Edmund de Grimsby

Edmund de Grimsby, or de Grymesby (died 1354) was an English cleric, Crown official and judge. While his career in Ireland lasted only about a year, he is notable as having been the first Master of the Rolls in Ireland.

He derived his name from his birthplace of Grimsby, Lincolnshire.^[1] It is likely that he spent his last years there: certainly he retained close links with the town throughout his life, building several houses and endowing a chantry.^[1] In 1343 he agreed to make a grant of land, the rent from which would pay the salary of the chaplain attached to St. James' Church, Grimsby (now Grimsby Minster).^[2]

He was presented as parish priest of East Keal in 1322 and of Preston in 1325; he also held the Scottish living of Moffat, Dumfriesshire. In later life, he received several further clerical preferments, notably as prebendary of St. Paul's Cathedral.^[1]

In 1330, he was mentioned as being a royal clerk. In 1333 the Crown decided that the Lord Chancellor of Ireland required a Keeper or Master of the Rolls to assist him.^[1] Grimsby was appointed the first Master by letters patent: he did go to Ireland but returned to England a year later. He resumed his English position as a clerk in Chancery and had custody of the Great Seal in 1340 and 1351. He died in 1354.^[1]