William Grimes | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1784 |
| Died | August 20, 1865 (about 81) |
| Resting place | Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut |
| Occupation | Barber, American publisher |
| Nationality | American |
| Notable works | Life of William Grimes, the Runaway Slave (1825) and (1855) |
| Spouse | Clarissa Caesar Grimes |
William Grimes (c. 1784 – August 20, 1865) was anAfrican 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 calledCasket, which sailed fromSavannah, Georgia toNew York City.[4] He then walked toConnecticut fromNew York City to begin his life as a free man. Grimes lived inStratford,Norwalk,Fairfield,Bridgeport and Stratford Point alongsideNew Haven andLitchfield,Connecticut following his escape from slavery.New Haven was where Grimes eventually settled to live out his final days.[5]
Grimes was born into slavery inKing 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 ofWilliam Fitzhugh. Fitzhugh was the founder of Eagles's Nest plantation located inKing George County, Virginia. Benjamin Grymes, Jr., volunteered for Grayson's Continental Line Regiment in theAmerican Revolutionary army and eventually received the rank of Lieutenant in 1777.[8]
Grimes was enslaved by at least ten different enslavers inVirginia,Maryland, andGeorgia. 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 shipCasket that sailed fromSavannah, Georgia toNew York City.[4] He then travelled by foot fromNew York City toNew Haven, Connecticut.
Grimes settled inNew Haven, Connecticut, where he was a successful barber.[9][10] His clients included students from nearbyYale University andLitchfield.[10] Grimes married Clarissa Caesar in 1817 inNew Haven by Reverend Samuel Merwin.[11] They had eighteen children together, but only twelve survived until adulthood.[12]
The1820 United States census indicates that Grimes was the head of a seven-member household inLitchfield. Following this, Grimes rented his barbershop inLitchfield and moved toNew Haven where he worked as a barber, grocer, and furniture merchant.[1] It is noted that Grimes lived in many cities inConnecticut. These cities beingStratford,Norwalk,Fairfield,Bridgeport and Stratford Point alongsideNew Haven andLitchfield.
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 inLitchfield, Grimes moved back toNew Haven. Where he lived the rest of his years.[13] Clarissa Caesar, his wife, then left forCalifornia 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 inNew Haven in the 1830 and 1840United States census.[15]
In the1860 United States census, William Grimes was listed as the head of an eight-person household inNew Haven, while his occupation is shown as a lottery dealer.[5]
Grimes became a known figure inLitchfield andNew 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 ofLitchfield was smaller and the political landscape would be more in his favor if his recent enslaver came looking for him, Grimes moved toLitchfield.[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 inLitchfield 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 fledNew Haven to live inLitchfield, Connecticut due to his former enslaver tracking him down.
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 withTerry Gross on theFresh Air radio program on January 18, 2016.[10][17] A 2017 film by Sean Durant entitledGina'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 byKeith David.[18]
Grimes died on August 20, 1865, about 81 years old, inNew Haven, Connecticut. On his death, his obituary was published as far away asBrooklyn,New York.[7] He was then laid to rest inGrove Street Cemetery, located nearYale University. Clarissa Caesar Grimes, his wife, died on December 15 inSan Francisco. Following this, she was laid to rest inNew Haven with her husband.[8]
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]
{{cite book}}:ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)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.
