John Ballet, parson of Nether Toynton, by his will, of 17 April, 1558, leaves his “gown, that the Bishop of Ely gave him,” to Mr. Goodryke, of Kirkby [123d] and a gold ring; he also leaves money to repair the roads between Fulletby and Horncastle.
Connected with the Goodricks, by marriage, were the Littleburies, descended as is shown elsewhere [124a] from a very ancient knightly family, originally seated in south Lincolnshire, and hence we find the following will of Humphrey Littlebury, of East Kirkby, dated 1 Sep., 1568, by which he leaves all his lands in Hagworthingham to his son John, who is to pay to his brother Edward xxli a year “for his exhibition,” [124b] during the widow’s lifetime; the annuity to cease when the said Edward becomes a “counsaler,” and able to provide for himself. He bequeaths his lands in Hareby, East Keal, Keal Cotes, and Raithby, to his daughter Ann, “if she will be ordered by her friends, Sir John Kersey and John Littlebury,” and if she will not, then “never a penny.” It would rather appear, from this testamentary provision, that the said daughter Ann was somewhat of a wilful “hussy.” Sir John Kersey would be one of the family who came in for a share of the Revesby estates after the extinction of the direct line of the Dukes of Suffolk. To his daughter Dorothy he leaves “one hundred marks” with a like proviso. To his son John he leaves a “ring with the seal,” i.e., the family signet; also “one silver salt, vi. silver spoons, 1 silver goblet, gilt, a flat silver piece, and 1 of my silver pots I bought in London.” Reference is then made to an Inventory of Lyon Goodricke, deceased, which was bequeathed to testator’s wife, Winifred, and Edward Goodricke, her son. The testator had married (1) Ursula, co-heir of Sir John Kersey, knt., of Grove, co. Notts, and (2) Winifred, daughter of Henry Sapcote [125a] of Lincoln, and widow of Lyon Goodricke, of East Kirkby.
We have noticed, above, a Richard Skepper, of East Kirkby, whose will was dated 26 May, 1556. We find later, the will of George Skeeper, of Boston, evidently the same name, of date 28 Sep., 1606, in which he desires to be buried “in ye parish church of East Kirkby.” The name still survives in this neighbourhood.
Another name still occupying a position in the county is that of Booth, and we find that William Booth, of East Kirkby, by will dated 31 Oct., 1584, left property to his brother George’s children in Cheshire, to his brother Edward’s children, of Rand, to George Booth of Thorpe, and to Thomas Booth, his brother’s son; appointing as his executors, Sir Thomas Scales and John Scales, his sons-in-law.
We have named, above, Edward Goodrick, of East Kirkby. He died in 1615, and by his will, of 16 August in that year, he left the bulk of his property to his son Lyon, but £35 from lands in Suffolk to his daughter Washbourne, besides £400, in the hands of Sir Thomas Jenney, as her portion; “a best bed” to another daughter; and “bedsteads of those in Suffolk,” to four other daughters, all married, “2 Jacobuses to each as a token of my love.” Small sums are bequeathed to his cousin, Richard Palfreyman, [125b] and his godson, Nathaniel Palfreyman; to his servant John Tupholme 20s. besides his wages 13s. 4d. His “grandson John Godricke to have the manor of Stickney when 22 years old,” and his cousin Richard Palfreyman to have it meanwhile; paying “a penny a year to Lyon Godricke.” The will was proved at Horncastle by Lyon Goodrick and Richard Palfreyman, 25 Oct., 1615.
A name which we cannot omit to notice in connection with East Kirkby is that of Silkstone; there being a monumental slab in the parish church of Robert de Silkeston, who died in 1347. Among 14 documents in the possession of Porter Wilson, Esq., of Louth, this Robert is a principal party in 13 of them; by which lands are conveyed to him by Ranulphus, son of Baldwin de Thorpe, in Ireby; by Robert, son of Philip de Kirkeby, in Kirkby; by Walter de Kirkby, in Kirkby; by Hugo de Hatton, lands in Kirkby; by Walter, son of Robert de Langena, lands in Kirkby; Robert, son of Adam Pertrich, of Bolingbroke; Alan, son of Walter de Kirkeby, and William, son of Henry de Kirkeby, give him other lands in Kirkeby; Beatrice, widow of William Wriht, of Miningsby, gives him lands in Miningsby; John de Waynflet gives him lands in that parish; and Robert de Swylington, Thomas de Marketon, Rector of Hareby, and Robert de Miningsby, chaplain, grant to him lands in “Kirkby, Winthorpe, Thorp, Waynflet, Irby, ffriseby (Firsby), Boston, Leek, Wrangel, Stepying, frrisseneye (Friskney), Bolynbrok, and Menyngesby,” by Deed, given at Kirkebi, 26 Dec., 29 Ed. III. (1355). Robert de Silkeston thus became a proprietor of large estates. At a later period Sir Robert Sylkeston had issue Alicia, who was “maryed to Robert Grynne.” [126] A large portion of the property passed to that family, and through them to the Skeppers already mentioned; and from them, by marriage, to the Loddingtons; one of whom, Thomas Loddington, was Vicar of Horncastle in the early years of the 18th century; his name being on one of the church bells with date 1717.
Sir John Browne, knight, resided here for several years, holding lands in East Kirkby, conveyed to him by Lionel Goodrick in 1616, and on a dispute arising between him and the Skeppers, already mentioned, an agreement was made, 20 May, 1619, by which Sir John granted to Richard Skepper certain property, for 2,000 years, at a peppercorn rent, Richard Skepper in return granting to Sir John, other lands for a like term and consideration. (Mr. R. W. Goulding, “Linc. N & Q.,” vol. v. p. 75).
Some of these lands were known as Bonthelandes, (Boothlands), West-wang, Wayteclif, Bulgaire, Inge-croft, Langemer-dayles, Goutscroft, &c.
Sir John Browne was 2nd son of Sir Valentine Browne, of Croft, “Treasurer and Vittler of Barwicke, and Treasurer of Ireland in ye raigne of Queen Elizabeth,” who married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Monson, of South Carlton, ancestor of Lord Oxenbridge. Sir John Browne was “Sergant to King James in his privy chamber.” He married (1) Cicely, daughter of William Kirkman, Esq., of Easter Keale, who only lived 20 weeks after marriage; and (2), Francis, daughter of Richard Herbert, Esq., of Montgomerie Castle. She was youngest sister of George Herbert, who wrote the well-known poem, “The Country Parson,” and of Edward, Lord Herbert of Cherbury, who was so prominent a figure in the time of Charles I. They were nearly related to the Pembroke family, and descended from Sir Richard Herbert of Edwd. IV.’s time. There is an elaborate altar tomb in Croft church, with effigies of Sir Valentine and his lady above; and of their eight sons and seven daughters on the panels below. Beside this is an equally elaborate monument of Sir John and his 2nd wife. (“Arcitect. S. Journal,” vol. viii. pp. 70, 71).
Another family, with a good old Saxon name, connected with East Kirkby, were the Elands (Ea-land or Eyland), representatives of whom have lived in this parish within quite recent times; the last of them being William Fawcett Ealand residing at the High Hall in 1860–70. The name means Island-land, or water land. [127a] Sir William de Eland was constable of Nottingham castle in 1330, and M.P. for the county in 1333 (Baily’s “Annals,” vol. i. p. 223). They possessed the “Honour of Peverel.” In Baumber church there is a slab of John Ealand (obiit 1463) and his two wives, in the north aisle. [127b] A branch of the family resided at Raithby near Louth. Toward the close of the 16th century, one of them resided at Cawkwell, and had that manor and the advowson of the benefice. [128] Others had estates, and lived at various places in Yorkshire.