My three times great grandmother, Susannah Divall was probably born in Lewisham Village in Kent at
the end of 1820 as she was baptised in St Mary’s, Lewisham on the 15th January 1821. Her parents
were John Divall and Mary Ann, and her father was an innkeeper in the Village. She joined siblings John
(born 1815), Fanny (born 1817) and Maria (born 1818); John’s baptism record is the only one to place
the family at the Castle public house, while they all say he is either a Victualler or an Innkeeper.
At first glance Fanny’s name does not appear in the baptism register, instead a Job Divall is baptised on
the 16th February 1817. There is no further trace of Job and I believe this record should be for Fanny
and that the register entry is incorrect. The following record is for a Fanny Trevett born to parents Job
and Sarah from Sydenham. In the 1871 census there is a Job Trevett born in Sydenham in about 1821. I
think the Vicar (Ed. Offord) or whoever wrote the transcript, got the christian names of the babies
transposed as Fanny Divall definitely did exist!
The Divall children’s grandparents were Henry Grubb and his wife Fanny, and their mother was Henry
and Fanny’s daughter Mary Ann who married John Divall on the 18th March 1813 in Southwark.
An inscription on a tomb in Lewisham churchyard explains what has happened to the family and also
looks ahead:
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 48 years. 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.
In the 1841 census Susannah, with her brother John and sister Maria are living with their grandfather
Henry Grubb, and their uncle of the same name in Lewisham village next to the Black Bull. The Grubbs
are both Greengrocers, while John Divall is a Collector. Their sister Fanny had married Kemsey Ingersoll
on the 6th August 1839 at St George the Martyr in Southwark. She is 23, and he is 21 and a Farrier; one
of the witnesses is John Divall, presumably her brother. Kemsey and Fanny went on to have ten children
all born in Lewisham, and by one of those strange genealogical coincidences their son Frederick Riley
Ingersoll, born in 1857, went on to become the step-father of my grandfather who married one of
Fanny’s sister Susannah’s great grandchildren!
Susannah’s brother John died in November 1841 from a ruptured blood vessel. On his death certificate
his occupation is given as Gentleman and the informant is a neighbour, Isabella Turpin. There’s more
about the Turpins on the Grubb page. Their sister Maria Divall seems to disappear from the records,
though a possible candidate was buried at St Alphege, Greenwich on 14 July 1854, age 32, from the
Workhouse.
Susannah gave birth to a daughter Louisa Frances Robson on the 31st December 1843 in Lewisham
Village. She was baptised at St Mary’s Lewisham on the 31st January 1844. On both her birth certificate
and her baptismal register entry her father’s name is given as John Robson, Coachman. However so far
I have been unable to find a marriage for Susannah Rosina Divall and John Robson. Considering how
well known the Grubbs, Divalls and Ingersolls must have been in Lewisham Village at this time, it would
be surprising if she was not married, unless of course the families closed ranks ... The problem is not
helped by being unable to find her and her daughter in the 1851 census, and no likely John Robson
either.
Susannah and Louisa re-appear on the 1861 census lodging at 87 Railway Grove, Deptford. Susan
Robson is a widow, 39 and a needlewoman; Louisa Robson is 18. They were both to get married in the
October of that year at St Paul’s, Deptford. Susan married William Charles Cater, a widower and a
Labourer “of this parish” on the 13th. A week later on the 20th Louisa married Isaac Cattley. Each couple
acts as witnesses to the other couple’s weddings.
In early 1864 letters of administration were granted to Fanny Ingersoll and Susannah Rosina Cater,
both of Lewisham, the nieces of Henry Grubb the younger who died intestate. Documents relating to
the disposal of the estate are at Lewisham Archives, and at some stage I must get there to look at them
to see if there is any clue to Susannah’s whereabouts between her marriage in 1861 and her death on
the 10th March 1875 in Angus Street, Deptford which was registered by her husband. The most likely
couple in the 1871 census are a Charles and Susan Cater living in the parish of Horton in Bradford.
Charles is an excavator, aged 50 and born in Cambridge; Susan is a laundress, aged 40, and born in
Kent. They are both a long way from home, and if this is them they were back in Angus Street, Deptford
by 1875, when Charles registered Susan’s death from cancer.
Louisa and her family are all living in Deptford in 1871, and her story is continued on the Cattley page.
William Divall a Victualler of Lewisham wrote his will on the 29th March 1831 and died shortly
afterwards as it was proved on the 19th April of the same year. The coincidence of name, occupation
and place makes it almost certain that he is a brother of John Divall senior. His will is quite detailed: he
probably never married as he doesn’t mention children and leaves all his property to his brothers and
sisters and also to the orphaned children of his brother John - which would fit in with the death of John
Divall senior in 1827. His executor is Henry Grubb the elder.
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.
Also
to
my
brother
Stephen
Divall
the
sum
of
thirty
pounds
of
lawful
money
for
his
absolute
use.
Also
to
my
brother
David
Divall
the
sum
of
fifteen
pounds
of
like
lawful
money
for
his
absolute
use.
Also
to
my
sister
Martha
Randall
the
sum
of
twenty
pounds
of
like
lawful
money
for
her
absolute
use.
Also
to
my
sister
Mary
.......
late
Mary
Divall
Spinster
the
sum
of
twenty
pounds
of
like
lawful
money
for
her
absolute
use
and
to
my
niece
Helene
Divall
the
sum
of
five
pounds
of
like
lawful
money
for
her
absolute
use
and
which
said
six
special
Legacies
I
direct
may
be
paid
to
my
respective
Legators
as
soon
as
the
sum
may
be
conveniently
raised
by
my
Executor
after
my
decease.
Also
I
give
to
my
said
brother
the
said
David
Divall
all
my
wearing
apparel
of
every
kind
and
description
whatsoever
to
be
delivered
to
him
immediately
after
my
decease
for
his
absolute
use.
Also
I
give
to
my
said
brother
the
said
Stephen
Divall
my
watch
and
whatever
appendages
may
be attached thereto to be delivered to him immediately after my death for his absolute use.
And
as
to
all
the
Rest,
Residue
and
Remainder
of
my
goods,
chattels,
debts,
credits,
Estate
and
Effects
and
property
of
every
description
whatsoever
and
wheresoever
which
I
shall
be
possessed
of
and
not
.....
before
by
me
disposed
of
I
give
and
bequeath
the
same
respectively
and
the
whole
and
every
part
thereof
and
all
my
right
title
and
interest
therein
and
thereto
with
the
appurts
unto
and
equally
between
all
and
every
the
lawful
child
and
children
of
my
late
brother
John
Divall
deceased
who
shall
be
living
at
my
death
if
more
than
one
share
and
share
alike
and
if
only one the whole thereof to such only one absolutely.
And
I
so
hereby
nominate
constitute
and
appoint
Henry
Grubb
the
Elder
of
Lewisham
aforesaid
Yeoman
sole
Executor
of
this
my
will
and
I
direct
that
my
said
executor,
his
executors
and
administrators
shall
be
answerable
only
for
so
much
monies
and
property
as
shall
come
to
his
or
their
hands
by
virtue
hereof.
And
that
he
and
they
shall
and
may
retain
to
and
reimburse
himself
and
themselves
out
of
the
monies
which
shall
come
to
his
or
their
hands
under
this
my
will
all
loss
costs
and
expenses
which
he
or
they
may
sustain
or
be
put
to
in
the
execution
of
.....
this my will or relating thereto.
And
lastly
I
do
hereby
revoke
and
make
void
all
former
wills,
codicils,
testamentary
dispositions
by
me
made
and
do
publish
and
declare
this
only
to
be
my
last
will
and
testament.
In
witness
whereof
I
the
said
William
Divall
the
testator
have
to
this
my
last
will
and
testament
set
my
hand
and
seal
this
twenty
ninth
day
of
March
one
thousand
eight
hundred
and
thirty
one
Wm.
Divall
[signed]
Signed
sealed
published
and
declared
by
the
said
William
Divall
the
testator
as
and
for
his
last
will
and
testament
in
the
presence
of
us
the
words
"Mary
Divall
Spinster"
having
been
first interlined in the first side. Geo. Parker Lewisham [signed] James Richards Lewisham [signed]
Proved
at
London
19th
April
1831
before
the
Worshipful
John
Danbary
Dr
of
Laws
&
Sur.
By
the
oath
of
Henry
Grubb
the
sole
executor
to
whom
admon
was
granted
having
been
first
sworn
duly to administer.
There’s enough collateral information here to suggest that this Divall family came from Cuckfield in
Sussex, and were the children of Thomas Dival (b. 1744) and Mary King who married in Cuckfield on the
10th April 1782. Their children were: James (baptised on the 12th February 1786); William (baptised on
the 1st July 1787 and the writer of the will above); Stephen (baptised on the 16th November 1788, and
married Susan Davey on the 7th February 1821 in Clayton, Sussex); David (baptised on the 28th
November 1790); Mary (baptised on the 7th October 1792, who may or may not have married
according to the will above); and Martha (baptised on the 22nd March 1795, who married James
Randall 13th October 1813 in Clayton, Sussex). William’s late brother John, as referred to in the will, was
born in 1778, and was the only child from Thomas’s first marriage.
Thomas Divall was born in Bolney in Sussex and baptised there on the 20th November 1744 to parents
Thomas and Martha Divall (née Miles), who, though both of Bolney, had married in Itchingfield on the
15th January 1729/30. Thomas Divall junior went to Cheam in Surrey where he worked for a Mr
Warren* in the 1770s. He married Fanny Standing in St Mary Lambeth on the 28th December 1778
while their son John had already been baptised in St Dunstan, Cheam on the 6th August that year. The
family soon returned to Bolney, where Fanny (Frances) sadly died and was buried on the 1st February
1780. The widowed Thomas married Mary King two years later.
*Poor Law Record, Reference Number: Par/252/32/4/1/26. Parish: Bolney.
Order type:
Settlement examination 3 Feb 1796 https://www.sussexrecordsociety.org
Murray families: The Divalls of Lewisham and Cuckfield
