[2][3][4] The first members of the family to arrive in America were the Puritan half-brothers Edward and Matthew Griswold, landing initially at Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1639 and continuing on as part of the group of colonists settling Windsor, Connecticut.

He was later Deputy and Commissioner of Lyme, Connecticut, quickly amassing thousands of acres of land and become one of the richest men in the colony.

It was noted that "I do not suppose that there is a country store, however insignificant, in the entire United States that has not seen a large or small package of tea marked 'N.L & G.G.'

[10] George Griswold Jr operated clipper ships to China and amassed a great fortune; setting up residence on Fifth Avenue.

[11] Another member of the family, John Griswold, founded the Black X Line of packet clippers that shipped supplies between the United States and Great Britain.