Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office, New York
End of Watch: Monday, August 2, 1869
Age: 60
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 26, 1869
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Acquitted
Deputy Sheriff Willard Griggs succumbed to a gunshot wound he sustained seven days earlier as he and a posse attempted to serve an eviction notice at a farm in Greenbush, New York.
The farmer and his family resisted the eviction and a shootout ensued in which Deputy Griggs was shot in the face. Several other deputies and posse members were also wounded, as well as members of the farmer's family.
Deputy Griggs underwent an operation to remove the bullet but died as a result of the wound seven days later.
Several members of the farmer's family were charged with Deputy Griggs' murder but acquitted at trial.
Deputy Griggs was survived by his wife and is buried at Sand Lake Union Cemetery, in Sand Lake, New York.