Eliezer Griffiths

Eliezer Griffiths (3 February 1827 – 21 April 1920) was a Welsh Congregationalist minister with a significant career in Australia and America, where he died.

History

Griffiths was born in Lampeter, Ceredigion, Wales, a son of Rev. G. Griffiths, minister of Mynydd Seion, Newport, Wales and his wife Maria Griffiths (c. 1794 – 18 December 1866).^[1] He was educated at New College and served the church at Tenby, Wales for twelve years, then moved to Australia.^[2]

He served from 1861 to 1865 at Port Denison, Queensland, where he served in several different churches, including the Church of England.^[3] He may have served briefly at Bowen, Queensland,^[4] but in 1866 moved to South Australia^[5] to take over the Clayton Congregationalist Church in Kensington, South Australia, recently vacated by William Harcus. He left South Australia for England in December 1872.^[6]

He died in Omaha, Nebraska.

Family

He married Isabella Bell (c. 1839 – 1882). Their children were:^[7]

• Mary Bell Griffiths (c. 1861 – 1955)
• Evelyn Griffiths Stallard (c. 1863 – 1954)
• Cuthbert R. Griffiths (c. 1864 – 1911)
• Morlan Griffiths (c. 1865 – 1866)
• Brittain E Griffiths (8 April 1867 – 1956)^[8]
• Blanche Griffiths Parkins (30 January 1869 – 1960)^[9]
• Noel Griffiths (c. 1875 – 1961)

References

1. "Family Notices". The Express And Telegraph. IV, (963). South Australia. 15 February 1867. p. 2. Retrieved 30 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
2. "History of the Welsh Independent Churches:Tenby". Translated by Gareth Hicks. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
3. "Queensland: James Morrill". The Border Watch. V, (240). South Australia. 25 November 1865. p. 1. Retrieved 30 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "The Rev. Eliezer Griffiths". Rockhampton Bulletin and Central Queensland Advertiser (461). Queensland, Australia. 29 June 1865. p. 2. Retrieved 30 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
5. "Congregational Union". South Australian Register. XXX, (6076). South Australia. 25 April 1866. p. 3. Retrieved 30 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
6. "Valedictory tea". The South Australian Advertiser. South Australia. 6 December 1872. p. 6. Retrieved 30 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
7. "Find a Grave: Rev. Eliezer Griffiths". Retrieved 30 September 2016.
8. "Family Notices". The Express And Telegraph. IV, (1,007). South Australia. 8 April 1867. p. 2. Retrieved 30 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
9. "Family Notices". Evening Journal (Adelaide). I, (25). South Australia. 30 January 1869. p. 2. Retrieved 30 September 2016 – via National Library of Australia.