Simon Grimsby

Simon Grimsby was a native of Kingston upon Hull and is first mentioned in 1378, when he had already become involved in the Yorkshire cloth trade. He exported cloth from the port of Hull, where he dealt in other commodities such as herring. His main preoccupation, however, was with the local land market.

His purchases of land seem to have begun quite modestly in April 1384, when he bought a garden called Nettlegarth from the mayor and corporation of Hull. By May 1391, Simon was able to negotiate the lease of a substantial amount of property in Hull Street from Sir Michael de la Pole. Through his wife he was also in possession of a third share of five messuages and other holdings in Newcastle.

Simon served regularly as a collector and controller of the royal customs in the port of Hull, and played a prominent part in local government discharging a term as bailiff and no less than four terms as mayor (1390-1, 1402-3, 1405-6, and 1411-12). He also represented the borough in at least four Parliaments (1381, 1385, 1388, and 1394). Because of his wealth and influence, Simon was often involved as a mainpernor, witness or executor in the affairs of other northerners.