Boston, Lincolnshire, North-Central England, British Isles [Map]

Around 1400 Philip Tilney was born to Frederick Tilney [aged 30] at Boston [Map].

Around 1418 Robert Tilney was born to Philip Tilney [aged 18] at Boston [Map].

Patent Rolls. 17th January 1462. Release to William Pemberton, the mayor, and the citizens of Lincoln, Westminster, on account of their impoverishment through the payment of £180 for the fee farm of the city and through the removal of the staple thence to Boston [Map] and other losses, of £100 yearly which Thomas de Roos, knight, and his ancestors received from the said fee farm of the grant of Edward II., in the king's hands by reason of an act in Parliament at Westminster, 4 November; and grant to them of all lands and possessions in Ingham and Cotes by Ingham, co. Lincoln, which Edward Burton, late mayor, and the citizens acquired from John Helwell, late of Gunby, co. Lincoln, esquire, and which William Tallboys [aged 47], late of Kyme, co. Lincoln, esquire, lately entered into and expelled them from, now in the king's hands by the act aforesaid.

In 1488 Hugh Tilney [aged 43] died at Boston [Map].

On 4th August 1608 William Cheney [aged 68] died at Boston [Map].

After 26th June 1612. Elizabethan Period monument to Roger Manners 5th Earl of Rutland [deceased] and Elizabeth Sidney Countess Rutland [aged 27] at St Mary the Virgin Church, Bottesford, Leicestershire [Map] sculpted by Nicholas Johnson. Cost £150 including carriage by sea from London to Boston [Map].

Elizabeth Sidney Countess Rutland: In 1585 she was born to Philip Sidney and Frances Walsingham Countess Essex. Before 10th August 1612 Elizabeth Sidney Countess Rutland died around six weeks after her husband Roger Manners 5th Earl of Rutland. She was buried at St Paul's Cathedral [Map] next to her father Philip Sidney. In a letter from Mr. Chamberlain to Sir Ralph Winwood of 10th August he suggests she may have been poisoned: "The Widow Countefs of Rutland dyed lately, and is privately buryed in Paul's, by [i.e. next to] her Father Sir Phillip Sidney and Secretary Walflngham Sir Walter Raleigh is slandered to have given her certaine Pills that difpatchd her. The [her uncle] Vifcount Lisle is gone for Flufhing a thoufand Pound the Year richer by her Death."

Around 15th May 1617 Ursula Tyrwhitt [aged 77] died in Boston [Map]. See Diary of Anne Clifford.

In 1702 Edward Irby 1st Baronet [aged 25] was elected MP Boston which seat he held until 1708.

On 22nd January 1730 Henry Hare 3rd Baron Coleraine [aged 36] was Ellen MP Boston in a contested by-election. He did not stand at the 1734 general election.

In 1741 Vere Bertie [aged 29] was elected MP Boston.

Eleanor Tailboys was born to William Tailboys 7th Baron Kyme and Elizabeth Bonville Baroness Kyme at Boston [Map]. She married Thomas Strangeways and had issue.

The River Witham rises near South Witham, South Kesteven [Map] from where it flows past North Witham, South Kesteven [Map], Colsterworth, South Kesteven [Map], Easton, South Kesteven [Map] to Great Ponton, South Kesteven [Map] where it is joined by the Cringle Brook.

From Great Ponton, South Kesteven [Map] the River Witham flows through Grantham [Map], Belton, Grantham [Map], past Barkston, South Kesteven [Map], Marston, South Kesteven [Map] and Hougham, South Kesteven [Map], Westborough, South Kesteven [Map], Long Benington, South Kesteven [Map], Claypole, South Kesteven [Map], Beckingham, North Kesteven [Map], Norton Disney, North Kesteven [Map], Bassingham, North Kesteven [Map], Haddington, North Kesteven [Map], Aubourn, North Kesteven [Map] through the centre of Lincoln, Lincolnshire [Map] where it joined by the River Till.

From Lincoln, Lincolnshire [Map] it flows under Five Mile Bridge [Map], past Bardney Abbey [Map], Kirkstead [Map], under Tattershall Bridge [Map] after which it is joined by the River Bain

After Tattershall the River Witham flows through canalised sections under Lanrick Bridge [Map], past Anton's Gowt [Map] to Boston [Map] where it is joined by the South Forty Foot Drain. After Boston [Map] the River Witham flows into the The Wash around eight kilometres away.

The South Forty Foot Drain aka Black Sluice is a man-made drain starting at Guthram Gowt [Map] that drains a large area of the Lincolnshire fen-land known as the Black Sluice Area aka Lindsey Level. The drain, or an early version of it was first constructed around 1635 when the Earl of Lindsey agreed with the Commissioners of Sewers for Lincolnshire to carry out drainage works which would make 150 km² of land available for agricultural use. The South Forty Foot Drain drains the area bounded by Great Hale, North Kesteven [Map], Bourne, South Kesteven [Map], Pinchbeck [Map] and Boston [Map].