co-executor.2Dwnn, Vis. Wales, ii. 297-8; PCC 15 Arundel, 49 Woodhall.