City of Lincoln Waites

George Kerton - 1760

25 Sep 1760

During the same year Michael Hett, the Schoolmaster of Heighington, rented Jesop's Close (some 11 acres of pasture in Washingborough and Heighington) from Robert Burrill of Heighington (Yeoman), Jane his wife and George Kerton of the City of Lincoln, Breeches Maker, Son and heir of Jane Burril. (ref: AS 1/55, 5 March 1760)

The following year (21 Jul 1761) George Kerton received a loan of £25, from Sir Thomas White's Charity. His occupation being again recorded as "Breeches-maker". (ref: L1/1/1/7, p429)

Then in 1762, Kerton's name is recorded in the Mayor's Accounts when his Wait's salary is paid: "Paid to George Crathorne, William Roberts, George Kerton, George Skelton for One Years Salary due to them as Citty Waits at Michaelmas 1762 - £7.7s" (Lincoln City Rolls 14/1761-1762).

On 7th February 1800, the City issue, "Another [Bond] to Messrs Curtois and Kirton for £300 with interest". This appears to be an agreement to stand surety on a loan that the council were taking out (L1/1/1/7, p 899). A further entry in 1805 shows "Mr Kirton" receiving interest payments from the Corporation on this loan (19 Feb 1805 - L1/4/1/2).

Michael Crawthorne, the man that George Kerton replaced, had been dismissed from the Waits in 1737 because he had converted to Catholicism. We can only wonder at the possible course of events between 1737 and 1760. He was obviously re-admitted to the Waits. In my opinion, I doubt that the Council would suddenly have second thoughts about their views on religious (in)tolerance. I think it more probable that Michael Crawthorne regained his position as a Wait by renouncing Roman Catholic teaching and returning to the Church of England. If my theory is correct, the Council may well have insisted on this "return" to the Church of England being a very public (and probably humiliating) affair for Crawthorne. Never-the-less, here we find him, once more a proud Wait and (at least outwardly) a loyal member of the Church of England (of which the reigning monarch was, of course, the head).

In 1805, the City Council paid Mr Kirton £5.8s for a "Treat to the Volunteers". This is possibly for food and ale for the soldiers, paid for by Kirton, knowing that he would receive his expenses back later (L1/4/1/2).

On Octoner 1809, a Mr Kirton received 18s from the Corporation, for his work as a "Chair-turner" (L1/4/1/2).


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