Grimes Family

Little is known about the Grimes family of Oxon Hill, Prince George's County, Maryland. Throughout the nineteenth century, the family maintained a farm as well as a shop and tavern or 'ordinary' located at an intersection, now where St. Barnabas Road intersects Oxon Hill Road (Route 414). For much of that time, one family member or another served as postmaster for the area, and thus the town was known as Grimesville, in accordance with the contemporary convention of naming towns after the local postmaster.

Thomas Grimes (1794-1864) managed the store, ordinary, farm, and post office from about 1820 until his death. Liquor and sales licenses for the store from the 1840s and 1850s were issued to Peter Grimes, who may have been part owner of the store. The relationship between Thomas and Peter has not been determined, however, new information provided by a genealogical researcher suggests that Peter was the son of Thomas Grimes and Elizabeth Cadle. See note below.

Thomas and his first wife, Catherine, had four children: Charles Robert, b. 1821; John Thomas, b. 1824; James Henry, b. 1826; and Jeremiah Tobias, b. 1827. After Catherine died in 1832, Thomas married Elizabeth Cadle (or Kadle). This second marriage produced at least two children: Richard Franklin, b. 1835, and George Daniel, b. 1841.

It was Richard Franklin who assumed responsibilities in the store and on the farm as Thomas's health declined in the 1860s and who took over running the family businesses after Thomas's death in 1864. By the time of Thomas's death, the older children no longer lived in the area. Charles and James, along with their families, both moved to Virginia in 1850, and as of 1852 John was in Baltimore. In 1856, Jeremiah moved as well, to "Mr. Baden's place."

A Grimes family tree is available. NOTE: A genealogical researcher provided the following additional information from an 18th century family bible. Thomas' second wife's name was spelled Kadle or Cadle and there was at least one additional (to two listed above) child - Peter Gibson Grimes. Peter Gibson Grimes married Catherine Rachel Suit (as in Suitland, Maryland) sister of Samuel Taylor Suit, and had eight children: Ella Fancis, Samuel Taylor, Sallie Suit, Minnie Gibson, Hattie Louise, Frank Hume, Edith Marie and Mabel Catherine. Catherine Rachel Suit was the daughter of Fielder Wilson Suit, 1805-1870, married 1831 Catherine Margaret Scott, 1817-? Fielder Wilson Suit was the son of Oliver Burch Suit, born 1775, married 1794 Eleanor Wilson. Catherine Margaret Scott was the daughter of Samuel Scott and Elizabeth Free.

From the guide to the Grimes Family papers, 1821-1902, 1845-1864, (State of Maryland and Historical Collections)