Griffin Greene, Esq.

Mr. Greene was bom at Warwick, Rhode Island in 1749. Early in life he engaged in the business of a smith and anchor making, and later he and his cousin Jacob Green erected a forge for working in iron. He was also a cousin of General Nathaniel Greene. Both these men belonged to the sect of Quakers from which they were expelled on account of their interest in the war. He commenced his military career in 1775, by serving as Commissary to the Rhode Island troops, although in the previous year he had been trained to military exercises as a volunteer in the Company, to which his cousins Christopher and Nathaniel belonged, with many of the most active and prominent young men of the colony. In 1777 he was paymaster in the regiment commanded by Christopher Greene and during the attack on the fort at Red Bank was exposed to the shot of the enemy in taking a supply of powder to his countrymen. In 1778 his cousin Nathaniel Greene was appointed by Washington quartermaster general of the army, and Griffin became one of his deputies, continuing in that position until General Nathaniel Greene was placed in command of the southern army.

In 1777 Mr. Greene engaged as a partner in a company for fitting out two brigantines as privateers, the coast being at that time pretty clear of British ships of War. These were called the Black Snake and the Rattle Snake; but before the one had time to erect its head and the other to shake its rattles in defiance of the British lion they were driven on shore at Sandy Hook in April 1778, by an enemy crusier, and lost. This was the fate of many American privateers and in the estimate it is probable that as much was lost as won by the colonies in this nefarious business.

Mr. Griffin Greene wrote many letters concerning: public affairs during these eventful years. We will give one concerning Benedict Arnold.

Camp Tappan, Sept 9, 1780.

Treason! treason! of the blackest kind has been most providentially discovered. Gen. Arnold, who commanded at West Point, was in contact with the British Adjutant General for delivering into the enemy's hands all the forts and fortifications of that place. The plan was laid, the conditions settled and the time fixed for the execution. The adjutant General had been up to King's ferry to see Gen. Arnold and on his return to New York, near the White Plains was taken up by three military men who carried him prisoner to Major Jameson of Sheldons light-horse: and on his being searched, plans of the works, the strength of the garrison, and a hundred other observations necessary to be known in order to favor an attack, were all made out in Arnolds own hand writing. They were immediately sent to General Washington who was then on his return from Hartford. But unfortunately Jameson, from a false delicacy, reported to Gen. Arnold, that he had taken prisoner, one Anderson, which cave him time to just make his escape before General Washington jrot to the Point. The Adjutant general and one Mr. Joseph Smith are now both prisoners in this camp and doubtless will be hung tomorrow. We have only to lament that Arnold is not to greet the gallows with them. It appears, from an inquiry into Arnold's conduct that he is the most accomplished villian in the world; nothing can exceed his meanness. I am called upon to attend a court martial and cannot go further into this dark and wicked business. The military lads that took Mr. Andre deserve immortal honor and will be most liberally rewarded."

Mr. Greene came to Marietta in 1788 bringing beside his household goods a considerable number of valuable books. The first anchor made on the Ohio river, made for the brig St. Clair, was constructed under his direction. Soon after his arrival at Marietta Governor St. Clair commissioned him a justice of the peace and one of the Judges of the Court of Quarter Sessions. In 1789 he was made director of the Ohio Company in place of General Varnum,deceased, an office he held until the affairs of the company were closed. He joined the Belpre Association in 1790, and was a leading man in the colony, solemnizing marriages and settling civil disputes among them. In January, 1802 he was appointed Post Master at Marietta which office he held until his death. In July 1802 he was appointed collector for the district of Marietta by Thomas Jefferson. He was also inspector for the port of Marietta. Ships were built here and cleared from this port. He was a leader in the enterprise, already described, which discovered the Scioto Salt Spring. In person he was tall of genteel and accomplished manners, having seen and associated with much refined company and men of talents. As a man of genius he ranked with the first of the Ohio Company's settlers, abounding as it did with able men. He died in 1804 at the age of fifty-five.

Source: A History of Belpre, Washington County, Ohio, by C. E. Dickinson, 1920, Transcribed by C. Anthony