User:Gmarinello19/sandbox

Grimes became a known figure in Litchfield and New Haven, Connecticut while living there. Through his multiple jobs of barbering, furniture trading and errand running for students he was able to network with students, faculty and politicians in the communities. It was this connecting with members in each community that caused Grimes' recent master to learn where Grimes was located. Feeling that the community of Litchfield was smaller and the political landscape would be more in his favor if his recent master came looking for him, Grimes moved to Litchfield. Grimes had to mortgage his property and take on debt in order to pay for his freedom. Fortunately, however, the people who he was connected with in Litchfield were able to help him with his negotiation of price for his freedom. His slave narrative was published on months after becoming a free man. Grimes was still listed as living in New Haven in the 1830 and 1840 United States census. Grimes is noted for listing that he lived in many cities in Connecticut. These cities being Stratford, Norwalk, Fairfield, Bridgeport and Stratford Point alongside New Haven and Litchfield. Grimes felt a second publishing of his slave narrative would be best because his first edition of his slave narrative is considered the first one by many, which he felt caused him to lose out on monetary gains. However, his second release of a slave narrative did receive a much different reception from the first. In fact, the abolitionist press at the time did not make any references to the second edition in any newspapers. 1816 - Grimes opens a short-lived barber shop in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

1819 - William and Clarissa Grimes move to Litchfield, Connecticut, where he establishes a barber shop. Grimes buys real estate from celebrated furniture maker Silias E. Cheney. Grimes convicted of keeping a white woman "of bad character" in his house

1820 - United States census lists Grimes as head of a seven-member household in Litchfield. Renting his shop in Litchfield, Grimes moves to New Haven to work as a barber, grocer, and furniture merchant.