Grimes Family Bible

Date: 1802 to 1870
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Grimes Towson Brackin

THE GRIMES FAMILY BIBLE

The Grimes Family Bible, about 9 by 11 inches, was published in English by G. M. Davison, Saratoga Springs, NY, 1832. Passed down through several generations, it is now owned by Eloise Grimes Ratliff, a great great granddaughter of William and Lydia (Smith) Grimes. The family history section, between the Old and New Testaments, consists of four lined pages, each divided into two columns. Page numbers in the report below follow the order of the pages on the Grimes Bible website.

Unfortunately, in some places, the ink had faded beyond reading, but it is still evident by the different scripts that information has been added over a period of time. This translation resulted from a concentrated collaborative effort by several people. However, readers considering use of this translation for documentation of lineage should still consider possibility of errors in fact as well as unintentional misreading by the transcriber.

Transcriber Wynona Jennings Hamilton acknowledges the invaluable deciphering assistance of Ron Jones. All notes were written by Wynona and any corrections, additions, or questions should be brought to her attention at OQWJH@aol.com

Grimes Family Bible Page 1

Page 1 - 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 1825 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 1 - 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

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)

Grimes Family Bible Page 2

Page 2 - 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 household of Liday Grimes in the 1880 Santa Rosa Co FL census.

Page 2 - 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 are 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)

Grimes Family Bible Page 3

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 not known. (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.

Grimes Family Bible Page 4

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.

Summary:

1. 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 The Grimes Family Bible