Charles Grymes or Grimes (October 10, 1693 – December 1, 1743) was Virginia planter and politician who represented

Richmond County Richmond County may refer to places: Australia *Richmond County, New South Wales, a cadastral division Canada *Richmond County, Nova Scotia United Kingdom *Richmondshire, the original Richmond County in Yorkshire, England United States ...

on Virginia's Northern Neck in the

House of Burgesses The House of Burgesses was the elected representative element of the Virginia General Assembly, the legislative body of the Colony of Virginia. With the creation of the House of Burgesses in 1642, the General Assembly, which had been established ...

(1728–1734).

Early life and education

The younger of two sons born to the former Alice Townley (1675–1710) of Gloucester County and her husband John Grymes (1660–1709). He had an elder brother also John Grymes (1691–1749) and sisters Anne (1689–1730; who never married) and Elizabeth Lucy Grymes (1692–1750) who married John Holcomb, and whose son (also John Holcombe) would serve in the House of Virginia Delegates. Their father built a plantation called "Grymesby" in Middlesex County. Their grandfather Rev. Chales Grymes (1612–1661) had emigrated from Kent, England to become rector of Hampton parish in York County in 1645, and had two sons and a daughter, as well as occasionally preached at what became North Farnham Parish in 1783 (previously Farnham parish of then-vast

Rappahannock County Rappahannock County is a county located in the northern Piedmont region of the Commonwealth of Virginia, US, adjacent to Shenandoah National Park. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 7,348. Its county seat is Washington. The name "Rappaha ...

. This boy received a private education appropriate to his class, and also attended the

College of William and Mary The College of William & Mary (officially The College of William and Mary in Virginia, abbreviated as William & Mary, W&M) is a public research university in Williamsburg, Virginia. Founded in 1693 by letters patent issued by King William III a ...

in 1705. His brother John, who inherited Grymesby, would also represent Middlesex County in the House of Burgesses before being appointed to the Governor's Council. Meanwhile, Charles Grymes married Frances Jenings, daughter of Edmund Jenings, a member of the Virginia Governor's Council. Two of their daughters married powerful planters. Frances Grymes would marry

Philip Ludwell III Philip Cottington Ludwell III (December 28, 1716 – February 28, 1767) was a Virginia planter, soldier and politician who twice represented Jamestown in the House of Burgesses, but in 1760 left his plantations in the care of overseers and perma ...

, a merchant and planter who would sit in both houses of the Virginia General Assembly before moving to England. Her sister Lucy Grymes married Henry Lee. And Sarah Grymes (1738–1764) married John Reynolds.

Career

Grymes ultimately inherited Morattico plantation in Richmond County, Virginia, as well as about 1000 acres at the headwaters of the Rappahanock River in what became Rappahannock County. Grymes became the Richmond County sheriff in 1724–1725. Richmond County voters elected him as one of their two representatives in the House of Burgesses in 1728, for the session that lasted until 1734, when they replaced both burgesses by J. Woodbridge and William Fantleroy.Cynthia Miller Leonard, The Virginia General Assembly 1619-1978 (Richmond: Virginia State Library 1978), p. 75

Death and legacy

Grymes died intestate in 1743 and his son in law Philip Ludlow was appointed as executor of his estate.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grymes, Charles People from colonial Virginia House of Burgesses members 1693 births 1743 deaths People from Richmond County, Virginia