LINCOLNSHIRE ARCHIVES
CROFT PAR
Deposited on 12 August 1980 (Acc 80/131), 17 November 1983 (Acc 83/146),
2 October 1985 (Acc 85/127), and 2 May 2006 (Acc 06/41).
CROFT PAR/1
Registers
CROFT PAR/1/1
General register
Baptisms 1548-1598.
Marriages 1548-1598.
Burials 1548-1598.
NFP An original paper register, but without
covers.
1548-1598
CROFT PAR/1/2
General register
Baptisms 1559-1678.
Marriages 1559-1678.
Burials 1559-1678.
1559-1678
CROFT PAR/1/3
General register
Baptisms 1679-1747.
Marriages 1679-1747.
Burials 1679-1747.
1679-1747
CROFT PAR/1/4
General register
Baptisms 1748-1812.
Marriages 1748-1754.
Burials 1748-1812.
1748-1812
CROFT PAR/1/5
Marriages, with banns
Marriages 1754-1812.
Banns 1803-1812.
1754-1812
CROFT PAR/1/6
Baptisms
1813-1856
CROFT PAR/1/7
Marriages
1813-1837
CROFT PAR/1/8
Marriages
1837-1953
CROFT PAR/1/9
Marriages
1954-1956
CROFT PAR/1/10
Marriages
1956-1979
© Lincolnshire County Council
-1-
CROFT PAR/1/11
Burials
1813-1890
CROFT PAR/1/12
Baptisms
1856-1981
CROFT PAR/2
Banns Books
CROFT PAR/2/1
Banns book
1824-1860
CROFT PAR/2/2
Banns book
1916-1972
CROFT PAR/4
Tithe
[See also CROFT PAR/23/24]
CROFT PAR/4/1
Bill of expenses for apportionment
1846-1848
CROFT PAR/4/2
Circulars from the Poor Law Board relating to
the rating of tithes
1858, 1859
CROFT PAR/4/3
Letter to accompany a certificate of redemption
1925
CROFT PAR/4/4
Letter of the Bounty Office relating to tithe
redemption
23 Dec 1921
CROFT PAR/4/5
Letter of the Bounty Office relating to tithe
redemption and field numbers 726 and 745a
29 Dec 1921
CROFT PAR/4/6
Record of ascertainments
9 Feb 1943
CROFT PAR/6
Vicarage / Rectory
CROFT PAR/6/1
Counterpart mortgage for £129, with letter from
the Bounty Office
Mortgage between Revd JR Hill and the
Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty for the
purpose of making improvements to the
parsonage house and offices.
1921
CROFT PAR/6/2
Letter of the Bounty Office relating to mortgage
With envelope.
27 Apr 1923
CROFT PAR/6/3
Counterpart mortgage for £45, with letter from
the Bounty Office
Mortgage between Revd JR Hill and the
Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty for the
purpose of purchasing certain fixtures intended
to be annexed to the parsonage house.
1923
© Lincolnshire County Council
-2-
CROFT PAR/6/4
Counterpart mortgage for £551
Mortgage between Revd JR Hill and the
Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty for the
purpose of purchasing a piece of land - part of
the garden attached to the vicarage (2 roods
and 24 perches).
21 Jan 1925
CROFT PAR/6/5
Letter from the Bounty Office
Relates to account of expenses of Governors'
solicitor for work relating to the purchase of land
adjoining the vicarage.
23 Mar 1925
CROFT PAR/6/6
Plan of vicarage and gardens
GRC Harding ARIBA of Broadgate, Lincoln.
20cm x 33cm, duplicated copy.
Mar 1939
CROFT PAR/7
Churchwarden
[See also CROFT PAR/10/5]
CROFT PAR/7/1
Assessment
3/4d per acre ''for the provision of butter, wax,
pullaine hens, etc.''
1635
CROFT PAR/7/2
Accounts
1643-1645
CROFT PAR/7/3
Accounts
On loose sheets: 1650, 1663, 1668, 1682, 1747,
1760-1787.
1650-1787
CROFT PAR/7/4
Account book
With some rentals of the parish, 1832-1842.
1788-1893
CROFT PAR/7/5
c1675Vouchers
c1675-1763, 1764-1789, 1830-1845, 1846-1849, 178918301850-1859, 1860-1869.
1869
CROFT PAR/9
Fabric of the Church
CROFT PAR/9/1
Records relating to the bells
1716-1717
CROFT PAR/9/1/1
Agreement for the recasting of four old bells into
five new ones
Between John Williamson and John Allett,
churchwardens of Croft, and Henry Penn of
Peterborough, bellfounder.
28 Apr 1716
CROFT PAR/9/1/2
Accounts for the recasting and hanging of the
1716-1717
© Lincolnshire County Council
-3-
bells
CROFT PAR/9/2
Accounts for the sale of organ packages
3 items
1839
CROFT PAR/9/3
Subscription list and accounts for the installation
of a stove in the church
2 items
1840-1841
CROFT PAR/9/4
Records relating to the tower rebuilding
1856-1857
CROFT PAR/9/4/1
Plans showing proposed work to the tower
2 items
1856
CROFT PAR/9/4/2
Tenders, specifications, agreement,
correspondence and accounts
1 bundle
1856-1857
CROFT PAR/9/5
Plan of proposed alteration to the church
n.d. [c18601870]
CROFT PAR/9/6
Faculty for work to roof
22 Jun 1927
CROFT PAR/9/7
Copy citation for faculty for installation of electric
lighting
11 Dec 1945
CROFT PAR/9/8
Estimate for chancel repairs
14 May 1936
CROFT PAR/9/9
Letter from Lincoln Diocesan Board of
Dilapidations
Relates to survey of chancel.
28 Nov 1936
CROFT PAR/9/10
Letter from the Diocesan Surveyor
Refers to his report on the chancel (not
enclosed).
16 Dec 1936
CROFT PAR/9/11
Letter from the Bounty Office
Relates to chancel repairs.
9 Feb 1944
CROFT PAR/10
Vestry
CROFT PAR/10/1
Vestry book
Summaries of accounts and memoranda of
assessments, appointments.
At back: particulars of briefs gathered, 16631665.
The original cover has become detached and
has previously been stuck together with
Sellotape.
© Lincolnshire County Council
-4-
1626-1761
CROFT PAR/10/2
Vestry book
Memoranda of assessments and appointments.
1761-1839
CROFT PAR/10/3
The remains of a vestry book
2 sheets
1615, 1617
CROFT PAR/10/4
Rough note about church accounts
Undated
[c1650]
CROFT PAR/10/5
Parish officers' receipts
Includes receipts of the churchwarden, overseer
of the poor and constable.
Most date from 1770s-1780s.
1706-1804
CROFT PAR/11
Briefs and Forms for Special Services
[See also CROFT PAR/10/1]
CROFT PAR/11/1
Collection in Croft for the poor sufferers by fire in 1706-1707
Spilsby
Amounting to £7 3s 3d, 14 Aug 1706, with
further additional sums, to a final total of £7 15s
7d.
Gives names of contributors, e.g. Revd Samuel
Walker £1 1s 6d, George Baslington 10s,
Edward Storr 10s.
CROFT PAR/12
Constable
[See also CROFT PAR/10/5]
CROFT PAR/12/1
1632Accounts on loose sheets
1632 (with some vouchers), 1634, 1635-6, 1637, 166917601646-7, 1650-1, 1656, 1661, 1669, undated
1786
(17th century), 1760-1786.
CROFT PAR/12/2
Account book
1789-1849
CROFT PAR/12/3
Documents relating to the Civil War
These records, among others, were found in the
loft of a barn. Transcriptions of each item, made
in 1950, are included in the folder.
1644-1645
CROFT PAR/12/3/1
Order to the constables of Skegness, Croft,
Northolme, Wainfleet and Friskney
Concerns an assessment. They are to give
notice of papists and persons ''in actual arms
against the forces raised by the Parliament...''.
23 May 1644
© Lincolnshire County Council
-5-
Overleaf provisions are requested to be sent to
the Earl of Manchester at Gainsborough.
CROFT PAR/12/3/2
Order to the constables of Skegness, Croft,
Northolme, Wainfleet and Friskney
Concerns arrears of the assessment.
24 May 1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/3
Order to the constable of Croft
David Ballowe, who is to be the next constable,
is to be summoned to take the oath.
5 Jun 1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/4
Order to the constables of Orby and Croft
John Piggitt, a deserter, is to be brought to
Robert Bee.
8 Jun 1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/5
Order to the constables of Burgh, Croft and
Wainfleet
To give a warning to papists and delinquents to
pay rents and arrears at Spilsby.
19 Jun 1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/6
Order to the constables of Winthorpe, Skegness, 23 Jun 1644
Croft, Wainfleet and Friskney
To make search for horses belonging to
delinquents or sequestered estates and send
them to Greetwell to be delivered to Thomas
Ridge.
CROFT PAR/12/3/7
Order to the constables of Winthorpe, Skegness, 25 Jun 1644
Croft, Wainfleet and Friskney
To summon soldiers who were under the
command of Colonel Edward King or the Earl of
Manchester to Horncastle.
CROFT PAR/12/3/8
Order to the constables of Winthorpe, Skegness, 23 Jul 1644
Croft, Wainfleet and Friskney
To summon persons with an estate over £5 to
appear before the committee at Horncastle, and
to deliver monthly assessments.
CROFT PAR/12/3/9
Memorandum of an assessment for the supply
of the Earl of Manchester's army
CROFT PAR/12/3/10
Order to the constables of Winthorpe, Skegness, 23 Aug 1644
Croft, Wainfleet and Friskney
For gathering excise duties, a list of families and
numbers in them, a list of those who have
warrens or dovecotes, etc.
CROFT PAR/12/3/11
Order to the constables of Croft, Skegness,
Winthorpe and Orby
© Lincolnshire County Council
-6-
13 Aug 1644
20 Sep 1644
To apprehend former soldiers and to take them
to Tattershall Castle.
CROFT PAR/12/3/12
Order to the constables of Croft
To apprehend former soldiers and to take them
to Lincoln, with penalties for those who harbour
them.
22 Sep 1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/13
Order to the constables of Burgh, Croft,
Wainfleet and Friskney
To summon tenants of papists and delinquents.
17 Oct 1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/14
Receipt for 10 pecks of oats
19 Oct 1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/15
Order to the constables of Croft
To impress eight men from Croft to be foot
soldiers.
20 Oct 1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/16
Order to the constables of Winthorpe, Skegness, 21 Oct 1644
Northolme, Wainfleet and Friskney
For collectors to levy the assessment.
CROFT PAR/12/3/17
Order to the constables of Croft
To appear before Henry Whichcot and Thomas
Cornwallis at Lincoln on 26 Oct, and to summon
Captain Kingerby.
23 Oct 1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/18
Receipt for 10 strikes of oats
1 Nov 1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/19
Order to the constables of Croft
To impress one able and sufficient man in place
of Robert Leeming.
5 Nov 1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/20
Pass
For Mr Stevenson, Robert Bollan, David Balley,
Christopher Longthorne and Edward Hall.
6 Nov 1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/21
Order
To summon tenants of papists and delinquents
to appear at Burgh to pay rents, etc.
1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/22
Order to the constables of Skegness, Croft,
Wainfleet, Northolme and Friskney
To bring all former soldiers of Colonel King to
Eresby.
n.d. [?Nov
1644]
CROFT PAR/12/3/23
Order to the constables of Burgh, Croft,
Northolme, Wainfleet and Friskney
To summon numbers of able men to appear at
Bolingbroke Castle, with regard to receiving
21 Nov 1644
© Lincolnshire County Council
-7-
accounts.
CROFT PAR/12/3/24
Receipt for 5s towards oats
21 Nov 1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/25
Order to the constables of Croft, Northolme,
Wainfleet and Friskney
For bringing in arrears of assessments.
25 Nov 1644
CROFT PAR/12/3/26
Order to the constables of Winthorpe, Skegness, 22 Jan 1645
Croft, Northolme, Wainfleet and Friskney
To send horses as requested to Tattershall
Castle.
CROFT PAR/12/3/27
Receipt for a brown mare
11 Feb 1645
CROFT PAR/12/3/28
Receipt for 5 quarters of oats and 12 strikes of
beans
28 Feb 1645
CROFT PAR/12/3/29
Order to the constables of Winthorpe, Skegness, 19 Mar 1645
Croft, Northolme, Wainfleet and Friskney
To publish an ordinance concerning soldiers
returning to the colours and to return a list of
soldiers remaining in the town.
CROFT PAR/12/4
Circulars, warrants and summonses (various)
1 bundle
18th century19th century
CROFT PAR/12/5
Vouchers and County Stock payment demand
notices
3 bundles
163318001822183918401860
CROFT PAR/12/6
Notice to the constable of Croft
Requiring the constable to give notice that the
licensing day for inns and alehouses will be at
the White Hart in Spilsby on 10 Sep, and also to
appear at the house of George Ward in Burgh
on 13 Sep to pay £3 12s 7d owed for county
stock.
From William Scott, C[hief] C[onstable].
30 Aug 1787
CROFT PAR/13
Overseer of the Poor
[See also CROFT PAR/10/5]
CROFT PAR/13/1
Accounts
1647, 1658, c1670, 1711, 1722-1752.
On loose sheets.
1647-1752
CROFT PAR/13/2
Accounts and assessments
1752-1766
© Lincolnshire County Council
-8-
CROFT PAR/13/3
Accounts and assessments
1794-1825
CROFT PAR/13/4
Accounts and assessments
1825-1837
CROFT PAR/13/5
Rate book
1842-1847
CROFT PAR/13/6
Rate book
1848-1854
CROFT PAR/13/7
Vouchers
With some undated items.
2 boxes: 15 bundles
1631-1867
CROFT PAR/13/8
Apprenticeship indentures
60 items
1655-1840
CROFT PAR/13/8a
Apprenticeship indenture
Thomas Hall, a poor child of Croft, to be
apprenticed to John Glean of Burgh for 9 years,
to learn the trade of ''cordwinder''.
1 May 1712
CROFT PAR/13/9
Apprenticeship bonds
9 items
1669-1788
CROFT PAR/13/10
Apprenticeship agreement and memoranda
c1670, 1788
CROFT PAR/13/11
Case concerning apprenticeship
Notes as to legal procedure.
n.d. [c1800]
CROFT PAR/13/12
Settlement examinations
44 items
1769-1844
CROFT PAR/13/13
Settlement certificates
40 items
1698-1816
CROFT PAR/13/14
Settlement: final orders
3 items
1700-1728
CROFT PAR/13/15
Removal orders
64 items
1665-1860
CROFT PAR/13/16
Settlement and removal case papers
1 folder
1772-1845
CROFT PAR/13/17
Bastardy warrants
3 items
1786-1839
CROFT PAR/13/18
Bastardy orders
13 items
1812-1844
© Lincolnshire County Council
-9-
CROFT PAR/13/19
Bastardy bonds
12 items
1674-1820
CROFT PAR/13/20
Maintenance bond
1786
CROFT PAR/13/21
Accounts of sales of paupers' effects
Widow Hodson, 1667.
Widow Wright, n.d. [c1670].
John Dickinson, 1741.
1667, c1670,
1741
CROFT PAR/13/22
Coal bills: lists of recipients
15 items
1706, 1761c1780
CROFT PAR/13/23
Inventories of paupers' furniture
1799, 1828,
1835
CROFT PAR/13/24
Inventory of furniture and fixtures at the
workhouse
Workhouse for the several parishes of Wainfleet
All Saints, Wainfleet St Mary, Thorpe, Croft,
Firsby and Northolme.
22 Mar 1828
CROFT PAR/13/24a
Order to pay for militia substitute
21 Nov 1798
£4 16s (plus 1s for the order) to be paid by the
overseers of Croft to the overseers of Horncastle
for the relief of the wife and child of William
Thompson, a substitute serving in the North
Lincolnshire Supplementary Militia for John
Wilkinson, a ballotted man from Croft.
CROFT PAR/13/25
Order to pay for militia substitute
1802
CROFT PAR/13/26
Certificate for fitness relating to [militia] duties
1814
CROFT PAR/13/27
Letters to the overseer
Begging letters, etc.
1 folder
1768-1839
CROFT PAR/13/28
Spilsby Union
Quarterly lists of paupers, 1837-1844 (9 items).
Half-yearly lists of paupers and statements of
account, 1851-1866 (15 items).
Quarterly statistical abstracts, 1837-1843 (7
items).
Half-yearly statements of indoor and outdoor
expediture, 1853/4, 1854/5 (2 items).
Circulars, 1840-1867 (1 bundle).
1837-1867
CROFT PAR/13/29
Jury lists and related papers
1 bundle
1839-1870
© Lincolnshire County Council
- 10 -
CROFT PAR/13/30
Voters' lists and claims for inclusion
1 bundle
1832-1859
CROFT PAR/13/31
Case about rating assessment
2 items
c1797
CROFT PAR/13/32
Notices advertising meetings to hear rate
appeals
4 items
1840-1845
CROFT PAR/13/33
Tabulated rate abstract
1842-1843
CROFT PAR/13/34
Assessed taxes table
1814
CROFT PAR/13/35
Regulations for the appointment of overseers
1829
CROFT PAR/13/36
Accounts and assessments
1766-1795
CROFT PAR/13/37
Rate book
1837-1841
CROFT PAR/13/38
Memoranda of agreements to maintain children
21 Apr 1789
Richard Maidens of Croft, grazier, to take
Elizabeth Lea into his service for a year in return
for 1s a week.
John Lusby to take Richard Cross until old Mayday 1790 in return for £2 12s 6d.
William Smith of Croft to take Ann Davison into
his family for a year in return for 1s a week and
coals.
John Wilkinson of Croft to take George Wails
into his service for a year.
John Davy of Croft, grazier, to take Edward Lea,
aged 12, into his service for 2 years in return for
a guinea a year.
John Tickler of Croft to take John Pocklington,
aged 11, into his service for a year in return for
1s a week.
John Twigg of Croft to take Mary Bratley, aged
13, into his service for a year in return for 1 1/2
guineas.
Mr William Smith of Croft, grazier, to take Robert
Pocklington, aged 10, into his service for a year
in return for £4 10s (Mr Smith to provide him
with a new smock).
CROFT PAR/14
Surveyor of the Highways
CROFT PAR/14/1
Disbursements
© Lincolnshire County Council
1656
- 11 -
Loose sheet.
CROFT PAR/14/2
Accounts and assessments
1778-1793
CROFT PAR/14/3
Accounts and assessments
1793-1809
CROFT PAR/14/4
Vouchers
1 bundle
1837-1867
CROFT PAR/14/5
Rate book
1839-1840
CROFT PAR/14/6
Notice regarding prices of road material
1865
CROFT PAR/14/7
Account books
Including weekly accounts.
1838-1839,
1841-1842
CROFT PAR/14/8
Weekly account books
1838-40, 1842-43, 1843-44, 1844-45, 1845-46,
1846-47, 1847-48, 1848-49, 1849-50, 1850-51,
1851-52.
1838-1852
CROFT PAR/14/9
Account books (day labour, team work, etc)
1852-53, 1853-54, 1854-55, 1855-56, 1856-57,
1857-58, 1858-59, 1859-60, 1860-61, 1861-62,
1862-63, 1863-64, 1864-65, 1865-66, 1866-67.
1852-1867
CROFT PAR/14/10
Rate book
1841-1844
CROFT PAR/15
Charity
CROFT PAR/15/1
Summons to the overseer by the commissioners
To appear and produce deeds, accounts and
parish books.
CROFT PAR/16
School
Records of Croft National School (later Church
of England School).
CROFT PAR/16/1
Managers' minute book
1903-1951
CROFT PAR/16/2
Log book
1869-1930
CROFT PAR/16/3
Log book
Closure in 1963. Contains miscellaneous
circulars and the Diocesan Inspector's report,
1954.
1931-1963
CROFT PAR/16/4
Vouchers for work done for the school and for
1756-1867
© Lincolnshire County Council
- 12 -
1836
schooling poor pupils
1 bundle
CROFT PAR/16/5
Insurance policy
6 Sep 1921
For building of the schools and master's dwelling
house, etc.
CROFT PAR/18
Drainage
[See MISC DEP 521 for Croft dikereeve
accounts, 1810-54]
CROFT PAR/18/1
Accounts
Loose sheets.
1 folder
1761-1775
CROFT PAR/18/2
Petition
Very poor condition.
n.d. [c1750]
CROFT PAR/18/3
Sewers presentment
1675
CROFT PAR/18/4
Abstracts of laws, verdicts, etc
1 bundle
1846-1851
CROFT PAR/18/5
Vouchers
1 bundle
1750-1852
CROFT PAR/18/6
Rate book
1874-1885
CROFT PAR/20
Parochial Church Council
CROFT PAR/20/1
Bank pass book
CROFT PAR/22
Printed
CROFT PAR/22/1
Book of Homilies
1815
CROFT PAR/22/2
Great Northern Railway
Plans ... and book of reference for additional
lands at Croft, 1897; plan, sections and book of
reference for the widening of the Skegness
branch, 1898.
1897, 1898
CROFT PAR/22/3
State of the Lincoln County Hospital: report
1823-1824
CROFT PAR/22/4
Act of Parliament: altering mode of vestry
notices
1837
© Lincolnshire County Council
1921-1943
- 13 -
CROFT PAR/22/5
Advertising leaflet: J Rhoades, printer and
retailer of wallpapers
1846
CROFT PAR/22/6
Poster: Red Cross and Allies' Relief Fund - sale
1916
CROFT PAR/23
Miscellaneous
CROFT PAR/23/1
Bargain and sale
Conveyance of a messuage in the township of
Rhidvacse, parish of Llandynan,
Montgomeryshire, Wales, relative to the
marriage settlement of James David Lloyd and
Margaret vach John, daughter of John Rowesse
of Monchtrey.
No clue as to provenance.
CROFT PAR/23/2
Documents relating to probate administration
1676, 1769
Letters of administration concerning the effects
of Mary Lea, widow, 1676.
Certificate regarding administration of the effects
of Thomas Johnson, late of Gunby, 1769.
CROFT PAR/23/3
Parish bonds
These relate to money borrowed for parochial
purposes, 1717, 1739, 1740, 1741.
1717-1741
CROFT PAR/23/4
Inventories (for probate purposes)
William Maulkinson of Wainfleet All Saints,
wheelwright, 1801.
Joseph Green of Croft [farmer?], 1805.
William Smith of Croft [farmer?], 1808.
Arkin Moody of Croft, grazier, 1811.
1801-1811
CROFT PAR/23/5
Pauper's petition
n.d. [c1680]
CROFT PAR/23/6
Certificate for payment of money for painting the
King's Arms
1723-1724
CROFT PAR/23/7
Affidavit of a tenancy agreement
1769
CROFT PAR/23/8
Memorandum of a loan
1771
CROFT PAR/23/9
Receipt for legal fees
n.d. [c17901800]
CROFT PAR/23/10
Indenture of apprenticeship
Edward Moody, son of John Moody of Croft, to
Bartholomew Markwell of Wainfleet All Saints,
tailor. With receipt and promissory note.
1814
© Lincolnshire County Council
- 14 -
26 Oct 1603
CROFT PAR/23/11
Letter concerning an investment
1840
CROFT PAR/23/12
Envelope (no letter)
With Penny Black stamp.
1840
CROFT PAR/23/13
Papers concerning the suspension from duty of
the parish clerk
3 items
1837
CROFT PAR/23/14
List of subscribers
Unknown purpose.
n.d. [?c18401850]
CROFT PAR/23/15
Schedule of Land Tax
1859
CROFT PAR/23/16
Copy/Typescript obituary of Revd William
Williams (d.1858)
From the Guardian, 8 Dec 1858.
1858
CROFT PAR/23/17
Notes and photostat copies of genealogical
material for the Forman family
CROFT PAR/23/18
Missions Offerings accounts
1 bundle
1860-1864
CROFT PAR/23/19
Clothing Club: accounts and vouchers
1 bundle
1860-1866
CROFT PAR/23/20
Portion of indenture relating to Reading,
Berkshire
Cut into a circle [for lining the base of a round
container?]
n.d. [c1775]
CROFT PAR/23/21
Marriage certificate counterfoils
1932-1935,
1946
CROFT PAR/23/22
Marriage licence
17 Mar 1834
William Clayton of Stepney, Middlesex, widower,
and Mary Ann Smith of Croft, spinster.
CROFT PAR/23/23
Draft or copy love letters
Two letters from 'Britannicus', the alias for John
Mells, Customs Officer for the Wainfleet District
[see MISC DON 681 and CROFT PAR/23/2426]. They are written in a fervent and dramatic
style, one on each side of the page.
14 Aug 1787, to Sarah Goe. ''With a heart full of
sorrow and trouble'', he asks to know why their
friendship has been broken. He had forgiven her
for losing an earlier letter ''which exposed [him]
© Lincolnshire County Council
- 15 -
1787-1788
to numbers'' and hopes she will make
allowances for him not visiting her ''on account
of the loss of my tender mother''. He hopes that
she is not engaged, and pleads for an evening
meeting ''that I may communicate to you some
matters of Importance concerning my own and
your happiness''. He hopes to be in Boston by 1
Sep.
11 Aug 1788, to Elizabeth. He asks if she
arrived safe at Holbeach and is in better health.
He offers his ''hand and heart'' and apologises
for not saying this to her when they were
together at Sibsey. He emphasises, at length,
that his feelings are true and honourable. A reply
can be sent by Mr Walker to Boston; he would
have waited upon her at Sibsey but was
prevented by work.
CROFT PAR/23/24
''A New Song concerning the Trial between the
Vicar and Parish of Sibsey... concerning great
Tithes which he demanded''
Made by J.M. [John Mells]. A celebration of the
parish court victory in the style of a folk song.
Includes a note that the case was tried in the
Court of Exchequer at Westminster in Hilary
Term 1790. It also lists the barons of the court
and councils, and states that ''Sir Joseph Banks
Bart. bestowed great pains in this Trial on behalf
of the Parish''.
With transcription.
4 Mar 1790
CROFT PAR/23/25
Newspaper cutting: ''Confessions of Murder in
Lincolnshire''
Murder of Mr Bailey, a surgeon in the Long
Sutton area, about 12 years earlier. Confessed
to by Mark Goff, formerly employed at Long
Sutton by a Mr Wilbore, farmer. A Mr Witherbee
of Long Sutton was also implicated by Goff.
Date added in the handwriting of John Mells.
20 Mar 1807
CROFT PAR/23/26
Description of child exhibited at Boston
The child, John Birkitt, was born at Owersby on
26 Feb 1818. Although perfectly proportioned,
lively and fair, he is of ''such uncommon size''
(65lbs, 36 inches high and 36 inches measured
round the body).
Written by John Mells.
1819
© Lincolnshire County Council
- 16 -