Lincolnshire Worthies ~ The Great & Good of Lincs !
Lincolnshire Worthies ~ The Great & Good of Lincs ~ Past & Present
I thought I’d introduce a new category; for people who are worthy of remembrance and having their stories researched and then saved here for posterity.
Let me know what you think . . .
One of the most pleasing aspects of this site is how we all pull together and research something or somebody and really bring something worthwhile to the party.
More often than not we’re putting things together that no history book will ever record.
It’s in this spirit that I’ve been thinking about Lincolnshire Worthies - people who are of interest and related to Lincolnshire but who have perhaps not been recorded by conventional history.
We’ve covered the likes of Tennyson and Chad Varah of course and we’ll continue in that vein but closest to my heart are the likes of Rev John Gilbert Surman and of course the absolute ultimate . . . Ellis Penson
Plenty of people have covered the great Lincolnshire Worthies like Tennyson but who has bothered with Ellis Penson ?
My criteria will simply be people I come across, gravestones which may tell a story etc. I’ll photograph them and do some initial research - if it looks like there’s something of interest there I’ll write it up and we’ll see just how much we can find out.
Although generally historic I suppose you don’t need to be dead to be a Lincolnshire Worthy . . .
Hope this idea appeals, it does to me so I’ll be doing it anyway 
All the best
Rod
carol said,
February 4, 2012 @ 11:54 am
hi there, I stumbled upon this website whilst trying to discover what size jeans to buy for my daughter, as you do !!. I also dont live anywhere near Lincoln (Im in West Sussex) ; however Ive bookmarked your website and am thoroughly enjoying reading various articles and just thought id stop by and say hello and well done on such an interesting website. I love history, but my geographys not so good, I confess to having to google where Lincoln is (hangs head in shame). Anyway my hobby is geneology and if I can help at all I have a subscription to FindMyPast.
Regards Carol
Amiguru said,
February 4, 2012 @ 12:23 pm
Rod,
Well, you could start with yourself!
), in preparation for the inevitable 
So perhaps some of your regulars could write an extended comment on what you are contributing to the posterity of the county and devise a memorial for you?
Unlike in the old days, I don’t suppose you have a coffin and gravestone sitting in the corner of your living room, (sorry, studio
Well, someone had to suggest it
Regards,
Neville
History Hunter said,
February 4, 2012 @ 12:57 pm
I have a whole lot of Lincolnshire Worthies that I can forward onto you….research included. Mostly military but a few ‘other’ people as well.
Rod said,
February 4, 2012 @ 1:18 pm
Carol,
thanks for the comment and a warm welcome to the site, your hobby and subscription could prove to be a great contribution Carol - I do hope so - got somebody going up today worth a look at.
Kind regards,
Rod
Rod said,
February 4, 2012 @ 1:20 pm
Amiguru,
fantastic
I know what’ll happen to me, with a bit of luck Peter will find me a spot nobody wants in St Michael’s churchyard - then the best I could hope for would be History Hunter turning up to look at war graves one day with his dog which would then pass water on my headstone
Best
Rod
Rod said,
February 4, 2012 @ 1:21 pm
HH,
sounds great - I suspect there’s going to be some good and interesting stuff come up
Cheers
Rod
Donald (South Australia) said,
February 6, 2012 @ 12:10 am
Hi Rod,
I’m usure whether this qualifies for your register, but a son of Lincolnshire is rather well remembered in the Antipodes.
Some name places associated with him include, a suburb of Adelaide (SA) called Flinders Park, the SA Flinders University, the large Flinders Island in Bass Straight, Flinders St and the iconic Flnders St Station in the CBD of Melbourne, Flinders Chase park on Kangaroo Island (SA), the mighty Flinders Ranges of SA, the Flinders Medical Centre (a large hospital) in SA, the Flinders Highway in two states, the Flinders electorate in SA, etc, etc.
This man was the first to apply the name “Australia” to the actual continent.
I refer of course to Lt Matthew Flinders RN, 1774-1814, famed navigator and cartographer, born in Donington, Lincs.
Cheers,
Donald.
Rod said,
February 6, 2012 @ 6:28 am
Donald,
that’s cracking ! Wonderful stuff and entirely new to me.
I’ll look into it and if there’s something new or untold I can find we’ll have in on.
Best
Rod
History Hunter said,
February 6, 2012 @ 9:20 pm
I think one thread that should be moved to this one is Captain Vivien Hewitt.
Rod said,
February 7, 2012 @ 6:42 am
HH,
I agree, although he’s fairly well documented he’s one who should be in the ‘Lincolnshire Worthies’ category.
As it’s a newly created category I’m currently running it partially with search engines in mind - I have to be careful and also maximise the potential
It’s technical and dull so I won’t go into it but eventually there will be some articles moved to this, you’re on the ball HH I have to say !
Best
Rod
jean said,
February 9, 2012 @ 4:47 pm
Hi Rod , one Lincolnshire worthy I know nothing about is the Kings or Queens champion all Iknow it goes back a long time and did any of them actually fight for their sovereign,just remember driving near Horncastle and dad saying that they live there.The gate looked mighty impressive with a crown on the top. Jean
Rod said,
February 9, 2012 @ 6:08 pm
Jean,
we’ve had them in Lincolnshire, I’ve come across them/him - good idea I’ll look into some of them - many thanks
Rod
Hugh said,
February 10, 2012 @ 8:37 am
Jean
The family you are thinking of are Dymoke of Scrivelsby, near Horncastle. Terence Leach included a chapter, abuot the Queen’s Champions and their ritual challenge at a monarch’s acession, in his book about historic houses of Lincolnshire. The gatehouse remains to Scrivelsby Court, which used to stand across from the church of St. Benedict lying a good, but rewarding walk across the fields. Have you snapped that one, Rod?
Hugh
Rod said,
February 10, 2012 @ 9:32 am
Hugh,
no I haven’t as yet, got a lot to do around the Horncastle area, should be hitting it in the Spring.
Jean, out of interest look at Neville’s coincidental comment on the same day on another thread
http://www.rodcollins.com/wordpress/healing-in-lincolnshire-village-church-history#comment-24919
Best
Rod
History Hunter said,
February 11, 2012 @ 10:20 am
I was at Scrivelsby back in October doing my usual deceased hunting. Stunning area with the main estate on one side of the road and the church on the other in what seems like an impossible place to get to. When I say impossible, I dont mean it is surrounded my barbed wire and machine gun towers, but as it is on a main road, there is nowhere to pull over and stop unless you park in the entrance to the private estate farm and walk half a mile back, risking the ‘Get orf my larnd’ and a shotgun up your jacksy. Make sure you have your walking boots on…..and beware of the multitudes of rabbit holes and soft ground underfoot. A very tricky circumnavigation of the churchyard was made by yours truly and El Poochio.
Some very nice headstones in the sparsely covered churchyard, primarily the Dymoke family and the workers on the estate, but not all. Alas, as more often than not, access was not available to the Church but there was, i seem to remember, a contact address should you require access.
Rod said,
February 11, 2012 @ 11:31 am
HH,
thanks for the heads up - really appreciated, I’m looking forward to going, got an awful lot to do this year !
Regards,
Rod
Rev Enant said,
February 13, 2012 @ 9:59 am
HH,
Reference ‘Get orf my larnd’ and a shotgun up your jacksy, whilst at Scrivelsby. Did you notice the headstone commemorating a gamekeeper Richard Tasker who was murdered nearby; shot by poachers in 1850?
History Hunter said,
February 13, 2012 @ 1:00 pm
Yes I did indeed. Its little details like that that make cemeteries all the more interesting to stroll around.
It sounds like the poachers parked in the entrance to the farm too. Mind you I think if I had been approached by the farmer, the worst I could have threatened him with would have been a clipboard or a half empty bottle of water! Oh yeh, Im ready for any eventuality.
Amiguru said,
February 28, 2012 @ 5:48 pm
Rod,
I don’t suppose this young chap qualifies as he wasn’t from Lincs., but I’m sure you will understand my purpose in mentioning him when you read the following facts:
15 years old.
Awarded postumous V.C. in 1916
Buried in Grimsby
Exhumed when they realised what a hero he had been and moved to Manor Park!
Name: John Travers Cornwell
Regards,
Neville
Rod said,
February 28, 2012 @ 6:35 pm
Neville,
it’s a tremendous story and I was going to write it up at one point, but then I found out that he was re-buried in London - after I went looking at Scartho Road of course.
A tremendous young man !
Best
Rod