April saw me hosting 12 American Grigsbys on a tour of their ancestral parishes. This is the 3rd time I have had the pleasure of the company of Grigsby clan members, but was by far the largest and longest tour. I was definitely nervous with everything from accommodation to transport to venues to co-ordinate but it was a terrific success and the Grigsbys, (all 12 of them,) were a delight, Their energy and enthusiasm was infectious and they made new friends (and hopefully discovered new family,) wherever I took them. The Grigsby family connection to the Banks family of Aylesford took us first to Aylesford church where the hard to miss memorial to Sir John Banks is situated, followed by the most wonderful tour of Aylesford priory with Father David enchanting us all with his knowledge and delightful under his breath asides.
Other days saw us at Hinxhill another 16th/17th century haunt of the Grigsbys where again we were treated to a very generous tour and I was thrilled to see the very early and beautiful painted glass window. Nearby Mersham was home to the Grigsby for many decades and is perhaps the parish where they had their heyday, massive thanks to our lovely guides and possible Grigsby relations!
All Saints Maidstone was to some of the group the highlight of the trip as they were able to see the 1624 baptism of John Grigsby who almost certainly became their first American ancestor and his parents’ marriage, Thomas Grigsby and Elizabeth Banks, the aunt of Sir John.
Leeds Castle was where an earlier John Grigsby (1505-1550) was clerk to both Catherine of Aragon and Ann Boleyn, and we were particularly keen to see the rooms where he would probably have worked.
A very joyful meeting and greeting occurred in Hythe where American and English Grigsbys met, some for the first time and others for a happy reunion.
Mark Bateson from the Kent History and Library Centre thrilled the group by allowing them to see Sir John Banks Letter book, which held the signature of Sir John’s cousin Alexander Grigsby. I think they were also rather awed when I told them that Mark had recently discovered another copy of the Magna Carta.
A major trip was then undertaken from Kent up to Packington Hall in Derbyshire where the family of the present Earl of Aylesford lives. My group were wonderfully greeted, were treated to an amazing tour by Lady Guernsey and had the opportunity to see paintings of the early Banks family.
I think perhaps the best way to sum up the event is with Marcia Johnson’s own perceptions and the marvellous photos she and her group took.
I hope you are recovered from the American Invasion of Grigsbys! Thank you so much for all your help during the visit. It went off without a hitch, thanks to your excellent planning and coordination in England. I can unequivocally say that the Grigsby trip was an unqualified success due to your diligent planning and oversight on our behalf so many thanks for all the arrangements! There are just so many memories and poignant moments that we will have forever. It could not have gone better. There are just no words to describe how meaningful this trip was to my fellow Grigsbys and me. It just was beyond all our expectations.
Our trip to Packington Hall was also a success. We were received so warmly by Lady Georgie Guernsey The portrait of Sir John is huge. The other amusing thing was you can see the detail and brush strokes much better. It was mentioned that he had the Grigsby chin, (cleft) and I said more likely that is a Banks genetic contribution to the Grigsby gene pool which is to the point you have made all along and which I related to the group, we are as much Banks as Grigsby which is exactly what I hoped our group would come to understand. When we gaze upon the Banks who were fortunate enough to have their portraits painted, we gaze upon what Grigsbys could also have looked like. That single observation brought home the entire point. If it were not for Sir John, we would not have been able to see Alexander's signature and handwriting, either. A number of our group trotted off to the British Library on the afternoon of the last day to see the Magna Carta because of Mark Bateson's having discovered a copy--nothing like a connection today to make history even more meaningful so that was a totally unexpected bonus from Maidstone. That was after we visited the London townhouse of Sir John where they gave us a tour and let us go up on the rooftop to see how it overlooks Lincoln Inn Fields which is even larger than I thought as a square and you can see Sir John Sloane's house from there.
Comments