John Grubb (Early Delaware Settler)

John Grubb (1652 - 1708) was a two-term member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly who was one of the original English settlers in Brandywine Hundred, Delaware. Grubb founded a large tannery that continued in operation for over 100 years. He was also one of the 150 signers of the Concessions and Agreements for Province of West Jersey.

Born in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall UK, he was the 4th son of Henry Grubb Jr, and Wilmot (maiden name unknown). Henry was a early Quaker who was imprisoned several times for his beliefs. With no chance of being established in his home village, John came to West Jersey in 1677 on the Kent, the first ship of settlers organized by William Penn. By 1682, he acquired a one-third interest in a convert|600|acre|km2|sing=on tract on Naaman's Creek in Brandywine Hundred, Delaware where he built his tannery. John was one of the early settlers who greeted William Penn when he arrived in New Castle, before he founded Philadelphia.

Political career

In 1692, Grubb was elected to a one year term in the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly representing New Castle County, one of the three lower counties that ultimately became Delaware. The major issue that year was a dispute over the need for military defenses. The three lower counties were unsuccessful in overcoming Quaker opposition to military appropriations. The next year, John did not return to the Assembly and was appointed Justice of the Peace.

In January 1700, Penn called a special session to address the piracy question. The sheriff of New Castle County failed to collect the votes from upper Brandywine Hundred and John Grubb led a petition drive to overturn the election. The Assembly decided to censure the sheriff but proceed without holding a new election because the session was limited to just adopting stronger piract laws. That October, John won a seat in the regular Assembly election. However, the voters in southern New Castle County complained that they had not been notified and the Assembly ordered a new election. This time, John was defeated.

Personal life

John Grubb married Frances (maiden name unknown) and was survived by nine children: Emanuel Grubb, John Grubb Jr., Joseph Grubb, Charity (Grubb) Beeson, Phebe (Grubb) Buffington, Samuel Grubb, Henry Grubb, Nathaniel Grubb,and Peter Grubb. About 1702, Emanuel became responsible for the tannery and John moved to Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, where he was a founder of St. Martin's Episcopal Church. At the time of his death, he owned convert|500|acre|km2 and his other assets were valued at 566 pounds.

References

*Gilbert Cope "The Grubb Family of Delaware and Pennsylvania" (1893).
*George Donehoo "A History of Pennsylvania" (1926).
*Craig Horle "Law Making Legislators in Pennsylvania 1682 - 1709" (1991).
*Norman Penny "Record of the Sufferings of Quakers in Cornwall 1655 - 1686" (1928).

Descendants

*Nathaniel Grubb (c1693 - 1760) represented Chester County in the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly from 1749 to 1758.
*Peter Grubb (c1702 - 1754) founded Cornwall Furnace in Pennsylvania.
*Curtis Grubb (c1730 - 1789) was two-thirds owner of the Cornwall Ironworks and regimental colonel of the 2nd Lancaster Battalion during the Revolution.
*Peter Grubb Jr. (1740 - 1786) was one-third owner of the Cornwall Ironworks and regimental colonel of the 8th Lancaster Battalion during the Revolution.
*Thomas Grubb McCullough (1785 - 1848) represented Franklin County, Pennsylvania in the U.S. Congress from 1831 to 1835.
*Charles Gilpin (1809 - 1891) was Mayor of Philadelphia from 1850 to 1853.
*John G. Parke (1827 - 1900) was a Civil War General and later Superintendent of West Point.
*Edward Burd Grubb Jr. (1841 - 1913) was a Civil War General and later Ambassador to Spain.
*Ignatius Cooper Grubb (1841 - 1927) was Chief Justice of the Delaware Court of Appeals.
*William Irwin Grubb (1862 - 1938) was a Federal District Judge in Birmingham, Alabama who was appointed by President Hoover to the Wickersham Commission.
*J. Hunter Grubb (1870 - 1930) was President of the DuPont Chemical Corporation.
*Roland Grubb Kent (1877 - 1952) was a noted classics professor at the University of Pennsylvania.
*Edward Burd Grubb III (1893 - 1973) was President of the New York Curb Exchange during the critical period after the creation of the SEC.
*Warner Norton Grubb (1900 - 1947) was a Navy Commodore during W.W.II who was awarded the Legion of Merit
*Floyd Dale Grubb (1949-) is the Democratic Caucus Leader in the Indiana State Assembly.