the close of his vicariate) of “xl_s._”, the interest to be used “for the benefit of the poor, and church, of Stixwould.” He was succeeded by Thomas Burton, buried October 21st, 1617. Then followed Francis Bowman, vicar in 1618; Richard Skiggs, 1648; John Skelton, 1665: a note here states that from 1677 to 1704, being in the time of Mr. Fox, vicar, the registers were all on loose papers, and were lost by W. Reading, vicar. (This Thomas Fox was appointed by Sir John Coventry, K.B., in 1685). He was succeeded by William Reading, just named; who was followed by Anthony Baker, appointed by Lord Anson, 1753; George Blennerhaysett (also vicar of Saxilby) was appointed by Thomas Anson in 1767; Bernard Cracroft (also vicar of Bardney) was the first nominee of Edmund Turnor, of Panton, in 1778; William Mounsey, 1802; Washbourn Uvedale, 1832, who died within the year; William Gurdon Moore, 1833; John Francis Wray, 1839; John Woodlands Watkin, 1852; William Lush, 1870; William Bennett, 1881; J. A. Penny, 1888; A. R. Wilson, 1896; James Bryan Turner, 1901. We now proceed to treat of the Halstead Hall estate, in this parish, formerly a distinct lordship. The earliest mention we can find of this as a separate manor, is in the 13th century, a deed of that period naming Roger, son of Roger de Stixwould, and Sir Theobald de Stykeswald, knight: this Theobald also witnessed a deed as “Dominus Theobaldus de Halstead,” May 22nd, 1281. (“Linc. N. & Q.” 1897, p. 82). Their grandfather would appear to have been the Roger de Stixwould who, with Gerard de Camvill, was sheriff of Lincoln A.D. 1190, and again 1192–1193. In the survey of the county, made between 1114 and 1118, Ralph de Stixwould is named as holding 1 carucate and 4 oxgangs (180 acres) in Edlington, under Ranulph de Meschin, Earl of Lincoln, son of the second Lady Lucia, already referred to. We may therefore infer that these four generations, at that early period, resided at Halstead, being designated indifferently “de Stikeswald” or “de Halstead.” We have then to pass over an interval of more than 180 years, when, in 1465, a Richard Welby, of Moulton, names Halstead in his will as part of his property. He was sheriff in 1471, and M.P., 1472. We find a Chancery Inquisition (18 Henry VII., No. 96) held at Spalding, 24 April, 1503, whereby it was shown that Thomas Welby, who was sheriff in 1492, died October 16, 1497, seised of the manors of Moulton, Freeston, Sutton, Farlesthorpe, and Halstead, besides lands in several other parishes. (“Architectural S. Journal,” 1895, p. 18). His will was dated Dec. 9, 1493; the executors being Sir Edward Borough, knt., Sir G. Tailbois, knt. (a name, as we have seen, already connected with this parish), and others.