A very early mention of Billinghay was in the newspapers in 1735, almost 300 years ago!

“These are to give notice, that there is a good large Boat just finished, that will carry ten Horses or upwards, and will be carefully attended, to carry any Stranger from Billinghay to Tattershall, where there is civil Usuage for any Stranger“

This next report 40 years on in 1776, mentions the George Inn at Sleaford. A meeting of the Proprietors of Land and Common Rights in the Lordships of Billinghay and Walcot. According to the excellent website Lincolnshire Heritage Explorer, it was on Carre Street, Sleaford.

If you remember on my last tour through the British Newspaper Archives I came across this notice that Billinghay had received a new Fire Engine for the village.

Well, I have since come across this notice dated about three months previously in the Stamford Mercury – Friday 26 April 1833 reporting the wish of the village to have the best patent carriage Fire Engine with a driving seat, mounted upon wood spoke wheels.

The Daily Post arrives in Billinghay💌✉️ and two Baptisms take place.

Info from Wikipedia: ‘Immersion baptism, understood as demanding total submersion of the body, is required by Baptists (although this was not the case before 1641), as enunciated in the 1689 Baptist Catechism: “Baptism is rightly administered by immersion, or dipping the whole body of the person in water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”, indicating that the whole body must be immersed, not just the head‘.

Coming up to Christmas the thieves were out and about in 1848.

Bankrupt, Frank Ernest Dobson a Draper and Grocer.

A suspended discharge was reported in this newspaper report from the Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian on Saturday 19 July 1930, just less than 100 years ago. I must confess I felt a bit sorry for him as no stone was unturned and all his business became public knowledge after this report. How did they find so much information!

A Tale of Murder

I shall start this tale with the funeral of the murdered man, Crosha James Creasey which was reported in the Lincolnshire Echo on Monday 8 May 1893. He was killed on 4 May 1893. The Rev E R Walker, rector of Billinghay conducted the funeral service.

Continuing the report on Monday 8 May 1893 we also hear about the condition of Mrs Wilkinson.

Who was she? Obviously, it is somehow connected to the murder. The next report will answer all our questions.

So how was Mr Creasey murdered and what actually happened? We have a full account here of the murder and what happened five years previously. This report was on the death of the murderer Christopher Barker in Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum. This newspaper report in 5 parts, was from the Lincolnshire Chronicle on Saturday 12 November 1898.

Now for something a little more genteel, a lady looking for a job as a Parlour Housekeeper to a single gentleman or nobleman.

Oh dear! A Boat called Richard and Mary sinks in the Witham at Stamp-end.

Grantham Journal – Saturday 06 September 1930

ANWICK, Death or Postmistress.—Mrs. Elizabeth Jackson passed away last week. One of Anwick’s oldest and most respected inhabitants, deceased, who had reached the ripe age of eighty-two years, had been in charge of the Post Office at Anwick ever since its institution, and it may said of her that she died in harness, for almost to the last she took an active part in the affairs connected with the mails. Mrs Jackson was a native of Welbourn, and she was always proud to relate that she had attended the same village School as Field-Marshal Sir William Robertson.

It was in 187O that she came to Anwick. when she married the late Mr Frederick Jackson and one of her earliest recollections of the village was in connection with the Franco-Prussian war, for it was the habit to read the latest bulletins of the battles, published in the weekly papers, to the men of the village, many of whom at that time were unable to read. Those were the days, too, when the village shop, which Mr Jackson ran in addition to his farm, a business of much greater importance than is the case in these modern times of ’buses and grocers’ vans for the people of the district had almost perforce obtained their weekly necessities here.

The stone steps leading to (the shop, worn away by the feet of the villagers testify to the brisk business once done. Mrs Jackson had the misfortune to lose her husband while her children were young and it speaks well for her business ability that she was able to manage both shop and farm when left in this difficult position.

As the years went by she came to be looked upon as one of the last links with the Anwick of old days, and it was to that returning natives would come to recall the doings of the village characters long since departed.

Deceased leaves a family of five sons and one daughter. The funeral took place on Friday when practically the whole of the villagers turned out to pay their respects. The service in Church and at the graveside was conducted by the Vicar the Reverend William Lee, and the hymns “Father Heaven” and ‘‘How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds” were sung. Miss Wood was the organist and played “O Rest in the Lord” as the cortege left the Church. The coffin, of plain oak with brass, fit the following inscription:—‘‘Elizabeth Jackson born November 25th. 1848. died August 26th, 1950. Sweet rest in Heaven” The bearers were Messrs. W. Hart, G W Padley, F Rymer and J R. Yorke. The mourners were Miss C. F. Jackson and Mr S. Jackson (son and daughter). Mr W Jackson. Mrs. S. Jackson (son and daughter-in-law) Mr F. Jackson. Miss May Jackson, son and granddaughter. Mr W. Benrose, Lincoln (sister-in-law. Mrs. Martin Denton, (niece) There were many floral tributes including the following Lily and Fred, Sam and Sarah, and her only grandchild, May. Mr and Mrs F W Padley and family, Mr and Mrs Allenby, Mr and Mrs C. Copp, M. Mawer. Mr and Mrs A Starbuck, Mr Hart and Miss Brothwell, Miss Hammond, Mr and Mrs F Langman and Mrs Shearman, Florrie and Mr and Mrs Walton, a friend. In loving remembrance of our dear Mother.

This wonderful tribute to Elizabeth was really poignant for me as this Jackson Family is on my own Family Tree, Elizabeth’s husband Frederick is my 1st Cousin, 5 x removed.

I shall end with this Church service in Anwick almost 200 years ago. I don’t have so many discoveries about Anwick in the newspapers, so it’s nice to find them as my One Place Study covers Billinghay and Anwick.

If anyone does have any really interesting finds or stories from past times about Billinghay or Anwick I would really love to hear from you, you can comment on my blog here or Contact me at jackocats2@gmail.com