Thomas Porter Grayson (Sr.), my great grandfather was born in 1833 in Martin, Lincs., The son of William Grayson and Sarah Barratt.

In the 1851census Thomas, aged 18, is an employee on his father's farm. He is living at home with his parents and Mary, Sarah, Jane, Betsy, Martha, Anne and Charles

In the 1861 census William and Mary (Grayson) Sherman (Thomas Porter Grayson’s sister and brother-in-law) are living at “Branston Booths, Car Dyke Bank” with their children: Sarah, Mary, Alice and their brother-in-law Thomas Porter Grayson (Sn.) who was described as an assistant farmer aged 29. Branston Booths is a small village in Lincolnshire.

Thomas Porter Grayson (Sen) was married in 1862 in “Boston District” to Caroline White (b 1832 in Wispington, Lincs.). She was the daughter of William White who was a game keeper from Wispingham in Lincs.  

In 1864 Thomas Porter Grayson (Sen) was charged 25 November with a breach of the Excise Law.

                               Thomas Porter Grayson (Sen)                                                                            Caroline (White) Grayson                                                                                  

• Sarah Jane Grayson (a.k.a Cecile) born 1863, in Wispington.
  

• William Henry Grayson b.1864.  At 16 William was apprenticed to Henry Roberts a dentist and chemist (originally of Stamford) 29 Mill Street, Worcester, England. He married Agnes Oyler (b. 1867) daughter of George Benjamin Oyler.   Agnes was a cousin of Alice Oyler who married his younger brother T.P. Grayson.
  

• Caroline Grayson was born in Donnington, Lincs. in 1867.  At the age of 13 Caroline and family had moved to Long Sutton, Lincs where her father was the "victualler" of the Bull Hotel in the Marketplace.  The family moved again to Westerham, Kent about 1883. 
  

• Thomas Porter Grayson (Jn.) born 1871 in Donnington, Lincs.
  

In the census of 1871 Thomas Porter Grayson (Sr.) is living at 109 Market Place, Donnington where he is a “Publican and Brewer”. With him are his wife Caroline, children: Sarah 8, William 7, daughter Caroline 4 and Thomas P. 4 months. Also living with the Grayson family at this time is William Bell, 14, a nephew.

In July 1879, while landlord of the Bull Hotel in Long Sutton Thomas Porter Grayson (Sr.) was charged with permitting drunkenness and riotous behaviour on the premises (3)

On 5th  September 1879 Thomas Porter Grayson (Sr.) was arrested for being drunk while in charge of a horse and trap (2) At the time he was the landlord of the Bull Hotel in Long Sutton.

By 1881 both Thomas Porter (Jr) and William were not at home (in Lincolnshire) at the time of the census although both girls were there: Sarah Jane 18 and Caroline 13.

In the 1882 History Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire Thomas Porter Grayson is shown as “Victualler. The Bull Hotel and Posting House. Wine and Spirit Merchant”.

About 1883 Thomas Porter Grayson (Sr.) and family left Lincolnshire and moved to Westerham, Kent , where he managed a hotel (King’s Arms). He was granted a License to run the "Kings Head" Westerham on 30th May 1883.  He is listed in Kelly's Directory of Brewers and Malsters in 1884 at Westerham.

Circa 1886
Left to right: William, Caroline, Thomas Porter (Sr.), Thomas Porter (Jr.) Caroline (Sr.) and Sarah Jane

March 1888 Thomas Porter Grayson (Sr.) was summoned for selling adulterated gin at the King's Arms Hotel

Thomas Porter Grayson (Sr.) died in Westerham on the 20th June 1888.  On the gravestone in St. Mary the Virgin Parish Churchyard:

In ever loving memory of

Thomas Porter Grayson
Who fell asleep June 20th 1888
Also of Caroline his beloved wife
Who passed away peacefully
April 6th 1907 aged 72 years
Caroline Ingersoll, daughter of the above died
October 13th 1922 aged 55 years

 

In 1897, Thomas Porter Grayson's widow Caroline married Edward Handley (a widower) a brick manufacturer in Lincoln. Edward died in 1906 in Lincoln.  Caroline died in 1907 in West Ham (London) where her youngest son Thomas Porter Grayson Jn. was living. Caroline was buried in St. Mary's Parish Churchyard, Westerham with her first husband and her daughter, Caroline (Grayson) Ingersoll.


Sources:
(1)  Stamford Mercury - Stamford, Lincolnshire, England
(2)  Boston Guardian - Boston, Lincolnshire,
(3)   Lynn News & County Press - King's Lynn, Norfolk