Jesse Grinstead

Jesse Grinstead was probably born in England around 1770. In 1798 he was listed in tax records in Charles City, VA as "overseer." He had a horse. He married widow Mary (Crump) Ware about 1797-98. She died around 1808 and he married Elizabeth Moss Finch in 1809. He had 11 children; only Jesse Crump left descendants.

Jesse was one of four brothers (Jesse, Harbert, Robert, and Thomas) who left England for VA. Harbert and Robert went from VA to KY, Thomas who went to IN and married there. Jesse remained in VA and married twice.

He appears on the 1795 tax records of Charles City, VA as having no property. On the 1798 tax records, he was listed as an "overseer" and had a horse. The tax lists for 1802, 1803 1804, and 1805 show that he had one black slave. Apparently his second wife who he married in 1809 brought a dowry. The 1809 personal property tax show that he owned two black slaves over 16, and one black slave over 12, 3 horses, and one riding chair. In 1810 he added two more slaves, but one fewer by 1811. In 1812 he had four slaves and two horses.

He signed documents with an "x" as he could not sign his name.