This list shews a considerable number of landed proprietors in the parish; there being no one pre-eminent landowner.
Among the Christian names, which occur in the oldest register, are Bridgett, Muriall, Rowland, Judith, Dorothie, Anthony, Hamond, Cicilie, and others.
George Hamerton, gent., and Sarah Hussey, were married June 21st, 1699. [These Hamertons were a wealthy family in Horncastle, owning a large block of houses at the junction of the east and south streets. The initials of John Hamerton and his wife, remain there, over the fire-place, in an oak-pannelled room. I believe they were connected with the Hamertons, of Hamerton, co. York.]
John Corbet and Isabell Thylley were married, December 6th, 1660. [The Corbets have been a long-established family in Lincolnshire, and also taking a leading position in Shropshire, in Sir Andrew Corbett, Bart]. In register III., is a note, “Thomas Barnett, of Thimbelby, found dead in Edlington parish, and was buried Sep. 6th, 1798”; also, “Deborah Bell, aged 95, buried November 7th, 1804.”
In the 2nd register book, among other entries are these:—The Rev. Tristram Sturdivant, Vicar, buried August 3rd, 1755. (The clerk, William Blow, had died 2 years before). Belmirah, daughter of Thos. Clarke of Horncastle, and Mary, his wife, buried Feb. 23rd, 1773.
The 3rd register has the following:—Mr. Wells’ youngest child (of Poolham), christened by me, William Wells, at Poolham, baptized by Mr. L’Oste (then Vicar), at Woodhall Church, named Charles, Aug. 11, 1794. [The Wells’ resided at Poolham down to about 1850. They were wealthy gentlemen farmers, and were most generous to the poor, and supported the church in every possible way, as I know from my own experience, and that of my father].
Margaret Spencer, a traveller, commonly called “Scotch Peg,” she being a Scotch woman, was buried (at Edlington), Sept. 2, 1789. In the 2nd Register again we have, among the surnames, Greenland, Walesby, Bouchier, Soulby, Bates, Longstaffe, Falkner, Bullifant, Gaunt, Elsey, Sturdivant, Bontoft, Darwin, and others.
We have just mentioned the name of Soulby. I find from the returns made by Government, that Charles Soulby, and his brother Edward, both payed the tax for male servants, the former for 2, the latter for 1, in the year 1780.
Among the Gentry of Lincolnshire, a list of whom was made by the Royal Heralds in the year 1634, is Thomas Tokyng, of Edlington, with Ambrose Sheppard, of Hemingby, Robert and John Sherard, of Gautby, Thomas Morgan, Esq., of Scrivelsby, &c., &c. John Rolt, of Edlington, declined the honour, there being some slight “duty” chargeable on the distinction.
Ralph Palframan, clerk, was presented to the Benefice of Edlington, by his brother Anthony, merchant of the staple, at Lincoln, by an assignment of the advowson made for this turn by the late Abbot of Bardney. William Palfreyman was Mayor of Lincoln in 1536, probably the father. He was instituted A.D. 1569, on the demise of Leonard Nurse. “Architect, Soc. Journ.,” vol. xxiv., p. 15.