I Want to Keep Up with the Joneses!

I have been working with a roofing / siding company for MONTHS battling my insurance company to get the best deal possible on my claim.  I got a check for the roof and gutters right away, but they're still wanting to simply patch the siding, which isn't good because the siding has been discontinued and the patch job will look horrible.

Yesterday morning I got all excited because a big truck parked right in front of my house and delivered shingles and roofing materials.  To my neighbor.  Who started the process way after I did.

I was feeling pissy and mad, especially this morning when workers showed up to start the work.

And then I thought of all the little coincidences I've had this winter.  Needing a handyman and meeting one at Lowes.  Needing to start the process of selling my house and having a real estate agent knock on my door.  Wanting my siding cleaned and having a Gypsy show up and offer to do it cheap.

There are two things holding me back from putting the house on the market - the roof/siding, and the fence.  The guy who said he would do my fence for me didn't call until yesterday; he's been sick but he's ready to go today.

Really, it all works out for the best, since I won't have a place to live until May 1 in Minnesota.  My big brother has offered me his basement if I come earlier, but that just means moving again.

And...the 2 acre lot I looked at last summer?  It's back on the market.  It's calling to me.

And Now For Something Completely Different.

Anyone get the Monty Python reference?  Anyone?

Another Monty Python skit was about herding cats.  If you've ever tried to get a group of people to all pay attention and follow you, you know how well that works.

And speaking of cats, my cat Grace used up another life last week.  She had been doing remarkably well for a 17 year old cat in chronic kidney failure - eating well, active, shiny, alert, all that.  In fact, at 2:00 a.m. on New Year's Eve, she sensed I was awake, and did her normal 'step on my face until I pet her' routine.

So around 7 when I woke up for real, I expected her to greet me the same way; happy to see me, butt in my face, pet me, feed me.

But she remained curled up at my side seemingly asleep, and although she was awake, she didn't seem to be able to raise her head.  I got up, knowing something was horribly wrong, and started preparing myself for the worst.

After a couple of hours, I heard a noise, and realized she was out of bed using the litter box.

"That's a good sign", I thought, until I saw her.  Her head was tilted funny, and she wasn't walking right.  Before I could scoop her up, she went to her favorite hidey-hole behind the gas fireplace, under a built-in cabinet.

If you didn't already know it, cats tend to hide or go away to die.  So I knew that Grace had done just that.  So I tried to pull her out of the 6 inch hole, but she got away from me and went under the cabinet floor where there was no way to get her short of cutting out the cabinet bottom.  Yep, that's my new Dremel saw, and the first project I got to use it on.  Hope the new owners of my house don't open that cabinet!



I was able to reach in and get her, covered in saw dust by this point, and rushed her to my Vet's office, 9 minutes before they were to close for the holiday.  Her blood tests showed that her kidney tests weren't that bad, but she definitely had something neurological going on.  My choices were to take her to the 24 hour animal emergency hospital, or put her down.

Here's what my Vet said that made my mind up.

"Age is not a reason for not treating her".  I had thought that at 17, she was old, and since twice before, a Vet gave me the option for putting her down, it was time.

I was 50/50 at this point - I didn't want her to suffer, thought she had a stroke and wouldn't recover, but didn't want to lose her either.  The Vet warned me that the minimum I'd have to spend at the hospital was $2000, and could go to $4000 or $5000 easily.

I will gladly go into debt to save her life, thought I.  So I drove down to the animal hospital where they were waiting for me.  They took her from me immediately to take a look.  Finally, the doctor came out and told me that they recommended that I hospitalize her for 48 hours, on IV fluids, antibiotics, etc.  with no diagnosis or prognosis other than "animals tend to recover quickly, or die" from this type of thing.

I swear, the hardest thing I ever had to do was leave her there, even though they said I could come anytime, 24 hours a day to visit.

I called that night, and she was "stable", but no change.  The next morning, I called to set up a visit and check on her, and the doc told me that Grace was doing super.  She no longer had the head tilt, and if her kidney results were okay that afternoon, I could take her home a day early.  The tears of fear and sadness from the day before turned into tears of joy at that.

She's been home 4 days now, and every day is better and better.  She's pretty much back to normal as far as her alertness and behavior.  She's not eating as much as she should, but she's doing better.

She has been milking the attention though.  I ran out and bought her a new cat bed, and she's covered in a blanket I'm still crocheting.  She now sleeps in the dead center of the bed, so I have to curl up around her, but I woke up this morning to a furry face pushing against mine, and a foot in my ear, so I guess I'll learn to deal with it.

The Grigsbys Part Nine - Soldier John

"Soldier John" Grigsby, was born in 1720 in Stafford County. In 1740, "Soldier John" accompanied Lawrence Washington, brother of George Washington, to Carthagena (now in Columbia) as part of the Virginia militia under the command of Admiral Edward Vernon. 

Lawrence Washington inherited the estate formerly known as Little Hunting Creek Plantation, and renamed it Mount Vernon in honor of Admiral Vernon.  When Lawrence's brother George inherited the property, he kept the name.

John Grigsby also commanded a company of Thirteenth Regiment of the Virginia Line during the early years of the American Revolution.

In 1746 Soldier John married his first wife Rosanna Etchison/Atchison.  Together, they had 5 children before Rosanna died in 1761.  Since their youngest child was born in December of 1761, I presume she died in childbirth or shortly thereafter.  I am descended from his oldest son, James (1748-1835).  An interesting fact about James is that he married his father's second wife's sister Frances Porter, who was 12 years younger than her sister.  

In 1764 John remarried, to Elizabeth Porter, and they had 8 children, 7 of which were born in Stafford County.

In 1779, John Grigsby, his wife, and other family members crossed the Blue Ridge Mountains into the Valley of Virginia.  He was preceded to the Valley by his son James, from whom he purchased "460 acres in the Forks of the James River" on November 2, 1779. When he arrived at "Fruit Hill" in Rockbridge, Co., VA, he was nearly 60 years of age and the father of at least 12 children. His last child, Reuben, was born there on June 6 of the following year. John Grigsby died April 7, 1794, and was buried in the cemetery of Falling Spring Presbyterian Church in Rockbridge Co., where the family worshipped. An historical marker at the church reads as follows:

FALLING SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

The Oldest Congregation in the Fincastle Presbytery, the Falling Spring Presbyterian Church, was organized before 1748. The Hanover Presbytery met here in October 1780. The present Gothic Revival church was constructed of slave-made brick during the Civil War. At the time of its dedication in April 1864, General Thomas L. Rosser's Cavalry Brigade was camped here. The first burial in the present cemetery was that of John Grigsby of Fruit Hill (1720- 1794).

In 1746, "Soldier John" married Rosanna Etchison, disposed of his holdings inherited from his father, Charles, in Stafford County, and moved with his young wife to Culpepper, Va. They had four (4) sons and one (1) daughter.

Rosanna died in 1762. In 1764, "Soldier John" married Elizabeth Porter; born 1734, died 1807. Elizabeth was buried in Falling Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery. All of their children were born in Culpepper except Reuben, who was born at "Fruit Hill" in Rockbridge County.

Reuben's home, Hickory Hill, is in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Grigsbys Part Eight - Puritan John, Immigrant John, and Old John

In my last post we were still in England, where John Grigsby fought with the Puritans against the Monarchy and won...for a short time at least.  The Monarchy was put back in place in 1660, and I can only imagine that John must have been a little fearful, knowing that he fought with the army that beheaded the father of the current king.  John married for the first time in about 1650, but other than that we don't know anything.  Perhaps John was fleeing not only the country, but his wife?

John arrived in the colonies in September of 1661, but he didn't apply for land until September of 1685.  So where was he all that time?  If he came over as an indentured servant, he would have paid for his passage in 5 to 7 years, not 24 years.  So maybe he signed on as a sailor, and went back and forth between the colonies and England during those years.

After he arrived, he married Jane Rosser, or Prosser, and proceeded to have at least 6 children, all who lived to relatively advanced ages.  Old John himself lived to ripe old age of 106!

John owned his first recorded land (100 acres) in King George County, which is due south of Washington DC about 40 miles and on the southern bank of the Potomac River.  In 1699, John bought an additional 887 acres situated on the branches of Paspitanzy Creek in the county of Stafford, Virginia, which is just north and west of King George County.

When Old John wrote his will in 1728, he had 18 slaves, much land, hogs, and cattle, which he divided amongst his 6 children.

In the name of God amen, I, John Grigsby of the Parish of St. Paul's in the County of Stafford being in good health of body, sound, perfect, and disposing mind and memory, thanks be returned to God for same, yet being sensible of the uncertainty of this mortal life, do make, publish, and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following (that is to say) first and principally I recommend my soul into hands of Almighty God, hoping through the meritous death of my Blessed Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ to receive full and free pardon and remission of my sins and to inherit everlasting salvation, and my body I commit to the earth to be decently interred at the discretion of my executors hereafter mentioned as touching the disposition of such temporal estate as it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me, I give and dispose thereof as followeth (viz):

Item: I give unto my son John Grigsby his heirs part of tract of land I bought of Nicholas Battain from his spring branch to upper comer tree by William Smith's old field, and likewise I give him three negros, named Sambo, Thorn, and Dick.

Item: I give unto my son Charles Grigsby all that parcel of land from the swamp to Mr. Chandler Fowke's line whereon he now lives, it being in the pattern I bought of Nick Battain, and likewise I give unto him two negros, Robin and James, and to him and his heirs the land and negros.

Item: I give unto my daughter Mary Anne four negros: Jemmy, Will, Joney, and Bess, to her and her heirs.

Item: I give unto my son James Grigsby and his heirs all that parcel of land whereon he now lives from Jones Branch up his own spring branch and to across to his brother John's spring branch, and likewise I give him three negros: Jack, Ben, Dall and her increase forever to him and his heirs.

Item: I give unto my son William Grigsby, and his heirs all that parcel of land whereon he now lives, it being part of that patten I bought of Nicholas Battain from James* spring branch and up Jones Branch to my head line and soe along the line to his Brother John's land and likewise I give him three negros: Allow, Jane and Grace, their increase to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give unto my son Thomas Grigsby all the remainder part of that pattain I bought of Battain from the end of Wolf Pit Point up Jones Branch to my head line on the east side of the branch; also I give him the said tract of land whereon now I live to him and his heirs and likewise I give him three negros: Nan, Genny, Mary, and their increase to him and his heirs forever and likewise I give unto my son Thomas Grigsby all my hogs belonging to me and likewise I give him half my cattle and the other half of cattle to be divided between my other four sons and daughter and likewise all my other part of my moveable estate to be equally divided between my six children, and further I doe desire
that my estate may not be brought to an appraisement, and further I doe appoint my two sons John and Thomas Grigsby to be my executors of this my last will and testament to see that everything equally divided between themselves revoking all former wills as witness my hand and seal this 17th March, 1728/9.

Signed and sealed in the presence of us and delivered: John Grigsby

Old John's son Charles (1682-1740) married Sarah Wilkerson and had 8 children.  One of those children, John (1720-1794), also known as Soldier John, will be the subject of my next tale.

The Grigsbys Part Seven - A Puritan and an Immigrant

The Grigsby fortune was pretty much gone by the time Thomas died in about 1650.  In England about that time, a civil war was raging.  

A little history as background here.  Queen Elizabeth the First was the daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.  Known as the Virgin Queen, she never married and died without heir.  So the throne passed to her first cousin twice removed, King James VI of Scotland, and he became James I of England.  James was used to doing what he wanted to in Scotland (the Parliament there was weak), and he was confused when the stronger Parliament of England tried to keep him in check.

James was known as a spender, but peaceful, so when the throne passed to his son Charles I, England and Scotland had good relations.  Charles was more ambitious, and wanted to unite England, Scotland and Ireland into a new single kingdom.  The English Parliament didn't really like that idea, thinking that they'd lose old English traditions as well as the Monarchy.

But Charles, like his father, believed that Kings can do whatever they want without permission.  Charles had the nerve to dissolve Parliament!  But then when he realized he couldn't raise money without it, he reinstated it in 1628.

But then he refused to call Parliament for 11 years, called "Eleven Years' Tyranny".  When Charles couldn't raise money any other way, he finally called a new Parliament in 1640.  By this time, he had made a big mess of things in England and Scotland, and this Parliament put measures in place to put him in check.  Charles sent 400 troops to Parliament to arrest 5 members for treason, but he failed, and fled to the countryside to avoid retribution.

There were two sides to this war - the Royalists, who were on the side of Charles, and the Puritans, led by Oliver Cromwell.  The Puritans were mostly Presbyterian, and were angry about the excesses of not only the Kings, but the Church of England.  John Grigsby, Thomas' son, was a Puritan, and fought against the King.

Long story, short, Charles was eventually found guilty of treason, and beheaded in 1649, just before Thomas died.  Oliver Cromwell acted as the Protectorate of England until Charles II was restored to the throne in 1660.  Actually, Oliver died in 1658, but his son held the role until the monarchy was re-established.

So now John Grigsby found himself on the wrong side, having fought against the king with the Puritans.  What's a boy with no money and in trouble with the king to do but leave the country to seek his fortune?

The Grigsby Coat of Arms

The Grigsbys Part Six - Where Did the Money Go?

So far, we know that Isaac Grigsby and two of his servants died of the plague in August of 1604.  The money passed down from Margaret Sharp's inheritance was still there, and the family was living well.
Isaac's son Thomas (1599-1650) was five at the time of his father's death, and his inheritance of 220 pounds was to be held by his mother Joane until he was 21.  But from looking at his life, the money wasn't there when he reached his adulthood.  Here's why.

Joane remarried a man named Thomas Edolpe and moved the family to Hinxhill Parish. Two daughters were bom to the Edolpe's, Jane and Elizabeth, both of whom died in 1609.

Joane herself then died in 1615, when Thomas was sixteen.

Mr. Edolpe was married secondly on 19 October 1618 to Honor Whitehead. They were the parents of two sons, Thomas Edolpe junior and Charles Edolpe. So Thomas and his brother, Alexander Grygsby, were raised in a family with two half-sisters and two stepbrothers and neither of their natural parents in Hinxhill parish.

It's likely that Thomas Edolpe and Joane sold much of the property that Isaac and Alexander were to inherit, and then spent the money, some on Thomas and Alexander's education, and the rest on living expenses.

When Thomas did turn 21, it's evident that he was well educated, having written Thomas Edolpe's will for him.  Thomas was the Church Warden in Hinxhill and Kennington parishes where he recorded the christening of three of his children. A church warden was a powerful man, with the following duties:

a) to manage parish property and income and see the churchyard kept clean and fences repaired.
b) maintain the fabric of the church; ornaments, allocation of the pews and hold custody of belfry keys.
c) see that the rector maintains the chancel.
d) furnish bread and wine for communion.
e) to attend the Archdeacon's Court; represent views of parishioners.
f) to assist in compilation of the parish register.
g) encourage parishioners to attend church regularly and insure that their children are baptised.
h) supervise the education and relief of the poor.
i) maintain the parish arms and pay local soldiers.
j) control and exterminate vermin.
k) at the end of each year, they must hand over to their successor, parish property and submit accounts. 

Thomas Grigbye, as he spelled his name at the time, married Elizabeth Bankes on the 4th of June, 1622 when he was 22 years old.  His first child, John, was born 08 August, 1624 in Maidstone.

Although there is no record of Thomas' death, it is believed that he died around 1650, and is buried in the Mersham parish churchyard beside his father Isaack, who died in 1604; his grandparents, Alexander, who died 1575, and Anna Griggsby, who died 1603. Most likely his great-grandfather. John Greggesbye/Grigby, who died 1550, also lies in the same churchyard.

After Thomas died, Elizabeth married a second time and had a daughter.

So after all this, John, the oldest son of Thomas, didn't have an inheritance to live off of.  In part seven, we'll learn about how he came to be my first ancestor to come to the US.

The Grigsbys Part Five - Surviving the Plague

Alexander, the oldest son of John and Margaret, didn't like the fact that Mom left all of her money divided equally amongst her children, including her 4 daughters.  Back then, it was more customary to leave the estate to the oldest son.

So Alexander sued the executors of his mother's estate soon after she died in 1563.  Evidently he wanted to keep control of the lands in Loose where he lived, also in Cranbrook parish where the manor "Bettenham" was located.

Go ahead and Google Bettenham Manor.  It still exists.

Margaret Sharp Grigby willed to her daughter, Catherine Lamb, the manor called "Hale". She died in 1590. It was in possession of Issack, son of Alexander, when he died in 1604. Justinian, another of Margaret's sons, was willed lands in Cranbrook and Bennenden parishes. Whether he lived in the manor of "Bettenham" is not known. He was in Cranbrook in 1564 when his daughter, Margaret, was bom and when her death was recorded in the parish register on 10 Jan 1565. It is presumed that Justinian died in Cranbrook.

Alexander married someone named Anna (last name unknown) in about 1552.  He didn't leave a will, and it's presumed that he died of a "pestilence" at around the age of 45.  A pestilence may have been the plague.  Although he didn't leave a will, this was written:

"The goods of Alexander Grygbye, gentleman, late of Mersham, deceased.... Administration granted to Anna, relict (wife) and Isaac Grigby, legitimate sone of the deceased." 

Isaac, or Isaak (1553-1604), inherited quite a lot from his father, including a manor called Hale, or Hales.  He married Joane Finch on the 21st of December 1598, and had 3 sons by her.  By all accounts Isaac lived a nice life, with a big house, servants, and land.  

In August of 1604, the plague hit England again.  Royalty and the rich would escape London and flee to the countryside, where it was considered safer.  But sometimes, the plague extended its reach outside the city, and affected entire households, which it did to Isaac.

Two servants died, followed by Isaac.  Probate court after his death shows that Isaac left a few debts however left his wife quite a sum of money:

Whereof this accomptant hathe paid and disbursed and prayeth to be allowed these
payments following, videlicet.
item Inprints paid for funerall charges of the said deceased Isaack Grigsbie, as it is supposed died of the Plague or pestilence. XVJ shi.
item paid for the burial! of two servants of said deceased, who also died of the plague.
VJSV.
item paid to one Percival of Mersham for attending the said deceased and his servants in their sickness and for caring for the house of the deceased, the space of six weekes. XL shillings,
item paid to one NVTT of Mersham for bringing victualles and other necessaries unto the deceased and his servants. X shillings,
item paid to a special messenger for travailing to Canterburie to procure letters of administration for this accomptant (Joanna Grysbie) for registring the inventories. XXX shillings,
item paid unto Robert Hall of Ashford, Woollen Draper for cloth. Oweing for by the deceased at the tyme of his death. iiJ lbs. XVJ shillings,
item paid unto an Ale housekeeper of Mersham for victualls, drinke and other necessaries for the said deceased and his servants, at the tyme of their several visitations of the Plague. XXXiJ shillings,
item paid unto one Benettes wife for helping to attend the deceased at tyme of sickness. One cow worth XI shilling,
item paid to Joane Taylor for looking to the house of the said deceased. XX shillings,
item paid unto Thomas Stone for looking unto the groundes. X shillings,
item paid to a maid and a girl servant of the deceased their wages and apparre! due them. XXXV shillings,
item paid unto Reynold Keale of Braboume for inning the harvest of the said deceased. iiiJ lbs. X shillings,
item paid to the parson (Vicar) of Mersham for tithes due by the deceased at his death. ViiJ shillings,
item paid to Thomas Pellham rent - gatherer for Thomas Scott, esquire, certain quit-rent due. XXXViiiJ shillings.
item paid unto William Griffyn of Mersham, Blacksmith for like debt. iX shillings,
item paid to a carpenter for the necessaries repairing of the late owners dwelling house and bam. L shillings,
item paid unto certain workmen for reparations done upon a house of the deceased in at Linton, Kent. VJ lbs.
item paid unto John Barrow of Mersham for debt. XViiiJ shillings,
item paid unto Robert Allarde of Mersham for debt. iX shillings.
item paid unto Reynold Keale and to Thomas Stock for apprizinge the goodes of the deceased. iiiJ shillings.
item this accomptant (Joanne Grysbie) craveth to be allowed for the education and bringing up of Thomas and Alexander Grigsbie, sonnes of the said Isaack Grigsbie, deceased. To furnish with meate, drinke, apparel! and other necessaries, together with their schooling for the space of one year. XiiiJ lbs.
item paid for drawing in form to exhibit unto the court for the proxie and procurators fee; for registring and ingrossing and all other ordinarie charges there abouts. XXXiiJ shillings iiiJ d.

Some totall of all payments & allowances XliX lbs. V d. XJ shillings.

So it may plainely appeare by this account that this accomptant hathe faithfully administered in the goodes of Isaack Grigsbie, deceased. After all the payments and allowances, there yet remayneth in her handes the some of 532 lbs. 7 shillings 1 d.

(VCXXiiJIbs VU shillings Jd) allotment of parts:

Isaac's son Thomas was 5 years old when his father died, and was promised an inheritance when he turned 21, as was Isaac's son Alexander.  I show a third son named Robert who was born a year before Thomas, so I presume that he died young.

By the time Thomas turned 21, the money was gone.  More about that in Part Six.