Bear Tavern

Bear Lane / East Lane

Greenwich

Jacqueline Davies kindly writes to me who says she is interested in 17th century Greenwich and has been doing research from sources including a survey of East Greenwich Manor in a document titled "A survey of the Kings Lordship or Manor of East Greenwich in the County of Kent made by Samuel Travers 1695-97."

She kindly sends me the following information:- Captain William Fazeby, neighbour of "Bear Tavern" on Bear Lane. Pepys visits to "Bear Tavern" in 1665+6 written in his diary. Bear Lane was the a short road which is the beginning of Old Woolwich Road between Park Row and Eastney Street. In 1863 map by Weller shows the "Man in the Moon" in the short street. Was the "Bear Tavern" renamed as "Man in the Moon?" The structure of a pub with gates for coaches is now Frobisher Court apartment conversion. Captain William Fazeby taxed on property in Crane South in 1664 – an area including Crane Street and Bear Lane. "Bear Tavern" held by --- Bathelier in 1690s and previously held by Lady Pool.

Further research tells me that both the "Bear Tavern" and the "Man in the Moon" were both functioning at the same time in 1701, so unless they were next to each other and knocked into one, they were definitively different pubs.

Cindy Holdridge Smith adds the following:- "This tavern was owned by my 10th great grandmother Susanna (Everton) Batailhe who left it to her daughter Anne Sansome, wife of John, in her will dated 15 December 1700:- "Also I give to my said daughter Anne Sansom and her heirs or assigns forever my house at Greenwhich commonly known by the signe of the "Beare" now in the occupation of Michael Dixon." Her husband was Joseph Batelier, Sr. who supplied wine to the court of King Charles II. The Batelier family is mentioned many times in the Diary of Samuel Pepys, as they were neighbours and socialized frequently.

In 17 May 1724, Susanna's daughter Anne Sansome in her will leaves the property to "niece Catherine Batailhe, messuage and tenement in Greenwich known as Sign of the Bear Tavern."

Further research sent to me from Cindy Holdridge Smith tells me the following.

The pub Sign of the "Bear" was previously known as the "Prince Arms."

Sign of the "Bear" owned 1645-1664 by Mary (Everden) Pole, Lady Pole.

Sign of the "Bear" owned 1664-1700 by Susan (Everden) Batailhe.

Sign of the "Bear" owned 1700- 1714 by Ann (Batailhe) Sansom.

Sign of the "Bear" 1714- ? In trust to Thomas Nichols for the benefit of Anne Sansom's granddaughter Ellen Sansom.

It was not unusual for taverns to change their signs in response to changing issues. It appears from these wills the name was changed during the English Civil Wars in order to appear to remain neutral.

Mary (Everden) [Leechland] Poole, Lady Pole, Will 1664.

Note: Mary was the aunt of Susanne (Everden) Batailhe. She married first William Leechland a purveyor of wine to the cellars of King Charles I. Mary (Everden) Leechland married second, John Pole 1st Baronet of Shute, and became Lady Pole (pronounced Pool).

“And I do give and bequeath unto him the said Thomas Woodhull [in trust] my tenement and appurtenances in Greenwich countie of Kent And known as the Sign of the "Bear" now in the possession of Edward Parkinham And all the rest and residue of my personal estate goods freeholds whatsoever form and Towards the performance of this my will”

In spite of William Leechland's wishes, somehow Susan Batailhe ended up with the property, instead of it passing to Bartholomew Hart. Later there will be suits by his heirs about the property.

Susanne (Everden) Batailhe Will 1700.

Note: Susanne (Everden) Batailhe was the niece and heir of Mary (Everden) [Leechland] Poole. Katherine Batailhe was the granddaughter of Susanna, and the daughter and only surviving child of William Batailhe, oldest son of Susanna and Joseph Batailhe. William Batailhe and his wife Katherine (Hough) Batailhe died before this 1700 will was written. (Marriage license issued by Faculty Office 23 July 1669, William Batailhe and Catherine Hough. Katherine might be the same as Katherne Hough who was baptized on 11 May 1643 at All Hallows, Lombard Street in the City of London, daughter of William Hough and Katherne Hough; baptisms of a brother William and a sister Elizabeth are also the parish registry.) All the Batailhe family appear frequently in the Diary of Samule Pepys. They were across the street neighbors.

“If my granddaughter Katherine Batailhe doe and shall within six months after my decease by good and sufficient deeds settle the Lots of ground which her father mortgaged to me for one hundred pounds and the houses thereon built with the appurtenances situate in the Parish of All Saints Barking London upon such Trustees as my son in law John Sansom [Sr.] shall nominate and appoint to the uses following that is to say To the use of her the said Katherine and the heirs of her body lawfully to be begotten …”

“Also I give to my said daughter Anne Sansom and her heirs or assigns forever my house at Greenwhich commonly known by the signe of the Beare now in the occupation of Michael Dixon.”

Anne (Batailhe) Sansom Will 1714.

Note: Anne (Batailhe) Sansom was the daughter of Susanne (Everden) Batailhe. She married John Sansom, Sr., of the Customs House of London, who left a simple will in Feb 1704 (1705 in new calendar); legatees were wife Anne and sons John Jr., Arnold, Michael. John Sansom Jr. was Crown-appointed Collector of Customs in Bristol from 1700 - 1707. He married Mary Romsey, daughter of John Romsey, Town Clerk of Bristol Clerk from 1676, and aside from four years in debtor’s prison (1703-1707) due in part to a family quarrel, Romsey served until his own death in 1721. In John Romsey’s will he leaves a large estate to his granddaughter Ellen Sansom (the only surviving child of John Jr. Sansom and Mary), and a small annuity to his "poor disobedient unfortunate daughter Mary Sansom". John Sansom Jr. had challenged John Romsey his father-in-law to a duel; John and Mary Sansom also sued Romsey leading to his imprisonment in the Tower of London. Thomas Nichols is a nephew-in-law of Anne Sansom.

“… Item I give devise and bequeath all that my messuage or tenement with their appurtenances situate and being in Greenwich in the county of Kent commonly named or called by the name or Signe of the Bear Tavern being freehold And also all that my messuage or tenement with the lands and appearances thereunto belonging late in the possession of JOHN MARSH lying and being in the parish of Hamsted in the county of Middlesex (which being copyhold I have surrendered to the use of my last will and testament) unto my loving Nephew THOMAS NICHOLLS and to his heirs and assigns in trust nevertheless and to and for the several uses intents and purposes hereafter mentioned and to no other use intent or purpose whatsoever (that is to say) to the use of my loving granddaughter ELLIN SANSOM daughter of my said John [Jr.] and to her heirs and assigns forever in case she the said ELLIN SANSOM shall attain her full age of one and twenty years or be married…”

LICENSEE LIST

POLE (POOL Lady) Mary (Everden) 1645-64

BATHELIER Susan (Everden) 1664-1700+

BATAILHE (nee Isart) Suzanna (owner) to 15 Dec 1700

DIXON 1700+

SANSOME/SANSOM Anne (Batailhe) (owner) 15/Dec/1700-17/May/1724

BATAILHE Catherine (niece of above) (owner) 17/May/1754+