Revisiting the Grinstead family

Source: Ancestry. Marriage Certificate for Mary Grinstead, 1857.

Moving one generation back from my 3rd-great-grandparents, I'm looking again at the family of Thomas Grinstead and Mary Petrie. The image above shows the marriage certificate for Mary Grinstead, one of their daughters, and Franklin Lawrence, from 17 February 1857 in Warren County, Kentucky. The wedding took place at Thomas' home.

Thomas provided his mark of consent to the marriage of another daughter, Francis Grinstead, to Blackstone Garmon, on 25 January 1859. Franklin Lawrence was also a surety on the marriage bond. Blackstone's brother James Garmon married a sister of Francis, Sarah Grinstead. Her marriage also occurred at the home of Thomas Grinstead on 17 December 1863.

Source: Ancestry. Marriage consent signed by Thomas Grinstead.

Source: Ancestry. Marriage record, 1863.

From family lore, Thomas Grinstead married Mary Petrie on 28 December 1825. Thomas appears in the 1830 US Census in Warren County, Kentucky, living next door to his older brother, Bartholomew Grinstead. Thomas and Mary had the following children:
- Pamela Ann Grinstead, 1826-1913
- David William Grinstead, 1827-1910
- Nancy Grinstead, 1829-
- Alexander Grinstead, 1831-1900
- Mary Grinstead, 1833-1907
- Frances Grinstead, 1834-1928
- Martha Elizabeth Grinstead, 1836-1878
- Thomas Jefferson Grinstead, 1838-1926
- Sarah Jane Grinstead, 1841-1888
- Melissa Catherine Grinstead, 1843-1864
- Bartholomew Warren Grinstead, 1844-1925
- Anne Elizabeth Grinstead, 1847-1913

The family appears in the 1850 US Census in Warren County, Kentucky:

Source: Ancestry. 1850 US Census, Warren County, KY.

Thomas & family appear in the 1860 US Census, living next door to my 4th-great-grandparents, Richard & Nancy Wheatley.

Source: Ancestry. 1860 US Census.

Mary Petrie Grinstead died about 1865. The 1865 IRS Tax Assessment lists show Thomas as growing cotton, along with his older brothers Bartholomew and William W. Grinstead.

Source: Ancestry. 1865 IRS Tax Assessments.

Unfortunately, the 1860 Federal Census Slave Schedules also show Thomas as the owner of two slaves, a 19 year old girl, and a 4-year-old boy.

Source: Ancestry. 1860 Slave Schedules.

I don't have a death date for Thomas, but he likely died between 1865 and 1870 in Warren County, Kentucky.

We have a ton of AncestryDNA matches to the Grinstead family. My Mom has 43 matches descended from Thomas Grinstead, and her sisters have 38 and 35. I have 32, my sister has 38.