My Leverton

Details of ‘old’ Leverton taken from various registers

The population of the village from 1801 to 1991

1801: 339 persons   1871: 818 persons   1941: No Census-War Years
1811: 387 persons   1881: 724 persons   1951: 633 persons
1821: 544 persons   1891: 591 persons   1961: 637 persons
1831: 631 persons   1901: 598 persons   1971: 635 persons
1841: 687 persons   1911: 559 persons   1981: 653 persons
1851: 790 persons   1921: 520 persons   1991: 667 persons
1861: 770 persons   1931: 662 persons

The drop in the village population between the years 1911 and 1921 could no doubt in part be attributed to the fatalities suffered during the Great War of 1914 -1918 when Leverton lost 18 of her sons to the conflict in France.

Over a period of some two hundred years the population of the village doubled, no doubt because farming activity was increasing because of land drainage and more land coming under the plough.

Much of the recorded material is reproduced as it was written in those far off days, with some of the spelling and job descriptions not as we know it today.

Most of the entries, and all of the images here are taken from the Books of Leverton, but in bringing these details to you we must also fully acknowledge the work of the students of Leicester University who granted us permission to include some of their research material found on their website at: The Historical Directories website of Leicester University.

1810

In Pishey Thompson's; The History and Antiquities of Boston and the Hundred of Skirbeck, page 559, he writes:

"An act of Parliament was obtained in 1810 for the inclosure of this parish.
Leverton contains (including the marsh) 2984a 2r 35p; and the parochial allotments in the east and west fens amount to 54a 0r 34p, making a total of 3527a 3r 29p.

The assessable extent of the parish was, in 1837, taken at 3441a 0r 29p; the land was then rated at £1 : 7s : 5¼d per acre, and the valuation of the parish was (with houses) £4965 : 0r : 9p.
In 1851 the land was valued at £1 : 5s : 1¾d per acre, and the assessable amount was £4566 : 10s : 1d"

1841

From Pigot & Co’s Directory of Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire and Lancashire 1841.

Leverton is mentioned in a joint entry for Leake, Leverton, Bennington, Wrangle, Friskney and neighbourhood.

Leverton is one and half miles from Leake and coming under the same wapentake. Contains a church dedicated to Saint Helen and a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. The benefice is a discharged vicarage in the presentation of the crown.

Agriculture is the prevailing occupation of the inhabitants

From 1831 returns population is 631

Post master: John Leggitt

Gentry and Clergy:  Atland Mr John
                          Dawson Mr William Thompson
                          Gaitskell Rev John

Blacksmiths:          Toynton George
                          Walker Samuel

Butcher                Wiles William

Grocer and dealer in sundries:   Williams Dinah

Millers:                           Clark James
                                    Fildes Charles

Plumber and glazier:         Dawson Joseph

Taverns and Public Houses:   Ostrich George Wilson (Later Wilson - Leary)

Retailers of beer:            Dawson Samuel
                                  Hebb Thomas
                                  Kyme William

1842

The Rectory was in two medieties; the north and south Leverton. The land in the two medieties comprised of smaller allotments, awarded at the time of the Enclosure in lieu of tithes, was valued at £759. The Reverend John Gaitskell is vicar here.

The town estate (or poor – land), comprising of 61 acres 1 rood and 35 perches has been held by the parish for the benefit of the poor for more than two hundred years (early 1600s) and there are now nine cottages upon it. It is let for about £100 per annum and after paying about £6:10s for rates &c. is distributed among the poor on Plough Monday in sums varying from 8s to £2.

(Plough Monday was traditionally the 6th of January or the first Monday after the Twelfth Night and was the day the farm workers started back to work after their Christmas break. There was a ceremony that varied from area to area, but followed a common theme of blessing the plough, possibly in the Church the previous day, and then pulling it through the village.

Sometimes the activities of the 10 -15 men and boys involved in this ceremony became a little raucous, to say the least, because during their festivities around the village money or goods would be demanded of the householder, and if refused the garden could be ploughed in a form of revenge. The ritual has long since died out, but is apparently being resurrected in some areas - hopefully without the ploughing of the garden). 

One of the cottages is occupied rent free by a poor widow who has £8: 8s a year from the rent of 4 acres 3 rood 9 perches of land left by Simon Clark in 1603; for a poor man or woman.
The parish also has the right to send sixc scholars and two alms people to the school and to the bede house, respectively, in Benington, and its widowshave the interest from £84 left by Simon Clark in 1760.

It is not known how long, of even if, a school has existed here, but there is a school master here by the name of Mr George Towers Pearce living in the Outgate. Also a My George Westerby, another school master, was living in the village. Both were possibly attending other schools in nearby villages, as the National School in Leverton wasn't built until 1873; on half an acre of poor land in Leverton Highgate.

Most of the pre - 1810 poor lands mentioned in the records comprised of smaller parcels of land situated in various parts of the village as opposed to the much larger fields we see today.

Mr William Thompsom Dawson, esq. is living in the hall/manor situated in the field opposite the church, and is a major landowner

Methodists have a small chapel in the Outgate; and according to the records, the village has 687 inhabitants (1841), so we had gained 56 parishioners over the preceeding 10 years. A Mr John Woodward, who actually lived in Benington, was a brewer and brick maker the village; no doubt Mr Woodward worked for the Dawson family at their 'Brick Clamps' site along Caulk Road towards the newly erected 'New' sea bank. Of course, the Woodward name has long associations with the village of Leverton, even to this very day.

The actual Registers Entries

SKIBBECK WAPENTAKE.
Woods John, Sandholmes
10 Would Samuel

Saddlers.
Brand John
Coupland ------

Shopkeepers.
Clarke if Jas. Derby Hall
5 Dixon James
5 lngamells Jno.
3 Jackson Enoch
Overton Samuel
Walker Wm.

Tailors & Drapers.
3 Jackson Enoch
3 Johnson Edwd.
Overton Samuel
Shaw Daniel

Wheelwrights.
5 Balderston Wm.
Cook Wm.
Dawson George
2 Richardson Wm.
2 Teesdale Edwd.

CARRIERS, (to Boston, Wednesday & Sat.
6 Croft Wm.
2 Dodds Samuel

LEVERTON, on the Wainfleet road, 6 miles N.E. of Boston, is a small neat village, having in its parish 631 inhabitants and 3390 acres of land, including 556 acres of the East Fen; the hamlet of Outgate, several scattered houses, and about 400 acres of rich marsh land, which was recovered from the sea, at the cost of £5000, about the commencement of the present century, when a new bank, nearly 3 miles long and half a mile beyond the old bank, was raised. S. B. Fydell, Esq., is lord of the manor; but W. T. Dawson, Esq. Mr. J. Ealand, Wm. Clarke, and others, have estates here. The Church (St. Helen) is an acient structure, which has undergone many repairs, and in its chancel wall are three stone stalls of fine workmanship. In the reign of Henry II., John
de Leverton gave this church to Waltham Abbey. The rectory was in two medieties called North and South Leverton, the former valued in K.B. at £15. 8s. 8d. and the latter at £16, 16s. It is now valued at £759, and possesses allotments of land awarded at the enclosure in lieu of tithes. The patronage is alternately in the Crown and the executors of the late Rev. J. Caparns. The Rev. John Gaitskell is the present incumbent. The Methodists have a small chapel at Outgate.
The Town Estate, comprising 61A. IR. 35p., has been held by the parish, for the benefit of the poor, for more than two centuries, and there are now upon it nine cottages. It is let for about £100 per annum, which (after paying about £6.10s. for rates, &c.) is distributed among the poor on Plough Monday (see above), in sums varying from 8s. to £2.
One of the cottages is occupied rent-free by a poor widow, who has £8. 8s. a-year as the rent of 4A. 3r. 9p., left by Simon Clarke in 1603, for a poor man or woman. The parish is entitled to send six scholars
and two almspeople to the School and Bedehouse at Bennington, and its poor widows have the interest of £84, left by Simon Cooke in 1760.
Marked 1, live in the Fen; 2, Highgate; 3, Ings; 4, Out gate; 5, Sea-end; and- the rest at Churchend.
Brown Thomas, vict Bell Inn
Charlton Moses, tailor and draper
Clayworth Robert, gent
Dawson Wm. Thompson, Esq. Leverton Hall
Dawson Saml. plumber and painter
Fields Chas. corn miller and baker
Beer Houses.
Fields Charles
Fox Wm.
2 Sharpe Wm.
4 Williams Kime
  Howden Samuel
4 Toynton George
4 Walker Samuel
Boot & Shoe Mkrs
Howden Samuel
Toynton George
Walker Samuel
Graziers & Frmrs
4 Barker Wm.
2 Barton Wm.
Boucher Jno, and Thomas
Fox William, blacksmith
Gaitskell Rev. John, rector
Mason John, gardener
4 Venter James, carpenter
4 Westerby George, schoolmaster
   Wiles William, butcher
   Wilson George, vict. Ostrich
   Wood Edw. reed & straw thatcher
   Woodward John, brewer and brickmaker; h. Bennington
1 Brackenborough Thomas
4 Clarke James
3 Clarke John
  Clarke William
  Ealand Jno.Mussam Hall (also known as; Massam Hall or Heronshaw Hall)
  Gray Jonathan
1 Hardy George
   Harrison John
2 Johnson Anthyv
1 Johnson Wm.
3 Lacey John
3 Lee James
4 Leggit John
1 Nicholsoft Wm.
4 Reeson Wm.
4 Robinson Wm.
  Smaller Samuel
  Smith James
5 Stephenson Pp
4 Ward Joseph
4 Willerton Mary
5 Williams John
4 Williams Wm
  Wilkinson Mary
Shopkeepers.
  Fields Charles
  Walker William
4 Williams Wm.
CARRIERS.
Jph. Bettinson to Boston, Wed. & Sat.

1851

Mr George Dawson (born at Great Hale and the son of William Thompson Dawson - who father died in 1844) was still farming at 'The Hall/Manor' opposite the church, so the old place was still in existence. He was farming 158 acres of land and employed 6 labourers. He would be classed as a major landowner. He aslo employed a lady servant by the name of Susan Wise (later, a well known name in the village) who came from Detford, in Kent, and another lady by the name of Jane Falkinder who came  from Burgh, Lincs (just to the west of Skegness). 

There was other Dawson's in the village in the 1920s, who were possibly descendents of Mr Thompson Dawson. One well known gentleman who lived near to the Wesleyan Chapel in the Outgate was known as 'Cockler Dawson', the reason he had that name, of course, was that he harvested cockles and other items of sea food from the marshes and sold them for a living. That was a very lucrative trade in those early days with men busy on the marshlands every day as tides permitted.
Two other men in that occupation was a Mr 'Dick' Upsall and a Mr Artr Upsall, two brothers. They all lived locally. Thay had what was known as; 'flight nets' these were nets strung between upright poles stuck in to the marsh sands which would snare fish on ther tides. Also Mr Thompson Dawson caught moles and sold the skins for a few coppers each. Legend has it that a horse and cart were lost in quick sands while they busy at their activities. Later a Mr Henry Upsall carried on the business. 

The actual registers:

Leverton, a parish in the wapentake of Skirbeck, parts Holland, and Boston Union, 6 miles north-east-by east
from Boston, contained, in 1851, 790 inhabitants, and about 4,000 acres of land. The living is a rectory, in the
diocese of Lincoln, value £759, and in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor and A. Booth, Esq., alternately; the Rev.— Newmarsh is the incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Helen, is of considerable antiquity.

There is also a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists (built in 1866). LEVERTON OUTGATE is a hamlet.

TRADERS and FARMERS

Allen Hansard, tailor
Barker William, farmer
Barton William, farmer, Highgate
Bettinsbn John, carrier
Blenkarn Thomas, farmer
Brackenborough Thomas, farmer
Brown Thomas, The Bell Inn
Clarke James, butcher
Clarke John, farmer
Cordy William; bootmaker
Dawson William, plumber & glazier
Fields Charles, baker & beer retailer
Fox William, blacksmith & beer retailer
Hardy George, farmer, Fen
Lacey John, farmer (He was farming in Leverton Lowfields and we now know his home was at the western end of Laceys Lane)
Leary Howard Watson, The Ostrich Inn (In Leverton Highgate)
Leggitt John, farmer
Lightfoot Joseph, farmer
Pearce George Towers, schoolmaster
Reeson Mrs. farmer (Mr Reeson died and Mrs Reeson took over the farming operation in Lucasgate, Leverton)
Sharpe William, farmer
Smith James, farmer
Stephenson Philip, farmer
Walker Samuel, bootmaker
Ward Christopher, farmer, Outgate
Willeston Mary (Mrs.),farmer Outgate
Williams Abel, farmer & shopkeeper, Outgate
Williams John, farmer
Woodward Edwd.straw & reed thatcher
Woodward John, brewer & brickmaker

Letters through Boston, which is also
the nearest money order office.

Carrier to Boston - John Bettinson

1855

A record very similar to the above.

A Post Office directory of 1855 gives the area of land in Leverton as being about 4000 acres, while Kelly's Directory dated 1856 gives it as being 3390 acres. A report in 1872 states the acreage as being 3527 but that figure included 543 acres of the East and West Fen Allotments, the Hamlet of Outgate, and about 400 acres of rich marshland which was recovered from the sea (Mr Abraham Sheath's new bank of 1810), though the village acreage averages approximately 3300 throughour the years up to about 1971.

In 1855 a Mr Edward Woodward was a straw and reed thatcher here. John Ward was still in his brewing business while still making bricks.

A John Dracass (another well known name in the village right thorugh to the 1950s) was a blacksmith at the age of 20; he was the son of one, John Dracass, a potato dealer who lived in Hurns End - Mr Dracass was born in West Keal, north of Spilsby, Lincs.

1856

History ,Gazetteer and Directory of Lincolnshire 1856

Leverton situated on Wainfleet Road 6 miles N E of Boston it is a small neat village with 700 population. There is about 3390 acres of land including 556 of East Fen.The hamlet of Outgate has several scattered houses and about 400 acres of rich marshland recovered from the sea at a cost of 5000 pounds at the commencement of the present century when a new sea bank nearly 3 miles long and half a mile beyond the old bank was raised. This bank was funded mainly by Mr Abraham Sheath, businessman and twice Mayor of Boston who, when the bank was completed, acquired some small portion of the land for his own uses.

S R Fydell esq. is lord of the manor. Henry Hallam esq. the historian the Dawson,Lindsey,Tennant  ,Brookes, Rogers, Aldrid (Oldrid?),Buxton and other families have estates there.

Rectory was in 2 medieties of N and S Leverton former valued at 15p 8s 8p and latter 16s 6d , they were united in 1800.Rectory now valued 850 pounds pa arising from 420 acres allotted at the enclosure in lieu of tithes. Patronage alternatively in the Lord Chancellor and A Booth esq. Rev Charles Fras Newmarch MA is rector, he has a commodious rectory house in well planted grounds.

Town Estate is 61a 1r 35p. Held for the benefit of the poor for 200 years and now has 9 cottages let in allotments for about 120 pounds pa distributed among the poor on Plough Monday in amounts from 8s to        2 pounds. One of the cottages is occupied rent free by a poor widow who has 8p 8s pa. *

The parish is entitled to send 6 scholars and 2 almspeople to the school and Bedehouse at Bennington and its poor widows hold the interest of 84 pounds left by Simon Cooke in 1760. *

Outgate, a pleasant hamlet one and a half miles E of Leverton church, has a Methodist chapel and school (This was an older chapel because as stated in the Kellys 1872 entry: "It has a Methodist Chapel and a new Wesleyan Chapel was erected in 1866 on the site of the old one". Whether there were two chapels at some time is not known. The Wesleyan Chapel is now a private home. We have no idea of where the school was but there was two a school master's residing in the Hamlet around that time. Could the old Mission Hall have been the earlier Methodist Chapel or indeed, the school? The school we of a certain age knew (and loved?) erected in 1873 (as mentioned elsewhere).
Near is New Hall the pleasant residence of Mr Joseph Winter Dawson errected near the site of the Old Hall in 1844-5. Part of the old materials were used in the new building.This gentleman was the son of Mr William Thompson Dawson who lived in the much earlier Leverton Hall opposite the Church; another son; Mr George Dawson lived in, and farmed 158 acres of land in 1851 from, the premises after his father's death but there is no more mention of the Hall in any of the registers after that date. *

* As mentioned above.

1868

A Colonel Leonard, the Tennant family, Mr J W Dawson, Mrs Lindsey and the Rev'd J Oldrid were the principle land owners in Leverton. The Rev'd Charles Francis Newmarch, M.A. formerly of St., Alban Hall, Oxford, held the living in the rectory (There are numerous headstones in the churchyard of Saint Helena carrying the names of so many of the people we have written of, and one such is the tomb of a member of this Oldrid family, and another is of the Rev'd Newmarch and his wife).



The tombs of the Rev'd Newmarch (right) and his wife Caroline (centre)

As stated previously, the Brown family name is well know in the village from very early times and Napoleon is landlord of the Bell Inn at this time. Napoleon was baptised in Saint Helena on the 16th August 1828. His wife, Sarah (nee Wright) was born in Frisney circa 1832 and they married in Leverton on the 15th June 1859. Napoleon's brother, Solomon Brown, born 1832, is farming in the Ings area of the village.
The name Wilson is still associated with the Ostrich Inn but the name is now; Wilson - Leary. There is a surgeon here by the name of Frederick Horatio Atkinson, L.F.P.S.

There are many well known names in the village at this time, names such as; Walker, Wainer, Lakin, Lacey, Leggott, Clark/e, Brown, Fixter, Dawson, Swain, Cook, Farr and many more that continye well into the mid 1900s.

1872

White´s History Gazeteer and directory of Lincolnshire 1872

This is the period of the highest population in the village, there being arond 818 parishioners here so it is a period of high activity in business and employment here.

Leverton is on the Wainfleet Road 6 miles Nort East of Boston, has 818 inhabitants,3527 acres of land including 543 acres of East and West Fen Allotments.The hamlet of Outgate has about 400 acres of rich marshland.Colonel Leonard ,Lady Charles Bertie Percy , Mrs Lindsey and Messers Tennant , Joseph Winter Dawson, Brooks, Rogers, Oldrid and other families are owners of property.The Rectory is now valued at 900 pounds arising from 415 acres of land allotted at the enclosure in lieu of tithes. Patronage alternatively in the Lord Chancellor and A Booth esq.The Rev charles Francis Newmarch MA is rector. Outgate is a pleasant hamlet about 1 ½ miles East of Leverton church.It has a Methodist chapel and now a new Wesleyan chapel erected in 1866 on the site of the old one. Near it is New Hall the pleasant residence of Mr J W Dawson erected near the site of the Old Hall.in 1844/5. Mussam (Also known as; Massam and Heronshaw) Hall on the Wainfleet Road is an ancientm (A plaque on a wall has the date 1597), ivy - clad, brick house occupied by John William Sharp esq. Leverton Grange is a handsome residence recently erected and having about 350 acres of land attached and belongs to T Tennant esq. of Leeds and is occupied by C F Swain esq.

It is  understood locally that no one would take tenancy of the Grange without there being a residence attached; and when built the railings to the front of the property cost more than the building itself. There is a monogrammed fireplace in the Grange which is indicative of the association with the building by the Tennant family.

The Bell Inn, Leverton. Demolished 1950s.

Allen Hansord: tailor and postmaster
Atkinson Frederick Horatio LFPS surgeon
Bailey Joseph farmer Marsh
Outgate: Barker Mrs Elizabeth farmer
Highgate: Barker Mrs Ruth farmer
Outgate: Barton Thomas shoemaker (The Barton name was known in the village. It is anecdotally known that several Barton sons emigrated and were never heard of again by family members).
Ings: Blake Joseph farmer
Fen: Brackenborough Mrs Elizabeth farmer
Fen: Brackenborough George farmer
Brown Napoleon: farmer and victualler Bell Inn
Brown Soloman: farmer
Outgate: Cammack Francis farmer and Leake (Landowners and later in business in Boston)
Fen: Clapham Joseph farmer    
Highgate: Clark Charles Codling farmer
Clark Richard: farmer Church Lane

The New Hall, Leverton, soon after building in 1844

Ings: Clark Richard jun farmer
Clark William: farmer Gride
Cock Thomas: carrier Seafield
Fen: Cooper Joseph farmer and boatman
Cordy William: shopkeeper and shoemaker (Believed to be the shop (now a private dwelling) in the Outgate.
Outgate: Dales Michael farmer
Outgate: Dalton Edward farmer
Dawson George farmer and pig jobber  (A buyer and seller of pigs)
Dawson Joseph Winter farmer New Hall  (Moved top the village from Gteat Hale, Lincs)
Dawson Samuel plumber and glazier
Outgate: Dexter James Charles shopkeeper
Outgate: Dracass Mark blacksmith

Highgate:EubyMark farmer                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Ings: Everard William farmer                                                                                                   
Fen: Evison Robert farmer
Fixter Henry farmer
Fixter John farmer
Fex William blacksmith and beer house
Gask William jun: farmer The Lodge Farm. (In Oldfield Lane, Leverton)
Fen: Gosling David farmer
Hall Benjamin sexton and parish clerk
Ings: Harrison Michael farmer
Outgate: Howison Joseph farmer
Sheepgate: Hodgson John Timothy farmer
Fen: Hepton William farmer
Fen: Houles George farmer Rectory lands;h Frieston
Fen: Ingamells George farmer and grazier (The Ingamells farming family lived in 'The Willows Farmhouse' in Laceys Lane, Leverton. The  Lacey family farmed there in the early
1800s )                       
Sheepgate: Kitwood Thomas farmer (Another well known family later in business in Boston)
Ings: Lakin John farmer
Outgate: Leary Howard Wilson victualler Ostrich (Note the name 'Leary' is added here)
Outgate: Leggott William farmer (The Leggott name is still in the area and still involved in farming)
Martin William miller; Butterwick
Mawer Miss Sarah farmer
Newmarch Rev charles Francis MA JP rector
Nicholson Mrs Elizabeth farmer Lowfields
Overton Joseph farmer and carrier
Paul William farmer Field End
Outgate: Pierce George Towers vestry clerk and assistant overseer
Fen: Reeson Charles farmer
Lucasgate: Reeson William farmer (A decendant of this very old family still lives in Lucasgate)
Lucasgate: Robinson Daniel farmer Seaforth Farm

Sharp John William farmer Mussam Hall

Staniland William farmer

Charles Frederick farmer The Grange ; and Wrangle (There is no mention of the Grange before 1872 in the directories).
Highgate: Swain Charles farmer
Toynton Joseph farmer Marsh
Vaughan Thomas farmer church End (At some time lived in Laceys lane)
Vinter James carpenter
Outgate: Walker Samuel shoemaker
Outgate:Ward Christopher farmer and horse dealer
Ward Joseph farmer Church End
Wedd Peter farmer;and Leake
Wilkinson John shoemaker Church End
Outgate: Willerton Henry farmer
Willerton William farmer
Outgate: Williams Abel farmer (The Williams name is very well known and was known in the village for some time after the 2nd WW.
Outgate: Williams Kime farmer
Highgate: Williams Lambrick farmer ( Brother of Kime Williams, above,)
Willson George farmer Derby Hall
Woolven Walter butcher and shopkeeper

Carriers to Boston Wed and Sat
Thomas Cook and Joseph Overton

1876


1882

William Gask is still farmiong at the Lodge farm on the marshes but has now taken on the duties of Drainage Surveyor to the Commissioners of Sewers. (The Commissioners of Sewers were bands of local gentry who were appointed to see that the channels were kept clear and the sea banks were kept in good repair).
In this year we see the well know name of Ablard; Mr John Bontoft Ablard is the miller and baker in premises just to the east of the (now) A52 road (the mill now has been demolished). Mr Ablard was born in Butterwick in 1850 and his wife, Ann, was born in Sutterton in 1847.
A Mr Lightfoot was farming adjacent to the mill in 1882 and to reach his land he would have to travel along Lightfoot's Lane which went by the mill to 'Mill Fields' where he farmed. Mr Lightfoot actually lived in Boston in 1882. The name Lightfoot remained associated with farming in the area until 1922/23 but thereafter is not mentioned in village records.

Mr Napolean Brown is now a shopkeeper as well as a victualler and farmer; a very busy man indeed. He was satill running The Bell at this time. The family are very well known in the village, the earliest reference (through genealogy) to them being a baptism in in Saint Helena's Church in 1757. (There is a story that Napolean gave regular donations of money to church funds but the church authorities reported him for allowing drinking after closing time. No doubt Napolean would have been penalised for such an offence, and thereafter declined to donate further).
Thomas Cook is farming in the Outgate
Mark Dracass now aged 62 is still a blacksmith in the Highgate
Thomas Crawford Cook is farming while still carrying on the carriers business
Maria Dawson has taken on the responsibility of the farm on the demise of her husband; Joseph Winter Dawson
who died on December 28th 1874 aged 56.
Henry and brother John Fixter are still farming
Goerge Ingamells is farming in the Fen area (to the south west of Ings Lane, Lowfields)
The Rev'd William Wright Mason is in residence at the vicarage. A single man he was born in Wainfleet, Lincs. He served in the village from circa 1878 - 1894 and was a very popular vicar.
William Roger is the National School Master. Mr Roger was born in Scotland and died in the village. The family tomb is to the north of the village church where he, his wife, Harriet and daughter, Wilhelmina (Minnie) are laid to rest.
Henry Woods is also a farmer here.



1885

Kelly´s Directory of Lincolnshire 1885

The living is worth 900 pounds gross annually consisting of 415 acres of glebe and a residence.It has been held since 1878 by the Rev William Wright Mason MA of Clare College Cambridge.Miss Bertie - Percy , Colonel Lennard , the Tennant family ,Mrs Dawson ,Mrs Lindsey and the Rev J H Oldrid are chief landowners.The soil is silty , the subsoil strong clay and the chief crops wheat and potatoes.

There are 2894 acres of land and 3710 of water.The rateable value is 4123 pounds and the population in 1881 is 593 in the civil parish and 719 in the ecclesiastical parish.

Parish clerk and sexton is Benjamin Hall

Post Office Mrs Mary Allen

A National School was established in 1873 at a cost of nearly 800 pounds (actually, £771. 4s. 3p) contributed by land owners and occupiers aided by grants from government and educational societies .It holds 100 children and has an attendance of 90.William Rodgers master (born in Scotland)and Mrs Hannah Rodgers mistress (visit Leverton's Saint Helena churchyard where their tombs can be found on the north side).
The Parishioners contributed £464. 12s; the Education Department £223. 15s; The National Society£20; and the Lincoln Diocesan Society £30.
It was erected on half an acre of Leverton Poors Land and runs from the Highgate to the Outgate Road at rear of the premises.

Carriers to Boston Thomas Cook and Christopher Wilkinson Wed and Sat (The Cook name is very well known in the village by the older generations)

Mason William Wright MA rector (See Second Book of Leverton for this very interesting gentleman)
Swain Charles Frederick The Grange

Village Businesses

Ablard John miller (wind)
Allgood John carpenter
Baker Joseph blacksmith
Brown Napoleon The Bell PH (The Brown family name has been associated with Leverton for some 300+ years)
Brown Solomon farmer
Cammack Hannah Mrs farmer
Carrington William Ostrich PH (To the north of Highgate, Leverton, and at the junctions of Outgate, Moat Lane, Hampton Lane and Hurns End Road)
Clark Charles Codling farmer
Clark Richard farmer Ings Lane
Clark Richard farmer
Clark William farmer
Cook Thomas carrier (Another well - known name in the village)
Dawson George farmer
Dawson Maria Mrs farmer New Hall (The 'New' Hall in Leverton Outgate after the demise of her husband)    
Dawson Samuel plumber
Draccas Mark blacksmith
Fixter Henry farmer (A well known family involved in farming, cycle repairs and owners of threshing tackle equipment for many, many years in the village)
Fixter John farmer
Gilliatt Samuel farmer
Hodgson John Timothy farmer
Howlem Richard shoemaker
Hoyles William Henry farmer Outgate
Lacey Thomas farmer Ings (Farming in Leverton Lowfields from the early 1800s)
Lakin John farmer Ings
Leggett William farmer
Nicholson Eliza Mrs shopkeeper
Reeson William farmer
Robinson Daniel farmer
Smith William farmer
Smith William carpenter
Swain Charles Frederick farmer (Farming at the Grange (built in circa 1871) in Leverton Highgate)
Walker Samuel shoemaker
Ward Joseph farmer Outgate
Wedd Peter farmer
Welsh Edwin farmer (At the Lodge Farm in Oldfield Lane)
Wilkinson John Christopher shoemaker and carrier
Willerton Henry farmer Outgate
Williams Lambrick farmer Highgate (An earlier member of the well - know Williams' family)
Woodward Frank farmer (A well know name in the village to this day)
Woodward Thomas shopkeeper (Ditto above)

1889

Kelly´s Directory of Lincolnshire 1889

George Fydell Rowley esq. JP of Moorcott Hall , Uppingham , Rutland is the Lord of the Manor and Miss Bertie - Percy of Guyscliffe ,Warwick ,col Sir John Farnaby Lennard bart DI JP

Of West Wickham Court Kent , the Tennant family , Mrs Dawson , Mrs Dawson - Rowley and the Rev John Henry Oldrid MA of Woodbury Hill ,Tunbridge Wells Kent are the chief landowners.

Rateable value 3385 pounds pa
Parish clerk and sexton Benjamin Hall
Post Office Mrs Mary Brackenbury
Walter Meadows schoolmaster and Mrs Annie Harris school mistress.
Carriers to Boston Thomas Cook and Christopher Wilkinson Wed and Sat
Mason William Wright MA rector
Swain Charles Frederick The Grange

Commercial
Ablard John miller ( wind and steam)
Allgood John carpenter
Baker Henry Charles farmer Highgate
Baker Joseph blacksmith
Brackenbury Mrs Mary Post Office
Brown John farmer Ings Lane
Brown Napoleon farmer
Brown Solomon farmer
Butters James farmer
Cammack Betsy and Susan Misses farmers
Carrington William Ostrich PH
Clark Charles Codling farmer
Clark Richard farmer
Clark Richard (exors of) farmer
Clark William farmer
Collins Jabez farmer Ings Lane
Cook Thomas carrier
Cook Thomas farmer Highgate
Dawson George farmer
Dawson Maria Mrs farmer New Hall
Dawson Samuel plumber and beer retailer
Everard William farmer
Fixter Henry farmer
Fixter John farmer
Hall Harriet Jane Miss shopkeeper
Hodgson John Edwin farmer Sheepgate
Howlem Richard shoemaker
Kitwood Thomas farmer Sheepgate
Lacey Thomas Rhodes farmer Ings
Leggett Harriet Mrs farmer
Nicholson Eliza Mrs shopkeeper
Pierce Edwin grocer
Reeson William farmer and assistant overseer
Richardson Charles farmer Ings
Robinson Daniel farmer
Rodger William school and shopkeeper
Royle John James farmer Outgate
Smith William farmer
Smith William Jordan wheelwright
Stephenson Frank blacksmith
Swain Charles Frederick farmer
Walker Samuel shoemaker
Welsh Edwin farmer Leverton Lodge
Wilkinson John Christopher shoemaker and carrier
Willerton Henry James farmer Outgate
Williams William Lambrick farmer Outgate
Woodward Thomas baker
Woodward William farmer

1896

Kelly´s directory of Lincolnshire 1896

Leverton is 3 ½ miles South East of Sibsey Station on the East Lincolnshire section of the Great Northern Railway. This is the rail line which goes through to Skegness, Lincs., calling at all the minor stations on the way.

The living of Leverton is held by the Rev John Bullen MA of Trinity College , Dublin.

George Fydell Rowley esq. of Moorcott Hall ,Uppingham , Rutland is the lord of the manor.Lord Algernon Percy of Guyscliffe , Warwick , Col Sir Farnaby Lennard bart of West Wickham Court ,Kent , the Rev J Mason Austen of Scarborough ,Mrs Dawson , Mrs Dawson - Rowley and the Rev John Henry Oldrid M A of Woodbury Hill , Tunbridge Wells ,Kent are chief landowners.

Area 2894 acres of land and 3710 of water .Population in 1891 583 in the civil parish and 719 in the  ecclesiastical parish.

By a local government order in 1880 the West Fen allotment was transferred to the parish of West Fen and a detached part of this  parish including 84 persons was transferred to Old Leake.

Parish clerk and sexton Benjamin Hall
Post Office Richard Soar
Walter Meadows schoolmaster and Miss Florence Martin infant mistress
Luke Jesse Atkinson and John Brown: Carriers to Boston Wed and Sat 
Ablard John miller wind and steam
Baker Joseph blacksmith
Baker Henry Charles farmer Highgate
Bontoft Susannah Mrs   Ostrich
Brooks Samuel farmer
Brown John carrier
Brown Napolean farmer
Brown Thomas farmer Sheepgate
Cammak Betsy and Susan Misses farmers
Clark Charles Codling farmer
Clark Frank farmer
Clark William farmer Ings
Clark William farmer Outgate
Collins Jabez farmer Ings Lane
Cook Christopher farmer
Cook John Thomas assistant overseer and clerk to parish council
Cook Thomas farmer Highgate
Crowder and Clark farmers Church End
Crowder William farmer
Dawson George farmer
Dawson Maria Mrs farmer New Hall
Dawson Samuel plumber and beer retailer
Everard William farmer
Fixter Henry farmer
Fixter John farmer
Groom Charles farmer Outgate
Hall Harriet Jane Miss shopkeeper
Howden Richard shoemaker
Lacey Thomas Rhodes farmer Ings
May George carpenter and wheelwright
Nicholson Isabella Eliza Mrs shopkeeper
Pierce Edwin grocer
Reeson William Mrs farmer
Rodger William shopkeeper and farmer
Royle John James farmer Outgate
Sharp Richard joiner and wheelwright
Simpson Henry S farmer Grange
Tebb Henry farmer
Vaughan Thomas cow keeper
Walker Samuel shoemaker
Welsh Edwin farmer Leverton Lodge
Willerton Henry James farmer Outgate
Williams Edwin farmer Outgate
Wilson John George farmer Sea Field
Woodward Thomas pig jobber
Woodward William farmer

1901

A Mr Harry Lee is in occupation of the New Hall in Leverton Outgate. He is a single man living there with his sister Beatrice, aged 20. One Mr George Smith, aged 46 is groom, with Kate Parker, aged 21, as housemaid.

Mr Richard Marshall is now blacksmith living in the adjacent house with his wife, Sarah, and family; James, Sidney, Bertha, Frank and Rose E Marshall. They had a servant by the name of Charlotte Bocter? of Boston.
(Those of a certain age will remember the Marshall family working the blacksmith's business and also running the  Three Horse Shoes public house which was on the same site. Rose, their daughter later took over the public house licence from her mother).

1913

George Fydell Rowley, Esq. of Morcott Hall, Uppingham, Rutland, is the Lord of the Manor; Charles Bowser Esq. of Holbeach Marsh, Mr A Saul, Grange Farm, The Rev'd ASC Austen MA, Thomas Riddlington, of Boston, and Benjamin Grant, of Boston, are the chief landowners in Leverton at this time.The main crops being wheat and potatoes.

The area is some 3,137 acres; rateable value; £3,460., The Parish Clerk and Sexton is one Horatio Hall; Miss Isabella Eliza Nicholson is sud - postmistress.

Walled letter boxes: Leverton Outgate cleared at 6.30 p.m. and Highgate cleared at 6.50 p.m.

The carriers passing through the village en route to Boston on a Wednesday and Saturday are; James Pickwood and George Pickwell.

1930
Kelly's Directory of Lincolnshire 1930

Living is a rectory of net value pa £500 including 180 acres of glebe and a residence in the gift of the Lord chancellor and G Meade - King esq , alternatively.It has been held since 1923 by the rev Cyril Hankin - Turrin BA of univ of Durham.Hamlets are Outgate and Lucasgate There is a Wesleyan chapel built 1858 and one in Outgate built 1866.

There are charities of about £150 value pa

George Fydes Rowley esq DL JP is lord of manor

Messers Charles Bowser ,Arthur Saul and Thomas Riddlington are chief landowners.

Soil is silty , subsoil strong clay.Chief crops are corn and potatoes.

Area 3137 acres.Population in 1921 520.

Carriers to Boston Wed and Sat Samuel Baines and William Harrison

Private Residents

Hankin - Turrin rev BA hons The Rectory
Saul Arthur The Grange - in the Highgate

Village businesses

Ablard Arthur miller ( steam )
Ablard Frank Smith shopkeeper Post Office
Bainbridge Frank farmer Church End
Benton John cottage farmer
Bird Harold Ostrich Inn
Britton Andrew blacksmith Church End
Brown James Rd farmer Ings Lane
Brown John Thomas D farmer Outgate
Brown Thomas farmer Main Road
Collins Edward cottage farmer Church End
Cook Christopher joiner
Cook John Thomas income tax collector and clerk to parish council Outgate
Dennis William W farmer Ings Lane
Dickinson Thomas Percival cottage farmer
Dion Thomas William cottage farmer Outgate
Everard Abraham Watson cottage farmer
Everard Emma (Mrs) farmer
Fixter William cycle dealer
Gosling Dickinson smallholder Sheepgate
Gosling Fred smallholder Sheepgate
Gosling James jun cottage farmer Sheepgate
Ingamells John threshing machine proprietor
Johnson Henry baker
Lacey Stanley farmer
Lakin Percy farmer Highgate
Marshall Sarah Ann ( Mrs ) beer retailer
Munks Arthur Edward blacksmith
Ostler and Cook farmers Outgate
Pickwell James cottage farmer
Pig Club ( John Woods secretary )
Rodger W M ( Miss ) shopkeeper
Saul Arthur farmer and landowner The Grange ( marked with a cross to indicate a farm of 150 acres or more )
Shelton Rd farmer Outgate
Smith Samuel cottage farmer
Smith Sarah Jane ( Miss ) farmer
Smith Thomas Arthur shopkeeper Outgate
Taylor Joseph farmer Church End
Upsall Rd Hy farmer
Vaughan Charles R farmer
Wain Arther Albert cottage farmer
West William cottage farmer
Williams Thomas Edwin farmer
Wise Arthur Thornton farmer
Woods John Kent grocer Highgate
Woodward Charles farmer Gride ( letters through Old Leake , Boston)
Woodward Fred farmer Ings
Woodward Thomas jun commission agent and farmer
Wright Arthur farmer Highgate
Wright Harry farmer
Wright John farmer Highgate
Wright Lily Mary ( Mrs ) shopkeeper