An Early Grimshaw Couple in the District of Columbia and Virginia

Thomas Grimshaw's Signature from His Marriage License

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Thomas W Grimshaw immigrated to the U.S. no later than 1803 (five years before his naturalization). He and Onnar (or Honora) Radden apparently were married on July 7, 1804 in Alexandria, which was then a part of the District of Columbia. He was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in December 1808. There is a rather extensive record of Thomas' activities in Alexandria in a collection of newspaper articles from 1808 to 1820 -- reporting manufacture and sales of cordage (rope), business concerns for this purpose, sale of a home, sponsorship of a freight-bearing sailing ship, reward for information on a runaway apprentice, sale of weaver "slays" and, finally, notices of a lawsuit against Thomas, who was apparently absent from the area by 1820, according to the notices. 

Thomas and Onnar Grimshaw were recorded in Alexandria, District of Columbia in 1808 and 1810 census. But by the time of the 1820 U.S. Census, they were in living in Winchester, Virginia, some 60 or 70 miles away. Deed records of 1842 also indicate the couple owned land in that area. It is not yet known if there are any Grimshaw descendants from this early Grimshaw couple.

Webpage Credits

Karen Hangsleben Posting on Thomas and Onnar (Radden) Grimshaw

Marriage Record of Thomas Grimshaw and Onnar Radden

Thomas Grimshaw Naturalization Record

Newspaper Articles from HeritageQuest

Record of Thomas W Grimshaw in Winchester, Virginia in 1841

Lawsuit Records from Detroit Public Library

Census Records

Deed Records for Thomas and Honora in Winchester, Virginia

References

Thanks go to Karen Hangsleben for contributing information for getting this webpage established. Thanks also to the staff of the Alexandria Public Library for providing excellent support and suggestions during a visit in January 2008.

This webpage was initiated based on the following message, which was posted by Karen Hangsleben in June 2005 on Genforum, one of the genealogical sites on the Internet.

Looking for family of this couple who wed in Alexandria, VA/DC July 7, 1804. By 1842, they were selling a lot in Winchester, Frederick Co., VA along with others to my John R. Nelson for the use of Mary Catherine Nelson. John R. Nelson was listed as her "guardian". Among names mentioned were Reed, Diehl, and Kerns.

If this looks familiar, I'd like to here from you.

Thanks in advance, Karen Nelson Hangsleben

The marriage record for Thomas and Onnar was found in "District of Columbia Marriages, Early to 1825"¹ and "Alexandria & Alexandria (Arlington) County, Virginia, Minister Returns & Marriage Bonds - 1801-1852" (page 92)². Based on the information in the latter reference, the microfilm that contains the record was found at the Alexandria Public Library. 

The record is shown below, starting with the front of the marriage certificate. It was an application by Thomas Grimshaw and James Flood dated 7 July 1804. The second image is of the back of the certificate, and the third image below is an attestation by James Flood on the identity of Onnar Radden and that her age was at least 21 years. Alexandria was part of the District of Columbia at the time of the marriage.

The b of the folded certificate is shown below.

The affidavit by James Flood on the identity (and age) of Onnar Radden is provided below.

Thomas' naturalization record is shown below, between the two sets of double lines. The 28th Day of November Term was equivalent to 31 December 1808. The record was found in "Alexandria City and Arlington County, Virginia Records Index, Volume 2" (page 135)³; based on this citation, the microfilm containing the record was located at the Alexandria Public Library.

November Term 1808 ~ 28° Day

Thomas Grimshaw came before Court and its appearing upon Affidavit that he has resided within the Limits and under the Jurisdiction of the United States for five years and upwards and one year Immediately last past within the District of Columbia and hereupon having taken the oath prescribed by Law to support the Constitution of the United (sic) and also that he doth absolutely and Intirely (sic) renounce and abjure all Allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Power, ______ State or Sovereignty whatever and particularly by name the Sovereignty of the Kingdom of the United Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland, and it moreover appearing to the Satisfaction of the Court that during his said residence he has behaved as a man of good moral Character Attached to the Principles of the Constitution of the United States and well disposed to the Good order & happiness of the same is thereupon admitted to become a Citizen of the United States.

A number of newspaper articles indicate that Thomas was quite a busy citizen of Alexandria. The following 13 newspaper records are from HeritageQuest.com.

1. Headline: [Mr. Thomas Grimshaw; Alexandria; Bad Cords; Chinches]

Paper: Mercantile Advertiser; Date: 08-01-1808; Issue: 4979; Page: [2]; Location: New York, New York

2. Headline: [Mr. Thomas Grimshaw; Alexandria; Ded Cords; Chinches]

Paper: Oracle, published as L'Oracle and Daily Advertiser; Date: 08-01-1808; Volume: I; Issue: 178; Page: [3]; Location: New York, New York

3. Headline: Advertisement

Paper: Alexandria Gazette, published as Alexandria Daily Gazette. Commercial & Political; Date: 10-11-1808; Volume: VIII; Issue: 2298; Page: [3]; Location: Alexandria, Virginia

4. Headline: Advertisement

Paper: Alexandria Gazette, published as Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political; Date: 03-20-1810; Volume: X; Issue: 2743; Page: [4]; Location: Alexandria, Virginia

5. Headline: Advertisement

Paper: Alexandria Gazette, published as Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political; Date: 10-20-1810; Volume: X; Issue: 8889; Page: [4]; Location: Alexandria, Virginia

6. Headline: Advertisement

Paper: Alexandria Gazette, published as Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political; Date: 12-07-1810; Volume: X; Issue: 8911; Page: [3]; Location: Alexandria, Virginia

7. Headline: Shipping News

Paper: Alexandria Gazette, published as Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political; Date: 07-08-1811; Volume: XI; Issue: 3082; Page: [3]; Location: Alexandria, Virginia

8. Headline: Shipping News

Paper: Alexandria Herald, published as The Alexandria Herald; Date: 07-08-1811; Volume: I; Issue: 11; Page: [3]; Location: Alexandria, Virginia

9. Headline: Advertisement

Paper: Alexandria Gazette, published as Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political; Date: 02-06-1812; Volume: XII; Issue: 3563; Page: [3]; Location: Alexandria, Virginia

10. Headline: Advertisement

Paper: Alexandria Gazette, published as Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political; Date: 08-04-1812; Volume: XII; Issue: 3714; Page: [4]; Location: Alexandria, Virginia

11. Headline: Advertisement

Paper: Alexandria Gazette, published as Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser; Date: 09-19-1818; Volume: XIX; Issue: 5336; Page: [3]; Location: Alexandria, Virginia

12. Headline: Advertisement

Paper: Alexandria Gazette, published as Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser; Date: 07-13-1820; Volume: XX; Issue: 5839; Page: [1]; Location: Alexandria, Virginia

13. Headline: Advertisement

Paper: Alexandria Gazette, published as Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser; Date: 09-22-1820; Volume: XX; Issue: 5898; Page: [1]; Location: Alexandria, Virginia

(last appearance)

The "History of Winchester" (p. 125) contains the following record of Thomas Grimshaw in 1841.

(in preparation)

Thomas Grimshaw is recorded in the 1808 Special Census and the 1810 U.S. Census living in Ward 2 of Arlington, District of Columbia. By 1820 he was recorded living in Winchester, Virginia. The source for the 1808 and 1810 censuses was "Alexandria City and Arlington County, Virginia Records Index, Volume 1" (page 150)⁴; based on this citation, the microfilm containing the two census records was located at the Alexandria Public Library. The 1820 U.S. Census record was from a companion webpage.

1808 Special Census

    (in preparation)

Shopkeeper in Ward 2, Alexandria. Two white persons above age 16 and 3 "all other white persons". Two slaves, for a total of 7 inhabitants. 

1810 U.S. Census

    (in preparation)

1820 U.S. Census

A record in the 1820 U.S. Census shows Thomas Grimshaw living in Winchester Township, Frederick County, Virginia. The census (see figure below) indicates that Thomas was between 26 and 45 years old and his wife was in a similar age range. One of the the two boys was between 10 and 16 and the other was less than 10 years old. Two girls between 10 and 16 were also in the household. 

Thomas may have been related to William Grimshaw (see companion webpage) who was living in Washington, D.C. and writing about black Freemasons (and was black himself) several decades later.

Karen Hangsleben has found the following deed records indicating the presence of Thomas and Honora Grimshaw in Winchester, Virginia.

¹Dodd, Jordan R., ed., 1992, District of Columbia Marriages, Early to 1825: Bountiful, UT, Precision Indexing, Inc.

²Miller, T. Michael, transcriber, 1987, Alexandria & Alexandria (Arlington) County, Virginia, Minister Returns & Marriage Bonds - 1801-1852: Bowie, MD, Heritage Books.

³Pippenger, Wesley E., 2001, Alexandria City and Arlington County, Virginia, Records Index, Volume 2: Westminster, MD, Willowbend Books.

⁴Pippenger, Wesley E., 2001, Alexandria City and Arlington County, Virginia, Records Index, Volume 1: Westminster, MD, Willowbend Books.

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Webpage posted June and August 2005. Upgraded November 2006 with addition of 1820 U.S. Census record and newspaper articles. Updated January 2008 with addition of marriage license and citizenship record. Finalized January 2008 with explanatory text.