 A native of Newcastle, Staffordshire, England, Abraham Griffith was born September 17, 1822.At the age of 22, Griffith came to America in 1844, arriving in New York, where he resided until 1849.News of the California Gold Rush excitement had spread and Mr. Griffith was introduced to one of the Aspinwall's, a founder of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and given a position as stoker on the steamship "Panama".