Started by James Grimshaw, Texas Immigrant from the 
Northeast U.S.

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The Texas line of Grimshaws started when James Grimshaw traveled by boat from Boston to Texas before the Civil War. During that war, James fought on the side of the Confederacy, and family lore has it that he "got his horse shot from under him in Louisiana." James had a family in Boston and started a second family in Texas. One of James' sons, Amos, participated in a Texas oil boom in Young County in the 1920s. James and his second wife left a large number of descendants in Texas and New Mexico.

George H Grimshaw has kindly provided photos and a biography of James Grimshaw, as well as several grave photos, which provide much valuable information on the Texas Line of Grimshaws.

Website Credits

Photo and Biography of James Grimshaw

Descendant Chart for James Grimshaw

Photos of James Grimshaw and His Two Families

Photographs of Amos and Zona Grimshaw and Their Family

Excerpts from the Biography of James Julius Grimshaw

The History of Young County as Background and Context

Amos Grimshaw's Farm and Founding of Oil City (Grimshaw), Texas

Oil Lease Tracts and Oil Wells at the Amos Grimshaw Farm Location

What is at the Oil City (Grimshaw) Location Today?

Was James the Older Brother of Riley Grimshaw?

A Competing Hypothesis: James Grimshaw Was Descended from Amos and Mary (Greenwood) Grimshaw/Grunshaw

Final Resting Places of James and the Other Texas Grimshaws

Thad Grimshaw, One of the Texas Grimshaw Descendants

References

Biography of James Julius Grimshaw: Life in Early Twentieth Century Texas and New Mexico

Thanks go to Mr. and Mrs. Bill Mills for providing the information in the descendant chart on this webpage. Also to Randall Grimshaw for providing family history information, including the biography of James Julius Grimshaw. And to Thad Grimshaw for providing the photos of Amos and Zona Grimshaw and their family. The information on oil leases and oil wells at Oil City comes from the files of the Railroad Commission of Texas. And to George H Grimshaw for providing the photo and biography of James Grimshaw. 

A photo and biography of James Grimshaw, provided by George H Grimshaw, are shown below. A second photo of James, as an older man, appears further down on this webpage.

The biography provided by George H Grimshaw is shown below. Footnotes are indicated generally at the end of paragraphs, but sometimes also within paragraphs.

A BIOGRAPHY OF JAMES GRIMSHAW

By

George Howard Grimshaw

January 11, 2008

To my Dad, George Noel Grimshaw, on his 75th Birthday, January 11, 2008.

Thanks for inspiring me with a love for our family and its history and for the extensive research and record keeping you have performed over the years! You will find a lot of it put to good use in this biography of your great-grand father, James. Thanks for all of your help! Here’s to many more years of working together researching our family history!

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

The Life of James Grimshaw as Told By His Descendants

James’ Birth and Early Years

James’ Life and Family in New Bedford, Massachusetts

James Moves to Texas and Joins the Confederate Army

James Remarries and Starts a Second Family

James’ Later Years

Concluding Thoughts

List of Sources

Acknowledgements

Along with the story passed down by his children and grandchildren, at least 37 years of research by several descendants of James Grimshaw is involved in this biographical sketch of his life. So, along with a heart of gratitude to James, and his children and grandchildren for sharing his story, a big “thank you” goes out to you for your perseverance and hard work!

In this sketch, I have attempted to compile the data that we have collectively gathered over the years in order to present a more accurate account of James’ life. Rather than mention names here, I have credited each researcher in the “List of Sources” beginning on page 25, which also serves as endnotes for the information used and cited.

Please take the time to read the notes as they contain a lot of valuable information, much of which can be used for further research.

If I have left anyone, or anything, out it is unintentional and I will gladly accept any corrections or new information you have or find, as my desire is to simply tell James’ story. No doubt, more information will surface as our research continues and I will gladly update this sketch with any information found, giving credit to the researcher who finds it! Happy hunting!　

Introduction

The information presented in the following pages is based on the story passed down through our family by James to his son Amos to his children and then to their children down to the present generation of James’ descendents. I have credited this story to my grandfather, George Olan Grimshaw as he is who I heard it from, although I know that George’s brother Jim shared this same information with his children and grandchildren as did most, if not all, of George and Jim’s siblings. Therefore, I make mention of this to give them credit as well. We owe them all a debt of gratitude for inspiring us by telling us about our family history.

This sketch also provides an update to my previous paper titled “James Grimshaw: His Life Review,” dated January 11, 1981. Much of the information found there appears in this paper as well.

Undertaking the task of writing a biography is difficult at best. This sketch begins with the original story about James passed down through the generations, followed by a comparative analysis based on records accrued by family members over the years. It is hoped that by compiling all of this information into this biography that a more accurate account of James’ life will result and will be used for further research to discover more about James, his parents and our Grimshaw ancestors. Feel free to let me know if I have hit or missed the mark! Here goes…

The Life of James Grimshaw as Told By His Descendants

James Grimshaw was born in England on July 4, 1829. Nothing was known about James’ parents or family, however according to George Olan Grimshaw, he was named after his uncle George (George Monroe Grimshaw), who was named after his uncle George, a brother of James. It was not known whether James had any other brothers or sisters.1

James sailed to the United States between the years of 1847 and 1850, and settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He was a blacksmith and machinist and was believed to have built the first Singer Sewing Machine. He also made knives, straight edge razors as well as other tools.1

After arriving in New Bedford, James met and married his first wife, Lydia. She was several years older than James was and had two sons from her first marriage. James and Lydia had a son of their own, named Frank. Following Frank’s birth, nothing was known about this family except for the separation that took place between James and Lydia. Evidently, Lydia’s two sons from her previous marriage would not work and were constantly “mooching” off of James and Lydia. James did not approve of this practice and after a while told Lydia that if he saw the boys around the “place” again that he would leave her. As he arrived home from work one day he saw the boys sneaking out the backdoor; he then left Lydia and a short time later told her that he was sailing for Texas.1

Before he left for Texas, James asked Lydia if he could take Frank to have his picture taken. Some of Lydia’s friends told her that she should not allow James to take Frank because James might take Frank with him to Texas; however,

Lydia let Frank go with him. James took Frank to have his picture taken; and then brought him back home to Lydia, just as he said he would do. Shortly after, James left for Texas. This was believed to have happened sometime in 1860 with James arriving in Texas in late 1860 or early 1861 and settling in Marlin, Texas.1

Sometime after he arrived in Texas, James heard that Lydia had died. He then met and married Sarah Julius Stahl. Sarah was born on October 26, 1845. Her father was Augustus Stahl. She also had a brother named Augustus. James and Sarah had five children: Mary Catherine (aka Mollie), born October 22, 1867; Amos, born August 12, 1870; Annie Elizabeth, born May 3, 1874; Sally Lee (aka Lee), born February 24, 1881; and George Monroe, born January 13, 1884.1

James and Sarah’s marriage ended after almost twenty years, when Sarah died on June 24, 1885. The cause of her death was not known. After her death, Mollie helped care for the younger children until they went to live with Augustus, Sarah’s brother. James continued working as a machinist, making knives and razors. Many of his works were displayed at a bank in Belton, Texas and some of his descendants possess straight-edge razors and tools that he made.1

Sometime after Sarah’s death, James happened to meet a mutual friend of his and his first wife, Lydia, in Texas and found out that she was still living. Sometime later he received a letter from Lydia.2 Evidently, they corresponded quite frequently for a few years, as three or four letters from Lydia to James were stored in James’ toolbox.1 Only one of these letters survived over the years. It was written by Lydia on March 23, 1897 and reads as follows:

97

New Bedford March 23

My Dear Husband

Yours was received several weeks ago. I was very glad to hear from you. I began to think perhaps you would never write any more. I wanted to have answered sooner but could not get the opportunity. part of the time I was very poorly my self and all the time since I received your last letter my oldest son has been sick and a longtime before that, he died of consumption the 13 day of this present month march. I can’t write much my dear I am runy (sic) and my hand trembles but I want to tell you that I love you and think kindly of you want to see you ever so much but never expect to. I am trying to live so that God will accept me at last and hope and pray that you and I shall meet together there.

I have no child but Frank and I do hope he will be permitted to out live me. Frank, Lillie and Myra are all living good christian lives. for the last year Frank and Wife seemed to have received a deeper work of grace in their hearts than even before and Myra is walking right on in their footsteps. They are not a gloomy family but cheerful and appear to be happy. I wish I could have heard that your health was better spiritualy (sic) and temporly (sic) and I hope it is by this time. Oh how I wish I could put my arms around you and encourage you with all the love and kindness that is possible to have and show. I must tell you now Mrs. Fuurce’es (sic) message, she sends You much love and says She is coming to see you just as soon as She is able to and wishes You to have a nice easy carriage to take her around in. now that looks as though she is trying to crowd me out, but I have great faith in you and so I think I am safe.

Now my dear all send love and the kindest of wishes. Accept mine may the Lord bless you and save you with an everlasting salvation.

Your true and faithful wife Lydia R. Grimshaw

Hope to hear from you soon.2

Lydia died in 1899, just a couple of years after this letter was written.1

Around 1901, James moved to Huckabay, Texas, and lived with his son, Amos, and his family. Some of his grandchildren remembered James being there, and they often talked of him and his horse, “Old Betty”. James stayed with Amos and his family until his death on September 25, 1903. He was buried at the Liberty Cemetery in Erath County, Texas near a shade tree, his grave marked by a rock.1

According to Doris Tilton, one of James’ descendants through Frank, her line of the family had no knowledge of James’ life after he left New Bedford. In fact, they believed he was lost at sea.3 After James left New Bedford, his son Frank supposedly wanted nothing to do with him, indicating that whatever he believed to have happened to James, he felt abandoned by him.1

James’ Birth and Early Years

The belief that James was born on July 4, 1829 is consistent with several documented sources discovered over the years. July 4, is the same month and day recorded by James’ first wife, Lydia, in her Bible, however, she did not record his year of birth.4 His age is recorded as 22 years on their Record of Marriage, dated October 7, 1851, which is consistent with a date of birth prior to that date in 1829.5

A review of his Confederate Muster Rolls in April 1862 shows his age as 35 years, which indicate that he was born in 1826.6 However, on his Confederate Pension Application, dated July 5, 1899, he listed his age as 70, which is consistent with a birth date of July 4, 1829 or earlier.7

A July 4, 1829 date of birth is also consistent with several U.S. Census records. In the 1870 Census, James is recorded as being 41 years of age.8 In the 1880 Census, dated June 5, 1880, his age is recorded as 50, indicating that his 51st birthday was some time after that date.9 Most of the 1890 U.S. Census Records for Texas were destroyed, so no information about James is available from this Census.10

It is difficult to determine his age from the 1900 Census, as the second digit of his age recorded there is difficult to read. It looks as if it may have initially been recorded as 75, and then corrected, possibly to 70. The month of his birth is recorded as July. The year of his birth is also difficult to determine. It looks as if it may have initially been recorded as 1825, and then corrected, possibly to 1828 or 1829. At the time, James was living with his daughter Annie Owens and her family. Annie’s husband Lewis is listed as the head of the household on this census record.11

Clearly, there is enough data based on the records previously mentioned to confirm that James’ date of birth was July 4, 1829 as originally believed.

Originally, nothing was known about James’ parents and it was believed that he was born in England later immigrating to the United States.1 However, his Record of Marriage to Lydia shows his parents names as William and Mary.5 No last name for them appears on this record, which would seem to indicate that it would be Grimshaw. On this record, James’ birthplace is shown as Norwich, Connecticut.5 In the 1870, 1880, and 1900 Census records, James birthplace is also listed as Connecticut. 8, 9, 11 On his son Frank’s death certificate, James birthplace is recorded as Windsor, Connecticut.12 So, while it is not clear whether he was born in Norwich or Windsor, the above records indicate that he was born in Connecticut and not England as originally thought.

On both the 1880 and 1900 Census, the birth place of both James’ parents is shown as England.9, 11 Unfortunately, years of researching genealogical records from both England and the U.S. have yielded no record of a William and Mary Grimshaw that can be considered a match for James’ parents. Since only their first names are shown on James and Lydia’s record of marriage, it is possible that William could have been Mary’s husband by a subsequent marriage and therefore James’ step-father.5 This possibility is currently being researched and has yielded some potential matches that are being considered.13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

Some of these records support the original belief that James may have had sibling’s, including the possibility of a brother named George. 1, 13, 14 Also, a brother of James’ named Mercer is referred to in a note as the owner of steel bead purse that James left with Lydia when he left New Bedford.19 So far no records of a Mercer Grimshaw have been found that could be considered a match as James’ brother. However, if William was James’ stepfather, Mercer may have been a step or half-brother to James.

Since attempts to link James with other lines of Grimshaw’s in the U.S. or England have been unsuccessful to date, it is still possible that he may have immigrated to the U.S. from England as a young man and chose to hide his past by making up fictitious parents and a fictitious birthplace, so he could perhaps enjoy the benefits of U.S. citizenship. Who knows? Given the records we have however, this does not seem likely. Hopefully, continued research will result in the discovery of more information about James’ parents and siblings allowing us to trace our lineage back even further.　

James’ Life and Family in New Bedford, Massachusetts

Several records have been found to support the belief that James was a machinist and lived several years in New Bedford, Massachusetts. It is also very possible that he arrived there between the years 1847 and 1850 as originally believed. 1 While, his name does not appear in the New Bedford Directory of 1849, it does appear in the New Bedford Directory of 1852, which would support a date for his arrival before then.20, 21, 22

As a young man, he was employed as a machinist by the New Bedford Cordage Factory according to the New Bedford Directory in 1852 and 1855.21, 22 The New Bedford Cordage Factory was founded in 1842 and furnished rope and line to the local whaling industry. 23, 24

To date, no records have been found to substantiate the belief that James built the first Singer Sewing Machine.1 However, it is interesting to note that James’ wife, Lydia, their son Frank, and his wife Lillie are buried in the same plot of the Oak Grove Cemetery, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, as members of a family with the last name, Howe. The connection between the Grimshaw’s and the Howe’s, if any, is unknown.26 However, the invention of the sewing machine may provide a link, as American inventor, Elias Howe of Boston, Massachusetts is credited with inventing the first practical sewing machine in the mid 1840’s.25, 27

In 1835, Howe was apprenticed to a manufacturer of cotton machinery in Lowell, Massachusetts. Two years later, he worked briefly in a machine shop in Cambridge and then apprenticed himself in Boston to a maker of watches and scientific instruments. It was here, that he happened to hear his boss discussing the need for a sewing machine. 25, 27

Howe began working on his sewing machine in 1844 and had a working machine as early as April 1845. That same year a demonstration of his invention out-sewed five seamstresses, but he was unable to sell a single machine.25

In September 1846, Howe obtained a U.S. patent for his second machine. Other inventors, including Isaac Singer, infringed upon Howe’s patent. Singer used Howe’s patented lock stitch process and a similar type of needle when he invented his sewing machine. Howe sued the infringers and won. He received a settlement of $15,000 from Singer. In 1856, Howe and the various manufacturers of sewing machines pooled their patents making Howe a millionaire twice over.25 So, it is certainly possible that James was involved in building one of the first sewing machines.

As originally believed, James met and married a woman named Lydia. Lydia Raymond Bosworth was born in Middleborough, Massachusetts on March 16, 1817.4 Her parents were Josiah and Anna (Haskell) Bosworth. No mention of any siblings is included in her family Bible. 4 Lydia had previously been married to a man named George W. Allen and had three children; two boys, Admiral E. and George Francis, and a girl named Anna Haskell Allen.4, 26 Even though Lydia recorded her husband, George W. Allen’s birth date and their wedding date in her Bible, she recorded no further information about him there, so it is not known what happened to him or why their marriage ended.4

James and Lydia were married on October 7, 1851.4, 5 She was 34 years old and James was 22 at the time of their marriage.4, 5 In the 1852 New Bedford Directory, their home address was listed as “10 Chancery.”21 On July 3, 1853, Lydia gave birth to a son, Frank Greenwood Grimshaw, who was her only child by James.4, 11 In the 1855 New Bedford Directory James’ home address is listed as “55 Smith St.”22 His name does not appear in the New Bedford Directory of 1859, however a Lydia Allen is listed as a widow living at “75 Middle.”28 Other than this, the only information believed to be known about their family life are the reported problems between James and Lydia’s sons, which in turn are believed to have led to his leaving her.1

As previously mentioned, James descendants through his son Frank, had no knowledge of James’ life after he left New Bedford.1, 3 The note identifying a man named Mercer as James’ brother says that James left a Steel Beaded Purse belonging to Mercer with Lydia Grimshaw “when he went on a journey, never being heard from afterward.”19

The fact that James is not listed in the New Bedford Directory of 1859 could be an indicator, as well as the approximate time, of his separation from Lydia. This would be further reinforced if the Lydia Allen listed as a widow in the same directory is his wife.28 This, as well as the fact that Lydia is listed as the “widow of James” in the New Bedford Directory of 1871-72 and 1877-1878, and as a widow in 1899, supports the reason why James’ and Lydia’s family and descendants did not know of his whereabouts after he left New Bedford, believing him to be lost at sea.1, 3, 19, 26, 29　

James’ Moves to Texas and Joins the Confederate Army

It is still believed that James moved from New Bedford to Texas sometime around 1860.1, 28 However, no records have been found to indicate exactly when or how James made this journey. What is known is that by April 14, 1862, James was living in Falls County.6, 7

By 1862, the War Between the States was well underway and Union Army forces were threatening Louisiana. If they gained a foothold there, they would be in a great position to invade Texas. At the beginning of 1862, Edwin Waller Jr. of the Texas Cavalry obtained permission from General Thomas Hindman, commander of the Confederate Army’s Trans-Mississippi Department, to form a cavalry unit.30 “Waller ran an ad in the Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph on March 26, 1862. It read in part:

Texians your homes and hearthstones are now threatened from the North. You are called to the rescue … to beat back the invader. Come now, come at once, come to the rescue…. This regiment like the brave Rangers of Terry’s will be assigned duty in the teeth of danger. Come with me, and I will lead you right.” 30

“Waller wanted men who “were at home on horseback, who ride like cowboys, who shot the bull’s eye with a rifle or pistol and go anywhere and stand anything like a regular Ranger.” 30

Perhaps responding to this or a similar ad, James enrolled in the Confederate Army as a Private on April 14, 1862, in the town of Marlin, joining Captain Thomas P. Hightower’s Company, Waller’s Battalion, Texas Cavalry. He enrolled for three years or until the end of the War. At the time of his enrollment, his age is recorded as 35 years old. He had a horse valued at 250 dollars and some equipment valued at 35 dollars. 6

On April 23, 1862, James was mustered into service at Hempstead, Texas, approximately 120 miles south of Marlin, by Waller.6, 31, 32 His name also appears on the “Company Muster-in Roll” for Camp Waller’s on June 30, 1862. 31

On July 1, 1862, Waller’s Battalion left Hempstead, and moved eastward, crossing the Sabine River into Louisiana on July 20. Union Army forces had captured New Orleans in April 1862, and were advancing into western Louisiana towards Texas. In their first engagement, Waller’s cavalry caught some Union infantry in an ambush and soundly defeated them. That action prompted Major-General Benjamin Butler, Union Army Commander of the Department of the Gulf, to dispatch a sizeable force to retaliate against Waller. 30

On September 8, 1862, Union troops, moving quickly by riverboat, surrounded Waller’s Battalion at Bonnet Carre. Waller’s men, who numbered several hundred, were greatly out numbered, facing a force of several thousand Union soldiers. The ensuing action was little more than a rout. The only escape for the Confederates was into and through the Louisiana swamp. A soldier in Waller’s Battalion recounted the action in a journal:

could not find ground sufficient to form in line of battle. Mounted so all were dismounted and then every fourth man had to hold horses. We then marched about one hundred yards and all were stationed alongside the road awaiting attack … they opened on us with their Battery and Minnies and Waller gave the order to fall back to our horses amid shells & balls! Some horses had got frightened and run off and some men took most any horse they first met with…. We retreated down the canal and here we came to the swamp, commanded all to leave their horses and take it a foot…. By this time the command was very much scattered and in all directions…. We come through a swamp that never was trod before by man. In some places water and mud was waist deep and some come very nigh giving up. We passed through what is called the impenetrable swamps of Louisiana.” 30

Most of Waller’s men, despite the humiliation of losing their mounts, escaped capture. Waller’s men regrouped at Camp Gillis. On September 24, one of Waller’s men wrote the following in his journal: “The Command have petitioned for 90 days furlough so they can go home & try and get an outfit.” They were eventually allowed to let one officer from each company to go back to Texas for new mounts. This was done to keep most of the men in the field.30

When the battalion left Camp Gillis on October 4, they procured some carts to ride in. The cavalry went up on the right side of the Lafourche Bayou and the “Cane Cart Cavalry” on the left, referring to the men without mounts who had to ride in the carts. It was a humiliating experience for Waller’s men and some of them were unable to fight or became infantrymen the remainder of the year while they waited to be outfitted with new mounts.30

“The Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph printed an account of the “Narrow Escape of Waller’s Command” in its September 22, 1862, edition that likely added to the agony of Waller and his men.”30

As documented in his war records, James fought in the battle at Bonnet Carre. He is listed as present on the “Company Muster Roll” from August 6 to November 1, 1862. In the remarks section of this document, it is noted that his horse was lost in battle at Bonnet Care (sic), on Sept. 8, 1862. 32 On a separate undated document he is mentioned as appearing on a list of men who lost their horses, equipment, and weapons in the skirmish at Bonnet Carre, Louisiana, Sept. 7, 1862.33 It is not known if James fought in any other battles during the war, however, based on the following historical account of Waller’s Regiment and James documented service ending sometime in 1865, he must have.7, 35

After losing to Union forces at Bonnet Carre, Waller conducted partisan activities for the Confederacy in southern and western Louisiana.34 In early 1863, Waller’s Battalion was merged into Sibley’s Brigade.30 “The men of both units had something to prove to themselves and the Confederate command. That opportunity presented itself in 1863 when Union Army forces began moving northward into the interior of Louisiana. Union control of Louisiana would leave Texas vulnerable to invasion from the east. Confederate authorities moved what regiments they could spare to Louisiana to face the threat.”30 Sibley’s Brigade, by this time was commanded by Thomas Green, who with his men had recently arrived from New Mexico.30, 34

In June, 1863, Green moved his brigade southward to attack the Union garrison in Fort Buchanan at Brashear City (known today as Morgan City), which served as an important jumping-off point for Union advances into the interior of Louisiana. “A bold plan was put forth. The men of Waller’s Battalion, still smarting from the Bonne (sic) Carre fiasco of the previous year, jumped at the opportunity.” Several of the men crossed Grand Lake at night in small boats and waded through a swamp in waist-deep water to move behind the Union forces. “This time, the press would praise the exploits of Waller’s Battalion. The Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph reported:

Theirs was the proud privilege of storming the almost impregnable fort on the opposite side of the bay…. It was a hazardous mission to cross the Lake, 12 miles, in these frail barks, to land at midnight on the enemy’s side, in an almost impenetrable swamp and await the dawn of day which would insure them victory or a soldiers death…. With a real Texas yell they at once dashed with bayonets fixed and pistols drawn, full at the threatening walls of the proud Fort…. In twenty minutes they climbed the walls, dispersed the garrison. Tore down the stars and stripes and hoisted the bonnie flag on its ramparts.”30

James is listed as absent on the Waller’s Regiment Cavalry “Company Muster Roll” for January and February 1864. However, in the remarks section of this document, it is noted that he was detailed to work in the Machine Shop on February 15, 1864, which could explain his absence for muster.35 According to his Confederate Pension Application he served in Company B, Waller’s Battalion for about three years, which indicates that he remain enlisted until the end of the war.7 His name appears on the list of Confederate Indigent Families in Falls County from 1863 to 1865.36　

James’ Remarries and Starts a Second Family

As previously mentioned, sometime after his arrival in Texas, it is believed that James learned that Lydia had died.1 This seems to be supported by the fact that he then remarried.37, 38

In Texas, James met Sarah Julius Stahl. Sarah was born on October 26, 1845 in Montgomery, Texas to Augustus Floyd and Katherine Stahl, immigrants from Prussia. 1, 37, 38, 39 Sarah was the youngest of four children. Her older siblings were Louis, Mary Elizabeth, and Augustus Floyd Stahl Jr. Her mother died about 1865. Her father then married Wilhelmina M. Schaffer, widow of Ludwig Louis Falkenhagen, who had five children. Augustus and Wilhelmina had two children of their own Wilhelm Albert (aka “Willie”) and Dave Stahl.39

It is possible that James may have known Sarah and her family before his enrollment in the Confederate Army, as Augustus Stahl Jr., Sarah’s brother was enrolled in the Army, on the same day as James. He was also assigned to the same company and regiment, as James.6, 31, 32, 35, 34, 40, 41, 42, 43

James and Sarah were married in Falls County, Texas on December 22, 1864. She was nineteen years old at the time of her marriage to James, who was then thirty-five.1, 37, 38 James and Sarah settled near Marlin, where two of their five children were born. The oldest, Mary Catherine, (aka Mollie) was born on October 22, 1867. A son, Amos, was born on August 12, 1870. 8, 9, 38 On the 1870 U.S. Census, dated March 13, 1871, James’ age was recorded as 41 years; Sarah, as 25 years ; Mary, as 3 years; and Amos as 1 year old. James’ occupation at the time is listed as “Engineer.” Sarah is listed as “Keeping House.” This census information was recorded at the Post Office located in Rockdam, Falls County, Texas, indicating that James and his family lived in or near this community.8

On a business trip to Waco, Texas, in February 2007, I spent a couple of afternoons driving around Marlin and the surrounding area. The only evidence I could find that there was a community named Rockdam (sic) is Rock Dam Road, which, heads northwest out of Marlin and ends at the intersection at Rocky Hill.44

Some time before the 1880 U.S. Census was taken, James moved his family to Bell County, Texas. On this Census Record, dated June 5, 1880, James’ age is recorded as 50 years; Sarah, as 34 years; Mary, as 12 years; Amos, as 9 years, and Annie E., as 6 years old.9, 38 At that time James’ occupation was listed as “Machinist.” Sarah is listed as “Keeping House.” Mary and Amos are listed as “at school.” This census indicates that they were living in Precinct 6 at the time.9 While in Bell County, James and Sarah had two more children - Sally Lee, born February 24, 1881 and George Monroe, born January 13, 1884. 38, 45, 46

James and Sarah’s marriage ended after almost 20 years, when Sarah died on June 24, 1885.38 The cause of her death is unknown. After Sarah’s death, it is still believed that Mary helped take care of the younger children for a while as she was not married until September 12, 1886, over a year after Sarah died.38 James ended up taking both Sally and George to live with Sarah’s brother Augustus (aka Uncle Gus) Stahl.1, 46 From then until 1897, not much is known about James.2 His youngest daughter Sally died about 1891. Her cause of death is unknown.38 George remained with Uncle Gus and his family until he reached adulthood.1, 46

As mentioned earlier, with the exception of a very few counties, the 1890 Texas Federal Census Schedules were destroyed by fire.10 However, according to James’ Confederate Pension Application and the surviving letter he received from his first wife, Lydia, he lived in Falls County during this period of time.2, 7　

James’ Later Years

As previously mentioned, in his later years, James corresponded with his first wife, Lydia, until around the time of her death in 1899. 1, 2, 26, 47 The envelope of the surviving letter, postmarked October 2, 1897, is addressed to James Grimshaw, McClanahan, Texas, indicating that he was living in or near this town, just a few miles east of Marlin, at the time.2, 44 According to her death certificate, Lydia died of consumption on December 4, 1899, at the age of 82 years, 8 months.26, 47 As previously mentioned, she, along with their son Frank and his wife, are buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in New Bedford, Massachusetts.26

On July 5, 1899, James applied for a Confederate soldier pension offered by the State of Texas.7 At the time he indicated that he was a current resident of Falls County and indicated that he had lived there for 38 years. He was 70 years old at the time and listed his physical condition as “Broken down.” His physical condition was such that he was unable to support himself because he suffered from “old age and chronic diarrhea.” He listed his real and personal property as “one pony and buggy and a few tools all of which is worth not over one hundred dollars.” He claimed to have no means of income and to be in “indigent circumstances,” defined on the application as “in actual want, and destitute of property and means of subsistence.”7

Three men signed an Affidavit of Witness that James had “enlisted in the service of the Confederacy, and performed the duties of a soldier” and that he was “unable to support himself by labor of any sort.” An “Affidavit of Physician” indicated that James suffered from “general disability from old age and chronic diarrhea.” His application was certified by the Falls County Commissioners and Falls County Judge and was approved by the State Comptroller for a pension on September 28, 1899.7

At some point in his later years, James lived with his daughter Annie and her family in Marlin, Texas. His name is listed with theirs on the 1900 Federal Census.11 His occupation is listed as “Stationary Engineer.” On the left edge of the page it indicates that they lived on Capps Street. 11

Sometime after the 1900 Census, James is still believed to have moved to Huckabay, Texas, in Erath County, and lived with his son, Amos, and his family, where he remained until his death on September 25, 1903.1 His cause of is believed to be consumption.1 He is still believed to be buried in the Liberty Cemetery in Erath County, though no record of his burial there has been found.1, 48

James’ grandchildren Sarah Johnson, Allie Carruth and George Olan Grimshaw are the last known descendants to find and visit his grave site, sometime in the 1960’s.49 As previously mentioned, James’ grandson George Olan Grimshaw described James’ grave as being located in the Liberty Cemetery near a shade tree and marked by a rock.1, 49

In April 2001, my dad, George Noel; my son, George Elliot; and I visited the Liberty Cemetery and tried to find James’ gravesite, but were unable to do so. There is no longer a tree there and several of the graves are no longer marked, although efforts have been made by a local Cemetery Transcription Project to identify the people buried there.48, 49 Some of his descendants, think he may have been buried in the Exray Cemetery which is close by, though no records of his burial have been found there either.50, 51, 52

In the late 1990’s, James’ great-grandson, Jay Grimshaw of Desdemona, Texas contacted an organization that provides tombstones for Confederate Veterans and had a marble marker made for James. Jay found a place in the Exray Cemetery, in Erath County, Texas, and had James’ tombstone placed near a large shade tree.1, 50, 51 This monument serves as a fitting tribute to James who lives on the hearts and lives of his descendants.50, 51 During a Grimshaw family Reunion in DeLeon, Texas, on July 3, 2004, Jay took several family members to visit this site in honor of James.53

After James’ death, his son Amos had possession of his toolbox and tools. After Amos’ death, his son George Olan took possession of them and salvaged the surviving letter written to James from Lydia in 1897.1, 2 After George’s death James’ possessions were divided between his son’s Charles, George Noel, and Thad. Currently James’ toolbox and some of the tools it contained are in the possession of George Noel and James’ anvil and a few tools are in the possession of Charles’ son Boyd. George Noel also currently has possession of the letter. Thad is currently in possession of one of James’ straight-edge razor’s. 1, 2　

Concluding Thoughts

A family story about an ancestor preserved and passed down by word of mouth from one generation to another, sparked an interest leading to over 38 years of research by several family members regarding the life of James Grimshaw. Many records have been discovered that confirm the story passed down, such as the James’ date of birth and life, family, and occupation in New Bedford, Massachusetts, as well as his life, family and occupation in Texas.

Some of these records provide differing and new information, such as James’ place of birth, date and place of marriage to Lydia, date and place of birth, marriage, and death of their son Frank and his daughter Myra. This, in turn, led to the discovery of James’ descendants in Maine a discovery which has led to warm and lasting family relationships. Other records document James’ service in the Confederate Army. Some records may provide links to more information about James, such as who his parents were and where they originated, who his siblings were, and whether he built the first sewing machine. Other records are yet to be discovered.

Combined, the information we have culminates in just a few pages covering the life span of this intriguing man. It is quite evident that James led a very active and full life. For a man in his day, he did quite a bit of traveling and experienced many different things. Right or wrong, James appears to have been a man of his word, believing a man should “pull his own weight”. In a time of crisis he went to the aid of his country and fought for what it stood for. As a family man, he is somewhat of an enigma, leaving his first family and then after the death of his second wife, leaving his two youngest children to live with his brother-in-law and his family. Although in the second case, he may have been unable to care for two young children. In his later years, he lived in the homes of at least two of his children in Texas and corresponded by mail with his first wife, indicating that despite his failures, he was a family man at heart.

The period of time in which James lived is also very interesting. Our country was young and becoming established, when issues between the north and south eventually perpetuated it into a war between its States. For James to be born and raised in the North and then relocate to Texas and fight for the Confederacy in the cavalry during this time adds to his mystique. Did he leave the north because he sympathized with the South? Or, was he defending a new way of life he adopted after arriving in Texas? Or, was it something else?

Why he did what he did, we may never know. Like each of us, he was human and had his strengths and frailties, which continually showed themselves throughout his life, leading to fond memories and feelings for some, and for others some not so fond memories and feelings of him based on the information passed down through his descendants over the years. Research still continues on James’ life and as more is learned it will be added to his biography.

List of Sources

1 George Olan Grimshaw, Oral Family History [As told to him by his father Amos Grimshaw and as told by George to his children and grandchildren on various occasions throughout his lifetime (1909-1979).]

2 Lydia R.Grimshaw, letter to James Grimshaw, 23 March 1897. [The envelope is addressed to James Grimshaw, McClanahan, Texas. It is postmarked October 2, 1897, New York, New York. It bears a 2-Cent stamp. The original handwritten letter is in the possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

3 George Noel Grimshaw, first phone conversation with Doris Tilton, 17 September 1978. [After he and Thad Grimshaw traced James descendants through Frank down to Doris, George called her to verify her relation to Frank. Doris was amazed at the amount of information that he had on the Grimshaw's. She said she had not done any research on the Grimshaw’s as she thought James was lost at sea. George sent her some family records so she could verify the information he had and fill in the blanks as well as update her own records. She did so and sent them back in a letter dated October 1, 1978, along with a copy, in her own handwriting, of all of the handwritten data from the Bibles of both James’ and Lydia and Frank and Lillie Grimshaw.]

4 Doris Tilton, letter to George Noel Grimshaw, 1 October 1978. [Along with this letter, Doris sent a copy, in her own handwriting, of all the handwritten vital statistic data from the Bibles of both James’ and Lydia and Frank and Lillie Grimshaw. The original letter is in the possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

5 Massachusetts, State Department of Public Health, Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, No. 74463, Copy of Record of Marriage, 24 August 1977. [Marriage of James Grimshaw to Lydia R. Allen on 7 October 1851. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California]

6 Texas, Texas State Archives, Waller’s Reg’t, Cavalry, Company Muster Roll 23 April to 1 August, 1862. [Documents James’ enrollment in the Confederate Army at Marlin, Texas, on 14 April 1862 and his muster into service at Hempstead, Texas on 23 April 1862. Found by Boyd Grimshaw, Pleasanton, Texas, in the late 1970’s. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

7 Texas, Texas State Archives, Confederate Pension Application, 28 September 1899. [Submitted by James Grimshaw on 5 July 1899. Found by Boyd Grimshaw, Pleasanton, Texas in the late 1970’s. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

8 United States, Census Bureau, 1870 United States Federal Census, Precinct No. 5, County of Falls, State of Texas, Post Office: Rockdam, 13 March 1871, viewed on 2 January 2005 < http://www.grimshaworigin.org/WebPages/1870Census.htm>. [James’ age shown as 41 years on this census. This information was found on the Grimshaw Origins and History Website. Copy of actual record in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

9 United States, Census Bureau, 1880 United States Census. Justice Precinct No. 6, County of Bell, State of Texas, 5 June 1880, viewed on 1 January 2005. < http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/tx/bell/census/1880/06-08.gif>. [James listed his age as 50 on this census. I first found and viewed this Census Record in the early 1970’s at the LDS library in Los Angeles, California. Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

10 CensusFinder, Texas Census Records, Page 3, viewed on 30 December 2007. <http://www.censusfinder.com/texas3.htm>. [A note on this web site reads, “1890 Texas Federal Census Schedules were destroyed by fire with the exception of a small fragment of Ellis County, Hood County, Rusk County and Kaufman County.”]

11 United States, Census Bureau, 1900 United States Census, Marlin, County of Falls, State of Texas, 7 June 1900, viewed on 1 January 2005 <http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=1900usfedcen%2c&gsfn=James&gsln=Grimshaw&sx=&year=1829&yearend=1903&gskw=&gsco=2%2cUnited+States&gspl=1%2cAll+States&prox=0&rank=0&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs&submit.x=57&submit.y=17&fh=10>. [Found on Ancestry.Com. Image source: Year: 1900; Census Place: Marlin, Falls, Texas; Roll: T623 1632; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 16. Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

12 Massachusetts, New Bedford, Certificate of Death Record, 30 July 1982. [Record of Frank Grimshaw’s death Original date of record is 25 March 1918. Frank’s date of death is shown as 22 March 1918. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

13 United States, Census Bureau, 1850 United States Census, 1st Ward, Providence City, County of Providence, State of Rhode Island, 21 August 1850, viewed on 9 January 2005. <http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=1850usfedcenancestry&h=12440284&o_iid=012084&o_lid=012084&o_it=012084&sourcecode=12084&gss=angs>.[James E. Grimshaw, age 21, born in Connecticut, occupation - machinist, is listed along with Mary Hargraves, age 59, head of household, George Grimshaw age 34, and Henry Grimshaw, age 6. Possible match for James Grimshaw and his mother Mary. Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

14 Thad J. Grimshaw, E-mail, Subject: Re: Interesting Census Info. on James Grimshaw, 11 January 2005. [In response to Source 13 above, Thad sent the following information: “1) I have a Mrs. Mary Grimshaw that married William Hargraves in Lowell, Mass on 06-04-1831. 2) James Hargraves Grimhaw son of Amos & Mary Grimshaw was baptized in 1833 in Lowell, Mass. 3) George Grimshaw worked in New England Screw Company, Providence, RI as an machinist in 1860. 4) Charles Grimshaw son of George and Ann Grimshaw was born on 04-25-1844 in Providence. 5) Henry Grimshaw died on 08-12-1892 (age 72) in Worchester, Mass. He was a tool fixer. His parents were Henry & Mary Ashworth Grimshaw. It does not list the place of birth. 6) Henry, Thomas, & Amos all lived in Lowell, Mass at the same time (1833-38). I did not find any birth or death records for the Grimshaw in Lowell. They were all members of the St. Anne Episcopal Church in Lowell.” Possible match for James Grimshaw and his parents. Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

15 Donna Slicer, E-mail, Subject: James, 11 January 2005. [Donna sent the following information: “I did find a notation she (Doris Tilton) made concerning a letter she received from Lowell Mass. Records. “Grimshaw, James Hargraves b. 1829, July 4. Son of Amos and Mary Grimshaw, bp. Sept. 28, 1833, St. Anne’s Church, Lowell, Mass.”” Possible match for James Grimshaw. Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

16 Massachusetts, Massachusetts Town Marriage Records, Vital Records of Taunton, viewed on Ancestry .com, 27 November 2005. [Full Text: “Hargraves, William and Mrs. Mary Grunshaw [int. Grimshaw, omits Mrs.], and William Hargraves, both of T., June 4, 1831. Possible match for James’ parents. Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

17 United States, Census Bureau, 1860 United States Census, 6th Ward, Providence City, County of Providence, State of Rhode Island August 1860, viewed on 7 December 2005. <http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?gsfn=Mary&gsln=Hargraves&sx=&f23=RI&f3=Providence&f4=Providence&f10=&f13=&prox=1&db=1860usfedcenancestry&ti=0&ti.si=0&gss=angs&submit.x=35&submit.y=5&indiv=1&fh=0>. [Mary Hargraves, age 68. Born in England. Living in the household of Clark Tillinghast and his family. Possible match for James’ mother. Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

18 Rhode Island, Rhode Island Deaths, 1630-1930, Rhode Island Vital Records, viewed on Ancestry .com, 27 November 2005. [Mary Hargraves. Death date: 24 August 1860. 68 Years. Relation: wid., d. Kin 1: Thomas Greenwood. Kin 2: - Bagnall. It is interesting that she lists a Greenwood as next of kin. Greenwood is the middle name of James’ Lydia’s son Frank Grimshaw. Possible match for James’ mother. Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

19 George Noel Grimshaw, Notes, n.d. [While visiting Mac and Doris Tilton in the early 1980’s, Doris showed George the following note: “S.B.P. belonged to a brother (Mercer) of my great-G.F, James Grimshaw, who left it with my great-G.M. Grimshaw when he went on a journey, never being heard from afterward” S. B. P. stands for Steel Bead Purse. G.F. stands for grandfather and G.M stands for grandmother. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

20 Henry Howland Crapo, The New Bedford Directory, New Bedford: Tabor, 1849, viewed on 05 January 2008 <http://books.google.com/books?id=4P0BAAAAYAAJ&dq=editions:07agljihpBRUmz>. [No listing for either James or Lydia. Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

21 Henry Howland Crapo, The New Bedford Directory, New Bedford: Tabor, 1852, viewed on 05 January 2008 <http://books.google.com/books?id=OPgBAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA101&lpg=PA101&dq=james+grimshaw+machinist&source=web&ots=Wlb-5zac7J&sig=rH_hXyt8Nq-2YWRJjsJ_xOh_K1o>. [Lists: “Grimshaw, James, machinist, works N.B. Cordage factory, house 10 Chancery.” Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

22 George Noel Grimshaw, Notes. n.d. [James is listed in the New Bedford Directory as a machinist employed by the N.B. Cordage Factory in 1852 and 1855. In 1852, he is listed as living at 10 Chancery and in 1855 at 55 Smith St. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

23 New Bedford Whaling Museum, Kendall Institute, From Dartmouth to New Bedford, Old Dartmouth to New Bedford, New Bedford Cordage Factory, n.d., viewed on 2 January 2005. < http://www.whalingmuseum.org/kendall/old_nb/old_nb_index.html>. [“The New Bedford Cordage Company, founded in 1842 to furnish all kinds of rope and line to the whale fishery, actually expanded with the explosion of new industries and the many new demands for cordage.” Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

24 “History of the New Bedford Cordage Company,” n.d., viewed on 2 January 2005 <http://www.mysticseaport.org/library/manuscripts/coll/coll075/coll075.html#headd46304320>. [The New Bedford Cordage Company was founded in 1842. It manufactured whale line and other marine cordage. Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

25 “Elias Howe,” Scientific American Online, viewed on 29 December 2007. <http://www.history.rochester.edu/Scientific_American/mystery/howe.htm>. [Short article about Elias Howe. Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

26 Thad J. Grimshaw, Letter from the Genealogy Room, Free Public Library, City of New Bedford, Massachusetts, 11 August 1978. [In reply to Thad’s request for an obituary notice for Lydia R. Grimshaw, this letter states that “She appears in the 1871-72 New Bedford Directory as the widow of James, 55 Smith St.” It is also stated that Lydia’s age at death was 82 years, 8 months and that she is buried in the Oak Grove Cemetery in New Bedford. Copy in possession of Thad J. Grimshaw, Durham, North Carolina.]

27 Thad J. Grimshaw, E-mail Subject: Howe Sewing Machine, 18 September 2004. [Contains a short article titled: “Biography of Elias Howe.” Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

28 Henry Howland Crapo, The New Bedford Directory, New Bedford: Tabor, 1859, viewed on 05 January 2008 <http://books.google.com/books?id=SvQBAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:07agljihpBRUmz>. [No listing for James but a Lydia Allen is listed. Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

29 George Noel Grimshaw, Notes, n.d. [Lydia is listed as a widow in the New Bedford Directory of 1877and 1878, and 1879. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

30 Stephen Chicoine, The Confederates of Chappell Hill Texas: Prosperity, Civil War and Decline. (Jefferson: MacFarland & Co., 2004) pages 41-44, viewed on 31 December 2007 <http://books.google.com/books?id=3WnItnaoL2MC&pg=PA42&lpg=PA37&output=html&sig=WPaUZaEnDGDHvVtobn9URBG0D0U>. [The name “Lt. Colonel Edwin Waller, Jr.” appears as does “Waller’s Thirteenth Cavalry Battalion.” An account of the battle at Bonne Carre, which James Grimshaw fought, is provided. Copy of pages 41-44 in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

31 Texas, Texas State Archives, Waller’s Reg’t, Cavalry, Company Muster-in Roll. 30 June 1862. [Found by Boyd Grimshaw, Pleasanton, Texas, in the late 1970’s. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

32 Texas, Texas State Archives, Waller’s Reg’t, Cavalry, Copy of Company Muster Roll, 6 August through 1 November 1862. [Found by Boyd Grimshaw, Pleasanton, Texas, in the late 1970’s. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

33 Texas, Texas State Archives, Waller’s Reg’t, Cavalry, List of men, of the organization named above, who lost their horses, equipment and arms in the skirmish at Bonnet Carre, La., Sept. 7, 1862,” n.d. [Found by Boyd Grimshaw, Pleasanton, Texas, in the late 1970’s. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

34 Handbook of Texas Online, s.v. viewed on 2 January 2008. <http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/WW/fwa38.html>. [Short biography on Edwin Waller Jr. "s.v." stands for sub verbo, "under the word." Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

35 Texas, Texas State Archives, Waller’s Reg’t, Cavalry, Company Muster Roll. January and February 1864. [Found by Boyd Grimshaw, Pleasanton, Texas, in the late 1970’s. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

36 Linda Mearse, Confederate Indigent Families Lists of Texas 1863-1865, viewed on 3 January 2008<http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/arc/cif/chcounty.html>. [James Grimshaw of Falls County listed. Copy of James’ listing in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

37 Texas, Falls County, Marriage license and certificate, 15 December 1864. [Marriage of James Grimshaw to Sarah J. Stahl. Date of marriage, 12 December 1864. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

38 George Noel Grimshaw, Family Record, n.d. [James and Sarah Grimshaw’s family birth, marriage, and death Records. Thought to have belonged to Sarah Arilla Grimshaw Johnson (aka Sister) of DeLeon, Texas. Certified birth records did not exist at the time. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

39 Thad J. Grimshaw. Family Tree Maker File. Imported 27 December 2004. [This file contains family data researched and input by Thad.]

40 Texas, Texas State Archives, Waller’s Reg’t, Cavalry, Company Muster Roll, 23 April to 1 August, 1862. [Documents Augustus his muster-in at Camp Waller, Hempstead, Texas, as a Private on April 23, 1862, by E. Waller Jr. Augustus’ age is shown as 19 years. Found by George Noel Grimshaw in the early 1980’s. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

41 Texas, Texas State Archives, Waller’s Reg’t, Cavalry, Company Muster-in Roll, 30 June 1862. [Documents Augustus’ presence on the muster roll. Found by George Noel Grimshaw in the early 1980’s. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

42 Texas, Texas State Archives, Waller’s Reg’t, Cavalry, Company Muster Roll. 1 August through 1 November 1862. [Documents Augustus presence on the muster roll. Found by George Noel Grimshaw in the early 1980’s. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

43 Texas, Texas State Archives, Waller’s Reg’t, Cavalry, Company Muster Roll. January and February 1864. [Documents Augustus' presence on the muster roll. Found by George Noel Grimshaw in the early 1980’s. Copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

44 Marlin, map, viewed on 9 October 2006. <http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl>.

45 United States, Registration Record, 12 September 1918, viewed on 16 January 2005 Ancestry .com. [World War I Registration Record of George Monroe Grimshaw. Birth date shown as January 13, 1884. Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

46 Bobbye Lee Wade, notes from visit 5 October 2006. [Copy in possession of George Howard Grimshaw, California City, California.]

47 Massachusetts, Secretary of the Commonwealth, Division of Vital Statistics, Copy of Record of Death, No. 80209, 29 March 1974. [Lydia R. Grimshaw’s record of death. Date of original record is dated December 7, 1899. Lydia’s date of death is shown as December 4, 1899. Certified copy in possession of George Noel Grimshaw, California City, California.]

48 Texas, Erath County, The Cemetery Transcription Project, Liberty Cemetery. viewed on 29 December 2007 <http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tx/erath/cemeteries/libertcem.txt >.

49 George Noel Grimshaw, visit to Liberty Cemetery, April 2001. [George Noel. George Howard and George Elliot visited the Liberty Cemetery and tried to find James’ gravesite, but were unable to do so. According to George Noel his dad, George Olan, and his sisters Sarah and Allie are the last known descendants to find and visit James’ gravesite sometime in the 1960’s. Some time after their visit George Olan told George Noel that James’ grave is located in the Liberty Cemetery near a shade tree and marked by a rock. There is no longer a tree there and several of the graves are no longer marked.]

50 Jay R. Grimshaw, letter, c. May 1999 [Includes a picture of the marble marker he had placed in the Exray, Cemetery in Erath County, Texas, along with a picture of the marker, a poem about James, and directions to the cemetery.]

51 Jay R. Grimshaw, visit in April 2001. [As told to George Noel, George Howard. and George Elliot by Jay during a visit to his home in April 2001.]

52 Texas, Erath County, The Cemetery Transcription Project, Exray Cemetery, viewed on 29 December 2007. <http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tx/erath/cemeteries/exray02.txt>. [Transcription documented as “Grimshaw James 4 July 1829 29 Sep 1903 Co B Texas Cav CSA.”]

53 Grimshaw Family Reunion, June 2003. [Several of James’ descendants of Grimshaw visited his tombstone in the Exray Cemetery.]

A descendant chart for James Grimshaw is shown in Figure 1. He apparently had six children – one by his first wife and five (three girls and two boys) by his second wife. His oldest son (second child), Amos, bought a farm in Young County on which oil was subsequently discovered. A conjecture on the English origins of James Grimshaw is provided further down on this webpage.

William Grimshaw (1808 - ) & Mary (?) Grimshaw (1810 - )

|---2 James Grimshaw* (4 Jul 1829 - 25 Sep 1903) & Lydia Bosworth Allen (16 Mar 1817 - 4 Dec 1889)

|---|---3 Frank Greenwood Grimshaw (7 Mar 1853 - 22 Mar 1918) & Lillie A. Pond (21 Apr 1857 - 2 Sep 1925)

|---|---|---4 Myra Harriet Grimshaw Clark (25 Sep 1881 - 12 Jan 1951) & George Alton Clark (11 Apr 1881 - 6 Aug 1925)

|---|---|---|---6 Doris Arline Clark Tilton (4 Nov 1912 - ) & Malcom Tilton (29 Apr 1913 - )

|---|---|---|---6 Raymond Alton Clark (1906 - )

|---2 James Grimshaw* (4 Jul 1829 - 25 Sep 1903) & Sarah Julius Stahl (26 Oct 1845 - 24 Jun 1885)

|---|---3 Mary Catherine (Mollie) Grimshaw* (22 Oct 1867 - 15 Jan 1951) & John Eli Amason ( - 13 Mar 1916)

|---|---3 Mary Catherine (Mollie) Grimshaw* (22 Oct 1867 - 15 Jan 1951) & Sam Young ( - 12 Dec 1934)

|---|---3 Amos Grimshaw (12 Aug 1870 - 22 Mar 1943) & Zona Francis Jolly (7 Apr 1875 - 13 May 1963)

|---|---|---4 Sarah Arilla Grimshaw (23 Sep 1893 - 1 Aug 1986) & Henry W. Johnson (18 Feb 1890 - 2 Apr 1979)

|---|---|---|---5 Henry Roy Johnson (23 Sep 1913 - ) & Esta Lee (About 1915 - )

|---|---|---|---5 Lola Marie Johnson (28 Aug 1915 - 2 Apr 1974) & Red Smith (About 1912 - About 1977)

|---|---|---4 Frankie Grimshaw (2 Feb 1896 - 2 Aug 1899)

|---|---|---4 Fitzhugh Lee Grimshaw (2 May 1898 - )

|---|---|---4 Allie V. Grimshaw (13 Dec 1899 - 7 Jul 1992) & William Tullie "Willie" Carruth (11 Sep 1896 - 8 Jul 1992)

|---|---|---|---5 Frances Carruth (30 Mar 1922 - ) & Joe Morgan (30 Oct 1920 - )

|---|---|---|---5 Billy Carruth (25 Mar 1924 - ) & June ? (About 1926 - )

|---|---|---|---5 Evelyn Carruth (19 Jan 1931 - ) & Billy Hare (About 1930 - )

|---|---|---4 Violet Elizabeth (Tot) Grimshaw (13 Oct 1901 - 21 Dec 1973) & Silas Gilmore Bridges (8 Jun 1883 - Aug 1955)

|---|---|---|---5 Silas Gilmore (Jr.) Bridges (26 Jun 1931 - )

|---|---|---|---5 Sue Bridges (16 Sep 1932 - ) & Marvin J. Tucker (19 Jun 1935 - )

|---|---|---|---5 Robert Amos Bridges* (16 Dec 1934 - )

|---|---|---|---5 Robert Amos Bridges* (16 Dec 1934 - ) & Bernadean ?

|---|---|---4 James Julius Grimshaw* (14 Dec 1903 - ) & Nona Rogers (11 Feb 1904 - 27 Oct 1992)

|---|---|---|---5 Nell Grimshaw (16 Feb 1931 - ) & Elwood Clarence Ragland (23 Oct 1928 - )

|---|---|---|---5 Jay Roger Grimshaw (22 Nov 1937 - ) & Helen Lewis (8 Dec 1941 - )

|---|---|---|---5 Carmon "Gene" Grimshaw (5 Oct 1944 - ) & Marilyn Bostick (10 Aug 1950 - )

|---|---|---4 James Julius Grimshaw* (14 Dec 1903 - ) & Gladys Simpson (About 1905 - )

|---|---|---4 Robert Julian Grimshaw (14 Dec 1903 - 20 Aug 1930) & Odel Mattox (About 1905 - )

|---|---|---|---5 Bobby Grimshaw (30 May 1925 - About 1973) & June ? 15 Apr 1927 - )

|---|---|---|---5 Dorothy Grimshaw Fly (About 1927 - About 1991)

|---|---|---4 George Olan Grimshaw (14 Feb 1909 - 12 Nov 1980) & Vida Mae Bynum (17 Sep 1912 - )

|---|---|---|---5 Charles Weldon Grimshaw (14 Aug 1929 - 4 Jan 1997) & Nina Jo Hale (15 Sep 1927 - )

|---|---|---|---5 George Noel Grimshaw (11 Jan 1933 - ) & Patrica Howard (16 Sep 1935 - )

|---|---|---|---5 Thaddeus Julian Grimshaw (23 Jun 1937 - ) & Cecilia Watson (13 Jul 1944 - )

|---|---|---|---5 Teresa Mayada Grimshaw* (10 Oct 1942 - 27 Aug 1974) & George Carl Key (23 Jun 1937 - )

|---|---|---|---5Teresa Mayada Grimshaw* (10 Oct 1942 - 27 Aug 1974) & Jerry Van Orden (About 1936 - )

|---|---|---4 Baby brother Grimshaw (15 Jan 1910 - 1910)

|---|---|---4 Emma Mae Grimshaw (26 Aug 1911 - ) & Dee Sadler (About 1912 - 25 Mar 1996)

|---|---|---|---5 Patricia Ann Sadler (About 1944 - ) ? Smith

|---|---3 Annie Elizabeth (Lizzie) Grimshaw (3 May 1874 - 21 Mar 1904) & Louis Jackson Owen (1876 - About 1925)

|---|---|---4 Lillian Caroline Owen (1 Mar 1898 - 2 Aug 1976)

|---|---|---4 Jeffie Louise Owen (1 Nov 1901 - 7 Dec 1979) & Eugene C. Golden (About 1900 - )

|---|---3 Sally Lee Grimshaw (24 Feb 1881 - 1891)

|---|---3 George Monroe Grimshaw (13 Jan 1884 - 13 Jun 1979) & Donna Marsh (7 Jan 1885 - 6 Mar 1974)

|---|---|---4 Faye Grimshaw (12 Nov 1909 - 14 Oct 1993) & Robert Herndon Jr. Rogers (30 Jun 1908 - 9 Mar 1997)

|---|---|---|---5 Bobbye Lea Rogers (30 Sep 1933 - ) & George Melvin Wade (5 Aug 1930 - 7 Feb 1990)

George H Grimshaw has provided a number of photos of James Grimshaw and his two families. They are presented below.

James Grimshaw and First Family

Two additional photos of James Grimshaw.

Lydia (Bosworth) Allen Grimshaw, first wife of James Grimshaw.

Frank Greenwood Grimshaw, son of James and Lydia Grimshaw.

Second Family of James Grimshaw

Sarah Julius (Stahl) Grimshaw, second wife of James Grimshaw.

Mary Catherine (Grimshaw) Amason Young, oldest child of James and Sarah Grimshaw (another photo appears with Amos and Zona Grimshaw in next section).

Amos and Zona (Jolley) Grimshaw; Amos was the second child of James and Sarah Grimshaw.

Louis Jackson ("Bud") and Annie Elizabeth (Lizzie) (Grimshaw) Owen; Annie was the third child of James and Sarah Grimshaw.

George Monroe and Donna (Marsh) Grimshaw; George was the fifth child of James and Sarah Grimshaw.

A photograph of Amos and Zona (Jolley) Grimshaw, taken about 1940 (about three years before Amos' death) is shown in Figures 2a and 2b (repeat of photo in previous section). A photo of Zona and her children, taken in about 1943 (about a year after the death of Amos) is presented in Figure 3.

A brief but very interesting biography describing life in Texas and eastern New Mexico in the early part of the twentieth century was prepared by James Julius, son of Amos and grandson of James Grimshaw. The biography also records excellent details of the Grimshaw family history in Texas, including involvement in oil discovery and development. Excerpts from James' biography are presented below; the complete version is given after the References at the end of this webpage.

An obituary for James J Grimshaw appeared in 2000 and is shown below (from a companion webpage).

The life and times of the early Grimshaws in Texas may be best appreciated in the context of the history of Young County. An extract from a brief history of the county¹, covering the period of interest in the early 1900s, is shown below:

A brief historical account² of the early towns in Young County is given below:

Towns of the early days may have vanished, but there are modern ones whose life was shorter and whose departure was even more sudden and just as complete. Today their existence might not be believed except that oil boom towns left legal records.

Towns came into life when someone struck a pool of oil and were noticed chiefly by dumping of lumber and a row of shacks. Cluskey City had a population of five hundred two weeks after it had its name, and ten months later it was being plowed under for winter wheat. Harding and Lake City were also platted as towns along the Brazos when oil blew over derricks in 1921-1922. At the time oil was $2.50 a barrel and companies paid bonuses for material on location. Trucks strained over the deep sand of the river country where straw had been dumped to make passage possible, Harding and Lake City lived more than two years, but with production established the boom was over and they were no more. Oil City was recorded as a town on October 18, 1921, and probably no town in Texas ever rose so quickly to so big a bubble. Fifteen miles south of Graham the town sprang up and became a place of fifteen hundred within a few weeks, with city lots selling for $1000; Farther down on the river was Herron City, a long row of lively shacks where out-of-town reporters told of dice games held on the streets on Sunday afternoon and of its lovely Lady Godiva, sans her horse and long hair. A few dignified derricks are still left rearing their black crowns above the river near the site of the departed towns.

As noted above in James Julius Grimshaw's biography, Amos Grimshaw bought a 300-acre farm about 9 miles south of Graham in Young County in 1909. After living on the farm in a typical early 1900s rural setting for about five years, the family left Young County for Comanche County. Amos "wasn't able to sell the Young Co. place because it was too dry." This proved providential for the family, because, in the words of Julius –

About 1919, they struck oil on the farm in Young Co. Dad had 18 wells on his place at one time. A town sprang up that came to be known as Oil City. There was already a post office in Texas named Oil City, so they registered the post office in Young Co. as Grimshaw.

George Grimshaw has begun an excellent collection of information on Oil City/Grimshaw, which can be viewed by clicking here. Included in the document are photos of the community and of Amos and Zona Grimshaw while in the community, which are provided below.

Oil City in the Early 1920s

Amos and Zona Grimshaw while at Grimshaw/Oil City (Zona on left, Amos on right, middle two unknown)

The history of Oil City is described as follows by the Handbook of Texas Online³:

OIL CITY, TEXAS (Young County). Oil City, also known as Grimshaw, was ten miles south of Graham in southeastern Young County. It was built during the beginning of the county's oil industry and was originally named for Amos Grimshaw, on whose land oil was discovered. Although the discovery well was brought in in 1917, the settlement did not boom until the 1920s. In October 1921 Oil City was recorded as a town; it had a population of 1,500 within a few weeks. Its city lots were selling for $1,000. By 1925 only 200 residents remained there, and by 1927, none. The community had a post office, called Grimshaw, from 1922 to 1925. Henry Schlittler, Sr., transported both mail and passengers over roads occasionally made nearly impassable during heavy rains. After the town's demise a few oil derricks were left to mark the site.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Carrie J. Crouch, Young County: History and Biography (Dallas: Dealey and Love, 1937; rev. ed., A History of Young County, Texas, Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1956). Young County Federation of Women's Clubs, Scrapbook of Young County (Graham, Texas?, 194-?).

Jeanne F. Lively

Another historical description is provided online at the following website. The description is provided below the website address.

http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/tx/young/community/grimshaw.txt 

Young Co., TX - Communities - Grimshaw, Texas

***********************************************
This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
Archives by: Dorman Holub <txarchives@mac.com>
Young County Historical Commission
Dorman Holub, Chairman

Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm
***********************************************

Grimshaw, Texas

Grimshaw was located a few miles northwest of Bunger 
between R.J. Dowell Survey Abstract No. 2215 and 
A.J. Driver Survey Abstract No. 1980. THe town was 
named for landowner, Amos Grimshaw.

The oil boom town sprang up when oil was discovered 
on the land by the fall of 1917 in a test well. The 
oil boom in Young County began in South Bend in 1917
and the resources of the drillers centered in that 
area until the move began. 

County records seem to indicate that Grimshaw began 
booming by 1919 when progression of oil drilling seemed 
to move east. Amos Grimshaw platted the town in 1920 and 
due to the oil wells, the town would change their name 
to "Oil City." Young County records show a plat for 
Oil City in October 1921. Lots sold in the town for a record $1,000 each.

By 1922, County records show an estimated population of 
1,500. The town had drug stores, post office, hotels, 
mercantile houses, theatre, newspaper, and one church building.

With three disastrous fires in 1922 and 1923 and the 
production of oil, the town did not exist in 1927.

The post office was located at Grimshaw from 1922 to 1925 
according to Federal records and Henry Schlittler, Sr. 
carried the mail from Graham to Grimshaw as a rural carrier.

Nothing remains at the site of Grimshaw or Oil City today.

Thanks go to Dorman Holub for making this information available on the internet.

The location of Oil City south of Graham⁴ is shown in Figure 4. The large meander loops of the Brazos River in the area are also clearly shown. Figure 5 presents a photo of a road sign at the former Oil City (Grimshaw) location.

Figure 4. Map⁴ of a portion of southern Young County, Texas showing the town of Graham and the communities of Bunger and Mountain Home about 10 miles to the south. Oil City (Grimshaw) was formerly at the intersection (indicated on the map by mileage 0.3) between Bunger and Mountain Home.

Figure 5. Road sign on FM 1287 showing Oil City Road, which heads west from the highway at the former Oil City location. Photo taken March 2001.

A U.S. Geological Survey topographic quadrangle map, published in 1931,⁵ clearly shows Oil City. A portion of the map, including the Brier Bend of the Brazos River, is presented in Figure 6a. The same area is shown in a GoogleEarth image in Figure 6b.

Figure 6a. U.S. Geological Survey quadrangle map⁵ showing Oil City as of about 1925. Note the meander of the Brazos River, Brier Bend, which can also be seen in Figure 2.

Figure 6b. GoogleEarth image showing the area around Oil City; the specific location is within the white rectangle.

Recent research at the Railroad Commission of Texas, the regulatory authority for oil exploration and production in Texas, has revealed several important aspects of the Oil City area that are depicted in Figure 5. An outline map showing the former boundaries of Oil City – on both sides of FM1287 – was located⁶, and two leases with the name of Grimshaw – A. Grimshaw and C. Grimshaw – were also found. The base map for Figure 7 is constructed from two U.S. Geological Survey topographic quadrangle maps^7,8

The C. Grimshaw lease is just west of the former Oil City location and has 20 acres. The A. Grimshaw lease consists of 37 acres and is about a quarter mile southwest of Oil City. Current records indicate the presence of three wells on the C. Grimshaw lease and six wells on the A. Grimshaw lease.

The locations of the two lease tracts with respect to Amos Grimshaw's original 300-acre farm are not known

Other maps on file at the Railroad Commission⁹ (Figure 8) indicate that the production was from the "Upper Strawn Sand Pool" in the "Old Oil City Field." The C. Grimshaw lease was in the best part of the field, whereas the A. Grimshaw lease was not.

Figure 8. Railroad Commission map⁹ showing oil wells and the Old Oil City Field in southern Young County, Texas. The producing wells are indicated by solid dots, and the non-producers are shown as open circles. The C. Grimshaw and A. Grimshaw lease locations are delineated with cross-hatched patterns. At the time this map was prepared the C. Grimshaw lease was in the producing part of the field, and the A. Grimshaw lease was apparently just on the edge of the field.

Oil is still being produced at and around Oil City, probably by what are known in the industry as "stripper wells." The pumping wells are powered by old-time "hit-and-miss" engines (mostly seen only at museums and hobbyists' fairs nowadays), so a visit to the site is akin to taking a step back in time. Figure 9 shows an active pumper on Oil City Road just west of the intersection with FM1287.

The Railroad Commission requires posting of information at or near leases with producing wells. Figure 10 shows the lease sign for the C. Grimshaw lease, currently operated by BB&D Exploration Inc.

The Oil City site, and surrounding oil field area, still has a lot of oil field junk and remains of the former community. Figure 11 shows a picture of an old wooden winch from an oil-well drill rig (undoubtedly a cable-tool machine.) Figure 12 shows a sign in an abandoned portable tool shed or trailer indicating a former company whose owners may have hoped for divine assistance!

Bullwheels as they appeared in 1966¹⁰. Courtesy of George Grimshaw, February 2008.

Figure 12. Were the owners of this company hopeful of divine guidance or intervention in their oil exploration ventures? Photo taken March 2001. The following e-mail (edited lightly) was received from Nancy Pettus in January 2007.

Thought you might like to know a little more about "Praise the Lord Drilling". Its founder, Tom Brightman, died about a month ago. The company flourished in the mid 70"s, making Tom a wealthy man. Tom punctuated every statement with "Praise the Lord". He was an expert "Oil Man" and a very decent fellow.

James Grimshaw apparently immigrated to America during a similar timeframe as the children and grandchildren of Riley Grimshaw (see companion webpage). It is conjectured (but not yet proven) that James was the oldest son of George and Mary (Melling) Grimshaw and, therefore, the older brother of Riley Grimshaw. The lines of evidence for this conjecture are summarized as follows:

1. The James Grimshaw who went to Texas is believed to have been the son of William and Mary Grimshaw, which is pretty close to George and Mary Grimshaw, Riley Grimshaw's parents.
2. The reported birth date of Riley's older brother, James, is 1825; the 1900 U.S. Census indicates that the Texas James was born in 1825.
3. The Texas James named his oldest son (second child) "Amos", a rather unusual name that was also used by Riley Grimshaw for his oldest son ("Amos James").
4. The Texas James named two of his other children Mary and George - the same names as the parents of Riley and his older brother, James. 
5. The Texas James did not use the name "William" for any of his children (nor does that name appear anywhere among his descendants), perhaps indicating that his father's name was George, not William. There are many "Georges" among the descendants.
6. The Texas James named three of his children the same as his hypothesized brother, Riley Grimshaw - George, Mary and Anne/Annie.
7. The Texas James was married in New Bedford, MA, and his first wife, Lydia, had a child who was born in Providence, RI; Amos James Grimshaw and other Riley Grimshaw descendants settled in Providence, indicating a common point of origin in America.
8. The Texas James Grimshaw apparently had a brother named George:  From the above biography of James, "according to George Olan Grimshaw, he was named after his uncle George (George Monroe Grimshaw), who was named after his uncle George, a brother of James." James and Riley Grimshaw had a younger brother, George, who was born in 1836.

A plausible theory is that James Grimshaw accompanied (or led?) the children and grandchildren of his brother Riley at the time they were emigrating to America. He married Lydia in Massachusetts but then left for Texas where he married a second time.

George Grimshaw prepared the following piece (apparently in 2007) hypothesizing that James Grimshaw was descended from Amos and Mary (Greenwood) Grunshaw; this family line is described on a companion webpage.)

A Possible Link of Our James Grimshaw to an Amos and Mary Grimshaw

Thad Grimshaw found the following message on GENFORUM.

“Mary Greenwood married Amos Grunshaw in the Lancashire area about 1820.We think they had two daughters Ann and Elizabeth. Ann's obit says that Amos and Mary came to America and settled in Rhode Island. Ann Married John Atkinson in 1831 at Taunton, Massachusetts. John was also from Lancashire. John and Ann later came to Wisconsin where they settled and died. I have a Great Grand Father Henry Grunshaw born 1845 in Pawtucket, Bristol, Rhode Island. I don't know where or how he fits with Amos and Mary. He is buried just a few lots away from Ann (Grunshaw) Atkinson. Nothing is known about the Grunshaw's or Greenwoods.”

Interestingly, it is possible that the Amos and Mary mentioned here could be our ancestor James Grimshaw’s parents.

1) “Greenwood” is the middle name James and Lydia Grimshaw gave their only son Frank. This is currently the only known possible family connection for this name.

2) “Mary” is the name listed as James’ mother on his Record of Marriage to Lydia.

3) Mary is the name that James and his second wife Sarah gave there oldest daughter.

4) “Amos” is the name that James and his second wife Sarah gave there oldest son.

5) “Annie Elizabeth” is the name James and Sarah gave their second daughter.

6) The date and place that Amos Grunshaw and Mary Greenwood were married fits well with what little we know of James’ parents.

7) 1870, 1880, and 1900 Census information shows James parents as being born in England.

What doesn’t seem to fit from the GENFORUM message above.

1) The name “Grunshaw.” Although, this could be explained as a misspelling, a variation in spelling, or the name could have been changed to “Grimshaw.”

2) The only record we have that mentions the name of James’ parents is his Record of Marriage to Lydia. There the name William is listed as his father’s name. It is possible that William could have been Mary’s second husband, and therefore James’ step dad.

3) There was no mention of James parents or whether he had any siblings other than possibly a brother named George in the family history passed down through James’ son Amos or through any of Amos’ children. According to George Olan Grimshaw, his father, Amos, told him he was named after his Uncle George who was named after his Uncle George.

4) We have no family history or record of our ancestor James being in Rhode Island, although we have records that he lived and worked in New Bedford, Massachusetts which is about 30 miles away from Providence, Rhode Island. So it is possible he could have lived there growing up.

These items are addressed below:

1) The name “Grunshaw.” This could be a misspelling, a variation in spelling, or the name could have been changed to “Grimshaw.” This item is self explanatory, and can also be explained along with item 2 below.

2) The only record we have that mentions the name of James’ parents is his Record of Marriage to Lydia. There the name William is listed as his father’s name.

This item can be explained as follows:

Thad Grimshaw found the following information at genealogy.com , that was verified by George H. Grimshaw.

A Mary Grimshaw married a William Hargraves in Taunton, Massachusetts on June 4, 1831. And in 1833, James Hargraves Grimshaw son of Amos & Mary Grimshaw was baptized in 1833 in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Family history indicates and census and military records support that James was born on July 4, 1829. While according to family history, James came to America from England as a young man and settled in Massachusetts, James’ Record of Marriage lists Norwich, Connecticut as his birthplace. James’ son, Frank’s death certificate lists James birthplace as Windsor Connecticut. The 1870 Falls County Census, the 1880 Bell County Census, and the 1900 Falls County Census lists Connecticut as James birthplace and his parent’s birthplace as England.

It is possible that Amos and Mary could have moved from Rhode Island to Connecticut where James was born and then to Massachusetts, where Amos died when James was an infant. Mary then married William Hargraves, in Massachusetts in 1831 and a couple of years later in 1833 James was baptized as a toddler. He would have known William as his father, perhaps explaining why he listed William as his father’s name on his Record of Marriage to Lydia.

3) There was no mention of James parents or whether he had any siblings, other than possibly a brother named George in the family history passed down through James’ son Amos or through any of Amos’ children. According to George Olan Grimshaw, his father, Amos, told him he was named after his Uncle George who was named after his Uncle George.

The issue of James’ parents was previously mentioned in item 2.

The issue of whether James had any siblings only means that none were mentioned, not that there weren’t any, as strange as that may seem. It may be that James had a falling out with his family and didn’t want anything to do with them. Also, as Thad Grimshaw has indicated, there may have been break in communications with James' siblings when he joined the confederate army. Who knows? It is certainly possible that he had siblings. As mentioned at the beginning Amos and Mary had two daughters Ann and Elizabeth. They also may have had a grandson named Henry, indicating that they had a son.

The 1850 Providence Rhode Island Census lists Mary Hargraves, age 59, born in England; along with George Grimshaw, age 34, born in England; James E. Grimshaw, age 21, born in Connecticut; William Barnfore(?), 23, born in England; and Henry Grimshaw, age 6, born in Massachusetts; as residents of Providence Rhode Island. They are listed along with five other families as living in the same dwelling (#226). George, James, and William are all listed as machinists. This information fits very well with what we know and have heard about our ancestor, James Grimshaw.

If Mary Hargraves is the same Mary Grimshaw who married William Hargaves in Lowell, Massachusetts, the 1850 Providence Rhode Island Census information indicates that William may have died before or after the family moved to Providence. On the Census above, dated 8/24/1850, James' age is listed as 21.