Immigrant from Yorkshire and Progenitor of Two Family Lines

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Joseph Grimshaw was from Yorkshire and had a family of eight children with Margaret Wetherold before emigrating to New York in about 1806. He was married a second time after coming to the U.S., to Elizabeth Jane Holden Mitchell-Hadden. They had three additional children. Most (or all) of the children from his first marriage joined the second family in the U.S. The descendants of Joseph and his two families comprise a major Grimshaw family line in North America.

 

Webpage Credits

Summary of Family History Information

Descendant Chart for Joseph Grimshaw and His Two Wives

Immigration Record

Joseph and Mary A. (Adsit) and Their Descendants in Lorraine, New York

1880 U.S. Census Records of the Children of Joseph and Mary A. (Adsit) Grimshaw

Descendants of Joseph and Mary A. (Adsit) Grimshaw

Brief History of Lorraine, New York

Where Are Oneida and Lorraine in New York?

C Grant Grimshaw, Descendant of Joseph and Mary Ann Grimshaw

Record of George W. Grimshaw, Oldest Son of Joseph and Mary, in Mower Co, Minnesota

Who Was Anna P (Grimshaw) Grow, Wife of William Grow in Lorraine?

Email and Photo of Relatives of Lorraine, NY Grimshaw Family Line

Credits and Reference

Thanks go particularly to Dorothy Gillette for making the family history information available and to Redvers Grimshaw for making the descendant chart available. Both are credited below where their contributions appear. Thanks go also to Alida Isham Millham for providing a copy of descendant research accomplished by Henry C Grimshaw on Joseph Grimshaw. 

Dorothy Gillette² has provided the following summary of Joseph Grimshaw's family history:

Elizabeth Booth, Joseph's second wife, was married twice previously, first to Samuel Mitchell and then to Thomas Hadden. According to family records, her first husband died within days after the emigration voyage of the Mitchell family; there were two Mitchell children. Elizabeth had a daughter, Jane Ann, in her second marriage. Family records indicate that the second marriage was troubled, and Thomas Hadden died of yellow fever after relocating to South Carolina.

Dr. Samuel Mitchell, a grandson of Samuel and Elizabeth, made an entry (in about 1869) in a family Bible, part of which describes the lives of Elizabeth and Joseph Grimshaw as follows (direct quote):

In her troubles she received many friendly favours of an English gentleman by the name of Francis Thompson who was the first woolen manufacturer in the United States and through him she became acquainted with Joseph Grimshaw an English Quaker who was also a woolen manufacturer and married him. They soon moved to Peekskill and engaged in the mercantile business and not being very successful they moved to Sauquoit and built a woolen factory. Then moved to Oriskany and built another factory which was far from a financial success. They then moved to Trenton and built another woolen factory and failed. From Trenton they moved to the town of Steuben County of Oneida and purchased a farm called Beam Meadow and during the balance of his life devoted himself to dry farming and dairying business and was reasonably successful. Grandmother found after she married him that he was a widower and had seven children in England. She insisted on their being sent for which was done and she brought them up as her own. She had by Mr. Grimshaw three children, Joseph, Elizabeth and Benjamin. Joseph is a farmer and now lives in Loraine, Jefferson Co., NY. Elizabeth I believe is dead and Benjamin went to California and is lost sight of by his friends.

The ancestors and descendants of Joseph Grimshaw by both of his wives are shown in the summary descendant chart¹ in Figure 1. Joseph's family line goes back to Edward and Dorothy (Raner) Grimshaw (the "Yorkshire" line of Grimshaws) and is described in more detail on a companion webpage. This line has apparently not yet been "tied back" to the original Grimshaw family line of Eccleshill and Clayton-le-Moors. The descendants of Joseph Grimshaw have been extensively researched by Henry C Grimshaw; this research has been provided by Alida Isham Millham. Henry's work can be viewed at the following location (please be patient; it takes awhile to appear):

                Henry C Grimshaw's "Record of Joseph Grimshaw Sr Family & Descendants"

Figure 1. Ancestors of Joseph Grimshaw and descendants by his two wives, Margaret Wetherold and Elizabeth Jane Booth Mitchell-Hadden. From Redvers Grimshaw and the work of Henry C Grimshaw.

Edward Grimshaw ( - 22 Jun 1635) & Dorytye Raner

|----Abraham Grimshaw (5 Jun 1603 - 3 Mar 1670) & Sarah ( - 21 Sep 1695)

|----|----Abraham Grimshaw (1650 - 1707)

|----|----Jeremiah/Jeremy Grimshaw (21 Jul 1653 - 12 Aug 1721)

|----|----Marie Grimshaw (15 Oct 1654 - 16 Oct 1697)

|----|----Sarah Grimshaw (11 May 1656 - )

|----|----Josias/Josiah Grimshaw (25 Apr 1658 - 15 Dec 1722/1723) & Sarah Ibbitson (25 Dec 1667 - 15 Feb 1741/1742)

|----|----|----Abraham Grimshaw (24 Feb 1691 - 15 Dec 1765) & Elizabeth Sandall (5 Dec 1701 - 13 Apr 1787)

|----|----|----|----Aaron Grimshaw (14 Dec 1722 - 8 Oct 1777)

|----|----|----|----Elizabeth Grimshaw (19 Jan 1724/1725 - )

|----|----|----|----Mary Grimshaw (29 Mar 1727 - )

|----|----|----|----Sarah Grimshaw (3 Feb 1730 - 1756)

|----|----|----|----Abraham Grimshaw (7 Nov 1731/1732 - 7 May 1786) & Ellen/Eleanor Whalley (1744 - 1801)

|----|----|----|----|----Joseph Grimshaw* (5 Apr 1765 - 27 May 1841) & Margaret Wetherold (30 Jan 1766 - )

|----|----|----|----|----|----Elizabeth Grimshaw (17 Jul 1792 - ) & Richard Hardwick

|----|----|----|----|----|----Sarah Grimshaw (3 Oct 1793 - 21 Aug 1871) & Ambrose Watrous (25 Oct 1790 - 21 Mar 1868)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Mary Ann Watrous (1818 - 21 Mar 1868)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----John Watrous

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Martha Watrous (1829 - 19 Jul 1889)

|----|----|----|----|----|----Mary Grimshaw* (13 May 1795 - 1 Jun 1877) & Rev Abraham Ennis (11 Dec 1792 - 21 Mar 1868)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Melissa Ennis (1823 - ?)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Mary Ennis (1824 - 11 Nov 1873)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Andrew Fuller Ennis 11 Jul 1826 - 22 Jul 1864, Andersonville Prison, Georgia)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Sarah E Ennis

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Ann H Ennis

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Abraham Ennis

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Lucy Ennis (21 May 1831 - 21 Mar 1846)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Julia Ann Ennis (8 Nov 1834 - 18 Mar 1867)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Ichabod Hodge Ennis (1786 - 17 Feb 1848)

|----|----|----|----|----|----Mary Grimshaw* (13 May 1795 - 1 Jun 1877) & Ichabob Hodge (1786 - 18 Oct 1857)

|----|----|----|----|----|----Ann Grimshaw (7 Jan 1797 - 2 Aug 1823) & John Brooks

|----|----|----|----|----|----Martha Grimshaw (13 Nov 1800 - 9 Apr 1874)

|----|----|----|----|----|----Ellen Grimshaw (13 Mar 1803 - 28 Aug 1855)

|----|----|----|----|----|----Abraham Grimshaw (30 Jul 1806 - 5 Sep 1883) & Lucinda Gillis (1816 - 1 Apr 1897)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----George A Grimshaw (1836 - 24 Apr 1914) & Frances Burroughs (1836 - 17 Sep 1920)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Martha E Grimshaw 1838 - ?) & Joseph Johnson (1834, England - 2 May 1893)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Charles C Grimshaw (22 Sep 1844 - 3 Apr 1930) & Elizabeth Fargo (27 Nov 1842 - 12 Aug 1927)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Mary E Grimshaw (1847 - bef 1860)

|----|----|----|----|----|----Josiah Grimshaw (30 Jul 1806 - ?)

|----|----|----|----|----Joseph Grimshaw* (5 Apr 1765 - 27 May 1841) & Elizabeth Jane Booth Mitchell-Hadden (1774 - 1851)

|----|----|----|----|----|----Joseph Grimshaw (5 Jul 1810 - 22 Mar 1880) & Mary Ann Adsit (27 Apr 1809 - 17 Feb 1891)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----George Wooster Grimshaw (10 Jan 1833 - 16 Apr 1904) 

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Henry L Grimshaw (6 Sep 1834 - 30 Jul 1899)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Benjamin Joseph Grimshaw (10 Aug 1836 - 6 Aug 1895)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Stephen A Grimshaw (16 Jun 1838 - 11 Jan 1907)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Joseph Grimshaw (24 May 1840 - 2 Feb 1913)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Clinton M Grimshaw (14 Dec 1844 - 24 Jun 1927)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Adelbert G Grimshaw (20 Aug 1848 - 5 Jan 1841)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Charles Delos Grimshaw (8 Apr 1850 - 5 Nov 1915)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Polly Ann Adsit Grimshaw (adopted) (5 Jul 1853 - 5 Feb 1884)

|----|----|----|----|----|----Eliza Grimshaw (13 Nov 1813 - 1 Apr 1844) & John Cogswell (22 Apr 1806 - 12 Mar 1892)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----George Cogswell (29 Sep 1834 - 9 Nov 1898)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Elizabeth Cogswell (9 Oct 1836 - 1910)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Sarah Priscilla Cogswell (22 Sep 1838 - 1919)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Oris William Cogswell (5 Jan 1840 - 9 Sep 1863)

|----|----|----|----|----|----|----Eliza Rebecca Cogswell (28 Mar 1844 - 26 Feb 1883)

|----|----|----|----|----|----Benjamin Grimshaw (1816 - ?)

|----|----|----|----|----Ann Grimshaw (11 Jan 1767 - ?)

|----|----|----|----|----Hannah Grimshaw (30 Sep 1768 - ?)

|----|----|----|----|----Abraham Grimshaw (8 Feb 1771 - 1841)

|----|----|----|----|----William Grimshaw (20 Oct 1775 - 20 Oct 1775)

|----|----|----|----|----Aaron Grimshaw (23 Nov 1778 - ?)

|----|----|----|----|----John Grimshaw (26 Jun 1781 - ?)

|----|----|----|----|----Benjamin Grimshaw (13 Feb 1786 - 1811)

|----|----|----|----Mehetabel Grimshaw (24 Jul 1773 - 18 Oct 1737)

|----|----|----|----Rachel Grimshaw (29 May 1739 - 1797)

|----|----|----|----Rebekah Grimshaw (3 Aug 1739 - )

|----|----|----|----Josiah Grimshaw (13 Jun 1744 - 16 Feb 1791)

|----|----|----Isaac Grimshaw (25 Sep 1692 - )

|----|----Rebecca/Rebeccay Grimshaw (23 Jun 1661 - 11 Jun 1687)

|----|----John Grimshaw (22 Nov 1664 - 20 Jun 1744

Joseph's immigration to the U.S. was apparently "captured" in immigration and related records as reported on another page on this website. The entry on the other webpage is duplicated below. More detail on the reference is contained on the other webpage.

18. Joseph Grimshaw, 1812, New York

(Reference:) Scott, Kenneth, compiler, 1979³

The fourth Grimshaw to register as a British alien in the War of 1812 was Joseph, who was a clothier in Oneida County in upstate New York (Scott, 1979, p. 124³):

Gumshaw (or Grimshaw?), Joseph, age 49, 6 years in U.S., 12 in family, Oneida Co., clothier (3-8 Aug. 1812)

He apparently arrived in the U.S. in about 1806. He was 49 and had a large family of 12.

Joseph Jr., the first child of Joseph Sr. by his second wife, Elizabeth, was born in 1810 as noted above. According to a history of Jefferson County, New York⁵, Joseph married Mary A. Adsit and had eight children, all boys. The following information is provided in this reference:

Joseph Grimshaw came to Lorraine about 1835, and engaged in farming. He was the father of eight sons, among whom were Henry L., Joseph, Stephen, Clinton M. and Charles D., who resides in Lorraine. Two of his sons removed to Minnesota. Charles D. is the present supervisor of Lorraine, and his sketch may be found with those of the board of supervisors (p. 633.)

Charles D. Grimshaw, the supervisor from Lorraine, was born in that town April 5, 1850, the son of Joseph and Mary A. (Adsit) Grimshaw, who came into Lorraine in 1840, from Oneida county. They settled about a mile west of Lorraine village, upon the farm where they resided until 1870, when they removed to the village, where the father died in 1880, the mother surviving him until 1891. They reared a family of eight sons, all of whom are now living, except Edelbert, who died in his infancy. This is an exceptional instance, the writer never having before come in contact with such a record as eight sons without a daughter. Charles, the youngest of these sons and the subject of this sketch, received the benefit of the common schools. Completing his scholastic education in 1871, he became a clerk in the store of C.C. Moore, for many years the supervisor from Worth. Here Mr. Grimshaw remained until he became a partner, and continued as such until 1875, when he relinquished his interest in the firm of Moore & Grimshaw. For two years thereafter he was the village school teacher winters, and settling up his business he had in hand during summers. In the spring of 1877, Mr. Grimshaw began business in his own name at Lorraine, and has since continued in the general merchandise demanded in a country store. In 1872 he married Miss Fanny Oatman, daughter of Elijah Oatman, of Adams. They have reared two children, Hattie M. and Allen C. Mr. Grimshaw was first elected supervisor in 1889, upon the Democratic ticket, and has been elected ever year since, both parties acquiescing in his manner of conducting the business of the town. He is a popular man in his town and upon the Board, and his progressive spirit and ideas have resulted in very materially lessening taxation in the town he ably represents (p. 721.)

Additional information on Joseph and Charles D. Grimshaw is provided in a second reference⁶ (p. 552) as shown below:

Joseph Grimshaw was born in Yorkshire, Eng., in 1764, and in 1807 immigrated to America and located in Poughkeepsie, where he was employed in a woolen-mill for a few years, and later removed to Steuben, Oneida County, where he engaged in farming. He was accidentally killed on the canal in 1841. He reared a large family of children, of whom Joseph was born in Poughkeepsie in 1809, and was reared upon a farm. He located in Lorraine about 1835 and engaged in farming. He married Mary A., daughter of Stephen and Abigail (Washburn) Adzit; of Steuben, who bore him eight sons, viz.: George W.; of Minnesota; Henry L., of Lorraine; Benjamin L, of St. Paul, Minn.; Stephen A., Joseph, and Clinton M., of Lorraine; Adelbert, who died young; and Charles D., also of Lorraine. Henry M. Grimshaw was born in Lorraine in 1834, and was reared upon a farm. He married Emily L., daughter of Leonard and Martha (Gillett) Bullock, of Worth, in 1858, and bought the farm now occupied by Stephen Grimshaw, to whom he sold the farm. He then removed to the town of Worth, where he purchased 170 acres, and there remained about 15 years, returning to Lorraine in 1884. He has had two sons and two daughters, viz.: Sevilla M., who married Eugene Greenly and died in 1888; Libbie J., who married Eben M. Ramsey, of Lorraine; Levi H., born in 1866, now a resident of this town; and George B., born in 1868, a student in Adams Collegiate Institute. Mr. Grimshaw has held various town offices, including those of assessor and commissioner of highways.

Charles D. Grimshaw, son of Joseph and Mary A. (Adzit) Grimshaw, was born in Lorraine, Apri1 8, 1850. He was educated in Union and Cazenovia academies and Hungerfurd Collegiate Institute. In 1871 he engaged as salesman with Carleton C. Moore, of Lorraine, and the following year bought a half interest in the store, in which business he remained several years. He then taught school several terms. In the spring of 1871 he engaged in mercantile business, and in 1885 was appointed postmaster at Lorraine. In 1812 he married Fanny K.. daughter of Elijah and Harriet (Moore) Oatman, and they had one son and two daughters, viz.: Hattie May, born in 1877; Edna Fannie, born in 1882. died in 1883; and Allen, born in 1884.

A privately published work on John Adsit⁷ provides considerable detail on Mary Ann Adsit's ancestors as well as additional information on John and Mary Ann Grimshaw's children. Mary Ann is descended from John Adsit of Lyme Connecticut. Her Adsit forebears were Stephen and Abigail (Washburn) Adsit, parents, and additional paternal ancestors as follows:

John Adsit

|---John Adsit

|---|---Eenezer Adsit

|---|---|---Stephen Adsit

An image from this publication showing Mary, Joseph and their children is shown below:

(in preparation)

No fewer than five of the children (and their families) of Joseph and Mary Grimshaw were recorded in the 1880 Census, as shown in a companion webpage. These children included Henry L., Stephen A, Joseph, Clinton, and Charles D. Grimshaw. Their census records are summarized as follows:

Interestingly, the 1880 Census also recorded the half-brother of Joseph Grimshaw, Jr - Abraham - still living in Oneida County, where Joseph came from. The record for Abraham and Lucinda Grimshaw is as follows:

Abraham was one of the children of Joseph Grimshaw and his first wife, Margaret, and was also one of the children that his second wife insisted be brought to the U.S. from England.

Another Grimshaw, a George, is shown living nearby and was most likely the son of Abraham and Lucinda Grimshaw; the record is shown below: