Grimshaw, Settlers in Detroit, Michigan

(Note: Webpage in preparation)

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John Thomas Grimshaw was apparently the son of GR (probably for George R) and Ellen Grimshaw and was born near London in about 1863. The family emigrated to Detroit about a year later, where it is recorded in the 1880 U.S. Census as consisting of GR (age 44), Ellen (42), John T (17), Martha (6), and William H (1) Grimshaw. John T Grimshaw married Arvilla Whitesell about four years later, in about 1844, and had about 12 children, all but two of which survived to adulthood.

It is hypothesized that GR Grimshaw, born about 1836, was the older brother of William Grimshaw, who was born about 1845 or 1850 in East Gwillimbury, north of Toronto. William married Dora Tinley in Tecumseh Canada (just across the border from Detroit); they are the subject of a companion webpage. William's parents are indicated in a marriage record to be Abraham and Sarah Grimshaw. William and Dora were recorded in the 1881 Canadian Census as living Tecumseh, Ontario, consisting of William (age 35), "Darah" (27), Albert E (4) and Sarah A (3 mo). The family later moved to the Detroit area, where GR apparently named his son, William H, after William, and William in turn named his son George R after GR Grimshaw. Both families gave the unusual name "Lester" to their sons (one as a first name and the other as a middle name, but the latter apparently went by "Lester" during his life).

Perhaps Abraham and Sarah Grimshaw left England (perhaps Yorkshire, given the apparent connections to the Edward and Dorothy [Raner] Grimshaw line indicated in William's children's names) soon after GR Grimshaw was born in 1836. The family apparently landed at Toronto, where William was born at East Gwillimbury in 1845 or 1850. GR and William subsequently moved further west, where William married and settled in Tecumseh, while GR continued to Detroit just across the border. He probably met and married Arvilla in Detroit. Later William and his family came across the border to Detroit, where the two families then lived in proximity to each other and gave their children somewhat similar names.

Further evidence of William's connections to the Quaker line of Edward and Dorothy (Raner) Grimshaw line - the Quaker settlement at East Gwillimbury - shows no sign of a George Grimshaw. Perhaps they were just friends (16 years apart?) who migrated together to Detroit.

Webpage Credits

 

Two Other Grimshaw Family in the Detroit Area by 1880

References

Thanks go to the Detroit Public Library for providing access to an excellent collection of materials related to the various lines of Grimshaw families in the Detroit area.

Edwin A Grimshaw Collection (EAG 37)

Grimshaw, Lester Jr. – Royal Oak, MI – (EAG 37)

Dear Mr. Grimshaw,

In regard to your letter about the Grimshaw family. My grand father was born in England and came to this country with his wife Arilla Whitesell some time in the 1880’s. Grand father was born outside of London, England 1863. His name was John Thomas and fathered twelve children of which two died at childbirth.

*Deceased

*Charlotte, married Howard Walton (no boys)

*Blanch, married William Buickman (2 boys)

*John Burnett, married Mary Yaeger (no boys)

Twins William Ernest, married Elennor Lemersol (no boys)

*James Earl, married Iva Althouse (no boys)

Bernice married Fred Gausse (1 boy)

*Stanley, married Madlene Sopea (1 boy)

*Walter, married Helen Chaffee (1 boy)

Estelle, married Arthur Bjockman (1 boy)

*Lester V., married Irene Stahl (3 boys)

My father Lester had 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls. Lester, (myself) had 1 boy (Robert) and 1 girl. Glen (brother) had 1 boy (Timothy) and 1 girl.

Kenneth (brother) no children.

I am sorry that is all the information I can find. It seems that according to your letter, this branch of the family does not appear to be related, unless it goes way back before the 1860’s. Good luck in your search.

Yours truly,

Lester Grimshaw Jr.

P.S. All of the Grimshaws have lived around the Detroit, Mich area all of their lives.

Grimshaw Indications Webpage:

Jeff Anderson posted the following message on the Grimshaw Family Genealogy Forum in June 1999:

Looking for Grimshaws from the Detroit Michigan area. The patriarch being John T. Grimshaw born about 1855 and who married Arvilla Whitesell in the 1870-80s. They seem to have settled in the Detroit area generally. I know they had several children I just don't have my list with me today. I am related through the grandparents of Arvilla. I believe I have a picture of her mother that I would happily share with any interested but as yet unknown relatives.

David J. Grimshaw responded in July 2001 as follows:

Information on the 1900 census of Michigan shows the following;
John T Grimshaw (Head) Born Jan 1863 in England
Anilla (Wife) Born Apr 1884 in Michigan
Leottie E (Daughter) Born Apr 1884 in Michigan
Blanche E (Daughter) Born Feb 1886 in Michigan
John B (Son) Born Dec 1887 in Michigan
Earl J (Son) Born Oct 1889 in Michigan
Ernest W (Son) Born Oct 1889 in Michigan

John T Grimshaw arrived in USA in 1863

Whitesell Website:

http://www.amtelecom.net/~bjohnson/PortBruce/Genealogy/Whitesell/queries.htm  

Anderson, Jeff - bander@erols.com - Looking for parents of Van Alstine Whitesell listed in 1880 census for Detroit, born Ontario circa 1830. Married Mary Ann De Grummond before 1862 and had four children; Arvilla, b. ca. 1862; m. John T. Grimshaw; Mary Ann, b. ca. 1867; John Edwin, b. at Ont. ca. 1869; m. Hariet J. Atkinson; and Maud Amelia, b. at Michigan, ca. 1873; m. Robert Lester. Van Alstine is possible son of Andrew and Margret (Oille) Whitesell of Beverly Twp., Wentworth Co., Ontario.

1880 Census Record for GR and Ellen Grimshaw and Family

Census Place:	Detroit, Wayne, Michigan					MI-2
Source:	FHL Film 1254614 National Archives Film T9-0614 Page 505C
	Relation	Sex	Marr	Race	Age	Birthplace
G. R. GRIMSHAW	Self	M	M	W	44	ENG
Occ:	Watchman	Fa: ENG	Mo: ENG
Ellen GRIMSHAW	Wife	F	M	W	42	ENG
Occ:	Keeping House	Fa: ENG	Mo: ENG
John T. GRIMSHAW	Son	M	S	W	17	ENG
Occ:	Moulder	Fa: ENG	Mo: ENG
Martha GRIMSHAW	Dau	F	S	W	6	MI
Fa: ENG	Mo: ENG
Wm. H. GRIMSHAW	Son	M	S	W	1	MI

 

 

1910 Census from Ancestry.com

11 children born, 10 living, 8 in this census

Descendant Chart

John Thomas Grimshaw (ca 1863, England - ?) & Arvilla Whitesell (ca 1862, Michigan - ?) Married ca 1884

|-----Deceased Grimshaw

|-----Charlotte Grimshaw & Howard A Walton

|-----|-----no boys

|-----|-----unknown girls

|-----Blanche Grimshaw & William Buckman

|-----|-----2 boys

|-----|-----unknown girls

|-----John Burnett Grimshaw (10 Dec 1887, Detroit, Michigan - ?, Aba, Belgian Congo) & Mary Yeager

|-----|-----Unknown Daughter ("in Aba")

|-----|-----Ruth

|-----James Earl Grimshaw [twin] (3 Oct 1889, Michigan -?) & Iva Althouse

|-----|-----no boys

|-----|-----unknown girls

|-----William Ernest Grimshaw [twin] (3 Oct 1889, Michigan -?) & Eleanor Lemersol

|-----|-----no boys

|-----|-----unknown girls

|-----Lester V Grimshaw* (ca 1895, Michigan -?) & Irene Stahl

|-----|-----Kenneth Grimshaw (no children)

|-----|-----Lester V Grimshaw 

|-----|-----|-----Robert Grimshaw 

|-----|-----|-----unknown girl

|-----|-----Glen A Grimshaw 

|-----|-----|-----Timothy Grimshaw 

|-----|-----|-----unknown girl

|-----|-----Beatrice Grimshaw & Richard Kangas

|-----|-----Doris Grimshaw & William Hannekow

|-----|-----Joanne Grimshaw & William Milligan

|-----Lester V Grimshaw* (ca 1895, Michigan -?) & Agnes Horton

|-----Bernice E Grimshaw (ca 1897, Michigan -?) & Fred Gauss

|-----|-----1 boy

|-----|-----unknown girls

|-----Stanley C Grimshaw (ca 1900, Michigan -?) & Madlene Sopea

|-----|-----Richard Grimshaw

|-----|-----unknown girls

|-----Walter L Grimshaw (ca 1902, Michigan -?) & Helen Chafee

|-----|-----1 boy

|-----|-----unknown girls

|-----Estelle W Grimshaw (ca 1905, Michigan -?) & Arthur Bjorkman

|-----|-----1 boy

|-----|-----unknown girls

Birth record of William Ernest Grimshaw from Family Search:

Birth Record of William H Grimshaw

Father (erroneously shown as John M rather than GR?) and Ellen Grimshaw....