Sixteenth Generation

1576. William Bentley GRIGGS was born on 21 November 1914 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA.^5,181,259 He died on 9 February 1996 at the age of 81 in Colchester, New London County, CT.^181,259
OPbituary Notes: "He was the husband of Emma Leonhardt Griggs, and the son of Frederick Charles and Mary Brown Griggs.

He was a trumpet player who performed as a "vacation trumpeter" for many of the famous dance bands of the era, including both Dorsey bands.

While dating my mother, Emma Leonhardt, he was involved in a serious automobile accident and was told he may never see again. The day the bandages were to be removed, he asked my mother to be there in the hospital and told her, "If I can see you, I want to marry you". Quite a proposal and he did see, and they did get married.

After moving from Pennsylvania to Connecticut, he was a member of the Artones (see photo), known throughout lower New England. He performed with other dance bands in Connecticut and had his own band before finally retiring.

He acted as MC at many functions after retiring from playing the trumpet, and was well known in the Connecticut area.

He served honorably in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II and was a sergeant. In the 6th Marine Division, he participated in the ceremony of the surrender of Japanese Military Forces that took place in Tsingtao, China on October 25, 1945.

He worked for the Travelers Insurance Company in Hartford, Connecticut for 25 years."

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William Bentley GRIGGS and Emma LEONHARDT were married.^5,259 Emma LEONHARDT⁵, daughter of Franklin Chester Shakespeare LEONHARDT and Emma Annette COLE, was born on 17 June 1916.^5,181 She lived in Hartford, Hartford County, CT on 23 March 2006.^5,259,1204 She died on 23 March 2006 at the age of 89.⁵

William Bentley GRIGGS and Emma LEONHARDT had the following children: