Progenitors of a Major Line of Grimshaws in New York
Levi Grimshaw was born in about 1797 in New Hampshire, the (probable) son of William and Elizabeth (Zephaniah) Grimshaw. He and Hannah Towne were married in Quebec in 1828 and had eight children – John, Silas, Imogene, Clark, George, Levi, Ann and Phoebe. Sometime between 1833 and 1836 (after John and, possibly, Silas were born), the family moved from Canada to St Lawrence County, New York, where the other children were born. The descendants of Levi and Hannah Grimshaw comprise one of the major Grimshaw family lines in North America. Levi died in 1875 and is buried in Jerusalem Cemetery in Canton, New York.
Levi’s father, William, was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and is the subject of a companion webpage. Two of Levi’s eight siblings were Zephaniah Grimshaw and George Grimshaw; their families also comprise major Grimshaw family lines. Click here for information on William Grimshaw’s Revolutionary War records, and here for his New Hampshire life after the war. Information on Zephaniah can be found here, and on George by clicking here.
Thanks go to Barbara Bonner for providing basic information on Levi Grimshaw that made this webpage possible. And to Calvin Lamb and Bill O’Halloran for making information available on the internet for this family line.
The following descendant chart was compiled from several sources, including Calvin Lamb’s website and the LDS FamilySearch website. Italicized version is from BarbaraBonner’s webpage (needs to be consolidated.)
|—1 Silas Grimshaw (May 1833, Canada or NY – 4 Jun 1925, Hermon, NY) & Arvilla or Arville L Blackmer (21 or 22 Nov 1842, Russell, NY – 10 Nov or Dec 1906, Hermon, NY). Married 1857, St Lawrence Co, NY
|—|—2 Edward Dennis Grimshaw* (8 Oct 1859, Russell, NY – 3 Sep 1936) & Elizabeth (“Libbie”) M Brown (Dec 1864, Russell, NY – ?). Married 4 Sep 1881, Russell, NY.
|—|—|—3 Lelah Grimshaw (30 Nov 1882, Russell, NY – 1 Feb 1958, Ogdensburg, NY) & William Henry Carpenter (31 Aug 1878, Russell, NY – 29 Dec 1945, DeKalb, NY). Married 1 Jan 1901, Edwards, NY.
|—|—|—3 Forest Edward Grimshaw (12 or 21 Sep 1885, Russell, NY – 11 or 12 Oct 1955, Canton, NY) & Nettie Louise Reed (10 Jun 1891, St Lawrence Co, NY – 23 Jul 1981). Married 12 Oct 1910, Russell, NY.
……… *2nd Wife of Edward Dennis Grimshaw: Emma Daniels
|—|—|—3 Sadie Grimshaw (Abt 1892) & Harold H. Goings (22 March 1893 – June 1967)
|—|—|—3 William Grimshaw (11 May 1901 or 1903, St Lawrence Co, NY – 3 Mar 2001, Seminole, FL) & Viola Armin (29 Nov 1905 – 11 Mar 2002)
|—|—2 Adeline L Grimshaw (1864, Russell, NY – 20 or 29 Apr 1888, Russell, NY) & Cy or AZ Schofell (19 Jan 1844 or 1852, St Lawrence Co, NY – 17 Jan 1926 or 1938, Hermon, NY). Married 25 Dec 1880, Canton, NY
|—|—|—3 Stanley Schofell (17 Jul 1881 – 10 Mar 1948) & Bessie Bresett (11 Oct 1886 – 20 May 1967)
|—|—|—3 Manley Schofell (Abt 1882 – Bef 1926)
|—|—|—3 Alvinza Schofell (18 Feb 1886 – 15 Mar 1936) & Clyde Hitchman (26 Oct 1883 – 01 Jan 1973)
|—|—2 Nellie B or E Grimshaw (15 Aug 1874 – 14 Feb 1927) & Lewis Ames (21 May 1862 – 05 Jul 1936)
|—|—|—3 Azel O. Ames (16 Sep 1899 – Feb 1983) & Marion L. O’Neil (20 Aug 1910 – 13 Nov 1994)
|—1 Imogene or Emogene Grimshaw (1835 or 1836, St Lawrence Co, NY – 9 Feb 1911, Hermon, NY) & Jacob Blackmer (9 Nov 1834, N Russell, NY – 21 Jul 1899, Russell, NY). Married 23 Jan 1874, Russell, NY.
|—|—Edith Blackmer (1874, St Lawrence Co, NY – 1875, N Russell, NY)
|—|—Brayton or Burton Levi Blackmer (14 Nov 1876, Russell, NY – 28 May 1949, Canton, NY)
|—|—Perley Blackmer (3 Jul 1879, St Lawrence Co, NY – 1 May 1946, Hermon, NY)
|—|—Eva Blackmer (10 Oct 1880, DeKalb, NY – 24 Oct 1957, Russell, NY)
|—1 Clark Grimshaw (Apr 1838 – ?) & Jane Wood (Abt 1846 – 11 Aug 1893)
|—|—2 Mildred Grimshaw (Abt 1867 or 1868 – ?)
|—|—2 Orena Grimshaw (Sep 1870 – ?) & George Meshurel (May 1861 – 14 Mar 1950)
|—|—|—3 Edson Meshurel (Jun 1888 – ?)
|—|—|—3 Beatrice Meshurel (04 Aug 1890 – July 1977) & Howard Senecal (10 Mar 1892 – Mar 1964)
|—|—|—3 Wilber George Meshurel (17 Nov 1892 – 23 Aug 1958) & Fern Ives (Abt 1889 – 16 Jan 1966)
|—|—|—3 Iva Meshurel (February 1895) & —– Loucks
|—|—|—3 Marion Meshurel (21 Dec 1904 – Feb 1968) & Warren Raven
|—|—|—3 Victor Meshurel (24 Feb 1909 – March 1976) & Doris Bresee (21 Jan 1907 – 29 May 1972)
|—|—2 Perley Z. Grimshaw (4 Apr 1872 or 1873 – 20 Nov 1959)
|—|—2 Guy Leon Grimshaw (28 Jul 1874 or 1875 – 2 Oct 1960)
|—|—2 Inis Grimshaw (Abt 1878 – ?)
|—1 George Grimshaw (13 Jun 1840 – 16 Mar 1921) & Amelia Stevenson (Aug 1845 – Abt 1913)
|—|—2 George Grimshaw (8 Nov 1857, St Lawrence Co, NY – ?)
|—|—2 Earnest Grimshaw (abt 1867, St Lawrence Co, NY – ?)
|—|—2 Eva M. Grimshaw (Abt 1895) & Hollis Emerson Taylor (12 Oct 1892 – Abt 08 Oct 1961)
|—|—|—3 Mary M. Taylor (Abt 1914)
|—|—|—3 Leona Taylor (Abt 1915)
|—|—|—3 Philo L. Taylor (30 Jan 1916 – 15 Aug 1999)
|—|—|—3 Arlene Dorothy Taylor (Abt 1917) & Louis Francois DuBois
|—|—|—3 Catherine Taylor (Abt 1918)
|—|—|—3 Orlinda Taylor (Abt 1919)
|—1 Levi Grimshaw (1845, Russell, NY – ?) & Meria or Maria Christy (abt 1842, NY – ?) [living 1880 in Canton]
|—|—2 William Grimshaw (abt 1868, NY – ?)
|—|—2 Leon Jasper Grimshaw (19 Jun 1879, Canton, NY – 24 Aug 1960, Gouverneur, NY) & Eva M Akley (8 May 1874, St Lawrence Co, NY – 8 Jan 1939, DeKalb, NY). Married 11 Oct 1900, DeKalb, NY.
………………………. *2nd Wife of Leon Jasper Grimshaw: Margaret E. Hitchman (07 Jun 1884 – 12 Dec 1971)
|—1 Ann Grimshaw (7 Dec 1846 – 02 Mar1929) & Tyler Spencer (08 Dec 1835 – 31 Aug 1928)
|—|—2 Minnie Spencer (12 Octr 1867 – 28 Feb 1947) & Michael Killelea (Aug 1855 – 1922)
|—|—|—3 Harry Spencer Killelea (12 Mar 1890 – 06 Jul 1953) & Marion Frances Long
……………….. *2nd Wife of Harry Spencer Killelea: Ida Mae Lester
|—|—|—3 Allie Killelea (Dec 1896) & Newell Adelbert Clark (09 Feb 1895)
|—|—2 Vernon Spencer (20 Oct 1872) & Blanche Gore (Abt 1885 – 08 Feb 1927)
………………………. *2nd Wife of Vernon Spencer: Evelyn J. [Spencer] (Abt 1882)
|—1 Phebe Elizabeth Grimshaw (26 Jun 1850, Russell, NY – ?)
Map Showing Gouverneur and Other Important Locations for the Levi Grimshaw Family
The following map shows the locations of Gouverneur and includes Canton, Russell, DeKalb and Hermon. Levi Grimshaw is buried in Canton.
The following regional map shows the location of Gouverneur in relation to Kingston, Ontario and Cape Vincent, New York. Wolfe Island (under the “Vincent” of Cape Vincent) is where Levi’s brother, George Grimshaw, and nephew, William Grimshaw (son of Zephaniah) lived in the early 1800s.
Levi and Hannah Grimshaw and Family Members in 1860 and 1870 U.S. Censuses
The 1860 U.S. Census, from companion webpage shows 63-year-old Levi and 50-year-old Hannah living in Russell with children Imogene, George, Levi, Ann and Phoebe. Also in Russell are their son, Silas, who is living at a separate location with his wife Arvilla and son Edward. The oldest son, John, is living with his wife, Emily, in nearby Canton. Emma Grimshaw in Canton is likely to be the spouse of Edward Grimshaw; it is unknown why Edward was not present for the census.
The 1870 U.S. Census, from companion webpage, shows Levi and Hannah Grimshaw living in Canton (where Levi subsequently died in 1875). Also in Canton are their children Clark, Imogene, and Levi (who is recorded with his wife, Jane, and young daughter, Mildred). Living in Russell are Levi and Hannah Grimshaw’s children John (with wife Emily and son Charles) and Silas – with wife Arvilla (shown as Lilas and Arrilla) and their children Edward and Adaline. It is uncertain where John E Grimshaw (born 1838) fits in…
Calvin Lamb Website Information on Levi and Hannah Grimshaw
The images below provide extensive information on Levi and Hannah Grimshaw and their descendants. Click here for PDF of the images below.
Levi Grimshaw Burial in Jerusalem Cemetery, Canton, New York
Levi Grimshaw’s grave has been located on Find-A-Grave and is shown below. There appears to be no recocrd of his wife, Hannah, however.
The description of the grave on Find-A-Grave is shown below, followed by a photo of Jerusalem cemetery.
Levi Grimshaw Birth: unknown Death: Jul. 28, 1875 Note: AE 35 yrs Burial: Jerusalem Cemetery Eddy, St. Lawrence County, New York, USA Created by: Anne Cady Record added: Apr 21, 2008 Find A Grave Memorial# 26189573
Levi’s son, Levi W Grimshaw, and his wife are also buried in Jerusalem Cemetery. The headstone and Find-A-Grave description are shown below. Note that Levi’s wife, Maria, is also buried in the grave; her death was apparently 1894.
Levi W. Grimshaw Birth: unknown Death: Nov. 6, 1891 Note: AE 47 yrs Burial: Jerusalem Cemetery Eddy, St. Lawrence County, New York, USA Created by: Anne Cady Record added: Apr 21, 2008 Find A Grave Memorial# 26189574
The photos below are from Riverside Cemetery, Gouverneur, NY, from which it was concluded that the interred were descendants of Levi and Hannah. However, in November 2008, Calvin Lamb sent an e-mail clarifying the lineage of this family. Frank was the son of Alfred and Ida (Kennedy) Grimshaw and the grandson of Barzillai Grimshaw and Louisa (Nokes) Grimshaw. Thus the family is descended from Zephaniah Grimshaw, older brother of Levi Grimshaw. The following descendant chart is assembled from Calvin’s webpage at:
Webpage posted December 2007. Updated November 2008 with information on Frank A and Flossie Grimshaw from Calvin Lamb. Updated March 2012 with new banner and improvements on descendant chart. Updated August 2015 with addition of Levi Grimshaw’s — and his son Levi W Grimshaw’s — headstones.
