John Grubb

Not to be confused with Johnny Grubb.

John Grubb
Member, Provincial Assembly
In office
1692 and 1698
Personal details
BornAugust 15, 1652
Stoke Climsland, Cornwall
DiedMarch 1708
Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania
Residence(s)Brandywine Hundred, Delaware
ProfessionTanner
John Grubb's house was often rebuilt and expanded. In 1919, it became known as the Grubb Worth house and today it serves as the administrative office for the Holy Rosary Church in Claymont, Delaware

John Grubb (1652–1708) was a two-term member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly and was one of the original settlers in a portion of Brandywine Hundred that became Claymont, Delaware.[1] He founded a large tannery that continued in operation for over 100 years at what became known as Grubb's Landing. He was also one of the 150 signers of the Concessions and Agreements for Province of West Jersey.[2]

Born in Stoke Climsland, Cornwall, he was the 4th son of Henry Grubb Jr. and Wilmot (maiden name unknown). Henry was an early Quaker who was imprisoned several times for his beliefs.[3] With no chance of being established in his home village, John and his older brother Henry emigrated to the West Jersey colony in 1677 on the Kent, the first ship of settlers organized by William Penn. While he arrived without the funds required to buy his own land, by 1682, he earned enough money to acquire a one-third interest in a 600-acre (2.4 km2) tract on Naaman's Creek in Brandywine Hundred where he built his tannery. John was one of the early settlers who greeted William Penn in 1682 when he arrived in New Castle before he founded Philadelphia. Ultimately Penn and Grubb clashed over property they jointly owned and were unable to settle the dispute in their lifetimes.[2]

In the early 1700s, John Grubb moved to Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1708. At that time, John owned 500 acres,[2] which was typical of the early settlers to the Delaware Valley.[4] He was survived by his wife, Frances and nine children. The Grubb Family extensively researched her origins and concluded that there is no primary evidence that establishes her maiden name or when they were married.[5]

  1. ^ Horle, Craig (1991). Law Making Legislators in Pennsylvania 1682 - 1709.
  2. ^ a b c Cope, Gilbert (1893). The Grubb Family of Delaware and Pennsylvania.
  3. ^ Penney, Norman (1928). Record of the Sufferings of Quakers in Cornwall 1655 - 1686.
  4. ^ Fischer, David Hackett (1989). Albion's Seed: Four British Folkways in America.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference dgrubb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).