Records, Historical and Antiquarian, of Parishes Round Horncastle

by J. Conway Walter

In the year 1897, the Rev. J. A. Penny, Vicar of Wispington, discovered and published in “Linc. N. and Q.,” some very interesting Bardney charters of the 13th century, which make many mentions of Edlington. In one case they record the gift of a bondman, and his progeny to Thomas de Thorley, living in Gautby, the slave being William, son of Peter Hardigrey, of Edlington; among the witnesses to the deed of gift being Master Robert, of Poolham, Simon, the Chamberlain of Edlington, and others. Date, 22nd May, 1281.

Another is a declaration of Thomas de Thorley, living in Gautby, that he grants to Master William Hardegrey, Rector of Mareham, all the lands and tenements which he owns in the village and fields of Edlington; among the witnesses being Simon, son of John, the Chamberlain of Edlington; Richard King of the same, Simon the Francis of Edlington, and others.

Another charter states that, “I, William, son of William of Wispington, have granted, and by this deed confirmed, the gift, to William Hardigrey, of Edlington, clerk, all my toft, with its buildings, lying in the parish of Edlington, which is situate between the public highway, and the croft of Richard, son of Henry King, for ever. Among the witnesses being Simon, the Chamberlain of Edlington, John, his son, Alured of Woodhall, and others. Given at Edlington, the Wednesday after Michaelmas, A.D. 1285. (30th Sep., 1285), and 13th year of the reign of King Edward I.”

We further get disconnected notices of various owners of, or in, Edlington, but I can not make out a connected series.

For instance, in a Chancery Inquisition, 13. Ed. I. (12th May, 1285), held by order of the King, among the jurors are Henry of Horsington, Robert, son of the Parson of Horsington, Hugh Fraunklyn, of Langton, William de Wodehall, of Edlington, and others. Thus the William de Woodhall, already named, was a proprietor in Edlington, as early as 1285.

We find, in a Final Concord, Nov. 22nd, 1208 (three-quarters of a century earlier than the preceding), between Andrew, of Edlington, plaintiff, and Alice, daughter of Elvina, who acted for her, the said Andrew acknowledged the said Alice to be free (he had probably claimed her as a bond-slave, in his house, or on his land, at Edlington), for which Alice gave him one mark. It was only in the reign of Henry VI. that a servant was permitted, after giving due notice to leave his place, and take the services of another (23. Hen. VI. c. 13). Before that, all were the property of their owners, unless given their freedom for some special reason. Here is another proprietor in a dispute, on 10th Nov., 1208, between Thorold, of Horsington on the one part, and John, son of Simon, of Edlington. The said Thorold surrendered for ever, certain lands in Edlington, to John and his heirs, another family of proprietors, at the same date as the previous.

In November, 1218, in a Final Concord, between John, of Edlington, and Hugh, his tenant, as to the right to certain lands in Edlington, it was agreed that John was the rightful owner, and for this, John granted Hugh certain other lands, but in case Hugh died without issue, they were to revert to John, of Edlington. He would seem, therefore, to have been rather a large proprietor.

The will of Richard Evington, of Halsteade Hall, was made, on 22nd January, 1612, by which he leaves his lands in Edlington, and other places, to his two sons, Maurice and Nicholas Evington.

On 23rd December, 1616, Edward Turnor, clerk, of Edlington, made his will, the details of which do not here concern us, beyond showing that he was Vicar.

The parish register dates from 1562, beginning with Thomas fforeman, the sonne of William fforeman, christened 2nd February, 1562. This register is very peculiar, as it gives the baptisms down to 1700, then the marriages from and to the same dates, then the burials from and to the same dates. This is very unusual, the common arrangement, in those times, being to give the baptisms, marriages, and burials under the same dates all together. The present book is the copy on paper, of the original on parchment or vellum. Among some of the surnames are Billinghay, Padison, Melborn, fford, Hollywell, Kaksby, Stanley, Gunby, Brinkels (Brinkhills), William, son of Thomas Bounsayne, gent., bap. Jan^y. 12th, 1605. Margaret, daughter of John Elton, gent. (and a sister), baptized October 29th, 1611; and Siorach Edmonds, Vicar, 1617. Mary, the daughter of Robert Brookley, gent., bapt. Nov. 2nd, 1652; with others.