Sixteenth Generation

1368. William Bentley GRIGGS was born on 21 October 1914 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA.^165,236 He died on 9 February 1996 at the age of 81 in Colchester, New London County, CT.^165,236
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 Cole LEONHARDT were married.²³⁶ Emma Cole LEONHARDT was born in June 1921.¹⁶⁵ She lived in Hartford, Hartford County, CT in March 2007.^236,1105

William Bentley GRIGGS and Emma Cole LEONHARDT had the following children: