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William Grimes (former slave)

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William Grimes
Bornc. 1784
King George County, Virginia
DiedAugust 20, 1865 (about 81)
New Haven, Connecticut
Resting placeGrove Street Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut
OccupationBarber, American publisher
NationalityAmerican
Notable worksLife of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave (1825) and (1855)
SpouseClarissa Caesar Grimes

William Grimes (c. 1784 – August 20, 1865) was an African-American barber and writer who authored what is considered the first narrative of a formerly enslaved American, Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave, published in 1825,[1] with a second edition published in 1855.[2] Another revised edition was published by one of his descendants in 2008.[3] Grimes escaped slavery by boarding on a ship called Casket, which sailed from Savannah, Georgia to New York City.[4] He then walked to Connecticut from New York City to begin his life as a free man. Grimes lived in Stratford, Norwalk, Fairfield, Bridgeport and Stratford Point alongside New Haven and Litchfield, Connecticut following his escape from slavery. New Haven was where Grimes eventually settled to live out his final days.[5]

Biography

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Grimes was born into slavery in King George County, Virginia, in 1784.[6][7] His father was Benjamin Grymes, Jr., a wealthy plantation owner; Grimes' mother was a slave on a neighboring plantation. Benjamin Grymes, Jr., the father of William Grimes was the great-grandson of William Fitzhugh. Fitzhugh was the founder of Eagles's Nest plantation located in King George County, Virginia. Benjamin Grymes, Jr., volunteered for Grayson's Continental Line Regiment in the American Revolutionary army and eventually received the rank of Lieutenant in 1777.[8]

Grimes was enslaved by at least ten different enslavers in Virginia, Maryland, and Georgia. He worked as a house servant, valet, field worker, stable boy, and coachman. In 1815, at the age of 30, Grimes escaped from slavery by stowing away on the ship Casket that sailed from Savannah, Georgia to New York City.[4] He then travelled by foot from New York City to New Haven, Connecticut.

Grimes settled in New Haven, Connecticut, where he was a successful barber.[9][10] His clients included students from nearby Yale University and Litchfield.[10] Grimes married Clarissa Caesar in 1817 in New Haven by Reverend Samuel Merwin.[11] They had eighteen children together, but only twelve survived until adulthood.[12]

The 1820 United States census indicates that Grimes was the head of a seven-member household in Litchfield. Following this, Grimes rented his barbershop in Litchfield and moved to New Haven where he worked as a barber, grocer, and furniture merchant.[1] It is noted that Grimes lived in many cities in Connecticut. These cities being Stratford, Norwalk, Fairfield, Bridgeport and Stratford Point alongside New Haven and Litchfield.

In 1823, Grimes' last enslaver tracked him down and demanded that he pay for his freedom. His former enslaver would have him arrested and forced back into slavery if Grimes were to refuse.[9]

After living four years in Litchfield, Grimes moved back to New Haven. Where he lived the rest of his years.[13] Clarissa Caesar, his wife, then left for California because she and Grimes split some time before writing his second edition. Grimes gives no information as to why this occurred. However, he mentions that only his youngest child is still with him at that time and does not know where any other child of his is.[14]

Grimes was still listed as living in New Haven in the 1830 and 1840 United States census.[15]

In the 1860 United States census, William Grimes was listed as the head of an eight-person household in New Haven, while his occupation is shown as a lottery dealer.[5]

Purchasing of Freedom in Litchfield

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Grimes became a known figure in Litchfield and New Haven, Connecticut while living there. Through his multiple jobs of barbering, furniture trading, and errand running for students, he was able to network with students, faculty, and politicians in the communities. This connection with members of each community caused Grimes' recent enslaver to learn where Grimes was. Feeling that the community of Litchfield was smaller and the political landscape would be more in his favor if his recent enslaver came looking for him, Grimes moved to Litchfield.[15]

In 1823, Francis Harvey Welman, Grimes' last enslaver, tracked him down and demanded Grimes must pay for his freedom with "my house and land, all I had," or else face arrest and re-enslavement.[9] The following year, in April 1824, Grimes officially purchased his freedom for 500 dollars.[16] Grimes had to mortgage his property and take on debt to pay for his freedom. However, the people with whom he was connected and friends in Litchfield were able to help him with his negotiation of the price for his freedom.[15] Grimes had no choice but to pay and wrote his memoir in hopes of recovering his finances.[9] Grimes fled New Haven to live in Litchfield, Connecticut due to his former enslaver tracking him down.

Family

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A great-great-great-granddaughter of Grimes, Regina Mason, was an editor of the 2008 edition of Grimes' book. Mason talked about her ancestor's life in an interview with Terry Gross on the Fresh Air radio program on January 18, 2016.[10][17] A 2017 film by Sean Durant entitled Gina's Journey: The Search for William Grimes documents her experiences tracking down information about Grimes over fifteen years. It includes reenactments of scenes from both Mason's and Grimes's lives with narration by Keith David.[18]

Death

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Grimes died on August 20, 1865, about 81 years old, in New Haven, Connecticut. On his death, his obituary was published as far away as Brooklyn, New York.[7] He was then laid to rest in Grove Street Cemetery, located near Yale University. Clarissa Caesar Grimes, his wife, died on December 15 in San Francisco. Following this, she was laid to rest in New Haven with her husband.[8]

Slave narratives

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Life of William Grimes, the runaway slave

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William Grimes published his first slave narrative, Life of William Grimes, the runaway slave, in 1825 to recover finances. His slave narrative provides great detail of his life until 1825. This slave narrative was published only months after he purchased his freedom. Grimes also published an updated version of his autobiography in 1855.[15]

Grimes felt a second publishing of his slave narrative would be best because the first edition of his slave narrative is considered the first one by many, which caused him to lose out on monetary gains.[15] The second version provides an update of his life until 1855 while also counterbalancing the bitterness put forth in his first slave narrative.[19] However, his second release of a slave narrative did receive a much different reception from the first. The abolitionist press at the time did not reference the second edition in any newspapers.[15]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Grimes, William (1825). Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave. Written by Himself. North American Slave Narratives (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). New York. Retrieved 2021-01-18.
  2. ^ Smith, Venture; Mars, James; Grimes, William; Offley, G. W.; Smith, James L. (1855). Five Black lives: the autobiographies of Venture Smith, James Mars, William Grimes, the Rev. G. W. Offley, [and] James L. Smith. Wesleyan University Press. ISBN 9780819540362. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
  3. ^ Andrews, William L.; Mason, Regina E., eds. (2008-06-27). Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave (revised ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780199711147. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  4. ^ a b "William Grimes, 1784-1865 Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave. Written by Himself". docsouth.unc.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  5. ^ a b "William Grimes, 1784-1865 Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave. Written by Himself". docsouth.unc.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  6. ^ Williamson, Jenn. "Summary of Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave. Written by Himself". North American Slave Narratives. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Retrieved 2016-01-18.
  7. ^ a b "Old Grimes is Dead!". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle (2nd ed.). 21 August 1865. p. 3. Retrieved 19 January 2016. New Haven, Aug. 21: William Grimes, better known as "Old Grimes", a quaint darkey, once a slave, known to all our citizens and to thousands of Yale College graduates, died in this city yesterday, at an advanced age, probably ninety years. In column 5.
  8. ^ a b "William Grimes, 1784-1865 Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave. Written by Himself". docsouth.unc.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  9. ^ a b c d "Summary of Life of William Grimes". Documenting the American South. University of North Carolina. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  10. ^ a b c Mason, Regina E. (2016-01-18). "When Ancestry Search Led To Escaped Slave: 'All I Could Do Was Weep'". NPR (Interview: audio). Interviewed by Terry Gross. Retrieved 2016-01-19. Fresh Air radio program.
  11. ^ "William Grimes, 1784-1865 Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave. Written by Himself". docsouth.unc.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  12. ^ Finkelman, Paul (2006-04-06). Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895: From the Colonial Period to the Age of Frederick Douglass Three-volume Set. Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN 978-0-19-516777-1.
  13. ^ Finkelman, Paul (2006-04-06). Encyclopedia of African American History, 1619-1895: From the Colonial Period to the Age of Frederick Douglass Three-volume Set. Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN 978-0-19-516777-1.
  14. ^ "Summary of Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave, Brought Down to the Present Time". docsouth.unc.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  15. ^ a b c d e f Ashton, Susanna (2012). "Slavery, Imprinted: The Life and Narrative of William Grimes". Clemson University: 126–139 – via TigerPrints.
  16. ^ "William Grimes, 1784-1865 Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave. Written by Himself". docsouth.unc.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
  17. ^ Mason, Regina E. (2016-01-18). "When Ancestry Search Led To Escaped Slave: 'All I Could Do Was Weep'". NPR (Interview: transcript). Interviewed by Terry Gross. Retrieved 2016-03-04. Fresh Air radio program.
  18. ^ "Gina's Journey: The Search for William Grimes". Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  19. ^ "Summary of Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave. Written by Himself". docsouth.unc.edu. Retrieved 2022-12-05.
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