The following was discovered someplace in my reading, but unfortunately
there was either no source to which it was attributed or I misplaced it.
"The correct spelling of the name was La Graeme. Early members of the
family moved froom France to Ireland, as farmers. In the early 1630s, four
brothers (James, John, Christopher and David along with their sister Mary) came to
Maryland. They were granted land patents by the King and lands at Baltimore
where land was. As farmers the land did not suit their purposes, so they
leased their holdings for 99 years and came westward towards the mountains. It
is said that one can not get clear title to land in the city of Baltimore, as
practically the whole city belongs to Grimes' heirs. None of these brothers
ever settled west of the mountains as they were probably dead by 1774-76
when trans mountain settlement began.
David GRIMES, probably a grandson of one the above, served in the
Reolutionary War. He was present at surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. When David
started westward trek he first settled at Limestone, now Maysville, KY. He
later crossed into Ohio, took soldier's claim in the military reserved of Ohio,
then known as Virginia Military Distrct in the Fox and Stevens Survery (now
Adams County) four above Maysville and 8 miles be Ft. Massie, now Manchester,
OH.
One of his great-grandsons, F.M. GRIMES (Manchester RR#1) was living in 1908
on some of the land granted to David GRIMES for services during the
Revolutionary War."
It is further added that there is some doubt to the name David and that the
records of leased land in MD have been found.
Some of this is true. A David GRIMES is found in land and court records in
Mason County, KY between 1790 and 1800. David is first found in OH in the
1812 Tax List for Adams County. Second, Francis M (Frank) GRIMES operated a
mill in the area where David settled. Francis died in 1929. He was a
great-uncle of mine.
The early years in MD seem doubtful and occur before Baltimore was settled.
I know that 99 year land leases were common in MD at one time, but have not
had any way to prove/disapprove the land claim. In fact, the first GRIMES I
have found in MD records was named Richard and appeared in 1662 court records
for Kent County. Thereafter in 1663 the GRIMES name appears in Anne
Arrundel Co.
I seek help in the review of early land records in Baltimore. Is there any
one who might offer assistance or advice on how to go about finding these
records - short of an actual trip there.
If you have stuck with me this long, thanks.
Billy Grimes