To date, I have not found the will that names Gabriel W. Grimes as an heir. Following is what I do know.......Gabriel W. Grimes who married Saleta Ann Bridges Mathews lived next door to a William Grimes in Goosepond District of Oglethorpe Co GA in 1840. Gabriel was also on several documents with William Grimes (Jr) when in Madison Co GA (and also Washington Grimes who names his daughter Polly and his son Gabriel W. adding to the list of facts). I believe this William is the same one that was married to Olive Grimes of Elbert Co GA. It has been passed down from a Grimes Historian, Tutney Key Bell, that William is the son of William Grimes Sr and Polly Wilheit/Wilhite of Elbert Co GA. THere is indeed another William Grimes in Elbert County GA that I was confused about and one who married Deana Taylor but disappeared. William Sr, remained. This William is the son William and Mildred, he was not yet 21 yrs of age, named in the will of WILLIAM GRIMES who died 1795 Elbert County, Ga, wife Mildred was named Executrix. This website has wrong information on child of William and Mildred The have listed William and Deanna Taylor, what should be WIlliam who married Polly in their place instead, William and Deanna should not even be in this direct line under WIlliam named in this will. These 2 are not in this direct line that we have seen after collecting much data on these Elbert, Oglethorpe, Madison and Jackson County Grimes and of late it appears that William Grimes and Polly were selling the 400 acres of Brush Creek land that was willed to him by his father WIlliam and purchased by William Sr while in Wilkes County around 1788. William Grimes' (d.1795 Elbert) estate still lingers as probalby Mildred died just about the same time or just prior to son William turning 21, he takes over gdn of THomas M. Grimes b1791 and John WIlhite becomes gdn of Patsy, or that may be Betsy, this info welcomes challenge, but there would be no reason for THomas to have a gdn if his mother were still living and the gdnship probalby reigned from the lingering WIlliam Grimes estate as these children were named in the will and then also inherited their mother's portion. There are also no other Grimes in the area, so who then should Patsy belong to?
Coincidentally, a John WILHITE was gdn to William and was also one of the executors to William Grimes(Mildred) estate; Mildred was named as executrix in the will, early in the execution it was Mildred but later it seems John Wilhite took her place? I have found no death record or buriel or any documentation that proves Mildred died, but I assume she must've died while executrix of her husbands estate.....
Polly Wilhite had a brother named Johnathon/John Wilhite and a brother named Gabriel also.SO...there seems to be lots of circumstantial evidence to say that William and Mildred are the parents of William who married Polly Whilhite who fathered Gabriel, William and Washington, but I have no one document that proves that Gabriel is the son of William and Polly either.....ALso oral history has it that Polly Wilhite is in this line and Gabriel was in many business ventures with John Wilhite as well, but at any rate, I feel they are closely related. I would venture to say brothers, although Washington was born 1812 and William 1808, which seems to be pushing it for Polly at 40-50 yrs old to be having babies but I'm not real positive of her bdate, a few years makes a big difference but we know before 1775 but probably no earlier than 1770.
Washington Grimes, b 1812 who I suspect to be the brother to my Gabriel, named his son Gabriel and also a daughter was named Polly and another named Nancy. Gabriel had close ties to a Samuel Strong and became gdn to his son in Madison County, GA, need to check the year but later findings were such that Samuel's wife was Nancy Grimes, so with that I presume Nancy was Gabriel's sister possibly? and then there is Washington's daughter named Nancy to tie them all together.
Another interesting tidbit is that in the Will of William Grimes (Mildred) who died 1794 Elbert County Ga, named another son in his will of 1794, Thomas M. Grimes, whose guardian was William when his brother comes of age. Furthermore, this Thomas M. Grimes lived in Madison County Ga and died there in 1822, and my Gabriel witnessed his will. So this thickens the plot because, I may have said, these were the only Grimes' in this area at this time. The William Grimes mentioned in the will of William (Mildred) could likely be my Gabriel's father if he "came of age" around 1794-1800 married and had children about this time as that is when Gabriel was born, the variation of these dates for Gabriel are shown on several census' and this is quite likely as pertaining to all the info I have collected. Also this would make Thomas M. Grimes Gabriel's uncle, which is one reason he witnessed the will of Thomas M. Grimes in Madison County where Gabriel also lived.
One fact that is true..I am kin to Gabriel, as well as William who married Olive Bell, as they are both my grandfathers through a union of cousins, through their grandchildren I descend, one on Gabriels line and one on Williams line, which also makes them my great uncles........
So, as always the saga continues in that of genealogy.
Happy Hunting!
*************************** History of Gabriel W. Grimes
************************** Gabriel W. Grimes born 1796-1800 According to the first census record found on Gabriel W. Grimes in - 1840 - Oglethorpe Co, GA, it states he was born in GA. I know that William and Polly Grimes were seen on documentation in Elbert County Ga, deeding land of Oglethorpe County GA as early as 1802. Polly's father, Phillip Wilhite of Franklin county NC, left will in 1802 there. I wonder was Polly and William in NC for the reading of the will? Did they leave before he died and migrate to GA? Gabriel was born so close to these dates, I wonder if he was born in Franklin County NC and they ventured down after her father died. However, I have not any documentation that William Grimes or any Grimes lived in Franklin County NC during this time. THere are a few William Grimes in adjoining counties that I have not yet discerned.
To date I have not found an earlier census record of him as head of household. There was a William Grimes family in 1820 Jackson co that had a son that would fit Gabriel's age at that time b 1796-1800 census frame (1795-1804). There is a William Grimes Jr and Sr listed as juror in Jan 1830 Madison County GA. Though there was a mysterious William Grimes who married Deana TAYLOR marrying in January 1802 and another William and Polly deeding the land in May 1802, so it's not him. I understand this William and Deana Taylor Grimes went to or were from Greene County GA. So this probably eliminates him from being the son listed on the will of William Grimes d.1795 Elbert.
Now, Referring to the William whomarried Polly WIlhite, shownon 1820 Jackson county ga census also had sons born in the time frame that fit William Grimes b 1808 (OliveBell) and Washington b.1812 whom I suspect are Gabriel's brothers.I also did find Gabriel W. Grimes in Madison Co GA much in documentation in the 1820's up to 1830. I also found William Grimes Sr and a William Grimes Jr as jurors in Madison County Jan 1830. I wonder might the Sr Grimes have been the one from Jackson Co GA since he also had a son to fit the age of Gabriel's brother William who would have of age to conduct business in 1830 as well.
1820 There is no listing for a Gabriel W. Grimes in GA. So he is apparently living under the household of another which makes it likely he's in that household once again with William Grimes in Jackson County GA.
From 1821-1846 Gabriel is found doing much business Madison Co GA. 1821 Gabriel Grimes was listed as a juror along with William Grimes Sr and William Grimes Jr. It is not known if the the two Williams are father and son or if any relation at all but I suspect it's the father William who married Polly WIlhite as Gabriel's brother William was only 13 yrs old at the time.
In 1822 Gabriel W. Grimes witnessed the will of Thomas Miner Grimes. Where was the older WILLIAM GRIMES< his possible brother? I have not found a death record but do not find him in the area after this time either but Gabriel was QUITE busy with litigations in the courthouse throughout the 1820's in Madison co GA, no other Grimes seems to exist until little brother William comes of age. I wonder if some of the litigations are pertaining to Gabriel's father's estate, though I've not found any estate records on William Sr.
Late in the 1820's Gabriel was also found on several documents with William Grimes and Washington Grimes.
Gabriel purchased slaves from John Wilhite who owned land in Jackson and Madison co GA according to his will. John Wilhite also was gdn and executor on the will of William Grimes d.1795 Elbert Co ga, (Mildred). Not sure why he was legatee unless he was married to a Grimes, possibly one of Gabriel's sisters.
Gabriel W. Grimes was administrator over the estate of Fleming J. Mathews in 1848. I believe Fleming to be the first husband of Saleta Ann Bridges, since James Bridges Sr was exec to FLemings estate, then James Bridges Jr, then Gabriel whom she married in 1848. In my research I also found a marriage between Fleming J. Mathews and Saleta Ann Bridges, where I got her name. APparenlty Saleta and Fleming had a daughter Susan b 1846
Gabriel was appointed guardian over William Strong, son of Samuel Strong along with Davis Evans, John Wilhite, Washington Grimes, William Grimes and Rolly Hopper. William Strong's mother and Samuel Strong's wife was Gabriel's sister Nancy Grimes.
Washington Grimes b. 1812 who was always found living and doing business in Madison co Ga and later died there, named his son Gabriel Wilhite Grimes according to some pension informatin I have been given on him. Gabriel Wilhite Grimes was buried in Jackson co GA. Because of Washington's son name being Gabriel and the close knitness of him to the older Gabriel W. Grimes found in Madison co GA and a young William Grimes of Madison co GA, it appears that Washington could also be a brother to them as they appear to be. Given that Washington's son Gabriel Wilhite Grimes was buried in Jackson Co GA it would appear he may have a family link to Jackson co GA through Church or land. Maybe it is coincidental, but that is what I am trying to find out. THere was a William Grimes that was a member of a church near Jackson County GA, not sure who that one was but could be mine.
In 1820 Jackson co GA, being a county beside Madison Co GA where the Grimes and Wilhites seemed to work and own land, I found a William Grimes on census. Here is the information on that family.
1820 jackson co ga
1102101110105003
1 male 0-10 b 1810-20 Washington b 1812
1 male 10-16 b 1804-1810 William Jr b 1808-10
2 males 16-26 born 1804-1794 Gabriel W. b 1796-00
who is the other son listed here? Could it be Jesse whose wife ws Susannah in 1807 Jackson county deeds?
1 male 26-45 Father ? born 1794- 1775 Could this be Polly Wilhite's husband William??
0 over 45 males
1 female under 10 b 1810-20 Could this be Mary who married Thomas B. ANthony 1856? He was in cahoots with this family much
1 female 10-16 born 1810-1804 Nancy b ca 1804-1808 marr 1824 Samuel Strong
1 female 16-26 born 1804- 1794 Probably 1791ish
Could this be Polly Grimes who married Thomas B. ANthony 1820 Jackson County GA? 1 female over 45 born before 1775 The mother would be born around 1770 or earlier according to these ages of childrenFather and mother were born right close to 1775 according to this census, she being a bit older than her husband.
If their first child according to this census was born 1794 the father would have been about 19 when his first child was born, but the first child could have been born as late as 1804 making the father a bit older than 19 when his first child was born, probably more likely.
Does anyone know who the above family is? There are no other Grimes listed in Jackson Co GA census in 1820 or 1810 and by 1830, this family has disappeared from Jackson County ga. THere was a Jesse Grimes on deeds in 1807 Jackson county but 5 years ago there documents were all indexed. I saw on genforum where a Jesse Grimes drew land from the 1805 GA land lottery, not sure where he drew land but I think he was from Jackson accord to documentation and had to be a resident of GA to qualify, for 2 years I think Could he be the missing son of William and Polly or is he kin to the Thomas W. Grimes of Greene as a Jesse Grimes goes to Greene county ga then to AL, his wife was Susannah, in AL a widow grimes was seen as Susannah. ALso this very Jesse had a land deed in Jackson county with William Strong as witness. Nancy's husband was Samuel Strong, son William. Now I wonder how and if he is kin to this line.
In 1820 Madison Co GA, where I find all the Grimes doing much business, along with on other family only, the Thomas Miner Grimes family whom Gabriel W. Grimes witnessed the will of in 1822.
I find this census information
1830 William Grimes household, Madison Co GA William Grimes (looks like same area as Thomas) 1 male 15-20- b 1815-1810 Washington b 1812 1 male 20-30-b 1800-1810 William Jr b 1808-1810 1 male 30-40 -b 1790-1800 GAbriel W. Grimes b1796-1800 1 female 15-20- b 1815-1810 Unknown Sister 1 female 40-50 born 1780-1790 is this the mother or still yet a sister? where is the father? Is the mother still living? Was this the same family in 1820 Jackson co GA? Sons ages fit.1840 Gabriel W. Grimes--Oglethorpe County 1 male 20-30 head of house, no others listed. Right next door is a William Grimes also 30-40 with one female 20-30 (I feel this may be William Grimes who married Olive Bell. They are not listed in the 1850 Goosepond census and I do know that William and Olive lived in Elbert Co GA .
1850 G. W. Grimes is found in Oglethorpe Co Goosepond again, he is 50 M no occupation given-no land value given b. GA
In the 1850 slave schedules, Gabriel W. Grimes is listed with 75 slaves
Listed under the household with gabriel 1850 was Ann (this is Saleta Ann), 22 F b.GA
Susan 4 F who is believed to be the child of Saleta Ann Bridges and Feming J. Mathews, Saleta�s first husband , born GA James Black 45 M Overseer b.GA
1860 Gabriel W. Grimes is living in Goosepond District of Oglethorpe County GA
wife Ann
daughter Mary age 2
1870 Oglethorpe
Gabriel W. Grimes 74 M W Farmer $1000 value personal estateCerlada (Saleta) 41 F W keeping house b.GA
Mary 12 F W at home
James 9 M W "
Gabriel 6 M W "
Thomas 2 M W "
1880 Gabriel W. Grimes is not listed with wife Ann or sons in Goosepond but family is still there.Listed are: Ann w f 51 widowed
William w m 19 son
Gabriel w m 16 son
Thomas w m 12 son
At this time I have not found where Gabriel is buried, possibly Goosepond and I understand it is very overgrown, but even so, I find no listing of his place of buriel. I have found no listing for a will or estate records of Gabriel W. Grimes in GA up to 1906. DOCUMENTS
