Divall family of Cuckfield, Sussex - Grubb family of Lewisham and Southwark

This Divall family originated from Cuckfield in Sussex, and were the children of Thomas Dival and Mary King who married in Cuckfield on 10 April 1782. They are John (b.1783?), James (christened 12 Feb 1786), William (christened 1 Jul 1787and the writer of the will below), Stephen (christened 16 Nov 1788, married Susan Davey 7 Feb 1821 Clayton, Sussex), David (christened 28 Nov 1790), Mary (christened 7 Oct 1792) and Martha (christened 22 Mar 1795, married James Randall 13 Oct 1813 Clayton, Sussex).

William does not appear from the following will to have married, or else he was widowed with no children, - though it is possible that his immediate family was already provided for - as he leaves everything to his brothers and sisters and nephews and nieces. I hope - but have no actual proof so far - that his brother John (also a victualler in Lewisham) already dead in 1831 is the father of Susannah Divall who married John Robson and was the mother of Louisa Robson. John Divall's wife was Mary Ann Grubb (married 18 Mar 1813 at St George the Martyr, Southwark) while the Executor of this will is suitably Henry Grubb the elder (Mary Ann's father) as their children receive the residue of the estate.

The inscription on a tomb in Lewisham churchyard lays out the family relationships:

112. Flat tomb In memory of | Fanny GRUBB | who died August 7th 1802 in her 39th year. Also Mary Ann DIVALL daughter of the above who died October 2nd 1824 in her 33rd year. Also John Divall husband of the above Mary Ann Divall who died September 27th ?1827 aged …9 years. (LAS manuscript says 27 September 1828 aged 49) Also John Divall son of John and Mary Divall who died 16 November 1841 aged 26 years. Also Henry Grubb husband of the above Fanny Grubb who died July 29th 1845 in his 82nd year. Also Henry Grubb son of the above died September 30th 1863 aged 77 years.

Henry Grubb the elder, described as a yeoman of Lewisham in his will (18 Oct 1847) left all of his property in Lewisham - freehold (in George Place, Lewisham), and leasehold (next to the Bull Inn) - to his son Henry. Pigot's Kent directories for 1832-34 have Henry the elder as licensee at the Castle, Lewisham. Henry the younger in the 1851 census runs a greengrocers in Lewisham High Road next to the Black Bull Inn; he is 61 and unmarried. Mary Ann, Henry the elder's daughter, married John Divall. Their offspring included the John on the inscription who died in 1841, Susannah who married John Robson, and Frances (Fanny) who married Kemsey Ingersoll.

This is the will of Henry Grubb the elder who died on 29th July 1845. His will was proved over two years later in October 1847. Is this the origin of the family story of land ownership in Lewisham?

This is the last will of me Henry Grubb of Lewisham in the County of Kent Yeoman I give devise and bequeath unto my son Henry Grubb the younger all those my two freehold messuages or tenements with the land or ground and hereditaments and the right of way and other appurtenances to the same belonging situate and being in George Place in the parish of Lewisham aforesaid and also all that my leasehold messuage or tenement ground and premises with the appurtenances next and adjoining to the Bull Inn in Lewisham aforesaid and now in my own occupation and all my estate [term?] and interest therein. And also all my ready monies and all other the residue and remainder of my estate property and effects whatsoever and wheresoever and which I shall or may be possessed of interested in or entitled to at the time of my decease in any manner or wise howsoever. To hold the ... and the whole and every part thereof respectively (but subject as to the said leasehold premises to the rent and covenants affecting the same) unto my said son Henry Grubb (the younger) his heirs executors administrators and assigns according to the nature and tenure thereof respectively. And I do hereby nominate and appoint my said son Henry Grubb (the younger) sole executor of this my will. And lastly I do hereby revoke and make void all former and other will, codicils and testamentary dispositions by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I the said Hery Grubb the testator have to this my last will at the end thereof set my hand this eighteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred and forty one. Henry Grubb [signed]. Signed by the said Henry Grubb the testator as and for his last will in the presence of us present at the same time who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto. Jn: Fred: Parker Solr. Lewisham -- Francis Barber his Clerk... Proved at London the 18th October 1847 before the Worshipful Sherrard Beaumont Burnaby Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oath of Henry Grubb the son the sole executor to whom administration was granted having been first sworn duly to administer.

The 1841 census has the Divall children (John (25), Maria (20) and Susannah (18)) living in Lewisham with the two Henry Grubbs, aged 75 and 50, both greengrocers, their grandfather and uncle respectively. These are the orphaned children of John Divall mentioned in the will below, ten years before the 1841 census. This almost certainly confirms the family links between the Grubbs and John Divall and William the author of the will below.

Though there is now another problem: Susannah is still unmarried at the time of the 1841 census - so how come I can't find her marriage to John Robson? I think from the same census I have found him living in St. Paul, Deptford - the family is still to be found there 20 years later when their daughter Louisa marries Isaac Cattley - aged 18, the son of Josiah Robson, and both are watermen, born in the county.

Will of William Divall Victualler Lewisham 1831

This is the last will and testament of me William Divall of Lewisham in the county of Kent victualler. First I direct that all my just debts and funeral and testamentary expenses may be fully paid and satisfied as soon after my decease as conveniently may be and after payment thereof and subject thereto I give and bequeath to my brother James Divall the sum of ten pounds of like lawful British money for his absolute use.