Joseph Griffiths of Orford House

Orford House around 1900 - 1910

Temperance Standard Bearers of the Nineteenth Century
by Peter T. Winskill, 1897

​Griffiths Joseph, Croft, Near Warrington, Lancashire -
Was born at Nantwich, Cheshire on December 1st, 1823, and after mastering the first four rules of arithmetic, the art of writing and reading, was sent to learn the bricklaying trade at the age of eleven years, starting with sixpence per day wages.
 
At the age of fourteen his attention was directed to the temperance
question by hearing two lectures at Nantwich, delivered by John Hockings,
the Birmingham blacksmith, and he determined to become a teetotaler.
He met with opposition and persecution, but held on his way, and
in 1844 removed to Manchester, where he had to fight against the
then prevailing habits and customs of the trade, fines and footings,
and eventually overcame all obstacles, and attained the position of
foreman.

He married a lady of like mind, and under all circumstances, they brought up their children without the use of intoxicating liquors.
 
About 1852 the family joined the Upper
Jackson Street (now Chapman Street), Manchester, Temperance
Society and Band of Hope, then newly formed, Mr. Griffiths
taking the position of choirmaster, and subsequently the son as
organist, this connection lasting for about twenty years, and helpful
to other societies and organizations.
 
In January, 1875, the family removed to Orford House, Croft, near Warrington, where they engaged in farming on teetotal principles, and triumphed over
prejudices and customs. They attached themselves to the Inde-
pendent Methodist Church, (Twiss Green) Culcheth, and took the
same positions, Mr. Griffiths as choirmaster, his son Horatio as
organist, and have laboured with success for over eighteen years.
 
Instead of being the only teetotal farmers in the district, there are
now several within four miles of Orford House. Mr. and Mrs.
Griffiths have seen fifty-one years of wedded life on teetotal
principles. Their sons, HORATIO, born November 3rd, 1852,
and JOSEPH W., born January 2nd, 1857, are life abstainers,
and their four grandchildren, whose united ages make up eighty six
years, with several others under sixteen years of age, are all life
abstainers. 

---