John Faucheraud Grimké
Encyclopedia
'John Faucheraud Grimké was an American jurist who served as Associate justice and Senior Associate Justice of South Carolina's Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions from 1783 until his death. He also served in the South Carolina state legislature from 1782 until 1790. He was intendant of Charleston, South Carolina from 1786 to 1788.
Educated in the law in London at Trinity College, Cambridge, and at the Inns of Court Middle Temple, Grimké signed, with Benjamin Franklin
and others, a 1774 petition to King George III and the British government protesting the Boston Port Law. In 1776, he entered Charleston's Regiment of Artillery. At the beginning of hostilities, he returned home and fought through the American Revolutionary War
, leaving the army as lieutenant colonel. In March, 1781, was imprisoned by the British; upon his release he rejoined the Continental Army. Grimké fought in several famous battles, such as Eutaw Springs and Yorktown. He served as an officer under Colonel Samuel Elbert
, under the extended Georgia command of Major General Robert Howe
, in 1778. Grimke kept an orderbook of his time in the army.
Grimké was elected a judge of the superior court in 1783, and in 1799 became senior associate. Princeton gave him the degree of LL.D in 1789. As a member of the legislature, he served as speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives
in 1785-86, and a member of the convention of 1788 that adopted the Federal constitution.
In 1811, the South Carolina legislature attempted to remove Judge Grimke from his position as a judge by impeachment. He survived the impeachment attempt.
Grimke was described by John Belton O'Neall as a "stern, unbending judge" who tolerated nothing. Yet Grimke held a high opinion of the abilities of women and believed his daughter Sarah Grimke would have made a good lawyer had she been born a boy and allowed to practice. He also believed that women should be allowed to be Executrixes of estates.
Grimké died at a home on the shore overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Long Branch, New Jersey
attended by his daughter Sarah. He was buried in Long Branch.
The name Grimké derives from German
ancestors who came to South Carolina in the 17th century.
He also published "Revised Edition of the Laws of South Carolina to 1789", "Law of Executors for South Carolina," “Duties of Executors and Administrators of Estates" (1797) around the time he was breaking his father's will in the Charlestown Equity Courts; and "Duty of Justices of the Peace" (2nd ed., 1796).
upper class and was well known in society. In 1784, he married Mary Smith, a descendant of Landgrave Thomas Smith, whose extended Charleston family was both wealthy and influential. Mary Smith was a cousin of Abigail Smith who would later marry John Adams. The couple maintained a large slave population at their rice plantations. Yet, it is also true from the record, that as early as the 1780s, Grimke held abolitionist views towards ending slaver. He wrote about the draconian slave codes created after the Stono Rebellion (1739), a riot that his uncle Frederick Grimke (d. 1778) used his slaves to help put down.
John and Mary Grimké had fourteen children, three of whom died in infancy. Their children included Sarah Moore Grimké and Angelina Grimké
, noted orators and abolitionists; attorney and reformer Thomas Smith Grimké
, and Henry W. Grimke. Another son, Frederick (born in Charleston 1 September 1791; died in Chillicothe, Ohio
8 March 1863), a graduate of Yale, moved to Ohio, where he became a judge and state supreme court justice.
John and Mary Grimke's mixed-race grandchildren, through their son Henry W. Grimke, included journalist and diplomat Archibald Grimké
, Francis J. Grimké
, a Presbyterian minister, and John Grimké (d.1918).
Educated in the law in London at Trinity College, Cambridge, and at the Inns of Court Middle Temple, Grimké signed, with Benjamin Franklin
Benjamin Franklin
Dr. Benjamin Franklin was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. A noted polymath, Franklin was a leading author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, and diplomat...
and others, a 1774 petition to King George III and the British government protesting the Boston Port Law. In 1776, he entered Charleston's Regiment of Artillery. At the beginning of hostilities, he returned home and fought through the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, leaving the army as lieutenant colonel. In March, 1781, was imprisoned by the British; upon his release he rejoined the Continental Army. Grimké fought in several famous battles, such as Eutaw Springs and Yorktown. He served as an officer under Colonel Samuel Elbert
Samuel Elbert
Samuel Elbert was an American merchant, soldier, and politician from Savannah, Georgia.Elbert fought in the Revolutionary War, commanding the victorious American colonial forces in a naval battle near St. Simons Island, Georgia on April 19, 1778...
, under the extended Georgia command of Major General Robert Howe
Robert Howe (soldier)
Robert Howe was a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.-Early life:His great-grandfather was James Moore, colonial governor of South Carolina...
, in 1778. Grimke kept an orderbook of his time in the army.
Grimké was elected a judge of the superior court in 1783, and in 1799 became senior associate. Princeton gave him the degree of LL.D in 1789. As a member of the legislature, he served as speaker of the South Carolina House of Representatives
South Carolina House of Representatives
The South Carolina House of Representatives is the lower house of the South Carolina General Assembly, the upper house being the South Carolina Senate. It consists of 124 Representatives elected to two year terms at the same time as US Congressional elections...
in 1785-86, and a member of the convention of 1788 that adopted the Federal constitution.
In 1811, the South Carolina legislature attempted to remove Judge Grimke from his position as a judge by impeachment. He survived the impeachment attempt.
Grimke was described by John Belton O'Neall as a "stern, unbending judge" who tolerated nothing. Yet Grimke held a high opinion of the abilities of women and believed his daughter Sarah Grimke would have made a good lawyer had she been born a boy and allowed to practice. He also believed that women should be allowed to be Executrixes of estates.
Grimké died at a home on the shore overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Long Branch, New Jersey
Long Branch, New Jersey
Long Branch is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 30,719.Long Branch was formed on April 11, 1867, as the Long Branch Commission, from portions of Ocean Township...
attended by his daughter Sarah. He was buried in Long Branch.
The name Grimké derives from German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
ancestors who came to South Carolina in the 17th century.
Publications
In 1785 Grimké served as a member of a three-man commission designated to revise, digest and publish the state laws. While the commission’s final report was not adopted by the state, some recommendations were adopted into law. Grimké’s research resulted in the publication of Public Laws of the State of South Carolina (Philadelphia, 1790), which served for several decades as a standard legal reference. The book contains information on the English statutes which extended to or were generally received in the American Colonies; and includes references to English cases and decisions on those statutes.He also published "Revised Edition of the Laws of South Carolina to 1789", "Law of Executors for South Carolina," “Duties of Executors and Administrators of Estates" (1797) around the time he was breaking his father's will in the Charlestown Equity Courts; and "Duty of Justices of the Peace" (2nd ed., 1796).
Family
A son of John Paul Grimké and Mary Faucheraud, John F. Grimké was a member of Charleston’sCharleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
upper class and was well known in society. In 1784, he married Mary Smith, a descendant of Landgrave Thomas Smith, whose extended Charleston family was both wealthy and influential. Mary Smith was a cousin of Abigail Smith who would later marry John Adams. The couple maintained a large slave population at their rice plantations. Yet, it is also true from the record, that as early as the 1780s, Grimke held abolitionist views towards ending slaver. He wrote about the draconian slave codes created after the Stono Rebellion (1739), a riot that his uncle Frederick Grimke (d. 1778) used his slaves to help put down.
John and Mary Grimké had fourteen children, three of whom died in infancy. Their children included Sarah Moore Grimké and Angelina Grimké
Angelina Grimké
Angelina Emily Grimké Weld was an American political activist, abolitionist and supporter of the women's suffrage movement.- Family background :...
, noted orators and abolitionists; attorney and reformer Thomas Smith Grimké
Thomas Smith Grimké
Thomas Smith Grimké was an American attorney, author, orator and social activist.-Parents and education:...
, and Henry W. Grimke. Another son, Frederick (born in Charleston 1 September 1791; died in Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe, Ohio
Chillicothe is a city in and the county seat of Ross County, Ohio, United States.Chillicothe was the first and third capital of Ohio and is located in southern Ohio along the Scioto River. The name comes from the Shawnee name Chalahgawtha, meaning "principal town", as it was a major settlement of...
8 March 1863), a graduate of Yale, moved to Ohio, where he became a judge and state supreme court justice.
John and Mary Grimke's mixed-race grandchildren, through their son Henry W. Grimke, included journalist and diplomat Archibald Grimké
Archibald Grimke
Archibald Henry Grimké was an American lawyer, intellectual, journalist, diplomat and community leader in the 19th and early 20th century...
, Francis J. Grimké
Francis J. Grimké
Francis James Grimké was a Presbyterian minister who was prominent in working for equal rights for African Americans...
, a Presbyterian minister, and John Grimké (d.1918).