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The Grimes Family Bible
This Bible is approximately 9 x 11 inches in size. It consists of the Old and New
Testament of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was printed (in English) and published by
G.M. Davison in Saratoga Springs (New York) during the year 1832 AD. It has been handed down through generations of Grimes descendants and is now the property of Eloise Grimes
Ratliff, a great great granddaughter of William and Lydia (Smith) Grimes.
The family history section of this book is placed between the Old and New Testament
sections and consists of four lined pages. Each page is divided into two columns. The writing was done in ink and in some places it is faded or smeared beyond reading. The writing appears to have been written by several different people over a period of time. The numbering of pages in this report is in accordance with the way the pages are placed on The Grimes Bible website.
If the reader is considering using this translation for documentation of linage, they should consider the possibility of error in both the entry of their ancestor and /or the translation by the
transcriber.
Transcribed by: Wynona Jennings Hamilton with the invaluable assistance of Ron Jones.
All notes are by Wynona and any corrections, additions or questions should be brought to her attention at: OQWJH@aol.com
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Page 1
left column of page
Mary Graham
in the yer was born
in the year of our
Lord the 11 Oct
18?8
Notes: Eloise has suggested that this may be the "Mary Grimes" who was mother of Martha J. Grimes. This would also account for the "Mary" who appeared on the 1850, 1860 and 1880 census listed with William & Lydia as their daughter. In 1850, Mary's age was 12, making her birth year 1838. The date Oct 11, 1838 would be a practical one for placing her in the Grimes family chain.
George W. Grimes
was Born 30 th
July 1840
Notes: George was the son of William and Lydia Grimes. He did not appear on the
1850 Census with his parents, but...in 1860, he was in Santa Rosa Co Fl with William and Lydia. His age was 19, agreeing with the Bible date. He enlisted as a private with 1st Florida Infantry Confederate Army and severed as a wagon master. George was listed as G. W. Grimes in the Santa Rosa County Florida Voter Registration for the year 1867/68. He was the only Grimes named.
He married Mary C. -------. She drew a Civil War widows pension. Pension # 313312.
Christain Grimes
was Born
the 28 th day of
November 1842
Notes: (Christain)Christian was the daughter of William and Lydia Grimes. She was on the 1850 Coffee County Alabama Census with William and Lydia, her age 9 and born in Alabama. She next appeared on the 1860 census in Santa Rosa County Florida, age 17. Eloise referred to her as "Jayne"in her notes and there was a Jane with Liday on the 1880 Santa Rosa County Census. Her age then was 30 (?) and she was a seamstress. Christian Jayne (Jane) remained single. She had one child, Samuel. Samuel was born December
24th, 1881 (Sorrel family Bible). Christian would have been 39 years old at the time of his birth. Christian Jane Grimes died in 1927 (Florida death records)
Lidia Grimes was
born Decr the 5 th 1844
Notes: Lidia was the daughter of William and Lydia Grimes. Lidia's death is recorded later as November 26th, 1846. She probably was born and died in Coffee County Alabama and there is no other record of her.
Tempy Grimes was
born June the 19 th 1847
Notes: Tempy was the daughter of William and Lydia Grimes. Tempy appeared on the
1850 Coffee County Census with her parents. Her age was 3, agreeing with the Bible entry.
Tempy remained single and died December 11, 1918 near Milton, Florida, her age 72. (death certificate). Tempy had one child believed to be Nancy Grimes, age 12, enumerated in the house hold of Liday Grimes in the 1880 Santa Rosa Co FL census.
Page 1
right column of page
Andrew Jackson
Towson was born
15 th March 1844
Notes: Andrew Jackson Towson was the son of Fanny Grimes Towson, born 5 yrs after the death of Fanny's husband Wm Towson. Fanny died in 1849 and Andrew appeared on the 1850 Coffee County Alabama Census with William and Lydia Grimes. His age was 6 years, agreeing with the Bible entry. Eloise suggested that Andrew took the name GRIMES which is probably correct. Andrew was later entered in the Bible as A J Grimes. He married in 1865 and died in 1866. (Source Grimes Bible and Census records) Military record? Wife? Children?
Hannah Grimes
was born Feby 22 nd
1850
Notes: Hannah was the daughter of William and Lydia Grimes. She appeared on the 1850 Coffee County Alabama Census, her age 2 ( date of census was December 15th making her almost 5 months at the time the census was taken). She was enumerated on the 1860 Santa Rosa County Florida Census with her parents, her age 10. Hannah remained single and was still living with her Mother in 1880, Santa Rosa County Florida. Her occupation was servant. She had one child, Robert Grimes. Hannah died March 25, 1927 (death certificate). Ancestor of Eloise Grimes Ratliff.
Hannah M. Grimes
was born Sept 15 the
-?- 1859
Notes: Hannah M. Grimes appeared on the 1860 Santa Rosa County Florida Census with
William and Lydia Grimes, her age 6/12 (six months). Her parents unknown. There is two Hannah Grimes on the 1880 Santa Rosa Co Fl census. I am uncertain if she is one of them or if William and Lydia's daughter was counted twice. One was taken on July 17th in the household of Levi (Brown?) as a servant, the other July 22nd in Liday Grimes household as a daughter.
Jess :?: Grimes was
born July: th 25/1861
-?-
Notes: this entry difficult to decipher. Identity uncertain. ( Ron Jones suggested the letter(s)
not clear may be "I". The date suggests possible "Julia" , daughter of "Mary" and ½ sister of Martha J. )
Martha J. Grimes
was bornde
March 17 th 1870
Notes: Martha Josephine Grimes was born March 17, 1870. Known as "Jo". On April 15, 1884 (age 14) she married John Ward in Santa Rosa Co FL. Family lore and her death
certificate gives her mother's name as "Mary Grimes" (see notes on Mary Graham). She had an older sister named "Julia"(source: Ron Jones, great grandson of Jo ).
In a letter from Josephine Ward addressed to Berti Grimes, she signs her self as:
"your cousin with love Joe" (source: Eloise Grimes Ratliff)
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Page 2
left column of page
Isham Foster
was born the 12 th Feb [this could be 17 th]
1807
Notes: relationship to the Grimes family unknown.
Wm Grimes was
aa in the year
of our lord 1802
Dec 1? th Thursday
Notes: If written today, it would probably read: Wm Grimes was born on Thursday, Dec 1?, 1802 AD. I (Wynona) think the little "aa" means AD. Census records give his place of birth as Georgia. William married Lydia Smith on May 13, 1824 in Montgomery County, GA (source: GAGENWEB Montgomery Co look up). William has Civil War record (Confederate). He has one known sibling, Temperance Grimes Hamilton.
Lydia Grimes
was born aa in the
year of our lord
Notes: Wife of William Grimes. Has the date faded to nothing or not filled in at all? Census records give her place of birth as Georgia. Birth dates are inconsistent but probably sometime between 1800-1808. Spelling variations for her name: Lydia, Liday, Ledia
Fanny Grimes
was born aa in the
year of our lord
182? March the 7
on Tuesday
Notes: birth year for Fanny uncertain making it difficult to place her in the William Grimes family chain. (see notes on Andrew Jackson Towson).
Delila Grimes
was born aa in the
year of our lord
1826 Decr 26 on
Monday
Notes: In the Brackin Letters her name was spelled: Delilia. Her death certificate confirms her parents as William and Lydia Grimes and place of birth as Montgomery Co GA. Her family settled in Walton Co FL early 1870. She maintained a close relationship with her Grimes family re: Brackin letters dated 1882. (source: O.Q. and Wynona Jennings Hamilton; Dana Brackin Troublefield)
Page 2
Right column of page
Matilda Grimes
was born aa in the
year of our lord
1828 Nov th/26 on
Wednesday
Notes: Matilda was the daughter of William and Lydia Grimes. She is addressed as "Sister" by Delilia Brackin (Brackin letter # 1) She married an unknown Smith. Fanny Smith (picture)
may be her daughter . The Tempy mentioned in her letter as Delilia's niece may be her daughter.
Wm Wilkerson Grimes
was born aa in the
year of our lord
1831 February
on Saturday
(my computer will not let me spell this incorrectly. The Bible leaves out the first "r" in Feb.)
Notes: Wm Wilkerson was the son of William and Lydia Grimes. He was named as William on the 1850 Coffee Co AL census, age 18 and born in Georgia. In 1860, he was residing in Covington Co AL in the Rose Hill area, living with the Strickland household and working as a farmhand. His sister, Delila Brackin, was nearby. He served with an Alabama Unit (Confederate) during the Civil War as W.W. Grimes.
Lucretia Grimes
was born aa in the
year of our lord
1833 June 18 Tuesday
Notes: Lucretia was the daughter of William and Lydia Grimes. She married Martin Thompson. (See marriage entry for "Crecy Grimes") They were living in Pike County AL in 1850 and Santa Rosa County FL in 1860. Lucretia died in 1877 and was buried at Coldwater cemetery in Santa Rosa Co FL. ( Source: Gaylier Nowling Miller and Bill Eoff.)
John/ames Grimes
was born aa in the
year of our lord
1835 Nov th/29
on Sunday
Notes: the name is written with one large "J" with "ohn" above "ames". John James was the son of William and Lydia Grimes and the first child born in Alabama (1850 census). He served with a Florida Unit during the Civil War (Confederate) as J.J. Grimes. He is mentioned in the Brackin Letters as "Brother John". There was a John J. Grimes in Walton Co Fl in 1880 believed to be him. The letter names his wife as "Mary" the census as "Margaret". He had children. The "oldest" one (name unknown) died in 1882(source: Brackin letter # 1)
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Page 3
Left column of page
Fanny Grimes was
married December the 12 th
1838 to Wm Towson
Notes: see notes for Fanny Grimes birth.
Delila Grimes
was married to
Mathias Brackin
January the 11 th
1844
Notes: see notes for Delilia Grimes birth. This marriage date does not agree with her pension
application records (Jan 1845). Mathias died in 1873. Delilia died in 1918 and was buried in the Alaqua Methodist Church Cemetery in Walton Count Florida. Her headstone reads:
"Grandma Brackin". Her obituary published in the Defuniak Springs Harold Breeze newspaper reads in part: " Grandma Brackins, an aged resident of the Alaqua Community died at the home of her son Mathew Brackins"
Crecy Grimes
was married April
the 17 th 1850
Notes: see notes for Lucretia Grimes birth. Place of marriage Pike Co Al. (Source: Gaylier
Nowling Miller)
Matilda Grimes
was married July
the 19 th 1851
Notes: see notes for Matilda Grimes birth. Note failure to enter name of her husband.
A J Grimes
was married
march 12 th 1865
Notes: see notes for Andrew Jackson Towson (Grimes) birth. Note failure to enter name of wife.
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Page 4
left column of page.
Wm Towson husband of
Fanny Grimes died the
9 th July 1839
Notes: see marriage entry for Fanny Grimes / Wm Towson
Fanny Harrison
died January 13 th
1849
Notes: this is probably Fanny Grimes Towson Harrison.
Lidia Grimes died
the 26 th of Nov 1846
Notes: Child of William and Lydia Grimes. See notes for Lidia Grimes birth.
A J Grimes died
February 23 the 1866
Notes: see notes for Andrew Jackson Towson (Grimes) birth.
W W Grimes
died march 24 th
1863
Notes: see notes for William Wilkerson Grimes birth. He died at Fairgrounds hospital in Atlanta, Georgia and was buried at Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta.(Military Records)
Mr martin
tomson did
Sep 8 th 1865
Notes: it is thought this may be the death record of Martin Thompson.
See notes for Lucretia (Crecy) Grimes birth and marriage.
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Summary:
# of entries 30
dates spanned 1802-1870
William Grimes b. 1802
Lydia Grimes b. --?----
children:
1. Delilia b. 1826
2. Matilda b. 1828
3. Wm. Wilkerson b. 1831
4. Lucreatia b. 1833
5. John James b. 1835
6. Mary (Graham) b. 18?8 (uncertain)
7. George W. b. 1841
8. Christian b. 1842
9. Lidia b. 1844
10. Tempy b. 1847
11. Hannah b. 1850
Grandchildren:
1. Hannah M. b. 1859
Others:
1. Jess -?- Grimes b. 1861
2. Wm. Towson
3. Fanny Grimes Towson Harrison b. 182?
4. Andrew Jackson Towson/Grimes b. 1844
5. Isham Foster b. 1807
6. Mr martin tomson d. 1865