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. In the latter part of the 17th century another family, the Webberley’s of Addlethorpe, resided at East Kirkby. They intermarried with the Amcotts family, now represented by Colonel Cracroft Amcotts, of Hackthorne Hall, Lincoln. John Webberly, who was born here, was a strong partizan of Charles I., in his contentions with the Parliament. He did not die for his King on the field of battle like his compatriot Hallam, possibly of Bolingbroke (see “Notes” on Bolingbroke); but his support of the King, and his religious opinions (Socinian), subjected him to persecution, and, in 1648, to much suffering from imprisonment. He was afterwards expelled from Lincoln College, Oxford. (Weir’s History, Ed. 1828, vol. i. p. 415).