Grimwithshire
Grimwithshire (Pend O'Reille and Stevens Counties, WA) was a shire located in the Inlands region of An Tir. It was disbanded in 2011.
Historical details are compiled from the archives of meeting minutes, newsletters and notebooks maintained by the founding seneschale. If a mistake is noted please bring it to their attention for correction.
The branch name was registered in May of 2005. It was modeled upon the Grimwith reservoir region in the Yorkshire dales of England. Shire was appended following the regional naming conventions of York.
The device submission was returned in August 2006 for lack of a petition. A new package was assembled by the Seneschal. The petition resubmitted had the signatures of the Seneschal, the Exchequer, the Marshall, the A&S Minister. It also included the signatures of four populous members and the Royal Patrons. It was dated 12/5/06. The device was accepted upon resubmission.
==History of Grimwithshire==
Arnora Grimsdottir (known then as Wilhelmina Catherine de Rochelle) and Guy Grimsson began to organise people towards the idea of forming a shire in Stevens County late fall of 2002 after Arnora had discussed the idea with Count Nicholaus Barchatov (At the time King) while attending Harvest Feast in the Shire of Ambergard and was encouraged to do so by His Majesty. Later Pend Oreille County was added. The first Yahoo group formed for the shire project included Guy, Arnora, Venera di Nardiello, James and Katherine McFee, Dinnok Smoksson, Wecelo Von Hamm, Amelia of the River and Agnarr Tokisson. That group was discontinued due to excessive spamming and later another took it's place. Initial discussion and recruitment was mainly via messages on the Steps email list and contacts at events. Meetings with Kingdom officers provided guidance and encouragement.
A full two years of research, discussion and recruitment took place before the group felt ready to take the initial steps to incipiency. The Kingdom New Branches deputy wanted to see a solid period of growth and commitment before advancing to an incipiency petition. It was at this time we began formatting flyers recruiting for members and Guy and Arnora distributed them to bulletin boards, shops and libraries across the counties.
In 2004 partly because of those flyers Anne Claxton, Ekarius Von Magdeburg, Muirren, Una and Uther joined the group. The following summer the incipient group held their first event, Grim Offensive (sponsored by the Barony of Wealdsmere,) in June 2005.
2005 saw tremendous growth with Michael of Lancaster, Sir Tighearnach, Rioghnach, Richard mac Tighearnach, Ailionara inghean Tighearnach, Fionabhair inghean Tighearnach, Dacy Cospatrick, Hildithe, Clayton, Yvonne and Emelye.
Incipient status was granted by their Royal Majesties King Thorin and Queen Daegmaer, affirming Arnora Grimsdottir as founding seneschale and Duke Sir Gunnar and Duchess Gabriell as Royal Patrons.
Grimwithshire was granted full branch status on 14 July 2007 by TRM's Sven and Signy at Grim Offensive III.
Grimwithshire's first native Peer was Sir Guy Grimsson, knighted by HRM Tiernan at July Coronation in the Canton of Silverhart July 21, 2007.
Grimwith published a branch newsletter, known at first as "Grim Tidings" and later changed to "The Guardian."
Grimwithshire had a website: maintained by Darbie Marlin
Grimwithshire website
When Grimwithshire was dissolved the funds the branch held were put into a trust account with the Barony of Wealdsmere, for a period of ten years, or until the branch possibly revived. In October 2017 the remaining shire members decided to donate all remaining funds to the Kingdom of An Tir.
Grimwith held two major events per year:
Details taken from An Tir Calendar and branch archives.
2005:
Grim Offensive I June 24, 2005 to June 26, 2005 Site: Locust Grove Autocrat: Arnora Grimsdottir
Feast of the Guardians of Grimwith
December 03, 2005
Site: Chewelah Civic Center
Autocrat: Anne Claxton
Potluck Feast
2006:
Grim Offensive II' August 04, 2006 to August 06, 2006 Site: Locust Grove Steward: Arnóra Grimsdottir / Co-Steward: Rioghnach inghean Chonchobhair Atha Dhara
(No “Guardians Feast in 2006, was held early January 2007)
'2007:
Guardian's Tourney of the Wolf' January 20, 2007 Site: Chewelah Civic Center Autocrat: Muirenn inghean Dearbhail Potluck Feast
Grim Offensive III July 13, 2007 to July 15, 2007 Site: Sand Canyon, Colville National Forest Autocrat: Rioghnach inghean Chonchobhair Atha Dhara
2008:
Grimwithshire Tournament of the Wolves March 01, 2008 Site: Arden Community Club Autocrat: Cristen Breaniann / Co-Autocrat: Una of Grimwith Feastcrat: Arnora Grimsdottir Period Feast
Grim Offensive IV June 06, 2008 to June 08, 2008 Site: Locust Grove Campground Autocrat: Arnora Grimsdottir (Original Autocrat: Una of Grimwith – stepped down as Autocrat in April)
2009:
Tourney of the Wolves March 28, 2009 Site: Clayton Grange Autocrat: Rioghnach inghean Chonchobhair Atha Dhara Potluck Feast
Grim Offensive V June 12, 2009 to June 14, 2009 Site: Clayton Fair Grounds Autocrat: Sir Tighearnach ua Cathain Atha Dara
2010:
Guardians Tourney of the Wolves Site: Chewelah Civic Center April 03, 2010 Autocrat: Arnora Grimsdottir Potluck Feast
Grim Offensive VI Site: Clayton Fair Grounds June 11, 2010 to June 13, 2010 Autocrat: Sir Guy Grimsson
2011:
Grimwith Guardian's Feast Tourney of the Wolves March 05, 2011 (No event info available - records indicate this event had a date reserved, but was canceled when the populace voted to discontinue Royal Patronage)
Grim Offensive VII (This was the last event Grimwithshire ever held.)
June 24, 2011 to June 26, 2011
Site: Locust Grove
Autocrat: Arnora Grimsdottir (Had family medical emergency two days before event, co-autocrat and seneschale took over.)
Co-Autocrat: Mable
A vote was called at the last Grim Offensive by the current Seneschal of the shire members present and it was decided to disband the shire due to declining numbers as several members had moved away or stopped playing.
Trivia:
At first there was some confusion about the ZIP codes involved, rather or not they belonged to the nearby Barony of Wealdsmere. The then-current Baron offered to cede the ZIP codes, but the original Wealdsmere charter only claimed all ZIP codes within Spokane county and one additional in Lincoln County, in the town of Davenport (confirmed by the founding Baroness of Wealdsmere.) Further research with the SCA, Inc. in Milpitas, CA and the Kingdom seneschal confirmed that Stevens and Pend Oreille counties were indeed "Kings Land" and free to form a new branch. As of 2018 both counties are still recorded with the Kingdom as being the domain of the dormant shire.
The yearly feast honoring the Royal Patrons went through multiple name changes. As no "official" event name was ever decided each new autocrat made up their own name for this event.
The Sylversail Armada, Commanded by High Sea Lord Sylverstone, was granted permanent letters of marque guaranteeing safe passage and sanctuary in Grimwithshire by Duke Gunnar in exchange for their loyalty to our side in the ongoing war with Dregate over the river crossing. These letters were presented to the Armada in Patrons Court at Grim Offensive IV.