http://genforum.genealogy.com/grubb/messages/165.html David Grubb post, 07 May 1999 Ever since 1893, there has been a debate within the Delaware Grubb family concerning its origins. New evidence has been discovered that finally establishes that John Grubb, our immigrant ancestor was christened in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall on August 16, 1652, the son of Henry Grubb Jr and his wife, Wilmot. For the last nine months, Wilmer Grubb, Harold Mullins and myself have been working to update Gilbert Cope’s 1893 history of the family. Numerous other people are contributing material for the project. Below are the results of the portion of this project dealing with the family’s origins. Part one discusses the Grubb families in England. Part two discusses John Grubb's ancestors including the new evidence. Part three is a new biography of John Grubb. PART ONE THE GRUBB FAMILIES OF ENGLAND: To members of the Delaware Grubb family, Judge Ignatius Cooper Grubb (1841 ‐ 1927) of the Delaware Court of Appeals is remembered for his disproved theory that the Delaware family was descended from nobility. We now know that John Grubb, our immigrant ancestor was not a member of the prominent Wiltshire Grubbe family, and that Frances, his wife was not the daughter of Sir Henry Vane, "the younger." However, to genealogists of various Grubb families throughout the world, Ignatius Grubb is recognized as the first modern family historian who determined that the Grubb families of England are in fact transplants from Denmark and Germany. The surname Grubb, Grubbe and its variations do not appear in the first census of England, taken in the late eleventh century. It appears that the name was brought to England by twelfth and thirteenth century Danish immigrants and later by fifteenth century Protestant Hussite refugees from northern Germany. The Grubb/Grubbe surname is not common in England, but by the seventeenth century there were Grubb families throughout the United Kingdom. Just as in America, many of these families were probably not related. Judge Ignatius Grubb traveled throughout Scandinavia in the summer of 1893 and discovered the roots of the Danish Grubbe family that dates to at least 988. This is a noble family that has produced a long line of royal councilors, Bishops, Diplomats and Admirals of note. In 1127, Gonde Grubbe owned an estate called Veringe in Denmark. In 1619, King Christian IV of Denmark gave Ericus Grubbe command of six warships that sailed to India and Ceylon. However, one should not assume that the Danish immigrants who came to England were related to this noble Danish family. Records of more common people from this period have not survived. The earliest reported German Grubb family was that of Henricvs Von Grubbe, who about 1040 was Lord of the Principality of Brittore in the Hartz Mountains of Brunswick in North Germany. This area is known for its gold and silver mines. In German, the name Grube or Grubbe means a miner or a possessor of mines. While the connection between the German and Danish Grubbe families has not been established, the fact that immigrants with the Grubb/Grubbe last name came to America from a number of countries could indicate that the family (or families) spread in many directions from its roots. The immigration of Danish Grubbes to England started a century after the Norman Conquest. In 1176, a Richard Grubb was reported in Buckinghamshire, northwest of London. In 1273, a John Grubbe was reported in Norfolk County on the eastern coast of England. Also in 1273, Alan Grubbe was reported in Cambridge County, just west of Norfolk. Three years later, a Robert Grube inherited lands in Cumberland County. Another John Grubbe came from Denmark to England in 1285. Unfortunately, parish records in England only date to 1540 and it is not possible to trace the ancestry of common people before then. For example, Thomas Grubb who came from Norfolk County to Boston in 1635 was probably a descendant of Danish immigrants, but the exact line can’t be traced. Thomas had no male grandchildren and is not the ancestor of any modern Grubbs in America. However, there are at least some Grubb families in England that are probably the descendants of these early Danish settlers. The London Grubb Family: The oldest Grubb family that can be traced down to the present is descended from Valte (i.e. Walter) Grubbe who migrated from Denmark to London in the mid thirteenth century and established a shipping fleet on the Thames. A good historical record survives because Walter and his descendants were members of London’s powerful fishmonger’s guild. He also left a place name in the city. Grub Street ran through his former property along the river about a tenth of a mile south of Westminster Abbey and is now the unnamed service alley for the ICI headquarters at the intersection of Mill Bank and Horse Ferry streets. A second Grub Street was west of the Tower of London and became a writer’s colony during the Elizabethan period. Today, the phrase Grub Street is used to describe a second‐rate author. This second Grub Street was renamed about 1830 and was not rebuilt after World War II. As early as 1328, members of Walter’s family moved to North Mimms in Hertfordshire about 20 miles north of the city where a Walter Grubbe endowed the church. One of the members of this branch was Henry Grubbe, who about 1506 married Lady Joan Parr Radcliffe ‐ daughter and heir of the Sir Richard Radcliffe who was killed in 1485 at the Battle of Bosworth Field defending King Richard III. In 1562, Richard Grubb became Mayor of St Albans and during the seventeenth century a number of family members served in various local offices including both the Cromwell and restoration periods. In 1662, John Grubb Jr (1625 – 1700), probably the 2nd great grandson of Sir Henry Grubbe, purchased the estate and mansion house at Horsenden, Buckinghamshire, just over the boarder from Hertfordshire. This estate of 1240 acres remained in the family until 1841 when it was sold for 63,000 pounds to the Duke of Buckingham. Members of this branch include a long line of London area solicitors and Clerks of the fishmonger’s company. In 1819, John Grubb (1786 – 1846) was High Sheriff of Buckingshire. Later, John Eustace Grubb Esq. (1815 – 1899) founded the Southwold, Suffolk branch of the family and Major Edmund Arthur Grubb (1825 – 1863) served in India where he was wounded at the Battle of Ferozeshuhur. Today, descendants of the London Grubb family can be found in Australia and Canada. Because of the prominence of the London Grubb family, it has been common for both professional and amateur genealogists to trace the ancestry of other Grubb families to Sir Henry Grubbe and his wife Joan Radcliffe. Many of these claims are pure nonsense. However, it is possible that at least several Grubb families are descendants or related to this couple. The Wiltshire Hunt‐Grubbe Family: It is commonly reported that at the end of the fifteenth century, Robert Grubbe, Sir Henry’s brother, settled in Devizes, Wiltshire about 25 miles east of Bristol and about 12 miles north of Stonehenge. Wiltshire is one of the southern counties and even today is rural and conservative. However, it should be noted that members of the Wiltshire family are not sure about the connection to the London family, and many believe that the Wiltshire family is actually descended from German Hussites. What is known is that in 1568, another Sir Henry Grubbe was Mayor of Devizes and three years later represented Wiltshire in Parliament. Henry’s son, Thomas Grubbe, acquired the family’s Eastwell estate in Potterne, a small village two miles south of Devizes. Over four hundred years later, the family is still in possession of this estate. The Wiltshire Grubbe family had considerable wealth, and in 1642 John Grubbe (1588 – 1649) received a begging letter from King Charles asking for a loan of 200 pounds, about three‐ quarters of a million dollars. Never numerous, the last male heir, Walter Grubbe, died in 1715 and the estate passed to William Hunt, the son of Mary Grubbe and Thomas Hunt. The Hunt family then became known as the Hunt‐Grubbes. Some notable members of this family are: Rev. Thomas Grubbe (1594 – 1652) was educated at Oxford and served for 33 years as the Rector at Cranford, Bedfordshire. Walter Grubbe (unk – 1715) was educated at Oxford and represented Wiltshire in Parliament. Major John Heanage Hunt‐Grubbe commanded the 76th Regiment at Quebec. Major Thomas Hunt‐Grubbe (1793 – unk) was wounded at the Battle of New Orleans in 1715. Admiral Brudenell Hunt‐Grubbe R.N. (1883 – unk) served in both world wars and was High Sheriff for Wiltshire in 1945‐6. The Northamptonshire and Irish Grubb Family(s): Located about 50 miles northwest of London, Northamptonshire was home to a large community of weavers, hatters and linen merchants. The Northamptonshire Grubb family may actually be two unrelated families. About 1440, a group of Hussites from Germany settled on the Leicestershire‐Northamptonshire border and probably included members of the Von Grubbe family who shortened their name to Grubbe and later to Grubb. However, descendants of the Grubb family from nearby Ravensthorp believe that they can trace their ancestry back to the youngest brother of Sir Henry Grubbe and Lady Loan Radcliffe. The Irish branch of the family descended from John Grubb (1620 – 1696) who was born Ravensthorp, Northamptonshire, and became a soldier in Cromwell’s army. As a reward for his service he was given 1,000 acres and Annaghs Castle in County Kilkenny.