Sylvester Grimes - Surgeon
Sylvester Grimes
16 May 1831 – 20 Apr 1866
Sylvester was born in St Helens on 16th May 1831, the youngest of William Grimes and Ellen Marsh's 5 children
William is referenced in numerous sources as a Hairdresser/Barber and died in 1838, shortly after Sylvester's birth. Ellen came from a professional family and seems to have wanted the same for her children. Sylvester's elder brother John was an apprentice solicitor at the time of his death and her daughter Margaret married a local surgeon.
Sylvester followed his maternal uncle (Sylvester Marsh) into the medical profession and qualified as a surgeon in Liverpool in 1856. He practiced out of premises in New Market St, and took on roles with both the Manchester Assurance Society and as a police surgeon for the local area.
In this capacity he was called to give evidence in a number of cases reported locally
- 13 Nov 1856 Liverpool Daily Post– called to give evidence into the death of Margaret Allen
- 9 Oct 1858 The Sun, London – called to give evidence at the trial of the murder of Robert Vose
- 17 Dec 1858 The Liverpool Mercury - Called to give evidence at the trial of the murder of William Coultas (a child)
During this period he was also published in the Lancet "Case of Dislocation of Knee Joint with Fracture of Upper Fourth of Fibula" (1857)
Sylvester married Elizabeth Jane Davies in Llandegla, Ruthin in 1857. They had two daughters; Adelina Beatrice and Mary Ellen.
Sylvester died in St Helens on 20 April 1866 of Phthisis ("Tie-sis") and pneumonia.
Researched by Amanda Wilcock
