Descendants of John GRIMWOOD & Sarah FORSTER m c1844, Scotland

General Notes: Tree39
ALL of the information for this tree came from Dominique Young and Bobbie Amyes. I have not entered all the individual citations and sources. Anyone wishing to contact them please email me

Notes from Bobbie Amyes and Dominique Young:
James Grimwood was born in England around 1844. We have not discovered where. We have not been able to find any record of his birth, nor his family in the 1851 census. We have the names of his parents taken from his two marriage certificates. On one his mother is named as Sarah Foster and on the other Sarah Forster. His father was John Grimwood. He was a ploughman and farm servant. Both parents were dead by the time of James' first marriage. We do not know if James was the only child. We presume his parents were married as he has his mother entered on both certificates as Sarah Grimwood.

John married Sarah Forster before 1844 in ?. Sarah was born before 1824 and died between 1844 and 1867. Another name for Sarah was Sarah Foster.

+ 2 M i. James Grimwood was born about 1844 in England Or Aberdeen, Scotland and died before 1891.

Second Generation

2. James Grimwood was born about 1844 in England Or Aberdeen, Scotland and died before 1891.

General Notes: Notes from Bobbie Amyes and Dominique Young:
We know little of his life till his marriage in Scotland to Margaret Milne. His marriage certificate states he is a seaman in the Merchant navy. Presumably he sailed out from Aberdeen or visited Aberdeen often enough to make the acquaintance of Margaret Milne. On their marriage certificate it gives 83 Hutcheon Street as their residence, so it is possible they were living together prior to their marriage, or that they were both boarding at that address. It is however their address for the next few years. Their first child Askin Hutcheon Grimwood was born there on 25th March 1868 and their second Margaret on 2nd April 1871. As James was a sailor, presumably he was at sea because the following day the census was conducted, 3rd April 1871and he was absent. At home were Margaret 26, Askin 3 and day old Margaret junior, and the sick nurse Margaret Grieg.
The son and heir was born on 6th August 1873. James Alexander Milne Grimwood inherited a strong name incorporating both his father's and grandfather's name. In comparison Margaret was given only her mother's first name. Askin started life with the middle name Hutcheon, the married name of her aunt Askin who was to play such a prominent role in her later life. Family names were important. Their fourth child, May Alexandrina, was named after Margaret's step mother and father.
Young May's entrance into the world was the cause of great heartbreak for the family. James was present when his 32year old wife died from puerperal fever at their home at 290 George Street. His four children were now motherless .It would appear that Margaret's stepmother, herself now a widow, came to the rescue and took the young May into her care, but the battle for her life was of a short duration.Baby May died eight weeks after coming into the world. The older children may have stayed on with Grandma May too when James had to go back to sea. It is probable Askin started to spend more time with her Aunt Askin.
We think James died Oct 1881, Newcastle, England, but have not been able to prove.
Little is known of James's life over the next three years .Life in tenement Aberdeen was tough, without having to worry about raising three motherless youngsters and maintain a job at sea with the merchant navy. An answer came in the form of Ann McRae, daughter of a fellow sailor and neighbour at 85 Hutcheon Street. Ann was a 34 year old spinster at the time of their marriage. As her mother was a widow, one presumes she had experience with looking after the aging, but what was her experience with youngsters?
James and Ann married on 5th November 1879 at 53 Huntly Street, Aberdeen after the banns had been read according to the Forms of the Free Church. The minister was John Longmuir, Minister of the Mariner's Church, Aberdeen. Without knowing whether the Mariners' Church was Free church or whether that was Ann and James's choice, this is a change in religious affiliation. James and Margaret married according to the banns of the Established Church of Scotland, James and Ann according to the banns of the Free Church.
Thomas Grimwood, James and Ann's only child as far as we know, was born in 1880. The 1881 census is the last known evidence we have as yet of James and Ann, and it is only recently we found more about Thomas. The nature and accessibility of Scottish records would have rendered the tracing of James and Ann very simple if they had remained in Scotland. At home on the night of the 1881 census were James aged 38 merchant seaman, Ann 37, two children of the first marriage Margaret 10 and James 7, and the new baby Thomas aged 8 months.
So what happened to James, Ann, Thomas and the rest of the family? Our family history tells us, confirmed in a letter by younger Askin's daughter Kit in 1984, that James died and Margaret and young James stayed with their stepmother Ann, but she too died and they were then split up, going over to Ireland to live with the two Askins. Askin Grimwood had all ready moved to Ireland with her Aunty Askin Milne / Hutcheon / Pirie. Dominique found a James Grimwood killed in a train accident in October 1881 in Newcastle-on-Tyne but despite trying various avenues she has not been able to prove or disprove it was our James. There were no James Grimwoods living in Newcastle at the time of the 1881 census in April, nor have we been able to find Ann after 1881.
Dominique has the October 1881 death certificate for a James Grimwood, railway porter, who died of injuries after being struck by a wagon at the Forth Goods Station. A Coroner's Inquest was held 26 October 1881, but no coroners' records are available for Newcastle for 1881, according to the Tyne and Weir Archivist. The details on the death certificate read: Registration District Newcastle on Tyne, Sub-District of St Nicholas, Ref 119, October 26th or 24th 1881.
An entry for the burial of James Grimwood taken from the registers of St John's Westgate and Elswick Cemetery is as follows:
MF 1328 - No 180521, James Grimwood
Male, age 39 years,
place where death occurred - 62 Panmure Street,
buried on 28 October 1881,
grave section C, number 87, unconsecrated ground, 5 ft,
removed from St Stephen's parish.
The 1891 census was checked for 62 Panmure Street, Ann Grimwood and family were not resident. For now, James Grimwood's history stops here. Is James of Newcastle ours? We think so.

1871 Aberdeen Census, Scotland
83 Hutcheon StreetMargaret Grimwood, head, married, aged 26, born ABN Old Machar
Askin Grimwood, daughter, aged 3 born ABN, St NicholasMargaret Grimwood, daughter, aged 1 day (crossed out) under 1 month, born ABN, St NicholasMargaret Grieg aged 37 Sick Nurse, widow, born ABN Old Machar

1881 Aberdeen Census, Scotland
19A Jute Street, St NicholasJames Grimwood, head, married, aged 38, merchant seaman, born EnglandAnn Grimwood, wife, mar, aged 37 seaman's wife, born ABN, St Nicholas
James Grimwood, son, aged 7, scholar, born ABN, St NicholasMargaret Grimwood, daughter, aged 10, scholar, born ABN St Nicholas
Thomas Grimwood, son, aged 8 months, born ABN, St Nicholas
Little is known of James's life over the next three years .Life in tenement Aberdeen was tough, without having to worry about raising three motherless youngsters and maintai na job at sea with the merchant navy. An answer came in th eform of Ann McRae, daughter of a fellow sailor and neighbour at 85 Hutcheon Street. Ann was a 34 year old spinster at the time of their marriage. As her mother was a widow, one presumes she had experience with looking after the aging, but what was her experience with youngsters?
James and Ann married on 5th November 1879 at 53 Huntly Street, Aberdeen after the banns had been read according to the Forms of the Free Church. The minister was John Longmuir, Minister of the Mariner's Church, Aberdeen. Without knowing whether the Mariners' Church was Free church or whethe rthat was Ann and James's choice, this is a change in religious affiliation. James and Margaret married according t othe banns of the Established Church of Scotland, James an dAnn according to the banns of the Free Church.
Thomas Grimwood, James and Ann's only child as far as we know, was born in 1800. The 1881 census is the last known evidence we have as yet of James and Ann, and it is only recently we found more about Thomas. The nature and accessibility of Scottish records would have rendered the tracing of James and Ann very simple if they had remained in Scotland. At home on the night of the census were James aged 38 merchant seaman, Ann 37, two children of the first marriage Margaret 10 and James 7, and the new baby Thomas aged 8 months.==== Move these to Research Notes in Legacy ============================Dominique found a James Grimwood killed in a train accident in October 1881 in Newcastle-on-Tyne but despite trying various avenues she has not been able to prove or disprove it was our James. There were no James Grimwoods living in Newcastle at the time of the 1881 census in April. Nor have we been able to find Ann after 1881.

1871 Aberdeen Census, Scotland
83 Hutcheon StreetMargaret Grimwood, head, married, aged 26, born ABN Old Machar
Askin Grimwood, daughter, aged 3 born ABN, St NicholasMargaret Grimwood, daughter, aged 1 day (crossed out) under 1 month, born ABN, St NicholasMargaret Grieg aged 37 Sick Nurse, widow, born ABN Old Machar

1881 Aberdeen Census, Scotland
19A Jute Street, St NicholasJames Grimwood, head, married, aged 38, merchant seaman, born EnglandAnn Grimwood, wife, mar, aged 37 seaman's wife, born ABN, St Nicholas
James Grimwood, son, aged 7, scholar, born ABN, St NicholasMargaret Grimwood, daughter, aged 10, scholar, born ABN St Nicholas
Thomas Grimwood, son, aged 8 months, born ABN, St Nicholas

James married Margaret Milne on 21 Feb 1867 in Gilcomston Church, Aberdeen, Scotland. Margaret was born about 1845 in Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland,^¹ died on 2 Dec 1875 in Aberdeen, Scotland^² aged about 30, and was buried after 2 Dec 1875 in Aberdeen, Scotland.^²

+ 3 F i. Askin Hutcheon Grimwood ¹ was born before 25 Mar 1868 in Aberdeen, Scotland,^³ was christened on 25 Mar 1868 in St Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland,^³ and died after 1896.

4 F ii. Margaret Grimwood ¹ was born before 2 Apr 1871 in Aberdeen, Scotland,^³ was christened on 2 Apr 1871 in St Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland,^³ and died after 1937.

Margaret married Joseph Germain Mckeever Wilson between Apr and Jun 1904 in Dublin, Ireland. Joseph was born before 1884 and died after 1937.

+ 5 M iii. James Alexander Grimwood ⁴ was born before 6 Aug 1873 in Aberdeen, Scotland,^³ was christened on 6 Aug 1873 in St Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland,^³ died on 5 Nov 1957 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, and was buried on 6 Nov 1957 in Taita Cemetery, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.

6 F iv. May Alexandrina Grimwood ⁵ was born about Nov 1875 in ?,^⁵ died on 19 Jan 1876 in Burnside, Mid Stocket, Aberdeen, Scotland,^⁵ and was buried after 19 Jan 1876 in Aberdeen, Scotland.^⁶

James next married Ann McRae on 4 Nov 1879 in Mariners Church, Old Machar, Aberdeen, Scotland.⁷ Ann was born about 1844 in St Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland^⁴ and died after 1891.

Marriage Notes: James gave his address as 53 Huntly St,Aberdeen
Minister John Longmuir
Witnesses: John Russell & Thomas ?Thow

+ 7 M i. Thomas Grimwood ⁴ was born on 19 Aug 1880 in 19 Jute St, St Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland^⁴ and died on 6 Jun 1948 in Aberdeen, Scotland aged 67.

Third Generation

3. Askin Hutcheon Grimwood ¹ was born before 25 Mar 1868 in Aberdeen, Scotland,^³ was christened on 25 Mar 1868 in St Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland,^³ and died after 1896.

General Notes: Notes from Bobbie Amyes and Dominique Young:
Lived with her aunt, Askin Milne, in 1881 census. Her aunt Askin had married William Hutcheon 23rd Jan 1857 at Old Machar Aberdeen, Scotland. Presumably he died as we believe she married George Souter Pirie just prior to the 1881 census and that he had already gone over to Ireland. The two Askins then joined George Souter in Dublin.
When Ann McRae Grimwood died , Maggie came and lived with the younger Askin and James with the older Askin. This is according to a letter from Kit dated Dec 1984.
Askin and William lived in Dublin when they were first married and the children were all born there. Later they moved to Burham on Sea, Somerset. The address given for Reginald's family on his death in W.W.1 is "Ivanhoe' Stoddens Road ,Burhnam-on-Sea
Askin and her sister Maggie visited James in New Zealand in 1937. They went on a world cruise on the ship Tamaroa with Maggie's husband, Joseph C Wilson . There was a newspaper article in the Auckland Star about the siblings getting together after 42 years.

Askin married William George Woodman between Oct and Dec 1890 in North Dublin, Ireland. William was born before 1875 and died after 1896.

8 M i. Albert George Woodman was born in 1891 in Dublin North Rd, Ireland and died on 26 Apr 1969 aged 78.

9 F ii. Catherine M Woodman was born in 1894 in Dublin South Rd, Ireland and died on an unknown date.

10 M iii. Clifford Woodman was born in 1896 in Dublin North Rd, Ireland and died on an unknown date.

11 M iv. Reginald Woodman was born in 1896 in Dublin North Rd, Ireland and died on 8 Aug 1917 in Ypes, France (W.W.1) aged 21.

5. James Alexander Grimwood ⁴ was born before 6 Aug 1873 in Aberdeen, Scotland,^³ was christened on 6 Aug 1873 in St Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland,^³ died on 5 Nov 1957 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand, and was buried on 6 Nov 1957 in Taita Cemetery, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.

General Notes: Notes from Bobbie Amyes and Dominique Young:
James is thought to have left Ireland in 1895 and come straight to New Zealand. Family legend suggests he shifted to Ireland after his stepmother's death, but we have not located him in the 1891 census in England, Ireland or Scotland.
James joined the Union Steam Ship Company, New Zealand, on 1st Feb, 1897 as an assistant purser. He was 23 year old .He earned 4 pound per month. In July of that year he was appointed purser. His next promotion was to Kelly Basin ,Tasmania, as a sub-agent. His salary was now 132 pounds per annum plus board. This was in January 1901. After nearly a year in Tasmania he was shifted to Suva branch, Fiji , in Dec 1901. His pay had risen to 180 pound per annum. In Nov 1902 his pay rose to 200 pounds and in 1903 to 220 pounds. He appears to have been based in Suva for around two and quarter years, for in March 1904 he is shifted to Wellington, same pay, 220 pounds. In July 1905 he is promoted to Chief Clerk and shifted to Auckland. His pay rose to 240 pounds per annum. By the end of 1905, he was 32, with good prospects and a special lady in his life, Miss Bessie Crow of Dunedin. They married in Dunedin in Feb 1906, and started married life back in Auckland. Bob was born in 1907 and Tim in 1910. They shifted to Dunedin in 1911 where Gwen and Joyce were born. Joyce's death devastated Bessie. The family shifted to Wellington in 1922, finally moving to Pharazyn Street, Lower Hutt where James stayed till he died. Bessie had died in 1933 and James remarried shortly after.

Auckland Star 6th -11-1937
After Forty-two Years, reunited after 42 years , a brother and two sisters who last stood face to face as children in Ireland met again on board the Tamaroa when the liner berthed at Wellington yesterday . They were Mr J. A Grimwood , of the Union Steamship Company, Wellington and Mrs W. G. Woodman and Mrs J.C. Wilson who had come by the Tamaroa from Southampton on a world cruise together with Mr Wilson. " I was quite a lad and they were just young girls when last I saw my sisters' said Mr Grimwood. "Since then they have both married and reared families, some of whom are married too". Mr Grimwood said they were all together in Dublin in 1895, before he came out to New Zealand. In spite of the lapse of years they had no difficulty in recognising one another when they met aboardship . Mr J.C Wilson is head of the Printing firm Wilso nand Carrigan, London

James married Elizabeth Amelia Crow on 27 Feb 1906 in Dunedin, NZ. Elizabeth died on 25 Jan 1933 in New Zealand.

12 M i. Andrew Robertson Grimwood was born on 8 Jan 1907 in Auckland, New Zealand and died on 6 Jun 2001 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand aged 94.

Andrew next married Isabella McLeay on 7 Apr 1945 in St Paul's, Wanganui, N. Z. Isabella was born about 1913 and died on 11 Dec 2004 in Lower Hutt, New Zealand^⁸ aged about 91.

14 F iii. Gwendoline Elizabeth Grimwood was born about 1915 and died in 1947 aged about 32.

James next married Mary Seton Weaver on 4 May 1934 in Auckland, New Zealand. Mary died on 8 Aug 1959 in Auckland, New Zealand.

7. Thomas Grimwood ⁴ was born on 19 Aug 1880 in 19 Jute St, St Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland^⁴ and died on 6 Jun 1948 in Aberdeen, Scotland aged 67.

General Notes: Thomas Grimwood died June 6th 1948. His home address was 12A Bon Accord Crescent, Aberdeen. He was a Sergeant Major in the Gordon Highlanders. In 1912 he married Lilian Hamilton Edgar DOW . His son was the informant on the death certificate David A. M. Grimwood He lived at 89 Whitehall Place , Aberdeen.

Thomas married Lillian Hamilton Edgar Dow on 24 Jul 1912 in St Nicholas, Aberdeen, Scotland. Lillian died after 1912.

Marriage Notes: His army records suggest that the marriage took place inEast London, South Africa in 1918! He was in South Africain July 1912, so possibly the marriage took place twice.He joined the army in 21 Aug 1897, aged 18y 11m and waspromoted to serjeant in 1913. He was discharged on 24 Jan1919

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