Morton in past times

Reproduced from “A History of Lincolnshire” written and published
by William Marrat between 1814-17.

 Morton is a neat village in the hundred of Aveland, in the parts of Kesteven, about 2½ miles north of Bourne.

 Domesday Account of 1086

Land of Gilbert de Gaunt.  

In Mortune (Morton) and Hermodesthorpe (Harmthorp) two carucates of land and a half and the forth part of one carucate and the forth part of one ox-gang to be taxed. Land to as many ploughs and oxen. Soke in Edeham (Edenham) there were fourteen sokemen and five bordars with three ploughs. There are Forty-five acres of meadow, and forty acres of wood pasture.

Land of Ogerius Brito.

In Mortune (Morton) and Hermodesthorpe (Harmthorp) Uifenise had five carucates and a half of land and half an ox-gang to be taxed. Land to as many ploughs, Soke of Edenham. Ogerius has a moiety of this land, and has there fourteen sokemen and three bordars with six ploughs, and forty-five acres of meadow, and forty acres of wood pasture. It is worth forty shillings.

In the same Mortune (Morton) Quenleue had two carucates of land and a half ox-gang to be taxed. Land to as many ploughs. Ogerius has there two ploughs and two sokemen with two ox-gangs on this land, and eight villanes and four bordars with two ploughs. There is a church and a priest and eighteen acres of meadow, and sixteen acres of coppice wood. Value in King Edward’s time, forty shillings, now sixty.

In the same, one oxgang of land and a half to be taxed. Land to two oxen and a half. Soke of Haconesbie (Hackenby). Four villanes have one plough there, and nine acres of meadow and sixteen acres of coppice wood. Value in King Edward’s time, and now, ten shillings.

In the same, one oxgang of land and a half to be taxed. Land to two oxen and a half. Soke in Haconesbi (Hackenby).

In the same Mortune (Morton) half a carucate of land to be taxed. Land to four oxen.  Soke in Corninctone (qu. Quarrington.) There are four villanes with half a plough, and five acres of meadow and eight acres of coppice wood.

One carucate of land inland in Mortune (Morton) and one ox-gang and a half, soke in Harmodesthorp (Harmthorp) they say belongd to Haconebi (Hackenby) in the time of King Edward where therein, and Luerie had them.

The jury say St. Benedict of Ramsey ought to have half a carucate of land with sac and soke in the same Mortune (Morton.) Oger holds this un-justly.

Land of Heppo Ballistarius.

In Mortune (Morton) nine ox-gangs of land and a half to be taxed. Land to as many oxen. Nine sokemen have there one plough, and ten acres of meadow and twelve acres of coppice wood.

In Hermodesthorp (Harmthorp) Tureuert had one carucate of land to be taxed. Land to one plough. Simund, a vassal of Heppo’s, has there one plough, and nine acres of meadow and twenty acres of coppice wood. Value in King Edwards’s time twenty shillings now thirty.

“ In the time of Henry III, Baldwin Wake held in the hundred of Morton 4 bovates of land of Gilbert de Gaunt, also Hugh son of Aufrey, and Gerard son of Simon held in the same 4 parts of a Knights fee” (Testa de Nevill.)

The Church

Is a handsome gothic building consisting of a nave, north and south ailes a chancel and tower steeple. The pillars are lofty and beautiful, the cornices at the top being ornamented with foliage. The steeple which is between the nave and chancel is supported by four very handsome clustered pillars.

It is neatly fitted with pews, and a neat singing gallery. The stone font is much mutilated. At the east end of the south aile is a mural tablet to the memory of Rebecca Leaband, who gave in 1716 one acre and a half  of meadow ground in Morton north meadows, and one acre in the south meadows, to the poor children of Harmthorp for a school forever.

The chancel and south transcept are older than the other parts of the church, and of bad matirals. It is a discharged vicarage, united with the vicarage of Hackenby in 1732, and valued in the Kings book at £9. 1s. 10½d. Patron the Bishop of Lincoln. It is dedicated to St John the Baptist.

 The School

 Mr Abel gave by Will the interest of £120. in the 3 per cent bank annuities, as a salary for a schoolmaster, which with the donation of Mrs. Leaband, forms the annual stipend which the Master, Mr. Wilson, who is a very able teacher now receives.

 Modern State

The Earl of Exeter is lord of the manor, here is also a manor of Truesdale’s Hospital, and the churchwarden’s. The Parish contains about 4400 acres of land, the fences are mostly hedges, and Tithes exonerated. The principal proprietors of land are the Earl of Exeter, Sir G. Heathcote, Mr. Parker, Mr. Wyan, Rev Mr. Myers &c. The great road from London to Lincoln passes through this place, and it is ornamented with some good houses, particularly the vicarage house where the Rev. Mr. Hopkinson resides, and Mr. Wyan’s, which is a neat modern building.

Mr. Hopkinson, the present vicar, possesses considerable erudition, and has published several useful tracts.

 Harmthorpe or Hanthorpe 

Is a hamlet to Morton, at a distance of a quarter of a mile to the West, it contains 30 houses, one of which is the residence of Colonel Pack. 

NOTE: Spellings and punctuation have been reproduced as they appeared in the original printed work.